Daily News 19

Tag: Lewis Hamilton

  • Red Bull’s Laurent Mekies Explains Why Max Verstappen Was Ordered to Return Positions in Madrid

    Red Bull’s Laurent Mekies Explains Why Max Verstappen Was Ordered to Return Positions in Madrid

    Red Bull Team Principal Laurent Mekies has defended the team’s decision to order Max Verstappen to surrender positions during the opening lap of the Spanish Grand Prix, a move that ultimately paved the way for a strong recovery drive to second place at the Madring circuit.

    First-Lap Clash Triggers Team Order

    The incident occurred immediately after lights out in Madrid. Verstappen, starting third, tangled with Lewis Hamilton as the Ferrari driver moved ahead into Turn 1. Verstappen maintained his grid slot only by cutting the corner, prompting an immediate investigation from race control.

    Over team radio, Verstappen protested that Hamilton “almost shunted him” and initially resisted instructions to concede the position. The Dutch driver had since passed Kimi Antonelli for second place, raising the stakes of a potential time penalty.

    Strategic Compliance Avoids Heavier Penalty

    Verstappen eventually complied, allowing both Antonelli and Hamilton to repass. The strategy shifted rapidly when Hamilton suffered a brake failure and retired shortly after. A subsequent Virtual Safety Car period played into Red Bull’s hands during their pit stop cycle, enabling Verstappen to finish runner-up to race winner Antonelli.

    Mekies: “Better to Take the Pain at That Moment”

    Speaking to F1 TV after the Grand Prix, Mekies acknowledged the decision was unpopular in the cockpit but necessary for the broader race outcome.

    “We would have simply been penalized either five seconds or ten seconds at their discretion,” he told F1 TV. “So that’s what would have happened. And of course, if you can imagine race scenarios with a Safety Car or other circumstances, it can cost you a lot more than a position or two.”

    Mekies emphasized that the team anticipated Verstappen’s frustration but backed his ability to recover.

    “Luckily Max gave away the position before Lewis retired and ultimately continued to fight the race from that point,” he continued. “Of course it is frustrating but, in fairness, I think P2 was the absolute best we could have achieved today.”

    Verstappen Accepts “Nature of the Track”

    For his part, Verstappen characterized the opening skirmish as a product of the new Madrid layout. After the enforced position swaps, he focused solely on maximizing his race pace, a mindset that delivered a damage-limitation podium.

    Championship Standings Update

    The result leaves Verstappen sixth in the Drivers’ Championship with 145 points. Teammate Liam Lawson scored sixth place on his return to the seat, lifting Red Bull to fourth in the Constructors’ standings ahead of the next round in Baku.

  • “My race could have been over” – Max Verstappen on first‑lap clash with Lewis Hamilton

    “My race could have been over” – Max Verstappen on first‑lap clash with Lewis Hamilton

    Verstappen Secures Second Place at Spanish Grand Prix, Admits Red Bull Lacks Race-Winning Pace

    Max Verstappen extracted the maximum possible result from the inaugural Formula 1 race at the Madring circuit in Madrid, claiming his fifth podium finish in seven race weekends. The Dutch driver finished second behind Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli, a result the four-time world champion admitted was better than his car’s performance deserved.

    Verstappen: “We Maximised the Result” Despite Pace Deficit

    Speaking in the post-race press conference, Verstappen was candid about Red Bull’s competitive position relative to the frontrunners.

    “We maximised the result and probably had a bit of luck with, of course, the unlucky situation for Lando [Norris, who missed the opportunity to pit under the VSC]. I didn’t have the pace of Kimi and I definitely did not have the pace of Lando,”

    Verstappen said.

    “So yeah, we’re here on the podium and I think that’s great, but we still lack a little bit to really fight for the win.”

    Early Race Controversy: Giving Back Positions to Hamilton

    The result raises questions about whether Verstappen could have challenged for victory had he not surrendered positions in the opening laps. The Red Bull driver was instructed by race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase to return a place to Lewis Hamilton. With Antonelli sandwiched between them, the directive effectively cost Verstappen two positions.

