Kimi Antonelli, who is currently heading the championship standings, topped the final practice session for the Spanish Grand Prix at the brand‑new Madring circuit. The session, however, was dominated by a dramatic incident involving seven‑time world champion Lewis Hamilton, who crashed into the barriers and lost valuable track time just minutes before the end of the run‑up to qualifying. The mishap unfolded roughly twenty minutes into the practice hour.
Hamilton had been building a strong lap and appeared poised to post a competitive time when he mis‑judged the final corner. He braked too early, allowing the car to slide off the racing line and strike the concrete wall head‑on.
Although the impact was at a relatively modest speed, the force was enough to dislodge the front wing assembly. After the collision, Hamilton managed to reverse the car away from the barrier, but the front wing had become lodged under the right‑hand front tyre. Ferrari’s pit crew, observing the situation on their monitors, immediately advised the British driver to bring the car to a stop. Hamilton, aware that every second counted toward his qualifying preparation, attempted to nurse the damaged machine back toward the pit lane.
He continued to drive for several more seconds, hoping to preserve as much running time as possible before the scheduled qualifying session at 3 p.m. (the build‑up began at 2:15 p.m.). Eventually, the car stalled in the middle sector of the track, forcing marshals to intervene.
Anthony Davidson, a former driver and current Sky Sports F1 analyst, criticised Hamilton’s decision to keep the car moving with a compromised front wing. "Any young driver watching this would know not to do that," he said. "The rule exists for a reason – if the wing were to come completely free, it could lift the front wheels and create a dangerous situation for the marshals on track." The crash triggered a lengthy 45‑minute red‑flag period while track officials repaired the damaged barrier 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 declared safe again.
When the session resumed, Antonelli seized the opportunity to set a blistering lap of 1:32.797, edging out Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc by a narrow 0.166 seconds. The Italian youngster’s performance extended his lead in the Drivers' Championship to 66 points ahead of his Mercedes teammate George Russell, underscoring his rapid adaptation to the new circuit. McLaren also showed encouraging pace. Oscar Piastri recorded the third‑fastest time, while teammate Lando Norris, who missed most of Friday’s second practice, managed to climb into fourth place.
Their strong showing suggested that the team could be a dark horse for the upcoming qualifying shoot‑out. Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, usually a front‑runner, settled for fifth, and Russell rounded out the top six. The tightly packed leaderboard indicated that pole position could be contested by several drivers, especially as the track surface continued to evolve with each lap and the temperatures rose.
Haas rookie Oliver Bearman highlighted the challenges of the Madring layout with a high‑speed crash at Turn 11, a sweeping corner that tests the limits of aerodynamics and driver confidence. The incident left his team scrambling to repair the car before qualifying, emphasizing 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 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 a second F3 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.
(the build‑up starts at 12:30 p.m.). Post‑race coverage, including the chequered flag ceremony and reaction analysis, will air from 4 p.m.
to 5 p.m., with another segment of Ted’s Notebook concluding the broadcast. All of this will be broadcast live on Sky Sports F1, with the option to stream via NOW without a long‑term contract, allowing viewers to cancel at any time.
Fans are encouraged to use the Chrome browser for the most accessible video player experience. In summary, Antonelli’s dominant performance in final practice sets the tone for a potentially thrilling qualifying session, while Hamilton’s crash serves as a cautionary tale about the risks of pushing a damaged car back to the pits.
The Madrid circuit’s blend of high‑speed corners and evolving grip levels promises an exciting weekend for drivers and spectators alike, with multiple championships still very much in contention.