Russell leads first Spanish Grand Prix practice in Madrid
Mercedes driver George Russell set the fastest time in the first free practice session of the Formula 1 Spanish Grand Prix at the new Madring circuit in Madrid, Spain. His teammate and championship leader Kimi Antonelli finished second, securing the top two places for Mercedes in the session.
First practice results
Russell’s fastest lap was 1 minute 34.077 seconds. He was 0.286 seconds ahead of 20-year-old Antonelli, with the Italian setting his best result on soft tyres. As Channel NewsAsia reports, Ferrari drivers Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton took third and fourth place, 0.459 and 0.543 seconds behind the leader respectively.
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen was fifth, while reigning champion Lando Norris of McLaren finished sixth. Racing Bulls rookie Arvid Lindblad posted the seventh-fastest time, McLaren’s Oscar Piastri was eighth, and Audi’s Nico Hulkenberg was ninth. Liam Lawson completed the top 10 as he replaced injured French driver Isack Hadjar for the third consecutive time.
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Track incidents
The Formula 1 session passed without stoppages or serious incidents, although the earlier Formula 2 practice was interrupted after a crash involving a fire. Spaniard Fernando Alonso of Aston Martin touched the wall, while Carlos Sainz finished 17th in a Williams in his home city.
Several drivers complained over team radio about being impeded by rivals. Hulkenberg expressed dissatisfaction that Hamilton did not let him through at the final corner. Lindblad also accused Hamilton and Antonelli of impeding him at Turn 12, the banked La Monumental corner.