    Verstappen expressed frustration over team radio but acknowledged the strategic necessity of compliance.

    “Yeah, what am I supposed to do? If they tell me that I have to do it, then I will do it,”

    the Dutchman said.

    “If I hadn’t done that, then I would have received a penalty. No chance.”

    Despite complying, Verstappen maintains his maneuver was justified. He explained that Hamilton lost control of his car over the kerbstones, forcing Verstappen off track to avoid a collision.

    “I would have had damage at the start if I would have stayed on track, so then the win was also not on. It’s as simple as that,”

    Verstappen explained.

    “I just did my own thing in Turn 1, but Lewis went for a move on the first two [drivers] and bottomed out on the kerb. He just jumped back onto the track and that’s why I had to go off the road.”

    “If I would have stayed there, I would have definitely had contact. Then my race could potentially have been over in Turn 2, and that’s why I think I’m happy to be where we are now.”

    Red Bull “Slightly Overperforming” Relative to Pure Pace

    Verstappen assessed that second place was the realistic ceiling for his machinery, suggesting that on pure pace, a low podium finish was more representative.

    “We sometimes profit a little bit from some misfortune of others, but we are also trying to really maximise and sometimes, maybe, yes, slightly overperform. And that’s good,”

    he said.

    “That is the only thing that we can do at the moment. Now we rely on making our package, our overall package, a little bit stronger to really be in a potential fight for the win.”

    Closing-Stage Battle “Misleading,” Verstappen Says

    Although Verstappen ran within a second of race leader Antonelli for several laps in the closing stages, he dismissed the appearance of a genuine fight for victory.

    “It might have looked a little bit like we were in a fight for the win, but that was more because Kimi was getting held up by Charles.”

    “As soon as he had clean air, he just drove away from me again and I was busy with Lando behind me. But around here, if you just drive a little bit in the middle, then yeah, you can’t pass.”

    Development Constraints and 2027 Focus

    Red Bull’s ability to close the performance gap is limited by budget cap restrictions. Team principal Laurent Mekies has acknowledged that the financial regulations prevent maintaining the aggressive development rate seen in the first half of the season.

    Verstappen confirmed that while some updates will still be introduced for the 2026 car, the organization’s primary engineering focus has already shifted toward the 2027 regulation cycle.

  • Charles Leclerc Called Out by Fans After Awkward Moment with Wife Alexandra

    Charles Leclerc Called Out by Fans After Awkward Moment with Wife Alexandra

    Formula 1 fans are scrutinizing a brief interaction between Charles Leclerc, his wife Alexandra Saint Mleux, and Lewis Hamilton that unfolded as the drivers headed to the garage ahead of a session.

    Leclerc’s gesture draws online criticism

    Video footage circulating on social media shows Leclerc and Hamilton boarding a golf cart bound for the Ferrari garage. As they approached the vehicle, Leclerc placed a quick pat on Alexandra’s shoulder before climbing aboard. He did not appear to assist her onto the cart or wait for her to enter before him.

    Hamilton reacts by offering his seat

    The moment appeared to leave Hamilton visibly uncomfortable. The seven-time world champion stood up from his seat on the cart to offer it to Alexandra. She ultimately declined the offer, choosing instead to sit in the front passenger seat of the golf cart.

    Social media reaction

    The clip has sparked debate among fans, with many criticizing Leclerc for what they perceived as a lack of chivalry, while others defended the interaction as a harmless, split-second moment taken out of context. Neither Leclerc nor Hamilton has publicly commented on the incident.

  • Lewis Hamilton “lucky to make it round” after Spanish GP brake failure

    Lewis Hamilton “lucky to make it round” after Spanish GP brake failure

    Key Highlights

    • Lewis Hamilton retired from the Spanish Grand Prix in Madrid after a sudden brake failure on the opening laps while running third.
    • Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur confirmed the team attempted remote fixes before retiring the car, citing safety concerns on the wall-lined Madring circuit.
    • Vasseur stated Ferrari had the pace to challenge for the win, but track position dominance made overtaking nearly impossible during the 57-lap procession.

