Kimi Antonelli, who is currently heading the championship standings, posted the fastest time in the final practice session for the Spanish Grand Prix at the new Madring circuit, while seven‑time world champion Lewis Hamilton suffered a crash that cost him valuable track time ahead of qualifying. The incident unfolded just twenty minutes into the session. Hamilton had been on a strong lap, poised to post a competitive time, when he mis‑judged the braking point at the final corner.
The car slid off the racing line and collided head‑on with the safety barriers. Although the impact was at a relatively modest speed, the contact was enough to dislodge the front wing. The wing became trapped under the right‑hand front tyre, prompting Ferrari’s race engineers to advise Hamilton to bring the car to a stop immediately. Despite the advice, Hamilton attempted to nurse the damaged car back toward the pit lane, hoping to preserve as much running time as possible before the qualifying session, which was scheduled to begin at 3 p.m.
(the build‑up started at 2:15 p.m.). He managed to reverse out of the barrier but soon found the front wing still interfering with the tyre, forcing him to limp around the circuit for several more laps. Eventually, the car stalled in the middle sector, bringing the session to a halt. Sky Sports F1 analyst Anthony Davidson was quick to criticize Hamilton’s decision to continue driving a compromised car.
"Any young driver watching this would know not to do that," Davidson said. "You don’t keep going with a broken front wing. The rule exists for a reason – if the wing were to come completely free and lift the front wheels, you could endanger marshals and other drivers." The crash triggered a lengthy 45‑minute red‑flag period while track officials repaired the damaged barrier. During the stoppage, the session clock was stopped with fifteen minutes left, allowing the drivers to resume and complete additional flying laps once the track was cleared.
When the session restarted, Antonelli set a blistering lap of 1:32.797, edging out Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc by 0.166 seconds and extending his championship lead to 66 points over his Mercedes teammate George Russell. The Italian youngster’s performance underscored his growing reputation as a future star in the sport. McLaren also showed strong form, with Oscar Piastri recording the third‑fastest time and Lando Norris slotting in fourth.
Norris, who missed almost all of the second practice session on Friday due to a technical issue, demonstrated that the team had recovered quickly and could challenge the front‑runners. Red Bull’s Max Verstappen managed fifth place, while Russell, despite his championship challenge, could only manage sixth. The close proximity of the top six suggested that pole position could be contested by any of the leading drivers, especially as the track continued to evolve and grip levels improved lap after lap.
Haas rookie Oliver Bearman highlighted the difficulty of the new Madring layout with a heavy crash at the high‑speed Turn 11. His car suffered extensive damage, leaving the team scrambling to repair it in time for qualifying.
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 qualifying session at 3 p.m. The day concluded with the Formula 3 Feature Race 1 at 4:55 p.m.
and Ted’s Qualifying Notebook 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 main Grand Prix event at 12:30 p.m.
(build‑up) with the race itself starting at 2 p.m. The chequered flag fell at 4 p.m., followed by post‑race analysis and Ted’s Notebook at 5 p.m. All of the action was broadcast live on Sky Sports F1, with additional coverage on Sky Sports Main Event.
Viewers were encouraged to stream the coverage via Sky Sports NOW, which offers a contract‑free option that can be cancelled at any time. In summary, Antonelli’s dominant performance in final practice set the tone for a potentially thrilling qualifying session, while Hamilton’s mishap served as a cautionary tale about the risks of driving a damaged car on a high‑speed circuit. The upcoming qualifying and race will determine whether the championship leader can extend his advantage or if rivals like Russell, Verstappen, and the McLaren duo can close the gap.
The new Madring circuit continues to test drivers’ skill and teams’ adaptability, promising an exciting Spanish Grand Prix weekend for fans worldwide.