Kimi Antonelli, who is currently heading the championship standings, topped the timing sheets in 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 lost valuable track time after a costly crash that forced him to limp back to the pits.
Only twenty minutes into the hour‑long practice, Hamilton appeared to be on track for a rapid lap. As he approached the final corner, he braked a fraction too late, overshooting the apex and slamming the car straight into the safety barriers. The impact was relatively low‑speed, but it was enough to dislodge the front wing. The wing peeled away from its mounting points and became trapped beneath the right‑hand front tyre, compromising the car’s aerodynamics and handling.
Ferrari’s race engineers immediately instructed Hamilton to bring the car to a stop, but the British driver, keen not to sacrifice any more running before the qualifying session scheduled for 3 p.m., attempted to nurse the damaged machine back toward the pit lane. He managed to reverse away from the barriers, but the compromised front wing continued to drag, eventually causing the car to stall in the middle sector of the track. At that point, the session was brought to a halt. Sky Sports F1 commentator Anthony Davidson was quick to criticize Hamilton’s decision to continue driving with a broken front wing.
"Any young driver watching this would know not to do that," Davidson said. "The regulations exist for a reason – if the wing were to come completely free and lift the front wheels, you could end up with marshals on the circuit in a very dangerous situation." The crash triggered a lengthy 45‑minute red‑flag period while the marshals repaired the damaged barrier and cleared the debris.
During the stoppage, the official session clock was paused with fifteen minutes left on the timer, giving the drivers an extra window to set laps once the track was cleared and the session resumed. When the session restarted, Antonelli seized the opportunity and posted a blistering lap of 1:32.797, edging out Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc by 0.166 seconds.
The young Italian’s performance extended his lead in the Drivers’ Championship to 66 points over his Mercedes teammate George Russell, underscoring his rapid rise within the sport. McLaren also showed encouraging form, with Oscar Piastri recording the third‑fastest time and Lando Norris slotting in fourth.
Norris, who had missed most of Friday’s second practice due to a technical issue, demonstrated that the team’s package is becoming increasingly competitive as the weekend progresses. Red Bull’s Max Verstappen managed to secure fifth place, while Russell rounded out the top six. The tightly packed field suggested that pole position could be contested by several drivers, especially as the track continued to evolve and grip levels improved throughout the day.
Haas rookie Oliver Bearman highlighted the challenges of the new circuit with a spectacular crash at the high‑speed Turn 11. His car suffered extensive damage, leaving the team with a daunting task of repairing the vehicle before qualifying. The incident served as a reminder that Madring’s combination of fast straights and demanding corners tests both driver skill and car reliability.
The weekend schedule was packed with action. On Saturday, September 12, the build‑up to qualifying began at 2.15 p.m., followed by the official qualifying session at 3 p.m.
Later in the afternoon, the Formula 3 Feature Race 1 took place at 4.55 p.m., and Ted’s Qualifying Notebook aired at 6 p.m. Sunday, September 13, featured the second F3 Feature Race at 8.40 a.m., the F2 Feature Race at 10.20 a.m., and the Grand Prix itself, with a build‑up starting at 12.30 p.m. The race started at 2 p.m., and the chequered flag fell at 4 p.m., followed by post‑race analysis and Ted’s Notebook at 5 p.m. All of these events were broadcast on Sky Sports F1 and also available on Sky Sports Main Event.
The Spanish Grand Prix, now hosted at the state‑of‑the‑art Madring circuit, promises to deliver an exciting finale to the weekend. Fans can stream the coverage via Sky Sports with the NOW platform, which offers a contract‑free, cancel‑anytime option. As teams continue to fine‑tune their setups and drivers push the limits of the new track, the anticipation builds for a thrilling race that could reshape the championship narrative.