Mercedes dominated both sessions on Friday in Madrid, but George Russell might reconsider several changes made to his car before qualifying.
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Mercedes perfectly started its weekend on the new Madring by setting the best time in the first two practice sessions. George Russell dominated FP1 before letting Kimi Antonelli take the lead in FP2, immediately confirming the potential of the German car on the Madrid circuit.
But not everything was as simple as the timing sheets might suggest. Only fifth in the second session, Russell believes that several setup changes made between FP1 and FP2 probably did not improve his car. Mercedes could therefore partly revert to its initial configuration before the last practice session.
Russell ready to go back
Russell had immediately found his marks on Friday morning, with a competitive Mercedes from his first laps. The team then chose to explore another direction for FP2, but the Briton’s feelings did not confirm the hoped-for progress.
“We started well in FP1 and the car was competitive right from the start. We made some setup changes for FP2, but I’m not sure they improved the car, so we might go back overnight.”
Russell’s fifth place in FP2 should also be put into perspective. During qualifying simulations, he aborted his first attempt with the soft tires before a front wing adjustment was made. He then set his best time on his second lap with the same set of tires.
Tire degradation worries Mercedes
More than the setups, Russell considers tire management as the big question of this first day. Graining was particularly significant during FP1 and, even though the situation improved during the second session, Mercedes expects to have to closely monitor this phenomenon during the race.
The long turn 12, La Monumental, is notably a particularly severe test for the tires. With its extended and heavily banked curve, this section subjects the tires to significant stresses that could complicate long stints on Sunday.
“The big question after this day concerns tire degradation. It was very high in FP1 and, even though it decreased in FP2, the long turn 12 puts a lot of pressure on the tires.”
Russell believes Mercedes will have to master this parameter if it wants to turn its excellent Friday pace into a concrete result.
“It will be difficult to manage on Sunday and it’s something we absolutely have to control if we want to be in the fight this weekend.”
Qualifying could become decisive
Race simulations also allowed Mercedes to draw an important first conclusion: overtaking seems particularly difficult on the Madring. Under these conditions, grid position could play a major role in the Grand Prix result.
“Overtaking during the long stints of FP2 was really difficult, so qualifying will be very important. We seemed quite competitive over one lap, but with the very smooth asphalt here, it wasn’t always easy to get the tires working on the first attempt.”
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Mercedes will therefore work on tire preparation so that Russell can immediately have their full potential. A detail that could become decisive during a Q3 where gaps are expected to be particularly small.
“It’s something we will work on overnight and during FP3. I hope we can place ourselves in the battle for pole position.”
Antonelli confirms Mercedes’ potential
Russell’s difficulties in FP2 did not prevent Mercedes from keeping first place thanks to Antonelli. The championship leader beat the Ferraris of Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, confirming that the German team has an excellent base on the new circuit.
The Italian nevertheless highlighted the technical difficulty of the Madring, especially in the fast sections where the walls remain very close. Braking precision will also be essential in qualifying due to the many corners where drivers must simultaneously slow down and start turning.
“It’s a really enjoyable circuit to drive and a real challenge for us. There are many fast corners with very close walls, so you have to be extremely precise in your lines and braking.”
Antonelli also shares Russell’s concerns about tires and overtaking.
“We had a good first day, but there is still a lot of work to do. It will be difficult to preserve the tires on Sunday and overtaking is also likely to be very complicated.”
Mercedes clearly aims for pole
With Russell leading FP1 then Antonelli topping FP2, Mercedes appears as the benchmark after the first day of the Spanish Grand Prix. But the team also knows that the hierarchy could quickly change on a completely new circuit.
The priority will therefore be twofold on Saturday: to find for Russell a balance closer to that appreciated during FP1 and to optimize tire preparation over one lap. Antonelli will have to confirm the speed shown on Friday while working on a configuration efficient enough for the race.
“This makes our work on one lap Saturday morning even more important. We will focus on that overnight, while also ensuring we have a good car for the race on Sunday.”
Mercedes therefore has an excellent base before qualifying, but Russell does not rule out going back on the changes made Friday afternoon. With overtaking expected to be difficult, the battle for pole could already be one of the most important moments of the Madrid weekend.
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