George Russell emerged as the quickest driver in the opening practice session at the brand‑new Madring circuit, edging out his Mercedes teammate Kimi Antonelli by just 0.286 seconds. After a disappointing weekend at Monza, where Antonelli, the championship leader, had out‑performed him, Russell entered the Spanish Grand Prix weekend with a clear objective: to demonstrate that he could rebound and set the pace on the fresh track. The early part of the session saw the Ferrari duo, Charles Leclerc and his teammate, quickly get up to speed.
Their lap times on the medium‑compound tyres were only about half a second slower than the best Mercedes soft‑tyre laps, indicating that the Italian squad had already found a good rhythm on the demanding layout. Leclerc, who is still coping with blurred vision after his dramatic crash at Monza, managed to improve his time on the softer compound and secured third place overall. Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton’s fastest lap remained on the medium tyres, a fact that attracted criticism from several drivers. Four competitors – Arvid Lindblad, Nico Hülkenberg, Charles Leclerc, and Carlos Sainz – publicly called out Hamilton for impeding traffic.
The narrow, high‑speed nature of Turn 12, a steeply banked corner unique to Madrang, made it especially easy for a driver on a flying lap to block others. Lindblad was the first to label Hamilton and Antonelli "stupid" for holding up the track, and both Hülkenberg and Sainz were forced to abandon their attempts after Hamilton, apparently unaware of their approach, cut across their racing line. Sainz’s radio message summed up his frustration: "Lewis letting by in the middle of Turn 12. It's always the same, it's so dangerous!" Beyond the on‑track drama, the session featured a slew of headlines and side stories.
Reports surfaced that Antonelli seemed unstoppable, with some commentators suggesting that his rapid rise could jeopardise Ferrari’s long‑term title ambitions for 2026. Lando Norris, meanwhile, voiced his displeasure with the current Virtual Safety Car regulations after missing a potential victory due to a safety‑car deployment that he felt was poorly timed. Team principals and former drivers, including Martin Brundle, expressed optimism that the new circuit’s layout would evolve to promote overtaking, especially after the inaugural Spanish Grand Prix. The practice day also highlighted the logistical challenges of a brand‑new venue.
Organisers had to manage a high number of red‑flag interruptions during a recent Formula 3 test – 19 in two days – but the F1 drivers managed to stay clear of the barriers throughout the session. Track evolution was evident, with lap times improving steadily as more rubber was laid down, and the early data suggested a close battle between Mercedes and Ferrari for the top step of the podium.
Sky Sports F1 analyst Anthony Davidson praised the drivers’ adaptability: "I’m really impressed with the way they approached this brand‑new circuit. They made it look easy, which they often do." His comments reflected a broader sentiment among pundits that the drivers were handling the unfamiliar layout with professionalism and speed. In the midfield, Max Verstappen of Red Bull secured fifth place, while McLaren’s Lando Norris finished sixth.
Rookie Arvid Lindblad, driving for Racing Bulls, impressed the crowd by climbing to seventh. Audi’s Nico Hülkenberg posted a solid ninth‑place effort, and his teammate Gabriel Bortoleto was just outside the top ten in eleventh.
Red Bull’s rookie Lawson rounded out the top ten in tenth place. The weekend schedule was packed with supporting series and fan events.
On Friday, the team bosses’ press conference kicked off the day, followed by the second practice session, a Formula 3 qualifying session, and the popular "F1 Show". Saturday featured a Formula 3 sprint race, the third practice session for the Grand Prix, a Formula 2 sprint, and the crucial qualifying session that would set the grid for Sunday’s race. The Sunday program included a second Formula 3 feature race, a Formula 2 feature race, the main Grand Prix build‑up, and the race itself, which was slated to start at 2 p.m.
with a pre‑race build‑up at 12:30 p.m. All events were broadcast live on Sky Sports F1, with streaming available via NOW without a long‑term contract.
Overall, the first practice at Madrang painted a picture of a highly competitive weekend. Russell’s quick lap demonstrated that Mercedes remained a force to be reckoned with, while Ferrari’s early speed suggested they could challenge for the top spot. The incidents involving Hamilton highlighted the growing pains of a new circuit, especially in a corner as unforgiving as Turn 12.
As teams continue to fine‑tune their setups and gather data, fans can expect an exciting qualifying session and a closely fought race on Sunday, where the battle for the 2026 championship will intensify further.