Russell leads opening practice on new F1’s Madrid circuit

George Russell led the first Formula 1 practice session at Spain’s new Madring temporary circuit in Madrid ahead of Mercedes teammate Kimi Antonelli.

The first timed F1 session of action for Madrid’s newest street circuit got underway in warm 77 degrees F conditions, with the clear skies and bright sunshine heating the track. Conditions predictably improved rapidly throughout the hour as drivers built confidence, although the circuit was not nearly as treacherously low-grip as some had anticipated ahead of the weekend.

The Ferrari drivers emerged as the early leaders of the session, with Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc swapping times at the top on medium tires. The picture changed on softs, however, with Russell leaping to the top of the order on his third flying lap with the red-marked rubber. Antonelli, also on a three-lap run plan, slotted in behind him, 0.286s off the pace.

Ferrari couldn’t go with the silver cars, but it had more to do with both Leclerc and Hamilton failing to get a representative time in on the soft compound. Leclerc ruined what turned out to be his sole performance run on the tire with a big lock-up at Turn 17 that sent him deep into the run-off zone. Hamilton also botched a lap at the same corner, albeit far less dramatically, but lost another to traffic when he stumbled across Esteban Ocon exiting the signature La Monumental banked Turn 12.

Traffic was a recurring issue throughout the session, with multiple drivers reporting multiple incidents of being balked around the lap, including several complaints about Hamilton dawdling in the middle of the road.

Leclerc and Hamilton ended up third and fourth, 0.459s and 0.543s off the pace respectively but on medium tires. Max Verstappen kept himself out of trouble to finish fifth, 0.626s off the pace, with Lando Norris 0.244s further back in sixth.

Arvid Lindblad split Norris from McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri, whose session ended early after reporting loose parts rolling around his footwell, forcing him back to pit lane.

Nico Hulkenberg was ninth despite being caught behind Hamilton in the last sector, while Liam Lawson reported his Red Bull Racing car – still on loan from the injured Isack Hadjar – was difficult to drive on his way to 10th and 1.462s off the pace.

Gabriel Bortoleto followed in 11th ahead of Ocon – who was the first driver on track for the session – and Alpine teammates Franco Colapinto and Pierre Gasly.

Fernando Alonso was the only driver spotted to have made contact with a barrier, gently kissing the wall on the inside of Turn 8 but continuing without issue to 15th ahead of Oliver Bearman and Carlos Sainz.

Yuki Tsunoda lost the last 20 minutes of the session to a power steering problem, leaving him 18th without a representative time in his Racing Bulls car.

Lance Stroll was 19th ahead of Alex Albon and Cadillac teammates Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas.

RESULTS