Russell leads Mercedes 1-2 in incident-free Madrid FP1

George Russell set the fastest lap in opening practice for the Spanish Grand Prix, leading a Mercedes 1-2 on F1's first visit to the new Madring circuit in Madrid. The 60-minute session ran cleanly despite pre-event concerns about the 22-corner layout, with Russell's 1:34.077s edging teammate Kimi Antonelli by three-tenths.

Why it matters:

Mercedes' immediate pace on a brand-new circuit is an early signal for the weekend, especially with championship leader Antonelli looking to extend his 66-point advantage. A smooth first session also validates the Madring layout, which many feared could produce chaos.

The details:

• Russell's benchmark lap came on soft tyres, while Ferrari's Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton were third and fourth, Hamilton using mediums.
• Max Verstappen completed the top five for Red Bull, also on softs.
• The 22-corner circuit, set around the IFEMA exhibition district, had been a talking point for its tight and twisty nature, but there were no incidents or red flags.

What's next:

Teams have one more practice session before qualifying, with track evolution expected to be rapid as the surface rubbers in. Mercedes will look to confirm its advantage, but Ferrari and Red Bull are likely to close the gap.