Antonelli tops final practice at Spanish Grand Prix after red-flag incidents
Mercedes rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli set the fastest lap in the final practice session for the Spanish Grand Prix, while crashes involving Lewis Hamilton and Oliver Bearman caused two red flags.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli of Mercedes recorded the quickest time in the final practice (FP3) for the Spanish Grand Prix at the Madrigán circuit, posting a 1:32.797 lap. The session was interrupted twice after Lewis Hamilton crashed into the wall at Turn 22, damaging his front wing, and later when Haas driver Oliver Bearman lost control at Turn 10, striking the concrete barrier.
Hamilton's incident forced him to attempt a lap on three wheels before abandoning the effort, prompting a lengthy barrier repair that halted the clock at 15:38. After a 40-minute pause, Charles Leclerc briefly improved the benchmark with a 1:32.963 lap, but Antonelli reclaimed the lead on his second attempt.
McLaren's Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri completed the top four, each within two-tenths of Antonelli's time. Red Bull's Max Verstappen was fifth, while teammate George Russell and fellow Red Bull driver Liam Lawson followed. Audi's Nico Hülkenberg set the fastest first sector but finished eighth overall. Hamilton ended the session in ninth place.
Williams driver Alex Albon also retired early after hitting the wall at the start of his run, requiring suspension repairs.
The practice results position Antonelli as the provisional pace setter heading into qualifying, with Mercedes achieving a clean sweep of the weekend's practice sessions.