Mercedes showed the first signs of dominance at the brand‑new Madring circuit on Friday, with George Russell posting the fastest lap in the inaugural free‑practice session (FP1) for the Spanish Grand Prix. The British driver clocked a 1:13.842, edging out his teammate Lewis Hamilton by just 0.07 seconds, according to Autosport.
The session, which marked the debut of the "Madring" layout – a hybrid of the traditional Circuit de Barcelona‑Catalunya and a newly designed high‑speed section – gave teams a first look at how the revised track will behave under race conditions. Mercedes appeared to have nailed the tyre‑temperature window early, with both cars running in the green‑flag window for the majority of the 45‑minute session.
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen was the fastest of the challengers, posting a 1:14.112 in the final stint, while Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc struggled to find a clean rhythm, ending the session in fifth place. The performance gap highlighted the importance of the new corner complex, where Mercedes’ low‑drag aerodynamic package seemed to give them a clear advantage.
For Indian fans, FP1 will be broadcast live on FanCode at 13:30 IST, with the full three‑day practice schedule followed by qualifying at 16:00 IST on Saturday and the race itself at 19:00 IST on Sunday. The timing aligns well with prime‑time viewing, allowing enthusiasts across the country to follow the action in real time.
Looking ahead, the data gathered from Madring’s new sections will be crucial for teams as they fine‑tune their setups for qualifying and the race. Mercedes’ early pace suggests they may be the team to beat, but Red Bull’s strong finish in the session indicates the championship battle remains wide open. The next two practice sessions will provide further clues on whether the early advantage can be turned into a race‑day win.
Source: Autosport
