'No idea what to expect’ – F1 braced for Madring debut race mystery

Lando Norris heads front row from Kimi Antonelli, with Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton in behind on row two, with many unknowns for the new Madring circuit's maiden race day; watch the Spanish Grand Prix live on Sky Sports F1 at 2pm on Sunday, with build-up from 12.30pm

George Russell believes Formula 1's first race at the Madring could swing one of two extreme ways, while Lewis Hamilton admits he does not know what exactly to expect, heading into Sunday's Spanish Grand Prix.

The wall-lined circuit in Madrid has proved a big challenge for drivers so far on its inaugural weekend, while Friday's practice running showed up tyre degradation difficulties on long heavier-fuel runs.

The grid's leading drivers are braced for those challenges to continue into a 57-lap race for which McLaren's Lando Norris starts on pole position ahead of Mercedes' championship-leading Kimi Antonelli.

Mercedes' Russell, who qualified sixth after a disappointing Q3, told Sky Sports F1 : "I think tyre degradation will define it one way or another.

"There will either be no degradation and it will be a procession, or really high degradation and it will be pretty chaotic."

Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton, who qualified fourth having initially held provisional pole after the first flying laps of Q3, is also expecting tyre management to play a central role.

"We all came into the weekend thinking there would not be much degradation and the tyres would last long but it turns out there was a lot of degradation [on Friday]," said Hamilton.

"I'm sure that will improve as the car gets grippier, but I have no idea what to expect."

And championship leader Antonelli, who was pipped to pole position by a sensational final lap by Norris, predicted: "Probably it's going to be grandmother driving in the first 10 laps, but let's see.

"We saw in the long run how steep the degradation can be, especially if you push too early. We will try to see in the moment.

"Maybe we go into the race and the degradation is going to be much lower."

It seems track position could be critical, so, in theory, Norris is in the best position as he starts on pole ahead of Antonelli, Verstappen and Hamilton.

But, the McLaren driver missed almost all of second practice on Friday due to a gearbox issue and has not completed any meaningful long running as a consequence.