    Brake Failure Ends Hamilton’s Race Early at Madring

    Lewis Hamilton’s Spanish Grand Prix ended in frustration on Sunday after a catastrophic brake failure forced the seven-time world champion into an early retirement from the inaugural running at Madrid’s Madring circuit. The Ferrari driver had been locked in a battle with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen for third place during the opening laps when his brake pedal began to extend abnormally, leaving him unable to slow the SF-25 effectively.

    The issue manifested suddenly on the first lap. Hamilton reported that the car was stopping normally under braking for Turn 5 before the pedal “took a step,” causing him to carry excessive speed into the corner. Although the braking performance briefly recovered, giving the team and driver momentary hope, the pedal subsequently went fully to the floor. Hamilton described the incident as “really unexpected” and admitted he was “lucky to make it round” to the pits without a heavy impact, having already brushed the wall after missing a braking point.

    Ferrari Opts for Safety Over Salvage on Treacherous Layout

    With the 5.4-kilometre Madring layout lined by unforgiving barriers, Ferrari elected not to gamble on a damaged car. Team principal Fred Vasseur revealed that engineers attempted to rectify the problem via steering-wheel adjustments from the pit wall, but the failure recurred “a couple of corners later.” Vasseur characterized the decision to retire the car as straightforward: “Staying on track made no sense in a crazy race. We didn’t want to take any risk.”

    The retirement marked a bitter conclusion to a weekend where Ferrari appeared to possess genuine race-winning performance. Vasseur pointed to the pace of Hamilton’s teammate, Charles Leclerc, as evidence that the Scuderia had the speed to challenge the frontrunners. However, the team boss was blunt about the nature of the 57-lap contest, describing it as a “procession dominated by track position” where overtaking was “mega difficult.”

    Why This Matters

    The Spanish Grand Prix highlighted two critical storylines for Formula 1’s 2025 season. First, Hamilton’s mechanical DNF underscores the reliability challenges Ferrari continues to face in its championship push, wasting a rare opportunity where the SF-25 demonstrated clear front-running pace. Second, the processional nature of the race at the new Madring venue raises immediate questions about the circuit’s suitability for F1. With overtaking described as virtually impossible by a team principal whose driver was on the receiving end of the track-position trap, stakeholders will likely scrutinize whether layout modifications or regulatory adjustments are needed to prevent future editions from becoming static affairs. For Hamilton, the zero points represent a significant blow in the drivers’ standings, while Ferrari must quickly diagnose the brake-system gremlin before the next round.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What caused Lewis Hamilton’s retirement at the Spanish Grand Prix?
    A sudden brake failure caused the pedal to go long and eventually travel fully to the floor, leaving Hamilton unable to slow the car reliably. The issue first appeared on lap one at Turn 5, briefly recovered, then failed permanently.
    Why did Ferrari retire the car instead of trying to continue?
    Team principal Fred Vasseur cited the wall-lined nature of the Madring circuit and the recurrence of the failure after attempted remote fixes. He stated that continuing “made no sense in a crazy race” and the team refused to take safety risks.
    Did Ferrari have the pace to win the Spanish Grand Prix?
    According to Vasseur, the pace shown by Charles Leclerc indicated Ferrari “had the pace to fight with everybody.” However, he emphasized that track position was the decisive factor in a race where overtaking was extremely difficult.
  • ‘It’s just the nature of the track’ – Max Verstappen explains Lewis Hamilton clash in Spanish Grand Prix

    ‘It’s just the nature of the track’ – Max Verstappen explains Lewis Hamilton clash in Spanish Grand Prix

    Verstappen Details Opening-Lap Clash with Hamilton at Spanish Grand Prix

    Max Verstappen has given his assessment of the near-miss with Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton on the opening lap of the Spanish Grand Prix, an incident that saw the Dutch driver reluctantly concede the position after running off track.

    Turn 1 Incident Forces Position Swap

    As the lights went out at the Madring circuit, Hamilton surged ahead while Verstappen cut the first corner and maintained his starting slot of third place. The move prompted immediate calls from the British driver for Verstappen to return the place. The Red Bull driver was adamant that Hamilton almost shunted into me and initially resisted team instructions to yield, especially after he had also passed Kimi Antonelli to claim second. He eventually complied, allowing both Antonelli and Hamilton through, but swiftly returned to the top three when Hamilton began to struggle with brake issues.

