George Russell set the fastest time in the opening practice session for the Spanish Grand Prix, clocking 1m34.077s to lead a Mercedes 1-2 ahead of teammate Kimi Antonelli by 0.286s. The incident-free session hinted at a potential resurgence for the Silver Arrows at the challenging new circuit.
Charles Leclerc of Ferrari was third, just under half a second adrift, while Lewis Hamilton, his teammate, finished fourth. Max Verstappen had to settle for fifth, with Lando Norris the fastest McLaren in sixth, underlining the competitiveness of the 5.414km layout.
Arvid Lindblad impressed for Racing Bulls in seventh, ahead of Oscar Piastri, who ended the session prematurely due to a cockpit issue. The Australian was called back to the pits and could only manage eighth, over a second off Russell's pace.
Nico Hulkenberg completed the top ten for Audi, with Liam Lawson rounding out the top ten for Red Bull. The session served as a learning curve for all drivers, as none had previously raced on this circuit. Esteban Ocon, Oliver Bearman, and Russell were among the first to venture out.
Most of the field started on medium tyres, with Gabriel Bortoleto the exception on hards. Lap times quickly tumbled as grip improved. Hamilton initially led with a 1m36.066s before progressively lowering his benchmark. However, traffic became a major challenge, particularly in the narrower sections with limited sightlines. Lindblad voiced his frustration after being forced to slow through the banked La Monumental corner when he encountered Hamilton and Antonelli.
Hamilton continued to improve, setting a 1m35.563s before Leclerc began his charge. The seven-time world champion then posted a 1m34.803s despite a scruffy run, and Leclerc edged ahead with a 1m34.683s as Ferrari controlled the top two positions approaching the halfway mark. Signs of the circuit's punishing nature emerged when Fernando Alonso brushed the inside barrier after turning in too early at Turn 9. Leclerc and Hamilton also narrowly avoided the wall at Turn 17, while the close confines produced several awkward encounters between drivers on fast and slow laps.
In the second half, focus shifted to qualifying simulations. Lawson, Russell, and Antonelli were among the first to switch to soft tyres. Lawson went quickest through the middle sector on one attempt with a 1m35.539s, while Antonelli threatened Hamilton's benchmark but initially fell short with a 1m34.683s. Russell then moved the session firmly in Mercedes' favour with a 1m34.077s, securing the top spot. The session saw only one brief yellow flag and a handful of minor incidents, a stark contrast to the red flags in F2 and F3 earlier.
Baca Juga
Freddie Slater reset fokus jelang final Formula 3 Madrid 2026 setelah akhir pekan sulit di Monza. Simak persiapan dan peluang gelarnya.
Nikola Tsolov siap hadapi tantangan sirkuit baru Madring di F2 Madrid. Pemimpin klasemen asal Bulgaria itu percaya diri meski tekanan dari Rafa Camara terus meningkat.
Niccolo Maccagnani akan debut di Formula 3 bersama Rodin di Madrid, menggantikan Christian Ho. Pembalap Ferrari Driver Academy ini siap unjuk gigi di sirkuit baru Madring.
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