Kimi Antonelli, who heads the championship standings, topped the timing sheets in the final practice session for the Spanish Grand Prix at the new Madring circuit, while seven‑time world champion Lewis Hamilton suffered a setback after crashing into the barriers and losing precious track time before qualifying. The incident unfolded just twenty minutes into the session. Hamilton was on a fast lap and appeared poised to post a strong time when he mis‑judged the braking point at the final corner. The car ran wide, struck the safety barriers head‑on and, although the impact was at a relatively modest speed, the front wing was ripped from its mounting and became lodged under the right‑hand front tyre.
Ferrari officials immediately instructed Hamilton to bring the car to a stop, but the veteran driver opted to limp the car back toward the pit lane in an effort to preserve as much running as possible for the upcoming qualifying round, which was scheduled to start at 3 p.m. (the build‑up began at 2.15 p.m.).
Hamilton managed to reverse out of the barrier, but the damaged wing continued to drag, forcing him to slow dramatically. He eventually came to a halt in the middle sector of the track, prompting a 45‑minute red‑flag period while marshals repaired the barrier and cleared the debris. During the stoppage the session clock was stopped with fifteen minutes remaining, allowing the drivers a chance to complete additional laps once the track was reopened.
Sky Sports F1 commentator Anthony Davidson was quick to criticize Hamilton’s decision to continue driving a compromised car. "Any young driver watching this would never do that," Davidson said. "You have a rule for a reason – if the front wing drops under the car and lifts the front wheels, or if marshals are on track, you must think of the safety implications." The red‑flag interruption gave the teams a brief window to assess the damage, but Hamilton’s car required a front‑wing replacement before he could re‑enter the session.
By the time the barriers were reinstated, the session clock had been trimmed, yet the drivers still managed to squeeze in a few more flying laps. When the session resumed, Antonelli delivered a blistering lap of 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 growing confidence and the rapid development of the Mercedes‑powered car on the evolving Madrid surface. McLaren also displayed encouraging pace, with Oscar Piastri recording the third‑fastest time and Lando Norris slotting in fourth despite having missed most of the second practice session on Friday due to a technical issue.
Their strong showing hinted at a potential challenge for the front‑row spots, especially as the track continued to rubber in and grip levels improved lap after lap. Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, the reigning world champion, posted the fifth‑quickest time, while Russell, who had been dominant in the early stages of the season, settled for sixth.
The close spread among the top six suggested that qualifying could be highly contested, with any of the leading drivers capable of snatching pole position depending on how the cars behaved in the final minutes of the session. Haas rookie Oliver Bearman experienced the circuit’s unforgiving nature when he crashed heavily in the high‑speed Turn 11. The impact left the team scrambling to repair the car before qualifying, highlighting how the new Madring layout tests both driver skill and car durability. 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. The day concludes with the Formula 3 Feature Race 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 at 12.30 p.m. with the race itself slated for a 2 p.m. start (build‑up from 12.30 p.m.).
The chequered flag is expected around 4 p.m., followed by post‑race analysis and reactions. All of the action will be broadcast live on Sky Sports F1, with additional coverage on Sky Sports Main Event.
Viewers can stream the coverage via the NOW platform, which offers a contract‑free option that can be cancelled at any time. For the best viewing experience, especially for the video streams, a Chrome browser is recommended.
In summary, Antonelli’s fastest lap cemented his status as the championship front‑runner, while Hamilton’s crash served as a cautionary tale about the risks of persisting with a damaged car. The final practice session not only set the stage for a tightly contested qualifying but also highlighted the challenges and opportunities presented by the brand‑new Madring circuit. Fans can look forward to an exciting weekend of racing, with the potential for surprise outcomes as the drivers adapt to the evolving track conditions.