Kimi Antonelli Leads Crash Marred Final Practice at Spanish Grand Prix

Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli recorded the fastest time during the third free practice session for the Spanish Grand Prix at the new Madring circuit in Madrid. Antonelli finished first with a time of 1m32s797, followed by Ferrari's Charles Leclerc, and McLaren drivers Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris. Max Verstappen placed fifth. The session was characterized by multiple accidents and red flags that disrupted the schedule.

Lewis Hamilton suffered a significant crash in the final curve after locking his wheels. Despite instructions from his Ferrari team to stop the car immediately, Hamilton attempted to drive the damaged vehicle back to the pits, pushing a piece of his front wing along the track. He eventually parked the car and returned to the paddock on a scooter. The incident caused a red flag and a temporary halt to the session for barrier repairs. Later in the practice, Haas driver Oliver Bearman also crashed, leading to another red flag that ended the session prematurely.

Other notable performances included Argentine driver Franco Colapinto, who finished 11th for Alpine, placing him ahead of his teammate Pierre Gasly. The new Madrid circuit has been described by drivers as challenging, with George Russell noting that it has a smaller margin for error than Monaco due to the proximity of the walls and higher speeds.