Andrea Kimi Antonelli continued to stake his claim as Formula 1's brightest new star. The Mercedes driver topped the final practice session for the 2026 Spanish Grand Prix, finishing 0.166 seconds ahead of Charles Leclerc. The session ended dramatically with two red flags: one for Lewis Hamilton's crash midway through and another for Ollie Bearman's heavy impact in the dying seconds.
For Antonelli, this was more than just a fast lap. Since the start of the season, he has shown blistering pace that has impressed the paddock. However, consistency in qualifying has been questioned. By leading FP3, he sent a clear message that he is ready to fight for his first pole position at Mercedes' stronghold—a track where the team has historically excelled.
Behind Antonelli, Charles Leclerc had to settle for second. The Monegasque had briefly led the session before being pipped. Meanwhile, George Russell—Antonelli's teammate—could only manage sixth, a significant gap. This raised eyebrows given Russell's usual competitiveness in practice. Was it a setup issue or is he sandbagging for qualifying? We'll find out soon.
Double Trouble: Crashes Shake Up Session
FP3 in Barcelona was anything but boring. Lewis Hamilton, now with Ferrari, crashed at a high-speed corner midway through. His car appeared to lose grip in an area that often catches out even the best. Fortunately, he was unhurt, but the incident was a major blow to Ferrari's preparations—especially with Leclerc not entirely happy with the car's balance.
Before the shock could settle, Ollie Bearman of Haas made a costly error in the final seconds. He slammed into the barriers hard, forcing an early end to the session. It was a setback for Haas, who are fighting to improve their form. Bearman, a highly-rated youngster, must quickly put this behind him and focus on qualifying.
On the other end, Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas—now driving for Cadillac—occupied the bottom two positions. Nevertheless, their presence on the grid adds intrigue, especially with the new engine regulations in play this season.
With FP3 in the books, the battle for qualifying is set to intensify. Mercedes seem to have found the right formula in Barcelona, but Ferrari and McLaren—represented by Oscar Piastri—won't take it lying down. Don't miss qualifying tonight to see who truly masters this circuit.
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Lewis Hamilton faces FIA penalty after ignoring Ferrari orders and driving a damaged car following a crash in final practice for the Spanish GP in Madrid.
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