Kimi Antonelli, the championship leader, is absolutely flying in Madrid, capping off a dominant Friday for Mercedes by being the fastest in the second practice session for the Spanish Grand Prix. This guy is on fire, especially after winning on his home turf at last weekend’s Italian Grand Prix, pushing his lead over team-mate George Russell to a massive 66 points. That’s a serious gap this late in the season, and it’s clear Antonelli isn’t slowing down.
Madring Delivers Early Drama and Scorching Heat
The new Madring circuit, hosting Round 14 of the 2026 Formula 1 season, isn’t holding back on the drama. While Antonelli was setting blistering times, British rookie Arvid Lindblad had a heavy crash in FP2, losing the rear of his Racing Bulls at Turn 13. Talk about a brutal welcome to a new track! This new 5.41km, 20-corner circuit mixes street-circuit vibes with road-course sections around the Ifema Exhibition Centre. It’s replacing the Barcelona-Catalunya track for the Spanish Grand Prix, though Barcelona did host Lewis Hamilton’s first Ferrari win earlier this year. The conditions aren’t making it any easier either. After a scorching Monza, Madrid is bringing the heat, with Saturday’s qualifying set for a blistering 31C, and Sunday’s race, starting at 3pm local time, expected to hit a sweltering 32C. Drivers are going to be pushed to their limits out there!
Don’t Miss a Second of the Action This Weekend
You absolutely cannot miss what’s coming next. This whole weekend is shaping up to be epic. On Saturday, we’ve got the third practice from 11:30-12:30 BST, then qualifying is the main event from 15:00-16:00 BST. Then, on Sunday, it’s lights out for the 57-lap race at 14:00 BST. If you’re looking to catch every second, BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 2, BBC Sounds, and the BBC Sport website and app have got you covered for race commentary. You can even ask your smart speaker to “play Sports Extra 2.” Plus, for the first time this year, the post-race show for every grand prix is live on BBC iPlayer and YouTube, so you can deep dive into all the controversies and highlights right after the checkered flag. With Antonelli looking unstoppable, qualifying is going to be intense to see who can even challenge him for pole.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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