George Russell topped the timing sheets in the opening practice session at the brand‑new Madring circuit, beating his Mercedes teammate Kimi Antonelli by just 0.286 seconds. After a disappointing weekend in Monza where Antonelli, the championship frontrunner, edged him out, Russell arrived in Madrid eager to answer the challenge and immediately set the fastest lap on the soft‑compound tyres.
The early part of the session demonstrated that Ferrari were not far behind the British team. The Italian squad managed to get within half a second of the leading Mercedes times even though they were running on the medium tyres, which are generally slower than the softs used by Russell. This suggested that the Scuderia had quickly found a comfortable operating window on the new layout and could become a genuine contender for the top step of the podium as the weekend progressed.
Charles Leclerc, who is still dealing with blurred vision after the massive crash at Monza, managed to improve his lap on the soft tyres and climbed to third place by the end of the hour. His performance showed that, despite the lingering effects of the accident, the two‑time world champion remains competitive and is able to extract pace from the car when the track is clear.
In contrast, Lewis Hamilton’s best time was set on the medium tyre, indicating that he may have struggled to find a clean, high‑grip lap on the softer compound. Hamilton’s session was marred by several accusations of blocking.
At least four drivers complained that the seven‑time champion impeded their flying laps in the tight confines of Turn 12, a high‑speed, banked corner that proved to be a bottleneck for traffic. Arvid Lindblad was the first to label Hamilton and Antonelli "stupid" for occupying the racing line at the critical moment, forcing Leclerc, Nico Hülkenberg (driving for Audi) and Carlos Sainz (Williams) to abort their attempts. Sainz captured the frustration on the team radio, saying, "Lewis letting by in the middle of Turn 12.
It's always the same, it's so dangerous!" The practice also featured a slew of headlines and side stories that illustrate the broader narrative of the weekend. Reports surfaced that Kimi Antonelli appears to be untouchable, with Lewis Hamilton acknowledging that there is "no stopping" the young Ferrari driver as he continues to build a points lead. Meanwhile, Lando Norris of McLaren called for changes to the Virtual Safety Car (VSC) regulations after he lost a potential victory to Antonelli, highlighting ongoing debates about safety‑car procedures in the sport. Team principals and former drivers expressed optimism about the new circuit’s overtaking opportunities.
Martin Brundle, a veteran commentator, offered his verdict on Madring’s debut, pointing out areas that could be refined for the 2027 season and suggesting tweaks to the VSC rules to reduce unnecessary interruptions. The consensus among many insiders is that both Mercedes and Ferrari have shown the speed to battle for race‑winning positions, while the track’s evolution throughout the day has been rapid, with grip levels improving markedly as more rubber is laid down. Sky Sports F1 analyst Anthony Davidson praised the drivers’ adaptability, saying, "I'm really impressed with the way they approached this brand‑new circuit.
They made it look easy, which they often do." His comment underscores the professionalism of the grid in tackling a venue that has never hosted a Formula 1 race before. Beyond the front‑runners, the session produced interesting results further down the order.
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, who had been dominant all season, settled for fifth place, while McLaren’s Lando Norris qualified sixth. Rookie Arvid Lindblad impressed the crowd by posting a seventh‑place time for Racing Bulls, indicating that the next generation of talent is quickly adapting to the demands of a modern F1 car. Audi’s Nico Hülkenberg secured ninth, with his teammate Gabriel Bortoleto in eleventh, and Red Bull’s rookie Oliver Lawson rounded out the top ten in tenth place.
The weekend schedule is packed with support races and media events. On Friday, September 11, the team‑bosses’ press conference will commence at 2:40 p.m., followed by the second practice session at 4:00 p.m., an F3 qualifying at 5:20 p.m., and the F1 Show at 6:20 p.m. Saturday, September 12, features an F3 sprint at 10:00 a.m., the third practice session at 11:30 a.m., an F2 sprint at 1:10 p.m., and the main qualifying for the Spanish Grand Prix at 3:00 p.m., with the F3 feature race later in the afternoon.
Sunday, September 13, will see the F3 feature race, the F2 feature race, and finally the Spanish Grand Prix itself, which is slated to start at 2:00 p.m. with the chequered flag expected around 4:00 p.m. Fans can watch the action live on Sky Sports F1, with streaming available through NOW without a long‑term contract.
The broadcaster has advised viewers to use the Chrome browser for the most accessible video player experience. In summary, the first practice at Madring set the tone for a closely contested Spanish Grand Prix. Russell’s quick lap demonstrated Mercedes’ intent to fight for the win, while Ferrari’s strong showing on medium tyres hinted at a possible showdown between the two manufacturers.
The traffic issues at Turn 12 highlighted the challenges of a narrow, high‑speed corner on a brand‑new track, but the overall atmosphere was one of excitement and anticipation as teams continue to refine their setups for the race ahead.