Lewis Hamilton lost control at curve 22 in Madring during the final practice. His Ferrari hit the wall and forced a red flag. The incident disrupted the session and left several drivers struggling with track conditions.
Lewis Hamilton’s final practice at the Spanish Grand Prix in Madring ended suddenly when he crashed his Ferrari into the barriers at curve 22. The impact brought out a red flag and stopped the session, leaving the front of his car badly damaged and sending teams scrambling to adjust their plans for the weekend.
Hamilton was pushing for a quicker lap and had just set a 1:34.2, putting him fourth behind Norris. He misjudged his braking point and went straight into the wall—a rare mistake that changed the mood in the paddock. Ferrari mechanics rushed to repair the car, while marshals worked on the damaged safety barriers at the last corner. Reports confirmed the front right and front wing of Hamilton's Ferrari took the worst of it, and the team told him over the radio to stop the car to avoid further damage. Earlier in the weekend, Hamilton had shown good pace, with Reuters noting he was third fastest in FP2 with a 1:33.811, just 0.149 seconds off the leader.
Hamilton initially managed to reverse and continue after the impact, but Ferrari ordered him to stop on track due to the risk of further damage.
Hamilton wasn’t the only one caught out by the circuit. Bearman also hit the barriers earlier, and both Albon and Verstappen had technical problems of their own. The session, already interrupted several times, became a waiting game as the red flag dragged on and teams lost valuable practice time. Repairs to the barriers took longer than expected, cutting into the window for last-minute adjustments before qualifying. Sky Sports and other outlets pointed out that Madring, new to the calendar, has narrow sections and heavy traffic, which led to several drivers—including Hamilton—being flagged for impeding during FP1.
Despite the interruptions, Antonelli, Leclerc, Piastri, and Norris all posted strong times, showing how close the field remains. But the repeated incidents made it clear how unforgiving the Madring circuit can be, especially in the final sector where grip is limited and mistakes are costly. Sky Sports reported Antonelli led FP2, with Leclerc and Hamilton close behind, highlighting Ferrari's potential before the crash disrupted their session.
Hamilton’s crash forced teams to rethink their run plans and cost drivers crucial track time before qualifying. For Ferrari, the timing was especially tough, with the team now facing a tight repair schedule and the risk of starting the next session with a less-than-ideal setup.
Earlier in the weekend, Arvid Lindblad became the first driver to crash on the new Madring circuit, causing a red flag in FP2 after hitting the barriers at Turn 13. Multiple incidents and delays have marked the event, emphasizing the circuit's challenging layout.
Reuters
The string of incidents is a reminder of how quickly things can change in Formula 1. What should have been a routine practice turned into a session full of setbacks, showing just how little room for error there is at this level. Hamilton’s mistake, though unusual, shows the pressure drivers face and how punishing modern circuits can be. As teams regroup, the focus shifts to repairs and adapting on the fly. Even the most experienced drivers can get caught out, and every minute on track can change the story of the weekend.
