Mercedes leads practice at new Madring circuit as teams assess performance
Mercedes topped the first practice session at the new Madring Formula 1 venue, while McLaren struggled with a gearbox failure and Haas showed improvement after recent upgrades.
Mercedes drivers George Russell and Kimi Antonelli each set the fastest times in the opening practice session at the newly introduced Madring circuit, indicating the team is comfortable on the demanding street layout. Russell said the car was strong from the start and noted that set-up changes made for the second session may be reconsidered overnight.
The circuit received positive comments from several team officials. Mercedes deputy team boss Bradley Lord said the track "feels like one that's here to stay" and expects qualifying to be a real challenge. Racing Bulls chief Alan Permane described the facility as "very impressive" and praised the effort put into its design. Drivers Pierre Gasly and Charles Leclerc also expressed appreciation for the track's grip and layout.
Haas reported a strong showing, with Esteban Ocon finishing ninth in the second practice and describing the day as "very good" after noting that the car's previous inconsistency had been resolved following recent upgrades. Ocon added that tyre graining appeared less problematic for Haas than for other teams.
McLaren faced setbacks after a gearbox failure forced Lando Norris out of the second practice, limiting the team's ability to gather data. Oscar Piastri, who completed both sessions, said the team is "lacking pace" and will need to improve to stay competitive.
Red Bull experienced mixed results. Max Verstappen finished fourth in the first session but was sixth in the second, while teammate Liam Lawson reported a lack of rear-end grip. Verstappen indicated the car still requires balance adjustments.
Arvid Lindblad of Alpine suffered a crash at Turn 13, resulting in damage that will need repair before the race. Despite the incident, his team remains optimistic about the car's speed, citing a small time gap to the leaders.
Overall, the first day of on-track activity at Madring provided early insights into team performance, with Mercedes leading the way and several teams identifying areas for improvement ahead of qualifying.