News Summary
- Lewis Hamilton crashed during FP3 for the Spanish GP while running fourth, damaging the front-right corner and front wing of his Ferrari.
- Hamilton initially reversed away from the barrier and attempted to return to the pits, apparently believing the main problem was a puncture and unaware that part of the front wing was trapped underneath the car.
- Ferrari subsequently instructed Hamilton to stop, but he initially questioned the call and continued before eventually parking the SF-26 further around the lap. There is no confirmed FIA sporting penalty at this stage.
Lewis Hamilton caused a red flag during FP3 for the 2026 Spanish Grand Prix after hitting the wall at Madring, bringing an early end to a session in which the Ferrari driver had been running fourth.
Hamilton lost control and struck the barrier, damaging the front-right area of the SF-26 and breaking the front wing. The seven-time world champion was able to reverse away from the wall and initially attempted to drive the damaged car back to the Ferrari garage.
The situation then became more complicated.
Hamilton apparently believed he was primarily dealing with a front-right puncture and was not initially informed by Ferrari that the damaged front wing had become trapped underneath the car.
As a result, he continued around the circuit with the broken component dragging beneath the SF-26.
Ferrari then instructed Hamilton to stop the car.
“But the car is going?” Hamilton replied over the radio.
The Briton initially continued despite the instruction before eventually bringing the Ferrari to a halt further around the lap.
At this stage, there is no confirmation that the FIA stewards have opened an investigation or imposed a sporting penalty on Hamilton. Any suggestion that he could be punished for driving an unsafe car should therefore remain conditional until an official stewards’ document is published.
The FIA’s Spanish GP decision-document page is being updated throughout the weekend, but no Hamilton FP3 decision had been published when this report was prepared.
Ferrari faces repair job before Madrid qualifying
The accident is particularly costly because it happened during the final practice session before qualifying at a circuit where track position is expected to be crucial.
Hamilton was fourth at the time of the crash, continuing Ferrari’s encouraging pace from Friday.
The Scuderia had already emerged as Mercedes’ closest challenger in FP2, when Andrea Kimi Antonelli led with a 1:33.662. Charles Leclerc was second, only 0.113s behind, while Hamilton finished third, 0.149s off the Mercedes.
That Friday performance had suggested Ferrari could challenge for the front row. Antonelli led Leclerc and Hamilton in a tightly contested Spanish GP FP2.
Ferrari now faces a race against time to inspect Hamilton’s SF-26 and complete any necessary repairs before qualifying.
The team will need to assess not only the obvious front-wing damage but also whether driving with the broken component underneath the car caused secondary damage to the floor, suspension or other areas.
No such additional damage has yet been confirmed.
Hamilton accident highlights Madring risk
Hamilton’s crash also reinforces the warnings drivers issued about Madring before Formula 1’s first weekend at the new circuit.
The Madrid layout combines high-speed corners with narrow sections and barriers close to the racing line. Hamilton himself described it as one of the most difficult new circuits he has encountered when it comes to finding the correct lines, comparing the challenge with Jeddah.
Friday had already provided a warning when Arvid Lindblad crashed his Racing Bulls at Turn 13 during FP2, causing the first F1 red flag of the weekend.
Mercedes nevertheless finished Friday on top, with Ferrari emerging as its closest challenger. The analysis also highlighted how the drivers had deliberately retained a small safety margin while learning the unfamiliar circuit.
FP3 was the point at which those margins were expected to shrink as teams moved towards qualifying preparation.
Hamilton’s accident demonstrated the consequences.
Could Hamilton be penalized for continuing with a damaged car?
The most sensitive aspect of the incident is not necessarily the crash itself, but what happened afterwards.
Hamilton reversed away from the barrier and began driving back towards the pits while part of the damaged front wing was underneath the Ferrari. The team subsequently told him to stop, but Hamilton initially questioned the instruction because the car was still moving.
Only afterwards did he stop on track.
The distinction is important when assessing any possible FIA action. The available information indicates Hamilton did not initially understand that the front wing was trapped underneath the car, believing instead that he was dealing with a puncture.
It would therefore be premature to state that Hamilton deliberately ignored an FIA safety instruction or definitively breached the Sporting Regulations.
If Race Control or the stewards consider that the Ferrari was driven in an unsafe condition, the incident can be reviewed. The key questions would include the condition of the car, what Hamilton knew at the time, the instructions he received and whether continuing presented a danger to other competitors.
Until the FIA publishes a summons, investigation notice or decision, however, there is no confirmed sporting penalty for Hamilton.
The accident nevertheless leaves Ferrari with another complication shortly before the most important session of Saturday.
With overtaking expected to be difficult at Madring, qualifying position could have an unusually large influence on Sunday’s race. Hamilton had been firmly in the battle at the front before his FP3 accident and now depends on Ferrari completing the repairs in time to allow him to participate normally in qualifying.
The complete Spanish GP schedule is available here.
GRANDE PRÊMIO follows all the developments from Madring, including Hamilton’s situation, the FIA’s response and qualifying for the Spanish GP.
FAQ
What happened to Lewis Hamilton in Spanish GP FP3?
Hamilton hit the wall during final practice at Madring while running fourth. He reversed away from the barrier and attempted to return to the pits with front-wing damage before Ferrari instructed him to stop the car.
Will Lewis Hamilton get a penalty for driving his damaged Ferrari?
There is no confirmed sporting penalty at this stage. Hamilton continued after the accident with part of his damaged front wing underneath the car, but the available information indicates he initially believed the problem was a front-right puncture. Any penalty would depend on an FIA investigation and official stewards’ decision.
Will Lewis Hamilton take part in Madrid F1 qualifying?
Ferrari must assess and repair the SF-26 following the FP3 accident. There was no confirmation at the time of publication that Hamilton would miss qualifying, so his participation remains expected unless Ferrari discovers damage that cannot be repaired in time.
