Kimi Antonelli topped the timesheets in Free Practice 3 at the Spanish Grand Prix in Madrid, setting a fastest lap of 1:32.797. The session was notably interrupted by two separate crashes involving Lewis Hamilton and Ollie Bearman, which led to red flags and a 30-minute delay.
Antonelli's performance continued the strong pace he showed in FP2, with Charles Leclerc close behind in second place, just over a tenth of a second slower. Oscar Piastri secured third fastest, while Lando Norris managed a solid fourth despite earlier gearbox issues that limited his running in FP2. Max Verstappen, George Russell, Liam Lawson, Nico Hulkenberg, Lewis Hamilton, and Gabriel Bortoleto rounded out the top ten.
The session faced significant disruptions as Hamilton crashed head-on into the barrier at the final corner during a flying lap, sustaining damage to his car and a front-right puncture. Following team instructions, Hamilton retired from the session. Later, Ollie Bearman crashed at high speed through Turn 10 near the session’s end, causing the second red flag and further reducing track time for all drivers.
Other drivers experienced minor incidents during FP3, including Carlos Sainz narrowly avoiding the barriers and Alex Albon damaging his car earlier in the session. Despite the interruptions and reduced running time, teams used the session to prepare for the qualifying later in the day.
The results from FP3 underline Antonelli’s consistent speed through the weekend so far, while the crashes involving Hamilton and Bearman highlight the challenges drivers face on the demanding Madrid circuit. The session’s interruptions limited opportunities for some drivers to fine-tune their setups ahead of qualifying.
With the Spanish Grand Prix qualifying scheduled soon after FP3, teams and drivers will look to build on the session’s data while addressing any issues caused by the incidents. The session’s outcome provides a snapshot of the competitive order heading into the decisive qualifying phase.