Kimi Antonelli, who currently tops the world championship leaderboard, posted the fastest lap on the inaugural Formula 1 testing day at the brand‑new Madrid circuit, dubbed the Madring. The circuit’s brutal layout was highlighted by a serious accident involving British rookie Arvid Lindblad, who suffered his first F1 crash.
After being out‑paced by his Mercedes teammate George Russell in the opening practice session, Antonelli returned for Practice Two and set a blistering 1:33.662. That time nudged him ahead of the Ferrari pair of Charles Leclerc and the seven‑time champion Lewis Hamilton by just over a tenth of a second, confirming his rapid adaptation to the challenging track. Antonelli’s confidence has been soaring since his dramatic win at the Italian Grand Prix last weekend, where he surged from 19th on the grid to claim victory on home soil.
The triumph propelled him to a 66‑point lead over Russell with ten races still to run in the 2026 season, underscoring his status as the driver to beat. The Friday sessions suggested a tight battle between Mercedes and Ferrari, hinting at a thrilling pole‑position fight on Saturday.
The Spanish capital is buzzing with excitement as Formula 1 returns to Madrid for the first time since 1981, and fans are eager to see how the new layout influences the championship. Many observers had warned that the tight, unforgiving nature of the Madring would generate a high number of red‑flag periods throughout the weekend. Indeed, the support categories—F2 and F3—experienced several stoppages on Friday, but the F1 field largely avoided major incidents during the first practice. The calm was shattered in Practice Two when 19‑year‑old Lindblad, who had been running impressively in fourth place, pushed a little too hard on his next flying lap.
He lost control at the fast Turn 13, spun, and collided with the barrier at high speed, bringing out a red flag and ending his session. Lindblad later explained, "The track is not easy. We’re all trying to find the limits and it’s new for everyone. I made a mistake and over‑did it in Turn 13.
It’s a shame and I apologise to the mechanics and the team – it creates extra work for them tonight. But overall it’s been a good day. We’re very quick.
I was running P4 on merit and only two‑tenths off P1, which is strong. The team has a lot of confidence going into tomorrow, and I’m focused on resetting, blocking it out, and taking the good lessons forward." A brief pause of just over ten minutes followed Lindblad’s accident, ending the simulated qualifying runs that had been underway. When the session resumed, Antonelli retained his top spot on the timesheet. Russell, who had struggled to fine‑tune his car’s setup, managed to climb to fifth place, edging out Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and McLaren’s Oscar Piastri.
Russell commented, "It was fun to drive the track for the first time. It’s always a great experience tackling a new circuit. FP1 was a solid session. In FP2 we made some setup changes that didn’t work as well, so we’ll probably revert to the earlier configuration.
So far, so good." Lando Norris, the reigning world champion, was unable to post a time after a gearbox failure forced him out after only two laps. McLaren had entered the weekend with high expectations, especially after Norris’s back‑to‑back victories preceding Antonelli’s Monza triumph. However, the early loss of a full session at a brand‑new circuit puts the British driver at a disadvantage heading into Saturday’s qualifying. The schedule for the remainder of the weekend is packed.
On Saturday, September 12, the day begins with an F3 sprint at 10:00 am, followed by Practice Three for the Spanish Grand Prix at 11:30 am, an F2 sprint at 1:10 pm, and the build‑up to qualifying at 2:15 pm. Qualifying itself is slated for 3:00 pm, after which the F3 feature race kicks off at 4:55 pm, and the day closes with Ted’s Qualifying Notebook at 6:00 pm. Sunday, September 13, features the F3 feature race at 8:40 am, the F2 feature race at 10:20 am, and the Grand Prix build‑up at 12:30 pm. The Spanish Grand Prix race starts at 2:00 pm, with the chequered flag expected around 4:00 pm, followed by post‑race reactions and Ted’s Notebook at 5:00 pm.
The race will be broadcast live on Sky Sports F1 and streamed via NOW, with a flexible subscription that can be cancelled at any time. Overall, the first day of action at the Madring has set the stage for a captivating weekend. Antonelli’s rapid pace, Lindblad’s sobering crash, and the technical challenges faced by the leading teams suggest that the battle for the 2026 title will be fiercely contested on this unforgiving Spanish circuit. The combination of high‑speed corners, narrow sections, and limited overtaking zones means drivers will need both precision and bravery to succeed.
As the weekend unfolds, fans can expect intense qualifying battles, strategic pit stops, and possibly more dramatic moments that could reshape the championship narrative.