George Russell set the fastest time in the first practice session for the Spanish Grand Prix, hours after voicing concerns about the circuit's limited room for error. Russell's pace was notably strong on soft compound tires, outperforming competitors including Ferrari's Charles Leclerc, who finished third, and Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton, who was fourth.
Russell identified specific corners, including Turns Five, Seven, and 17, as challenging areas where drivers could easily lock up their tires due to the proximity of the walls. He drew a comparison to a similar corner in Baku, noting the high risk of errors. Additionally, a section of the track features high-speed swerves that Russell likened to the fast Jeddah street circuit in Saudi Arabia.
Ferrari showed early pace on medium tires during the initial part of the session, but Mercedes ultimately proved faster on softer compounds. Max Verstappen of Red Bull was fifth fastest, followed by Lando Norris of McLaren in sixth. The top 10 also included Arvid Lindblad (Racing Bulls), Oscar Piastri (McLaren), Nico Hulkenberg (Audi), and Liam Lawson (Red Bull).