Russell Leads First Free Practice in Madrid

The first free practice session of the Spanish Grand Prix took place this Friday at the newly inaugurated Madrid circuit, generating significant interest among fans following the track's debut. The session served as the drivers' initial contact with the layout, leading to many searches about team performance.

New Madrid Circuit Kicks Off

The racetrack, located around the IFEMA Madrid exhibition complex, replaces the old Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, where the race had been held since the 1990s. The semi-permanent track features close walls and fast corners, demanding increased attention from drivers.

Russell Leads the Session

Mercedes' George Russell recorded the best lap of the morning with 1m34s077, ahead of Andrea Kimi Antonelli and Lewis Hamilton. By the end of the session, Russell extended his lead to nearly half a second over Hamilton, demonstrating good grip from the soft tires.

Ferrari Performance and Tire Strategy

Ferrari stood out using medium tires, with Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton securing third and fourth positions, respectively. The team conducted tests in Madrid in July, which aided their adaptation to the new layout.

Gabriel Bortoleto Surprises on Hard Tires

Brazilian Gabriel Bortoleto, the only driver to start the session on hard tires, briefly made it into the top five within the first ten minutes and finished 11th after switching to soft tires. His performance showed that, even with a less grippy compound, it's possible to compete in the early laps.

Incidents and Track Traffic

Several drivers encountered traffic, especially in the final sector, and there were a few yellow flags. Yuki Tsunoda retired from the session with suspected hydraulic issues, while Hamilton passed dangerously close to Carlos Sainz in one section. Overall, no driver made contact with the walls, unlike an incident that occurred earlier in Formula 2.

With information from ge, UOL.