MADRID – During the first day of free practice at the new Madrid circuit, Kimi Antonelli recorded the fastest time in the second session, leaving behind his teammate George Russell, who instead slipped from first to fifth place.
Antonelli described the track as "very interesting and challenging, with many high-speed corners and close walls." He emphasized the importance of precise lines and braking, saying: "It's very easy to brake, as there are many points where you brake and turn the steering wheel at the same time. It's a fun challenge, and I'm enjoying it." He also emphasized how finding the right balance between single lap times and race pace will be crucial for the rest of the weekend.
George Russell, however, despite starting well in FP1, admitted that some changes made for FP2 proved to be the wrong thing to do: "We went in the wrong direction and thought about going back." He added that tire degradation was a key issue, particularly with Monumental Corner, which puts the tires under pressure and will need to be managed carefully in the race. Russell highlighted the difficulty of overtaking on the track and the importance of qualifying: "Hopefully, we can get into the fight for pole position.".
