2026 F1 Spanish GP: Full Weekend Schedule and First Madring Practice Results
The 2026 F1 Spanish GP brings Formula 1 into unfamiliar territory this weekend as the championship races at Madrid’s new Madring circuit for the first time. With drivers having no previous Grand Prix experience around the track, Friday practice has become particularly important as teams begin learning how their cars, tyres and setups respond to the 22-turn layout.
Running from 11 to 13 September, the 2026 F1 Spanish GP features the traditional Formula 1 weekend format with three practice sessions before qualifying on Saturday afternoon and the main race on Sunday.
The first clues about who might have adapted fastest arrived during FP1, where Mercedes made an impressive start. George Russell topped the session ahead of team-mate Kimi Antonelli, while Ferrari occupied the next two positions.
2026 F1 Spanish GP Weekend Schedule
South African Formula 1 fans have a convenient weekend ahead, with the European location keeping sessions comfortably within daytime viewing hours.
| Session | Date | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Practice 1 | Friday, 11 September | 13:30–14:30 |
| Practice 2 | Friday, 11 September | 17:00–18:00 |
| Practice 3 | Saturday, 12 September | 12:30–13:30 |
| Qualifying | Saturday, 12 September | 16:00–17:00 |
| Race | Sunday, 13 September | 15:00 |
The 2026 F1 Spanish GP race therefore gets underway at 15:00 on Sunday, with qualifying at 16:00 on Saturday providing the first genuine indication of how the new circuit could affect the competitive order.
Formula 1 Arrives at Madring during 2026 F1 Spanish GP
The biggest story surrounding the weekend is naturally Madring itself. Formula 1 drivers headed onto the 5.414 km, 22-turn circuit for their first official competitive session during Friday’s FP1.
That made the opening hour considerably more significant than an ordinary first practice.
Teams needed to gather information on everything from grip levels and tyre behaviour to braking points, traffic management and track evolution. Drivers, meanwhile, had to learn the circuit at racing speed while gradually discovering where its limits lie.
The early running demonstrated exactly that process. Drivers increasingly pushed beyond the limits as confidence developed, including Kimi Antonelli at Turn 13, while Audi’s Gabriel Bortoleto and Nico Hülkenberg both cut the Turn 5 chicane.
Traffic was another factor throughout the session, potentially becoming something teams will monitor closely ahead of qualifying.
George Russell Leads First-Ever Madring Practice
Mercedes delivered the strongest opening statement of the 2026 F1 Spanish GP, with George Russell setting the fastest time in FP1.
Russell eventually recorded a 1:34.077, putting him 0.286 seconds ahead of team-mate Kimi Antonelli. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc finished third, 0.459 seconds behind Russell, while Lewis Hamilton took fourth.
Max Verstappen completed the top five for Red Bull, 0.626 seconds away from the Mercedes benchmark.
| Position | Driver | Gap/Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | George Russell | 1:34.077 |
| 2 | Kimi Antonelli | +0.286s |
| 3 | Charles Leclerc | +0.459s |
| 4 | Lewis Hamilton | +0.543s |
| 5 | Max Verstappen | +0.626s |
Mercedes taking first and second represents an encouraging start, although FP1 times should always be treated cautiously. Different tyre compounds, fuel loads and testing programmes mean the true competitive picture may look considerably different once qualifying begins.
Ferrari and Red Bull Start Close Behind
Ferrari also showed promising early pace during the 2026 F1 Spanish GP. Hamilton initially headed the timing screens after recording a 1:34.620, narrowly ahead of Leclerc.
Russell eventually displaced the Ferrari drivers as teams moved towards faster single-lap runs. Leclerc struggled to extract further improvement from the soft tyre and ran into the Turn 17 run-off area, while Antonelli improved sufficiently to secure second.
Verstappen ended FP1 fifth after experiencing graining on his medium tyres.
Behind him came Lando Norris in sixth, followed by Arvid Lindblad, Oscar Piastri, Nico Hülkenberg and Liam Lawson to complete the opening top ten.
That put Mercedes, Ferrari, Red Bull and McLaren representatives within the leading group as everyone began deciphering Madring.
Problems Hit Several Drivers in FP1
Not everybody enjoyed a smooth introduction to the new Spanish venue.
Sergio Perez encountered an early steering-wheel problem with his Cadillac, while Alpine drivers Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto remained in their garage for approximately the opening 15 minutes.
Yuki Tsunoda experienced a more significant setback when a power-steering issue forced his Racing Bulls into the garage with around 20 minutes remaining. His session ended prematurely.
The reduced running could prove particularly costly this weekend because every lap provides valuable information at a circuit the drivers are still learning.
Home favourite Fernando Alonso finished FP1 in 15th for Aston Martin, while Carlos Sainz ended the session 17th in his Williams.
What to Watch During the Rest of the 2026 F1 Spanish GP
FP2 now provides teams with another opportunity to understand Madring before attention shifts towards Saturday’s final practice and qualifying.
Tyre behaviour will be particularly interesting after Verstappen’s early graining concerns, while track evolution could continue producing substantial improvements as more rubber is laid onto the new racing surface.
Traffic management may also become important during qualifying. With 22 cars searching for clear track around a circuit where drivers are still establishing appropriate gaps, positioning during Q1 could become almost as important as outright speed.
For Mercedes, the question is whether its 2026 F1 Spanish GP FP1 advantage represents genuine front-running pace. Ferrari appears close enough to challenge, while Red Bull and McLaren will have plenty of data to analyse before the serious competition begins.
The first hour at Madring provided only an introduction. By Saturday afternoon, we’ll have a much clearer indication of who has truly mastered Formula 1’s new Spanish challenge.
For now, Russell and Mercedes have earned the distinction of setting the early benchmark at the 2026 F1 Spanish GP