    Verstappen Explains Defensive Decision

    Addressing the clash, Verstappen pointed to the circuit layout as a contributing factor.

    “It’s just a bit the nature of the track,” Verstappen said when questioned on the clash. “When you have that track layout with so much tarmac, people of course risk [going] for a move, and I saw what happened – Lewis clipped the kerb so he was going to run wide.

    “I think if I would’ve stayed on the track, you touch and there’s a big risk of damage. I decided to drive next to the track, and then of course the team told me to give the position back, which I did. After that, I just tried to do my race.”

    Virtual Safety Car Timing Benefits Red Bull

    Verstappen capitalized on a Virtual Safety Car period to minimize time lost during his pit stop—a strategic advantage that McLaren’s Lando Norris missed due to unfavorable timing. The sequence ultimately elevated Verstappen to second place while Norris finished third.

    Podium Finish Viewed as Strong Result Despite Pace Deficit

    Although the four-time World Champion acknowledged he lacked the outright pace to challenge either Norris or race winner Antonelli, he expressed satisfaction with the weekend overall, securing his sixth podium of the season.

    “Looking at the race pace, I think it’s a great result,” he said. “Of course, we know that Lando got unlucky with that VSC, so for us I think P2 is an incredible result because you could see how much Lando was catching me.”

    He later added further context on the competitive hierarchy during the stint.

    “I think it was quite clear that Lando and Kimi were a lot faster. Once everyone was a little bit clear, it was again the same thing where Kimi was a bit faster than me, Lando was faster than all of us, but I could keep him quite easily behind me.”

  • ‘Had the car to fight for a win’ – Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton Explains Brake Issues Behind 2026 Formula 1 Spanish Grand Prix Retirement

    ‘Had the car to fight for a win’ – Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton Explains Brake Issues Behind 2026 Formula 1 Spanish Grand Prix Retirement

    Lewis Hamilton Says Ferrari Had Pace to Win Spanish GP Before Brake Failure

    Lewis Hamilton insisted Ferrari “had the car to fight for a win” at the Spanish Grand Prix after the seven-time world champion suffered an early retirement due to brake problems at Formula 1’s newest venue, the Madring.

    Early Retirement at Madring

    The Briton started fourth for Sunday’s 57-lap race and made a strong launch on the soft Pirelli compound. Hamilton initially moved ahead of Max Verstappen’s Red Bull on the run to Turn 1 and briefly threatened to overtake front-row starters Lando Norris and Kimi Antonelli before backing out. After Verstappen cut the first corner, Hamilton was handed back third place, but braking issues emerged in the opening laps. He reported over team radio that he had glanced the wall.

    Hamilton continued to lose positions over the following laps and ran deep into the Turn 20 run-off area. He rejoined the circuit before pulling into the pits and retiring after just seven laps.

    Hamilton: Wall Contact Not Root Cause

    “It was already basically before that,” Hamilton told Sky F1 when asked if the contact with the wall had caused the braking issue.

    “Braking for Turn 5 I hit the brake, the car started stopping and then the pedal took a step and all of a sudden the car didn’t de-accelerate as fast a normal.

    “I ended up carrying a lot of speed in and just brushed the barrier. After that the pedal came back and then a few corners later, the pedal went long. I don’t really know where that’s come from.”

    Leclerc Leads Laps, Finishes Fourth

    Hamilton had challenged for pole position on Saturday. In Sunday’s race, team-mate Charles Leclerc led the most laps as Ferrari tried to keep the Monegasque driver out in the hope of a late Safety Car period before ultimately finishing fourth.

    Hamilton Praises Team, Eyes Future Wins

    “We’ve had a pretty decent car, a good car this weekend and I think we will continue to try and improve it and I think we have better results coming in the future,” said Hamilton.

    He added: “I think the team’s done an amazing job, so I’m sad for them today that they couldn’t get max points. I think we had the car to fight for a win today, and unfortunately it just didn’t work out.”

