Mercedes leads Friday practice at new Spanish GP circuit as tyre wear raises concerns

Mercedes recorded the fastest times in both Friday practice sessions at the new Madring circuit ahead of the 2026 Spanish Grand Prix. George Russell set a 1:34.077 lap in the first session, 0.286 seconds ahead of teammate Kimi Antonelli, while Antonelli posted the quickest time in the second session with a 1:33.662. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen completed the top six, with McLaren’s Oscar Piastri the sole representative after Lando Norris retired early due to a gearbox problem.

Drivers described the track as technically demanding, likening its winding layout to Jeddah and Macau. Pierre Gasly said he hit several walls during his initial laps, prompting Alpine to advise caution. The circuit’s mix of corner types and steep uphill sections left little room for error, and traffic was a concern on the narrow sections.

A key issue that emerged was tyre degradation, particularly on the front-left tyre. Teams reported that high temperatures and the circuit’s high-speed left-handers caused excessive wear and graining, reducing lap-time consistency. Russell noted, "The grip is very high but you're sliding quite aggressively," and added that a six-stop strategy might have been optimal in the first practice. Verstappen said he had managed his tyres well, while McLaren’s Piastri called the tyre situation a "nightmare" and said the team was still searching for pace.

The practice sessions also saw a crash when Racing Bulls driver Arvid Lindblad hit the barrier at Turn 13, ending his run early. Norris’s gearbox issue limited McLaren’s data collection, leaving Piastri to provide most of the team’s running.

Looking ahead to Sunday’s race, teams will need to balance the circuit’s overtaking challenges with the tyre wear observed in practice. If degradation remains high, strategies could shift from the anticipated six-stop plans to fewer stops, depending on how quickly the graining issue can be mitigated.