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Antonelli tops Madring final practice after Turn 11 crash

By Drooid · Sep 12, 2026, 4:24 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Antonelli Tops Practice

Kimi Antonelli topped final practice at the new Madring circuit with a 1:32.797 lap.
Charles Leclerc finished second, 0.166 seconds slower.
Oliver Bearman crashed at high-speed Turn 11, prompting a red-flag stoppage.
Organizers reported tickets sold out, expecting 350,000 spectators over three days.
Madring signed a contract with Formula 1 extending through 2035.

Summary

Aston Martin Breach

Aston Martin admitted a curfew breach while fixing Lance Stroll’s battery, risking a grid penalty.
McLaren replaced Lando Norris’s gearbox, causing him to miss FP2 and lose track time.
Yuki Tsunoda suffered a power-steering fault in practice, receiving a stop-gap repair before qualifying.
The FIA halted the practice clock with 15 minutes remaining to allow extra running after barrier repairs.

History

Historical Context

On 1 May 1994 the San Marino Grand Prix at Imola claimed Ayrton Senna and Roland Ratzenberger, ending a 12-year fatal streak. The FIA’s response—circuit redesign, GPDA revival and mandatory safety devices—produced a 20-year lull in driver deaths. Today the Madring debut sees Kimi Antonelli fastest in practice as the FIA halts the session to repair barriers after Oliver Bearman’s crash, reflecting that legacy.

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Antonelli Tops Practice

Kimi Antonelli topped final practice at the new Madring circuit with a 1:32.797 lap.
Charles Leclerc finished second, 0.166 seconds slower.
Oliver Bearman crashed at high-speed Turn 11, prompting a red-flag stoppage.
Organizers reported tickets sold out, expecting 350,000 spectators over three days.
Madring signed a contract with Formula 1 extending through 2035.

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