Antonelli leads Spanish GP final practice in Madrid as Hamilton and Bearman crash

Antonelli sets pace at Madring

Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli led the third free practice session at the Spanish Grand Prix on the new Madring street circuit, setting a benchmark time of 1:32.797. The championship leader finished one tenth clear of Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc, who recorded a 1:32.963, and McLaren driver Oscar Piastri, who completed the top three with a 1:32.986. The one-hour session began quietly, with the pit lane green light showing for more than five minutes before any car took to the asphalt. Audi drivers Nico Hülkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto were the first to venture out, with Hülkenberg initially topping the timing screens. Antonelli quickly responded during his first run on soft tires, logging a 1:33.664 to eclipse the early efforts of both Ferrari drivers.

Hamilton crash halts running

Action came to an abrupt halt 24 minutes into the session when Lewis Hamilton suffered a heavy impact at the final corner entering the main straight. The Ferrari driver missed his braking point, ran deep into the corner, and drove directly into the TecPro barriers, heavily damaging the front end of his car. Hamilton initially attempted to limp back to the pit lane with the broken front wing trapped beneath his front wheels before being instructed by his team to stop the car on track. Race control immediately deployed the red flag, pausing the session with 36 minutes remaining on the clock. While the clock initially continued to run, officials halted the countdown when 15 minutes remained, giving marshals sufficient time to repair the damaged safety barriers without losing the remainder of practice.

Final dash and second stoppage

Once track repairs concluded, all teams unleashed a flurry of qualifying simulation runs during the restored 15 minutes of green-flag running. Antonelli established the definitive session benchmark during this phase, while McLaren driver Lando Norris also joined the fight near the front alongside Leclerc and Piastri. Hamilton ended the session classified in ninth position despite taking no further part after his accident. The session ended prematurely when Haas driver Oliver Bearman suffered a crash at the Turn 10 and 11 complex with only 30 seconds left on the clock. Bearman lost control of the rear of his car, spun into the barriers, and triggered the session's second red flag, preventing any drivers from completing their final flying laps.

Difficult session for local contenders

The interrupted running proved particularly troublesome for Williams and the home favorites ahead of afternoon qualifying. Alexander Albon brushed the wall with the side of his Williams on his opening lap, snapping his rear axle and confining him to the garage for the rest of the morning. His teammate Carlos Sainz narrowly avoided the concrete at Turn 7 near the Las Cárcavas chicane, locking his brakes heavily to stop centimeters short of the barrier. Both Sainz and Aston Martin driver Fernando Alonso struggled for pace throughout the session, finishing 18th and 17th respectively on the timing charts. Their positions leave both Spanish drivers in danger of elimination during the first qualifying segment, with only Cadillac recording slower times.