George Russell set the pace in the first Free Practice session at the new Madring circuit, marking the debut of Formula 1® cars on this 5.414 km, 22-turn street track. The session took place on September 11, 2026, as teams gathered initial data ahead of the Spanish Grand Prix weekend.
Russell, driving for Mercedes, posted the fastest lap with a time of 1m 34.077s. His Mercedes teammate Kimi Antonelli followed closely, finishing just 0.286 seconds behind. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton secured third and fourth positions respectively, showing competitive pace in the early running.
The session was notable for being the first time Formula 1® cars ran on the Madring circuit, providing teams with valuable insights into the new layout. Several drivers reported high grip levels, and lap times steadily improved as the session progressed. However, some drivers struggled with track limits, including Antonelli at Turn 13 and both Audi drivers at the Turn 5 chicane.
Technical issues affected some drivers during the session. Sergio Perez required a new steering wheel early on, while Yuki Tsunoda ended his run prematurely due to a power steering problem. Alpine’s Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto delayed their track time, not running during the first 15 minutes of FP1.
Tire management emerged as a factor as the session went on, with some drivers experiencing graining on their medium compound tyres. The top 10 also featured Max Verstappen, Lando Norris, Arvid Lindblad, Oscar Piastri, Nico Hulkenberg, and Liam Lawson, reflecting a competitive midfield battle as teams adapted to the new circuit.
Local driver Carlos Sainz was 17th in the session, driving for Williams. The Madring circuit’s combination of tight corners and high-speed sections presented a fresh challenge for all teams, emphasizing the importance of collecting data and refining setups during this initial practice.
This first practice session provided a crucial opportunity for teams to understand the demands of the Madring street circuit ahead of the Spanish Grand Prix. The lap times and feedback gathered will guide preparations for the remainder of the weekend, as the field continues to explore the characteristics of this new addition to the Formula 1® calendar.