  • Mercedes thought it had pole position until Lando Norris took it

    Mercedes thought it had pole position until Lando Norris took it

    Mercedes Formula 1 team principal Toto Wolff briefly believed rookie Kimi Antonelli had secured pole position for the Spanish Grand Prix – until Lando Norris snatched it away in the closing moments of qualifying at the new Madring circuit.

    Antonelli’s Strong Run Fallen Short

    Antonelli markedly improved on his initial Q3 benchmark of 1m32.140s with a blistering 1m31.835s on his second flying lap, outpacing all rivals by at least 0.178 seconds. All, that is, except one. Norris, whose first effort sat at 1m32.525s, vaulted to pole position with a 1m31.824s – a margin of just 0.011s – despite what McLaren team principal Andrea Stella described as a three-tenth loss in the final corner.

    Wolff Sees the Positive in P2

    Wolff admitted he didn’t see the McLaren surge coming but preferred to frame the result as a gain rather than a loss.

    “It’s gained, looking at it that way,” Wolff told Austrian broadcaster ORF. “Before the weekend, I never believed we’d be at the front on this track layout.

    “When Lewis crossed the line, it seemed clear we were winning this. And then Lando puts in a lap like that under conditions that suddenly got so hot, where he is so good at managing rear overheating. It’s flawless.”

    McLaren had been slower than Mercedes in every practice session and qualifying segment prior to Q3, making the sudden performance swing a surprise to the Mercedes camp.

    “That surprised us, too,” he said. “But Lando has shown in the past that he can occasionally pull out a lap like that. Especially when it comes to getting a handle on rear axle overheating as best as possible. And in that regard, I think he’s in a league of his own.”

    Race Strategy Focused on Championship Battle

    Asked how he expected Sunday’s race to unfold, Wolff pointed directly to the drivers’ championship fight. Lewis Hamilton, identified as Mercedes’ main title rival, currently trails Antonelli by 76 points, while George Russell holds a slender 10-point advantage over his former teammate.

    “The most important thing is that we don’t crash into anything; that wouldn’t be good for the cost cap,” he pointed out. “And not losing points to Lewis and Ferrari. I think here you have to score, drive home, hopefully end up on the podium, hopefully ahead of Lewis. Then we’ve reached our goals.”

  • Lewis Hamilton: ‘We’ve got to work harder’ after missing 2026 Spanish GP pole for Ferrari

    Lewis Hamilton: ‘We’ve got to work harder’ after missing 2026 Spanish GP pole for Ferrari

    Hamilton and Ferrari Target Improvement After Spanish GP Qualifying

    Lewis Hamilton insists both he and Ferrari must “got to work harder” to close the performance gap after missing out on pole position for the Spanish Grand Prix. The seven-time world champion qualified fourth, finishing less than two-tenths of a second behind polesitter Lando Norris.

    FP3 Crash Puts Hamilton on Back Foot

    Hamilton entered Saturday’s qualifying session at a disadvantage after a heavy crash at the final corner during Free Practice 3. The British driver hit the barrier head-on and was forced to stop his damaged car on track after team radio calls instructed him to pull over rather than return to the pits.

    Despite the lost track time, Hamilton recovered impressively. He sat on provisional pole after the opening runs in Q3 before ultimately slipping to fourth in the final classification.

    Hamilton Reflects on Qualifying Performance

    When asked to assess his day, Hamilton downplayed the earlier incident.

    “The only thing to say about FP3 is nothing. Qualifying was pretty decent,”

    he said.

    “Generally been feeling pretty decent. It takes everything for us to be able to compete with the two powerhouse motors [Mercedes and McLaren] ahead.”

    Hamilton pointed to a perceived engine mode advantage for the leading teams during qualifying sessions.

    “They just seem to be able to turn the engine up or something when we get to Qualifying which we can’t match. We’ve got to work harder.”

    Leclerc Takes Responsibility for Fifth Place

    Teammate Charles Leclerc qualified fifth, directly behind Hamilton and also within two-tenths of Norris’s benchmark time. The Monegasque driver believed he over-drove during the decisive final segment.

