Formula 1’s Teams, Drivers Find New Madrid Track As Tricky As Expected

Formula 1 held its first practice sessions at the new Madrid street circuit on Friday, with drivers navigating the tight, wall-lined track for the first time in real-world conditions, as only Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc had prior experience beyond simulators. FP1 passed without major incident as teams took a conservative approach, but FP2 saw Racing Bulls rookie Arvid Lindblad suffer a heavy crash after setting the fourth-fastest time, triggering a red flag. Racing Bulls boss Alan Permane expressed a preference for fourth place with a damaged car over running safely in the lower positions.