Russell leads Mercedes one-two in first F1 practice at the Madring

George Russell topped championship leader Kimi Antonelli in a Mercedes 1-2 after the first Formula One free practice session at Madrid’s new Spanish Grand Prix circuit, the Madring, on Friday. Russell’s quickest lap was 1 minute 34.077 seconds, 0.286 faster than Antonelli’s best on the soft tyres. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton placed third and fourth, 0.459 and 0.543 off the pace, with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and McLaren champion Lando Norris fifth and sixth. Arvid Lindblad was seventh for Racing Bulls, ahead of Oscar Piastri in eighth, with Nico Hulkenberg ninth. Liam Lawson completed the top 10 for Red Bull. Spanish drivers Fernando Alonso brushed the wall in his Aston Martin, while Carlos Sainz was 17th. Several drivers complained about traffic, including radio calls involving Hamilton and Hulkenberg.