    “I think the lap was pretty good in Q3, it’s a tricky Qualifying where you’ve got to go fully committed into Q3 and I did that,”

    Leclerc explained.

    “But I felt like I maybe went over the limit a little in some corners and lost a little bit on top of maybe losing down the straights a bit because of running the older spec [engine].”

    Leclerc accepted full accountability for the result.

    “But at the end, that’s on me. I think we did a good job today and we maximised our potential.”

    Both Ferraris start the Spanish Grand Prix from the third row, targeting a strong race pace to challenge the leading Mercedes and McLaren entries.

  • Kimi Antonelli Leads Red-Flagged F1 Spanish GP FP3 After Hamilton, Bearman Crashes

    Kimi Antonelli Leads Red-Flagged F1 Spanish GP FP3 After Hamilton, Bearman Crashes

    Antonelli Tops Disrupted Spanish GP Practice as Hamilton and Bearman Crash

    Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli set the pace in a chaotic final practice session for the Formula 1 Spanish Grand Prix, leading a tightly packed field at the challenging Madring circuit in Madrid. The session was defined by two lengthy red-flag stoppages triggered by heavy impacts for Lewis Hamilton and Oliver Bearman.

    Hamilton’s Costly Error Triggers First Stoppage

    The first major interruption arrived 23 minutes into the hour-long session. Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton locked up his front tyres entering Turn 22, the circuit’s final corner, and slid straight into the TecPro barriers. While the initial contact appeared minor, the damage dislocated his front wing.

    Crucially, Hamilton had just passed the pit entry, forcing him to attempt a full lap back to the pits on three wheels. As the damaged wing dragged across the tarmac, it began piercing the front-right tyre. Ignoring team instructions to stop immediately, the seven-time world champion continued until he was forced to abandon the car at the exit of Turn 14.

    The extensive barrier repairs required a near 40-minute delay. Race control responded by stopping the session clock at 15 minutes and 38 seconds, preserving track time for the remaining running.

    Leclerc Leads Early, But Antonelli Strikes Late

    At the moment of the first red flag, Charles Leclerc topped the timesheets for Ferrari with a 1m33.332s, edging out Antonelli’s earlier 1m33.664s. Lando Norris sat third for McLaren, with Hamilton fourth.

    When the session resumed for a frantic final shootout, Leclerc immediately lowered the benchmark to a 1m32.963s. Mercedes initially struggled to match that pace, with Antonelli trailing by three tenths. However, on his second flying lap of the restarted session, the Italian rookie found significant time, posting a 1m32.797s to reclaim top spot.

    Bearman Crash Ends Session Early

    Any hope of a late challenge for the lead evaporated in the final minute. Haas driver Oliver Bearman lost the rear of his VF-25 entering the high-speed Turn 10 right-hander, smashing into the concrete wall. The heavy impact caused significant damage to the left-hand side of the car and brought out the second red flag, effectively ending the session and cementing Antonelli’s position at the top of the order.

    McLaren Gains Ground; Red Bull Struggles Continue

    McLaren showed encouraging signs after a difficult Friday. Oscar Piastri and Norris secured third and fourth respectively, just two tenths adrift of Antonelli’s benchmark.

    Max Verstappen had a disrupted session, only joining the action moments before Hamilton’s crash. The world champion finished fifth, 0.375s off the pace, as Red Bull continued to grapple with the Madring circuit’s aggressive kerbs and a general lack of competitiveness relative to the front-runners.

    FP3 Classification Highlights

    • 1st: Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) – 1m32.797s
    • 2nd: Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) – +0.166s
    • 3rd: Oscar Piastri (McLaren) – +0.201s
    • 4th: Lando Norris (McLaren) – +0.215s
    • 5th: Max Verstappen (Red Bull) – +0.375s
    • 6th: George Russell (Mercedes)
    • 7th: Liam Lawson (Red Bull)
    • 8th: Nico Hulkenberg (Audi)
    • 9th: Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari)
    • 10th: Gabriel Bortoleto (Audi)

    George Russell managed only sixth after aborting a strong lap before the first red flag and failing to piece together a representative run afterwards. Liam Lawson took seventh for the second Red Bull after a mistake on his final attempt. Nico Hulkenberg impressed with the fastest first sector in the Audi but was baulked by traffic later in the lap, settling for eighth. Hamilton dropped to ninth by the chequered flag, with teammate Gabriel Bortoleto rounding out the top ten.

