Kimi Antonelli, who currently tops the championship standings, posted the fastest time in the final practice session for the Spanish Grand Prix at the new Madring circuit, while seven‑time world champion Lewis Hamilton suffered a crash that cost him valuable track time before qualifying. Only about twenty minutes into the session, Hamilton appeared to be on a strong lap, gradually closing in on the leading times. However, as he approached the final corner, he mis‑judged his braking point, ran wide and collided head‑on with the safety barriers. The impact was relatively low‑speed, but it was enough to dislodge the front wing.
The wing slipped under the right‑hand front tyre, prompting the Ferrari pit crew to advise Hamilton to bring the car to a stop. Despite the warning, Hamilton chose to nurse the damaged car back toward the pit lane, hoping to preserve as much running as possible for the upcoming qualifying session scheduled for 3:00 pm (with a build‑up broadcast from 2:15 pm). He managed to limp the car back for a few more corners, but the compromised front wing eventually forced him to stop in the middle sector of the track.
Sky Sports F1 commentator Anthony Davidson criticised Hamilton’s decision, saying that any young driver watching would know that continuing with a broken front wing is unsafe. "You don’t do that," Davidson said.
"The rule exists for a reason – if the wing gets completely under the car and lifts the front wheels, you could end up with marshals on the track and a serious incident." The crash triggered a 45‑minute red‑flag period while track officials repaired the barrier and cleared debris. The session clock was stopped with fifteen minutes left, giving the drivers a chance to complete additional laps once the track was reopened. When the session resumed, Antonelli set a blistering lap of 1:32.797, edging out Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc by 0.166 seconds and extending his championship lead to 66 points over his Mercedes teammate George Russell.
The Italian rookie’s performance underscored his rapid adaptation to Formula 1 machinery and his growing confidence on the evolving Madrid circuit. McLaren also showed strong form, with Oscar Piastri posting the third‑quickest time and Lando Norris in fourth.
Norris, who had missed most of the second practice session on Friday due to a technical issue, demonstrated that his pace was returning quickly. Red Bull’s Max Verstappen recorded the fifth‑fastest lap, while Russell settled for sixth, suggesting that the pole position could be contested by several drivers as the track continues to rubber in and grip levels improve.
Haas youngster Oliver Bearman highlighted the difficulty of the new layout with a heavy crash at the high‑speed Turn 11. The incident left his team scrambling to repair the car before qualifying, emphasizing how unforgiving the Madring circuit can be for even the most skilled drivers. The weekend schedule is packed with action. On Saturday, September 12, the build‑up to qualifying begins at 2:15 pm, followed by the qualifying session at 3:00 pm, then the Formula 3 Feature Race 1 at 4:55 pm, and finally Ted’s Qualifying Notebook at 6:00 pm.
Sunday, September 13, features the second F3 Feature Race at 8:40 am, the F2 Feature Race at 10:20 am, and the main Grand Prix event at 12:30 pm, with the race itself starting at 2:00 pm and the chequered flag expected around 4:00 pm. Post‑race analysis, including reactions and Ted’s Notebook, will follow later in the afternoon. For viewers in the United Kingdom, the entire weekend will be broadcast live on Sky Sports F1, with additional coverage on Sky Sports Main Event. Fans can stream the coverage via the NOW platform, which offers a contract‑free option that can be cancelled at any time.
The Spanish Grand Prix promises an exciting showdown at the brand‑new Madring circuit, where drivers will continue to push the limits as the track evolves throughout the weekend.