George Russell made an immediate statement as Formula 1 officially opened its first-ever race weekend at the new Madring circuit, topping Free Practice 1 for the 2026 Spanish Grand Prix.
The Mercedes driver led team-mate Kimi Antonelli in a Mercedes 1-2 during the opening 60-minute session, giving the championship-leading team a strong start at Formula 1’s newest venue.
Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton followed the two Mercedes drivers for Ferrari, completing a competitive top four. Hamilton’s Ferrari, however, was running on the medium compound during his fastest effort, while the Mercedes drivers were able to extract more performance from the softer rubber.
The session was particularly important because the Madring is completely new to the F1 calendar. The 5.414-kilometre circuit features 22 corners and includes the spectacular banked Turn 12, known as La Monumental, making it one of the most unusual venues on the 2026 calendar.
Russell Sets the Early Benchmark
Mercedes immediately looked comfortable around the new circuit, with Russell eventually emerging at the top of the timing screens.
Antonelli finished less than three-tenths of a second behind his team-mate, continuing the intense intra-team battle that has defined Mercedes’ 2026 campaign.
The result is also significant for the championship. Antonelli arrives in Madrid as the points leader, while Russell occupies second place. Mercedes currently leads the Constructors’ Championship after winning nine Grands Prix this season.
Ferrari’s Leclerc and Hamilton were close behind, suggesting that the Scuderia could still be a major factor once the teams begin extracting more performance from their cars.
Bortoleto Shows Strong Early Pace
One of the surprises of FP1 was Gabriel Bortoleto.
The Audi driver briefly climbed into the top five despite using the hard compound, which offered considerably less grip than the softer tyres used by many of his rivals.
Bortoleto ultimately finished 11th after traffic compromised his best attempt on soft tyres. His early pace nevertheless provided an encouraging sign for Audi on a circuit where teams have very little real-world data.
Arvid Lindblad was another standout performer. The Racing Bulls rookie finished seventh, placing himself ahead of Oscar Piastri’s McLaren and Liam Lawson’s Red Bull.
Verstappen Starts Quietly
Max Verstappen, meanwhile, did not finish among the leading Mercedes and Ferrari runners.
The Red Bull driver was initially the fastest man on track, becoming the first driver to break into the 1:37s during the early stages of the session. However, as the track evolved and teams switched to softer tyres, Verstappen slipped down the order.
That result should not yet be interpreted as a sign of Red Bull’s true race pace. With the Madring being completely new, teams used FP1 primarily to gather data on tyre behaviour, energy deployment, braking points and the demanding high-speed sections.
A Clean First F1 Session at Madring
Perhaps the biggest achievement of FP1 was that the drivers managed to complete the session without a major accident.
The Madring had already shown its unforgiving nature earlier in the day during Formula 2 practice, when Tasanapol Inthraphuvasak suffered a heavy crash that resulted in a fire and a red flag. The driver escaped the incident without serious injury.
In contrast, the F1 drivers kept their cars away from the barriers. There were several yellow flags and excursions into the run-off areas, but no major damage was reported.
That was particularly impressive given the circuit’s combination of fast corners, blind sections and limited room for error.
FP1 may only be the opening chapter, but Mercedes has already delivered a warning.
Russell leading Antonelli at a completely new circuit is particularly interesting because Mercedes has been the benchmark throughout much of the 2026 season. Ferrari’s strong showing suggests the gap may not be large, while McLaren and Red Bull appear to have more work to do before qualifying.
The real story, however, will begin when the drivers start pushing the Madring closer to its limits. On a circuit this fast and unforgiving, qualifying could prove more important than ever.
F1 returns to the track for Free Practice 2 later on Friday, giving the teams another opportunity to unlock the secrets of Madrid’s new home of Formula 1. The Madring hosts its first Spanish Grand Prix from September 11–13, with qualifying on Saturday and the race on Sunday.
What do you think of the new Madring circuit? Can Mercedes dominate the first-ever F1 weekend in Madrid, or will Ferrari and Red Bull fight back? Let us know in the comments.
Adhe is part of the 88 Eight Box Editorial Team, covering JDM culture, motorsport, automotive technology, and industry news. The team focuses on delivering original automotive stories, reviews, and insights for enthusiasts worldwide.
