Mercedes leads the way as FP3 arrives at the new Madring circuit

The Madring circuit is hosting the 14th round of the 2026 Formula 1 season, with Madrid making its debut as the home of the Spanish Grand Prix. Mercedes arrived as the early benchmark, locking out the top of the timing sheets across both Friday sessions.

Why it matters:

This is the first Spanish Grand Prix to be held at the Madring, ending Barcelona's long run as the event's home. A brand-new track and layout mean track time is at a premium, and so far Mercedes has looked the most comfortable of the front-runners.

The details:

• George Russell set the pace in FP1 with a 1:34.077, before Kimi Antonelli took over in FP2 with a 1:33.662.
• Antonelli's lap led a Mercedes 1-2 across Friday, with Russell close behind in the afternoon session.
• Ferrari stayed within striking distance: Charles Leclerc was just 0.113s off the pace in second, with Lewis Hamilton a few hundredths further back in third.
• The field now heads into FP3, the final hour of practice before qualifying later this afternoon.

What's next:

Drivers will use the session to fine-tune set-ups and evaluate race fuel loads before the fight for pole begins at the Madring. With Mercedes and Ferrari trading places so far, qualifying could set the tone for Sunday's race.