Russell's Record Practice
George Russell Leads Barcelona FP1, Setting Record Pace Despite Rookie Debuts and Team Struggles
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Key Points
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Russell didn’t just top the session—Formula 1 reported he became the first driver to go under the 1m18s mark on the medium Pirelli tyre, posting a 1m17.414s.
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With Kimi Antonelli absent from FP1, Mercedes did not leave the seat empty—Fred Vesti drove Antonelli’s car in the session.
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Carlos Sainz’s Williams breakdown was serious enough to disrupt the pit lane flow early on; he radioed “It’s not switching on,” with other cars forced to steer around the motionless FW48 while they waited for the situation to clear.
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Colton Herta’s FP1 debut for Cadillac included a specific handling moment: he slid through the Turn 7/8 chicane and clipped the gravel on the exit, reflecting early grip instability for some newcomers.
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The rookie-heavy nature of the session was shaped by F1’s eligibility rules—Formula 1 noted seven rookie drivers (defined as having started no more than two Grands Prix) competed, with regulations requiring every full-time driver to make way twice during the season.
George Russell put Mercedes on top in opening practice for the Spanish Grand Prix at Barcelona-Catalunya, posting a best lap of 1m16.363s on soft tyres to beat Oscar Piastri by around two-tenths. Formula 1 reported Russell also became the first driver to break the 1m18s barrier on the medium compound in the 2026 regulatory era, setting a 1m17.414s on that tyre — a sign of just how quick the new cars have become.
The session was far from straightforward. Seven rookie drivers took part, replacing their regular teammates under F1's mandatory rotation rules. Carlos Sainz's Williams stalled in the pit lane. Luke Browning never left the garage. And Oscar Piastri complained of brake vibrations his team could not fix until FP2. Off track, Alpine's Pierre Gasly had his Monaco podium reinstated after the FIA overturned earlier pit-lane speeding penalties.
Russell Leads the Pack With Historic Medium-Tyre Lap
Russell crossed the line first on both tyre compounds. His 1m17.414s on mediums came early in the session and broke new ground for the 2026 era, according to F1.com. He then went faster still on softs, finishing the hour at 1m16.363s. Piastri slotted into second, with Charles Leclerc third for Ferrari. Max Verstappen was among those just behind.
Russell has gone pointless in his last two races. He told reporters he is "just dying to have a smooth weekend" and added, "I'm not asking for the world to give me luck — I just want neutral luck," according to GrandPrix247. Championship leader and Mercedes teammate Kimi Antonelli sat out FP1 entirely. Fred Vesti drove Antonelli's car instead, as part of the team's rookie obligation.
Williams Double Blow as Sainz Stalls and Browning Stays Parked
Carlos Sainz's session ended almost before it started. His Williams FW48 stalled at the pit lane entrance. He radioed, "It's not switching on," while rival cars were forced to steer around the motionless machine. Mechanics eventually wheeled it back to the garage. He did rejoin later, but lost valuable early running.
Williams also lost Luke Browning — the stand-in for Alexander Albon — to an electrical fault on Albon's chassis. Browning never turned a wheel. Team principal James Vowles called it a "small electrical issue" but admitted it cost Browning his entire session, according to PlanetF1. It was a painful double setback for a team already struggling in 2026.
Seven Rookies Take Over as Herta Makes His Cadillac Debut
Under 2026 rules, every full-time driver must hand over their car for two FP1 sessions per season. Barcelona drew seven rookies at once, according to The Race: Leonardo Fornaroli, Jack Doohan's replacement; Isack Hadjar's stand-in; Vesti, Browning, Ayumu Iwasa, Dino Beganovic, and Colton Herta. That made it the most rookie-heavy session of the year so far.
Herta, 26, made his long-awaited FP1 debut for Cadillac, replacing Sergio Perez. He slid through the Turn 7/8 chicane and clipped the gravel on the exit — an early sign of grip instability. He finished 4.3 seconds off the pace in P21 and radioed his team to "check the floor" after the incident. Cadillac framed the outing as a "development milestone" aimed at building Superlicence points toward a potential full-time 2027 seat. Fornaroli was the standout rookie, finishing fifth, just 0.8s behind Russell.
Gasly's Monaco Podium Reinstated After FIA Overturns Speeding Penalty
Before FP1 began, the FIA announced it had overturned pit-lane speeding penalties handed to Pierre Gasly during the Monaco Grand Prix. His P3 finish was reinstated. The move demoted Red Bull's Isack Hadjar from third to fourth, stripping the rookie of what would have been his first career podium — 12 days after the race had already been run.
Gasly said he had been "heartbroken" in Monaco and called the reinstatement a major mental boost, according to F1.com. The decision sparked sharp debate in the paddock. Mercedes was reportedly unhappy — Russell faced near-identical penalties in Monaco but the team did not file a formal Right of Review, so his results were never reconsidered. Technical analyst Gary Anderson described the situation as "a huge embarrassment for F1."
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