Kimi Antonelli, who currently heads the championship standings, posted the fastest 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 crash that forced him to limp back to the pits. Only twenty minutes into the practice run, Hamilton appeared to be on a strong lap, carving through the circuit with the kind of speed that suggested a competitive qualifying performance.
As he approached the final corner, though, he mis‑judged his braking point, ran wide, and collided head‑on with the safety barriers. The impact was relatively low‑speed, but it was enough to dislodge the front wing of his Mercedes.
The wing folded under the right‑hand front tyre, creating a dangerous situation that prompted Ferrari officials to advise Hamilton to stop the car immediately. Despite the warning, Hamilton attempted to nurse the damaged machine back toward the pit lane, hoping to preserve as much running time as possible before the qualifying session, which was scheduled to begin at 3:00 p.m.
(the build‑up started at 2:15 p.m.). While he managed to reverse out of the barriers, the compromised front wing continued to snag on the tyre, eventually causing the car to stall in the middle sector of the track.
Sky Sports F1 commentator Anthony Davidson criticized Hamilton’s decision, saying that any young driver watching would know that continuing to drive a car with a broken front wing is unsafe and against the spirit of the sport’s regulations. Davidson emphasized that the rule exists to protect drivers, marshals, and the integrity of the event. The crash triggered a red‑flag period that lasted 45 minutes while track officials repaired the barrier and cleared debris. During the stoppage, the session clock was halted with fifteen minutes left on the timer, allowing 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 posted a blistering lap of 1:32.797, edging out Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc by a narrow margin of 0.166 seconds. The Italian youngster’s performance extended his lead in the Drivers’ Championship to 66 points over his Mercedes teammate George Russell, underscoring his rapid rise in the series.
McLaren also showed encouraging signs, with Oscar Piastri recording the third‑fastest time and Lando Norris slotting in fourth. Norris, who missed most of the second practice session on Friday due to a technical issue, demonstrated that the team’s package is improving as the track evolves.
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen managed fifth place, while Russell occupied sixth, suggesting that the pole position could be contested by several drivers given the quickening lap times and the circuit’s changing grip levels. Haas rookie Oliver Bearman highlighted the difficulty of the Madring layout with a heavy crash at the high‑speed Turn 11. The incident left his team scrambling to repair the car before qualifying, illustrating how unforgiving the circuit can be for even the most talented 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 3:00 p.m. The day concludes with the Formula 3 Feature Race at 4:55 p.m. and Ted’s Qualifying Notebook at 6:00 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 race at 12:30 p.m. (the build‑up starts at 2:00 p.m., with the race itself kicking off at 2:00 p.m.).
Post‑race coverage, including the chequered‑flag ceremony and reaction analysis, will be broadcast at 4:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.
respectively, with additional commentary on Sky Sports Main Event. Formula 1 fans can watch the Spanish Grand Prix live on Sky Sports F1, with streaming available through the NOW platform, which offers a contract‑free subscription that can be cancelled at any time. The event promises high‑octane racing on a brand‑new circuit that is already delivering unexpected twists, from Antonelli’s dominant pace to Hamilton’s ill‑fated crash, setting the stage for an exciting qualifying session and a potentially unpredictable race day.