Sports · updated 48m ago · 2 min read
George Russell Calls Madring a Very High-Risk Circuit After FP1 Tire Wear Concerns
Russell called Madring circuit very high risk after FP1 sessions. Arvid Lindblad crashed; others brushed walls while learning the track.
Most risky nature and margin.
7 of 8 outlets skipped it: turn 12 La Monumental has specific banking angle.
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SSource: myKhel
“The single biggest storyline heading into Friday is the absence of data.”Read the original ↗
SSource: BBC
“Without doubt, it is a circuit of very high risk and probably all the drivers were giving that bit of margin today.”Read the original ↗
One outlet attributes risk to lack of data, the other to driver margin and speed.
Madring opens with caution
Formula 1’s Spanish Grand Prix weekend in Madrid began with drivers discovering the new Madring circuit, with George Russell setting the pace in the first practice session ahead of Kimi Antonelli’s top time in the second session.
““It's a very high-risk circuit, and I think that, yes, all the drivers probably held onto a bit of a lead today.”
Russell said the track is “a very high-risk circuit” and added that “all the drivers have probably kept a bit of a margin today,” while pointing to rapid tarmac evolution and tire wear questions after degradation in FP1.
The Madring’s layout drew early praise and concern, with Oscar Piastri saying “Honestly, it’s more difficult than some tracks,” after two one-hour practice sessions where drivers took extra caution to avoid being caught out by the lack of runoff areas.
Arvid Lindblad’s FP2 crash was the day’s notable incident, with the Racing Bulls driver losing control through the long left-hander at Turn 13 and slamming into the barrier, while other drivers reported braking-zone headaches and rapidly changing grip levels.
Driver quotes and split views
As the paddock formed first impressions, Mercedes’ Bradley Lord framed the weekend’s strategic uncertainty around tire temperatures and long stints, saying “we'll have to see what effect the tires will have once they're really up to temperature.”
In contrast, Max Verstappen said he is “not a fan of street circuits so that will never never change,” while still acknowledging the work done on the venue.
Sergio Perez delivered the most upbeat assessment, telling reporters “I think definitely this is going to become the best race in Europe,” and describing the circuit as “really cool track, really nice venue.”
Meanwhile, Charles Leclerc highlighted the grip he found early on a track with “not much rubber on it so far,” and warned that the circuit’s combined braking zones and traffic made it challenging to avoid lock-ups and maintain rhythm.
What’s at stake next
With qualifying scheduled for Saturday and the race on Sunday, drivers and teams treated the Madring as a test where small errors can quickly become costly, especially given the circuit’s close walls and the difficulty of overtaking.
““Overtaking is going to be very difficult otherwise.”
George Russell warned that “Overtaking is going to be very difficult otherwise,” while also tying the race plan to whether Sunday’s tire degradation resembles FP1, when teams even suggested a six-stop strategy could be fastest.
The weekend’s risk profile also extended beyond F1, as the Comet reported that Russell’s media session coincided with Formula Two driver Tasanapol Inthraphuvasak’s car bursting into flames after the Thai crashed at turn 19, with Russell saying “This circuit is mental.”
For the title fight, La Presse reported that Antonelli, after winning last weekend’s Italian Grand Prix at Monza, held a 66-point lead over Russell with 10 races left, making the Madring’s chaotic qualifying and race conditions a direct factor in how the standings could shift.