News Summary
- Nine cars were involved in a major opening-lap accident at Turn 7 during F3’s second race in Madrid.
- Contact between Enzo Deligny and Bruno del Pino triggered the incident, with Maciej Gładysz’s car briefly becoming airborne.
- No drivers were injured, but the race was red-flagged while damaged cars were removed and the circuit was repaired.
Formula 3’s second race of the Madrid weekend was red-flagged on the opening lap after a huge nine-car accident at Turn 7 brought the action to an immediate halt at Madring on Saturday.
The incident began when Enzo Deligny and Bruno del Pino made contact while the field negotiated the tight opening section of the new Madrid circuit. Both went into the barriers, triggering a chain reaction among the cars immediately behind them.
Maciej Gładysz, Jose Garfias, Woohyun Shin, Fernando Barrichello, Nicola Lacorte, Noah Strømsted and Fionn McLaughlin were all caught up in the accident alongside Deligny and Del Pino.
Gładysz’s car was briefly launched into the air amid the chaos, while Strømsted and McLaughlin were able to get their damaged cars back to the pits. Championship leader Freddie Slater narrowly avoided becoming another casualty as he picked his way through the wreckage.
No drivers were injured.
Race control initially had little option but to stop proceedings, with several damaged cars stranded around Turn 7 and repairs required before racing could resume.
Chaos triggers red flag during F3’s second race at Madring (Photo: Reproduction/F3)
The accident came just moments after a change for the lead.
Taito Kato had started from pole position but lost first place to Pedro Clerot in the opening exchanges. Behind them, Ugo Ugochukwu held fourth as the tightly packed field fought for position through Madring’s narrow opening sequence of corners.
It was further evidence of the challenge posed by Formula 1’s newest circuit.
Formula 3 had already provided an early warning about Madring during its two-day test in August, when the championship recorded 19 red flags. Ten different drivers hit the barriers during that running, with the combination of high-speed sections, narrow corners and nearby walls repeatedly punishing mistakes.
The competitive stakes are particularly high for F3 this weekend, with Madrid hosting the final round of the 2026 championship. Slater and Ugochukwu arrived at Madring as the main title contenders, making the championship leader’s narrow escape from the Turn 7 pile-up especially significant. The official F3 schedule confirms Madrid as the final round of the season.
Saturday’s major accident also contrasted sharply with the opening Sprint, where the field had largely avoided the sort of multi-car incident that had been feared before racing began.
That restraint disappeared almost immediately in the second race.
With Deligny and Del Pino making contact and seven more drivers unable to avoid the resulting wreckage, Formula 3’s first race weekend at Madring produced its biggest accident yet.
FAQ
What caused the big F3 crash in Madrid?
Enzo Deligny and Bruno del Pino made contact at Turn 7 on the opening lap. Their collision triggered a chain reaction that ultimately involved nine cars.
Which drivers were involved in the F3 Madrid crash?
Deligny, Del Pino, Maciej Gładysz, Jose Garfias, Woohyun Shin, Fernando Barrichello, Nicola Lacorte, Noah Strømsted and Fionn McLaughlin were involved. No drivers were injured.
Why was the F3 race red-flagged at Madring?
Several damaged cars were left around Turn 7 after the nine-car accident, while the circuit also required repairs. Race control therefore stopped the race to allow marshals to clear the scene safely.
