George Russell tops first practice as F1 debuts at Madrid's new Madring circuit
September 11, 2026 at 01:30 PM · Updated 35d ago
Coverage
7 reports · over 79 hours
Spanish Grand Prix: Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli sets pace in second practice, Ferrari behind
(opens the publisher’s site)Spanish Grand Prix: Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli quickest in second practice, George Russell fifth
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Welcome to the Madring, a new, brutal and unforgiving F1 challenge for Spanish Grand Prix
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Spanish Grand Prix practice report: George Russell sets pace in first practice
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Spanish Grand Prix LIVE: Latest updates as first practice gets under way at the 'crazy' Madring
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F2 car bursts into flames as 'risky' Madrid circuit debuts at Spanish GP
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Spanish Grand Prix: George Russell tops first session around F1's brand-new track in Madrid
(opens the publisher’s site)George Russell set the pace in first practice as Formula 1 raced for the first time at the Madring, Madrid's new street circuit near the city's airport.
- Russell led the session with a 1:34.077 lap, 0.286 seconds ahead of Mercedes team-mate Kimi Antonelli in second.
- The session ran incident-free, with Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso among drivers who brushed the walls without damaging their cars.
- Russell said the circuit "has less margin than Monaco," citing fast corners whose barriers angle in toward the track.
- The Spanish Grand Prix has moved from Barcelona to the Madring, a track built around an exhibition centre, for 2026.
Latest developments
- Sep 11 — The 5.416-kilometre, 22-corner Madring, built around the IFEMA exhibition centre, hosts F1's first race in Madrid since 1981 over 57 laps on Sunday.
- Sep 11 — A Formula 2 car burst into flames after a crash at Turn 19, with Thai driver Tasanapol Inthraphuvasak escaping unharmed and a red flag shown.
- Sep 11 — Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli went fastest in second practice, 0.113 seconds ahead of Charles Leclerc, with Lewis Hamilton third and George Russell fifth.
- Sep 11 — British rookie Arvid Lindblad has crashed heavily at Turn 13, after drivers had warned the new Madring circuit was 'risky' and a 'car killer.'
- Sep 11 — George Russell said he may need luck to stop championship leader Kimi Antonelli from winning the drivers' title.