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George Russell leads first Madrid practice and warns circuit offers little margin

Mercedes driver George Russell posted the fastest time at Madrid's new Formula 1 track, BBC News reports.

The short version

  • George Russell finished fastest in the opening practice session at the new Madrid circuit, outpacing Mercedes teammate Kimi Antonelli by 0.286 seconds.[BBC News]
  • Russell cautioned that the Madrid track leaves less margin for error than Monaco due to higher speeds making recovery from mistakes harder.[BBC News]
  • Several competitors brushed track barriers during the practice run, including Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso, though no vehicles suffered damage.[BBC News]

Key facts

  • George Russell led the opening practice session at the Madrid track, finishing 0.286 seconds ahead of teammate Kimi Antonelli.[BBC News]
  • Russell remarked that Madrid provides less margin for driver error than Monaco because higher speeds reduce recovery time.[BBC News]
  • Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso made contact with track walls during practice, but neither car sustained damage.[BBC News]

Sources

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.