Kimi Antonelli, who currently tops the championship standings, posted the fastest time in the final practice session for the Spanish Grand Prix at the brand‑new Madring circuit. The session, however, was marred by a dramatic incident involving seven‑time world champion Lewis Hamilton, who lost valuable track time after a crash that forced him to abandon his lap and limp back to the pits.
The mishap unfolded just twenty minutes into the practice window. Hamilton was on a strong rhythm, carving out a lap that looked set to challenge the front‑row times.
As he approached the final corner, he misjudged his braking point, ran wide and collided head‑on with the safety barriers. The impact was relatively low‑speed, but the force was enough to dislodge the car’s front wing. The wing slid down and became trapped beneath the right‑hand front tyre, compromising the car’s aerodynamics and steering.
Ferrari’s race engineers quickly instructed Hamilton to bring the car to a stop, fearing further damage or a safety hazard. Nonetheless, the seasoned champion, keen not to waste any of the limited running before the qualifying session scheduled for 3 p.m. (with a build‑up period beginning at 2.15 p.m.), attempted to nurse the damaged machine back toward the pit lane. He managed to reverse out of the barriers, but the compromised front wing continued to drag, eventually causing the car to stall in the middle sector of the track.
Sky Sports F1 analyst Anthony Davidson was critical of Hamilton’s decision to continue driving with a broken wing. "Any young driver watching this right now would never do that," he said. "The regulations exist for a reason – you must bring the car in immediately when a major aerodynamic component fails.
If that wing had ripped off completely and lifted the front wheels, you could have created a dangerous situation for the marshals and other drivers." The crash triggered a red‑flag period that lasted 45 minutes while track officials repaired the damaged barriers and cleared debris. During the stoppage, the session clock was paused with fifteen minutes remaining, giving the drivers a chance to complete additional laps once the track was cleared. When the session resumed, Antonelli set a blistering 1:32.797, edging out Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc by 0.166 seconds and extending his lead in the Drivers' Championship to 66 points over his Mercedes teammate George Russell.
The young Italian’s performance underscored his consistency and the rapid development of the Mercedes‑powered car on the evolving Madrid surface. McLaren also showed encouraging speed, with Oscar Piastri posting the third‑fastest time and Lando Norris slotting in fourth despite having missed almost all of the second practice on Friday due to earlier technical issues. Their pace suggested that the team could be a dark horse for the upcoming qualifying session.
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, who had been dominant throughout the season, recorded the fifth‑quickest lap, while Russell occupied sixth place. The tight grouping of the top six indicated that pole position could be contested by any of the leading teams, especially as the track continues to rubber in and grip levels improve. Haas driver Oliver Bearman experienced a stark reminder of Madring’s high‑speed challenges when he crashed heavily at the fast Turn 11. The impact left the team with a significant repair job ahead of qualifying, highlighting how unforgiving the circuit can be for even the most skilled drivers.
The weekend’s schedule is packed with action. On Saturday, September 12, the build‑up to qualifying begins at 2.15 p.m., followed by the qualifying session at 3 p.m., the Formula 3 Feature Race 1 at 4.55 p.m., and Ted’s Qualifying Notebook at 6 p.m. Sunday, September 13, features the second Formula 3 Feature Race at 8.40 a.m., the Formula 2 Feature Race at 10.20 a.m., and the main Grand Prix event starting with a build‑up at 12.30 p.m., the race itself at 2 p.m., and the chequered flag ceremony at 4 p.m., followed by post‑race analysis. Fans can watch the entire programme live on Sky Sports F1, with streaming available through the NOW platform – a contract‑free option that can be cancelled at any time.
The Madrid Grand Prix promises an exciting finale to the Spanish round, with the championship battle heating up and teams eager to capitalize on the final practice insights despite Hamilton’s setback. Overall, Antonelli’s dominant lap, McLaren’s resurgence, and the unpredictable nature of the Madring layout set the stage for a thrilling qualifying session and a potentially decisive race on Sunday. Meanwhile, Hamilton’s crash serves as a cautionary tale about the importance of adhering to safety protocols, even for the sport’s most experienced competitors.