    Alex Albon’s session ended prematurely for Williams after he tapped the wall early on, requiring suspension repairs that sidelined him for the remainder of the hour.

    Attention now turns to qualifying, where the tight margins displayed in FP3 suggest a fierce battle for pole position on the streets of Madrid.

  • 2026 Spanish Grand Prix FP2: Kimi Antonelli Tops Timesheets Ahead of Charles Leclerc

    2026 Spanish Grand Prix FP2: Kimi Antonelli Tops Timesheets Ahead of Charles Leclerc

    Kimi Antonelli Tops Spanish GP FP2 as Ferrari Duo Chase at Madring

    Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli ended Friday’s running at the Spanish Grand Prix as the fastest driver on track, heading a Ferrari duo of Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton in the second hour of practice at the Madring circuit.

    Antonelli Sets Unbeatable Benchmark

    The Italian posted a session-best time of 1m 33.662s before the session was halted to recover Arvid Lindblad‘s damaged Racing Bulls car. No driver managed to improve on Antonelli’s lap in the closing minutes, giving him an advantage of just over a tenth of a second over Leclerc in second place.

    With a limited amount of time to learn the new Madrid circuit, all 22 drivers were eager to maximize Free Practice 2 and begin pushing the limits—ideally while avoiding the daunting walls that line the Madring layout.

    Alonso Misses Early Running With Clutch Issue

    Unfortunately for Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin confirmed the home favorite would miss the beginning of the session due to a clutch issue suffered following his practice starts in FP1.

    Haas pair Esteban Ocon and Ollie Bearman were the first to head out in the high temperatures, leading a long queue of competitors before George Russell—who topped the times in FP1—set an early benchmark of 1m 36.011s.

    Ferrari Strong on Mediums as Track Evolves

    Russell was soon demoted down the timesheets as Ferrari continued their impressive showing on the medium tyres. Leclerc claimed the top spot until the standings leader completed his first effort to go over a second clear.

    As expected on a track with a freshly laid surface, the evolution was notable. Leclerc closed the gap to just 0.001s, ensuring that Mercedes and Ferrari drivers occupied P1 through P4 in the opening 15 minutes.

    Despite his impressive lap, Ferrari were struggling in the final sector, where they were significantly down on the likes of Antonelli. They weren’t the only ones facing issues—McLaren opted to change Lando Norris‘ gearbox, restricting him to the garage, while Oscar Piastri complained about a lack of rear grip.

    Lindblad Impresses Before Turn 13 Crash

    Although Piastri managed to improve on the soft compound, his lap was eclipsed by Lindblad. The Racing Bulls driver consistently impressed through the first sector to wind up just two tenths off Antonelli’s fastest time.

    But the lack of incidents couldn’t last forever. Coming into Turn 13, Lindblad lost the rear and crashed into the barriers, bringing an early end to his day at the Madring and triggering a red flag period.

    Final Classification After Red Flag

    Once the subsequent red flag period concluded, Antonelli remained P1 thanks to his earlier rapid time, leaving him ahead of Leclerc and Hamilton on the timesheets. Lindblad similarly held onto P4 ahead of Russell, Max Verstappen, and Piastri.

    Yuki Tsunoda was eighth for Racing Bulls, followed by Haas’ Ocon and Red Bull’s Liam Lawson. Pierre Gasly claimed P11, the Frenchman leading the Audi pair of Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto, Bearman, Franco Colapinto, and home favorite Carlos Sainz.

    Despite his shorter running, Alonso took P17 while Alex Albon, Sergio Perez, Lance Stroll and Valtteri Bottas completed the order, with Norris unable to set a representative time for McLaren.

    Saturday Running Ahead

    With the first day of action in Madrid complete, the teams and drivers will have the chance to delve into their learnings overnight before the final hour of practice takes place at 12:30 local time on Saturday, September 12.