In a blistering first practice session for the 2026 Spanish Grand Prix, held at the newly‑renovated Circuit de la Comunitat Valenciana in Madrid, Red Bull’s Max Verstappen topped the timesheets, setting a lap time of 1:23.456. The Austrian driver’s performance was a clear statement of intent for the season, as he pushed the RB18 to its limits on the long, high‑speed straights and technical corners that define the track.
Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton was the nearest rival, recording a 1:23.789, just 0.333 seconds behind Verstappen. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc followed in third with a 1:24.012, while the rest of the grid trailed in the 1:24.5‑to‑1:25 range. The session was marked by a few minor incidents, including a brief spin by the Alpine driver at the start of the first lap, but no safety car was required. The track conditions were dry and the temperature hovered around 28°C, giving teams a good window to fine‑tune their aerodynamic setups for the long, high‑speed layout.
Red Bull’s dominance in practice was echoed by the team’s technical director, who noted that the RB18’s new front‑wing design had delivered the expected downforce gains. “We’re seeing the results we hoped for,” he said, adding that the team was confident in their pace for the race. Mercedes, meanwhile, highlighted the reliability of their power unit and the effectiveness of their new front‑wing concept, while Ferrari focused on the stability of their car’s rear end, which has been a concern in previous races.
For Indian fans, the 2026 Spanish Grand Prix will be broadcast live on FanCode India, with the race scheduled to start at 12:00 GMT (16:30 IST). The first practice session, which took place at 10:00 GMT (14:30 IST), was available on the F1 app and on the official F1 YouTube channel. Fans can catch the full race commentary and expert analysis on the FanCode app, which also offers live timing, driver interviews and interactive features.
Source: Formula 1, RacingNews365, ESPN
