Kimi Antonelli, who currently tops the championship standings, posted the fastest time in the final practice session for the Spanish Grand Prix at the newly built Madring circuit in Madrid. The session, however, was marred by a significant incident involving seven‑time world champion Lewis Hamilton, who lost valuable track time after a crash that forced him to limp back to the pits.
The mishap unfolded just twenty minutes into the practice run. Hamilton had been on a promising lap, gradually building pace and appearing poised to set a competitive time.
As he approached the final corner, he mis‑judged his braking point, ran wide and collided head‑on with the safety barriers. Although the impact occurred at a relatively modest speed, the force was enough to dislodge the front wing of his Mercedes.
The wing snapped off and became lodged under the right‑hand front tyre, compromising the car's handling and safety. Ferrari’s team, observing the damage, instructed Hamilton to bring the car to a stop. The veteran driver, aware that qualifying was scheduled to begin shortly—build‑up at 2.15 p.m. with the session itself starting at 3 p.m.—chose to nurse the car back toward the pit lane rather than abandon it immediately.
He managed to reverse out of the barrier, but the compromised front wing continued to drag, forcing him to coast slowly through the middle sector before finally stopping. Sky Sports F1 analyst Anthony Davidson was quick to criticize Hamilton’s decision to continue driving a damaged car for an extended period. "Any young driver watching this would know not to push a car with a broken front wing. The regulations exist for a reason," Davidson said.
He added that a fully detached wing could have lifted the front wheels off the ground, creating a dangerous situation for marshals and other drivers on the track. The crash triggered a lengthy 45‑minute red‑flag period while track officials repaired the damaged barriers. During the stoppage, the session clock was halted with fifteen minutes remaining, giving the drivers an additional window to complete laps once the track was cleared. This pause also allowed teams to reassess strategies ahead of the crucial qualifying session.
When the session resumed, Antonelli demonstrated why he is the current championship leader, posting a blistering lap of 1:32.797. His time edged out Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc by a narrow margin of 0.166 seconds, extending his lead in the drivers’ standings to 66 points over his Mercedes teammate George Russell. Antonelli’s performance underscored his growing confidence and the strong pace of his car on the evolving Madrid circuit.
McLaren also showed encouraging signs, with Oscar Piastri securing third place and Lando Norris finishing fourth despite missing most of the second practice session on Friday. Their strong showing suggested that McLaren could be a dark horse in the upcoming qualifying, especially as the track continues to rubber in and provide more grip.
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen managed fifth place, while Russell rounded out the top six. The close spread of times indicated that pole position could be contested by any of the front‑running teams, as drivers were consistently shaving off tenths of a second with each lap and the circuit’s characteristics were still being uncovered.
Haas rookie Oliver Bearman experienced a dramatic crash in the high‑speed Turn 11, highlighting the difficulty of the Madring layout. His car suffered extensive damage, leaving the team with a daunting task of repairing the chassis in time for qualifying. The incident served as a reminder that the circuit’s fast corners demand precise car control and a well‑balanced setup.
The weekend 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.
After the Formula 1 qualifying, the day continues with the Formula 3 Feature Race at 4.55 p.m. and Ted’s Qualifying Notebook at 6 p.m. Sunday, September 13, features a 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 at 12.30 p.m.
with the race itself slated for 2 p.m. (build‑up from 12.30 p.m.).
The day concludes with post‑race analysis, a chequered‑flag ceremony at 4 p.m., and a final reaction segment at 5 p.m., all broadcast on Sky Sports F1 and also available on Sky Sports Main Event. Formula 1 fans can watch the Spanish Grand Prix live on Sky Sports F1, with streaming options through NOW that require no long‑term contract and allow cancellation at any time. The event promises high‑octane racing on a brand‑new circuit, and the drama from Hamilton’s crash to Antonelli’s dominant pace sets the stage for an exciting qualifying and race weekend in Madrid.