The opening free‑practice session (FP1) for the 2026 Spanish Grand Prix at the newly built Madrid circuit saw Red Bull’s Max Verstappen claim the fastest lap, clocking a 1:14.832. He was followed closely by Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc (1:14.950) and Mercedes rookie George Russell (1:15.112), according to The Race. The session, held on Friday 12 May, gave teams a first look at the 4.6‑km layout, with drivers commenting on the high‑speed "Madring" straights and the technical "C‑corner" complex.
Second practice reshuffles the order
Friday’s second practice (FP2) delivered a surprise as Leclerc edged out Verstappen with a 1:14.521 lap, the quickest time of the weekend so far, reported by RacingNews365. Ferrari appeared to have found a stronger tyre‑temperature window, while Red Bull struggled slightly with brake balance on the heavy braking zone after Turn 8. Mercedes’ Russell improved to third place with a 1:14.738, and McLaren’s Lando Norris slotted into fourth, indicating a competitive midfield battle.
Both practice sessions highlighted the importance of tyre management on the new surface. Pirelli’s medium compound proved to be the most consistent, with teams opting for a two‑run strategy to preserve the softs for qualifying. The data also suggested that the new DRS zones – placed on the long back‑straight – could produce higher top‑speed overtakes, a factor teams will exploit during the race.
For Indian fans, FP1 kicked off at 02:30 IST and FP2 at 06:30 IST on Friday. Both sessions will be streamed live on FanCode, which holds the exclusive digital rights for the 2026 F1 season in India. The race itself is scheduled for Sunday 14 May at 14:00 IST, also on FanCode, with a pre‑race build‑up starting at 13:30 IST.
Looking ahead, the practice results set up an intriguing showdown between Red Bull and Ferrari, while Mercedes will be keen to close the gap. With the Madrid circuit still fresh to the paddock, teams will use the remaining practice time on Saturday to fine‑tune aerodynamic setups before qualifying.
Source: The Race
