Kimi Antonelli, who currently tops the championship standings, posted the quickest time in the final practice session for the Spanish Grand Prix at the newly built 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 heavy crash that forced him to limp back to the pits. Only twenty minutes after the start of the session, Hamilton appeared to be on a fast lap that could have placed him near the top of the timesheets.
Approaching the final corner, he mis‑judged his braking point, ran wide and collided head‑on with the safety barriers. The impact was at a relatively low speed, but it was enough to dislodge the front wing of his Mercedes. The wing became trapped under the right‑hand front tyre, creating a serious safety concern.
Ferrari’s team immediately instructed Hamilton to bring the car to a stop, but the veteran driver chose to nurse the damaged machine back toward the pit lane. He hoped to preserve his running for the upcoming qualifying session, scheduled to begin at 3:00 pm (with a build‑up period starting at 2:15 pm). While attempting to return, the car eventually stalled in the middle sector of the track. Anthony Davidson, the former driver who now works as a commentator for Sky Sports F1, criticised Hamilton’s decision, saying that any young driver watching should learn that continuing to drive a car with a compromised front wing is unsafe.
"You don’t do that," he warned, adding that the rule requiring drivers to stop and receive assistance exists for a reason. "If the wing had completely folded under the chassis, it could have lifted the front wheels and put marshals in danger." The crash triggered a lengthy 45‑minute red‑flag period while track officials repaired the damaged barriers.
During the stoppage, the session clock was stopped with fifteen minutes remaining, giving the drivers a chance to complete additional laps once the session resumed on the newly repaired section of the circuit. When the session restarted, Antonelli set a blistering lap of 1:32.797, edging out Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc by a narrow margin of 0.166 seconds.
The Italian rookie now enjoys a 66‑point lead over his Mercedes teammate George Russell in the drivers’ championship, underscoring his rapid adaptation to Formula 1 machinery. McLaren also displayed encouraging speed, with Oscar Piastri posting the third‑fastest time and Lando Norris, who missed most of Friday’s second practice, improving to fourth.
Max Verstappen of Red Bull secured fifth place, while Russell rounded out the top six. The tightly packed times suggest that pole position could be contested by several contenders, as the track continues to evolve and grip levels increase with each lap.
The session also highlighted the challenges of the high‑speed Turn 11 at the Madring layout. Haas youngster Oliver Bearman suffered a heavy crash there, sending his car into the barriers and leaving his team scrambling to repair the chassis before qualifying.
The incident served as a reminder that even experienced drivers can be caught out by the circuit’s demanding corners. Looking ahead, 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 itself at 3:00 pm.
Later that afternoon, the Formula 3 Feature Race 1 will start at 4:55 pm, and at 6:00 pm fans can tune in to Ted’s Qualifying Notebook for expert analysis. Sunday, September 13, will see the Formula 3 Feature Race 2 at 8:40 am, the Formula 2 Feature Race at 10:20 am, and the main event – the Spanish Grand Prix – kicking off at 12:30 pm with a build‑up period. The race itself is slated for a 2:00 pm start, with the chequered flag expected around 4:00 pm, followed by post‑race reactions and another edition of Ted’s Notebook at 5:00 pm. All of these sessions will be broadcast live on Sky Sports F1, with additional coverage on Sky Sports Main Event.
For viewers who prefer streaming, Sky Sports can be accessed through the NOW platform, offering a contract‑free option that can be cancelled at any time. The service provides a more accessible video player for those using Chrome browsers. In summary, Antonelli’s dominant performance in final practice positions him as a serious contender for pole, while Hamilton’s crash serves as a cautionary tale about the importance of safety protocols. The upcoming qualifying session promises to be highly competitive, and the race on Sunday is set to deliver further excitement at the state‑of‑the‑art Madring circuit, cementing the Spanish Grand Prix as a highlight of the Formula 1 calendar.