Russell Leads Mercedes 1-2 in Spanish GP FP1 at New 22-Turn Madring
Updated
Updated · Formula 1 · Sep 11
Russell Leads Mercedes 1-2 in Spanish GP FP1 at New 22-Turn Madring
3 articles · Updated · Formula 1 · Sep 11
Summary
George Russell set the benchmark at Formula 1's first Madrid session with a 1:34.077, beating Mercedes teammate Kimi Antonelli by 0.286 seconds in Spanish Grand Prix FP1.
The one-hour run was the field's first look at the 5.414km, 22-turn Madring street circuit, where grip improved quickly but traffic and track-limits errors repeatedly disrupted laps.
Ferrari's Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton finished third and fourth, with Max Verstappen, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri also in the top eight as teams shifted from medium-tyre data gathering to soft-tyre qualifying simulations.
Yuki Tsunoda lost the final 20 minutes to a power-steering problem, while Sergio Perez needed a steering-wheel change and both Alpines spent the opening 15 minutes in the garage.
The session offered the first competitive read on a new Spanish GP venue near Madrid's airport, with Mercedes emerging as the early pace-setter before the rest of the weekend.