After months of track building, simulation work, and simulation, Free Practice 1 was the first time Formula 1 teams and drivers got to experience the brand new Madring in Madrid. As a half street, half purpose-built track, everyone has been anticipating how the new circuit would be once cars hit the track. With some likening it to Jeddah, Macau, Monaco and Baku, some were sceptical before the weekend began. Now, it’s time to find out the truth.
The Track Debuts
Being a new track, there was plenty to test in FP1. Consequently, most cars were lining up in the pitlane, ready to get out as soon as the green flag was shown. To start, most came out on the medium tyre. Gabriel Bortoleto opted for a different strategy, starting on the hard C2 compound.
After a few installation tracks to get up to speed, the timed laps began. Esteban Ocon set the first lap, a 1:44.336. His teammate, Oliver Bearman, went even quicker and the times were falling as each lap came in. Lewis Hamilton was the first under 1:40, going two and a half seconds faster than the rest of the grid. Liam Lawson then became his closest challenger, less than a second behind. However, Max Verstappen then took the fastest lap.
Ocon came onto the radio to report that the “grip is high”, a positive comment for a newly resurfaced track. As drivers adjusted to the Madring, times were speeding up. Kimi Antonelli was next to cross the line, and last race’s winner went seven tenths quicker than Verstappen. Lap time was continuing to be found, with Hamilton reclaiming P1 as Arvid Lindblad went fourth.
Traffic Builds in Sector 3
Whilst the Ferrari driver had a time of 1:36.066, reports say a pole position lap could be in the 1:27’s. Expect the times to fall as the drivers adjust and the track rubbers in. Sector three was proving difficult, with traffic building up. This suggests that planning laps in qualifying could be crucial to avoid impeding. Both Verstappen and Hamilton lost time on laps due to the traffic in this final sector.
After doing an installation lap each, both Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto returned to the BWT Alpine garage. With 20 minutes complete, the pair became the only drivers to have not set a lap.
As the drivers learnt the Madring, some were falling foul of the tight track limits. Antonelli kept having laps deleted, having exceeded these limits multiple times, as did Nico Hulkenburg. Hamilton had a close shave, locking his tyres under braking into Turn 17. Fortunately, he saved the lap, staying within the limits. Despite this moment, he extended his P1 lead, although a flat spot on his tyre would affect his coming attempts.
Eventually, Hamilton was usurped. His teammate, Charles Leclerc, took the top spot with a 1:34.683.
Switching Tyres
After completing 14 laps, Madrid-born Carlos Sainz reported front and rear graining on his left tyres. This could be due to the lateral forces coming from the banked Turn 12 and could highlight the potential degradation tyres could face come Sunday.
Just ahead of reaching the halfway point of FP1, some opted to pit and discuss the track with their engineers. When returning to the track, the Mercedes duo and Lawson opted to test the C4 soft tyre compound. Hamilton reclaimed P1 by 0.063 seconds and Antonelli went third. On the softer compound, Lawson went fourth.
The Ferrari duo had a close call, with Leclerc narrowly missing the rear of Hamilton. This caused the #16 to abandon his lap, although contact was avoided. More drivers switched to the softer compound to continue their testing. George Russell found time on the C4, going P3 just a tenth behind the Ferrari’s. Antonelli then improved, setting the same lap time as Leclerc.
After showing good times, Yuki Tsunoda was slowing on track. He came onto the radio reporting a power steering issue and he consequently pitted so the engineer’s could take a closer look. As a result, he was unable to finish FP1.
Russell Goes to the Top
After seven laps getting the tyres dialled in, Russell finally bested the Ferrari Duo. He found nearly five tenths to go P1 with a 1:34.145. He continued to find time and was soon on the cusp of a 1:33 lap time.
Leclerc was the next to have an issue, locking up at Turn 17 and narrowly missing the wall. He headed abandoned the lap and returned to pit lane. During his time in the pits, Verstappen’s garage made some set up changes before sending him out on the soft tyre. His first lap on the C4 saw him go P5, six tenths off of Russell.
With ten minutes remaining, all drivers were on the softer compound and testing their cars for qualifying simulations. Fernando Alonso clipped the wall at Turn 8 but the contact was light and, fortunately, he was able to continue. Traffic continued to be an issue, with Hamilton impeding Hulkenburg. A lap later, Ocon impeding both Ferrari’s. This caused Hamilton to back out of his fast lap.
After reporting something hitting his feet in the cockpit earlier in the session, Oscar Piastri was back in the garage. Engineers potentially found a broken component and were looking to fix it.
Formula 1 Completes FP1 at the Madring
And just like that, the first session at the Madring for Formula 1 is complete. After speculation over red flags and incidents, the drivers all played safe and kept it out of the walls. Track limits and traffic proved to be crucial aspects to monitor. With the turning braking zones, drivers will also have to be careful not to lock up their tyres.
Most drivers tested the C3 and C4 medium and soft compounds. Whilst the tyres lasted multiple laps, graining could be an issue, especially on the left-hand side. George Russell topped the session with a 1:34.077. However, expect this time to fall in the coming sessions. In contrast, Valterri Bottas was the slowest of the session, 4.741 seconds adrift.
The action is not over though. Next up is Free Practice 2 later today.