F1 News: Lewis Hamilton crashes at Spanish Grand Prix as red flag stops running

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, Canada, 2026 — Photo: © IMAGO

Spanish Grand Prix

Lewis Hamilton crashes at Spanish Grand Prix as red flag stops running

Hamilton caused a red flag in FP3

Dan Ripley Global Editor

Professional F1 journalist and analyst

Saturday 12 September 2026 13:19 Updated: 13:24

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Lewis Hamilton's Spanish Grand Prix preparation took a turn for the worse on Saturday when he crashed in final practice, bringing out a red flag.

Halfway into the session, the Ferrari star went straight on at El Parque, breaking off his front wing as he crashed into a barrier.

The angle of the crash meant Hamilton was able to reverse out and drive on, but with the front wing under his car he was told to stop by his Ferrari race engineer, Carlo Santi.

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However, Hamilton kept driving in an attempt to get back to the pits, before eventually stopping trackside.

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Hamilton refuses to stop his car

Once Hamilton got the car moving again, Santi told Hamilton to 'stop the car' twice, Hamilton though responded by saying the 'car is going.'

Moments later, Santi told Hamilton again to 'stop the car in the safest place possible'.

Hamilton though said he would only stop the car if he couldn't reach the pits, replying: 'If I can make it back I will if I can't I will do it safely.'

Santi then told Hamilton that he had a puncture, which Hamilton acknowledged that he knew.

Hamilton's desperation to get back to the pits was on the basis that he could pit, fix his front wing and then continue the session in crucial preparation for qualifying later today.

However, with his car clearly in an unsafe condition to drive, the 41-year-old was obliged to stop his car, especially when requested to do so by his team, ending his FP3.

F1's sporting regulations say that the punishment for not doing so ranges from a reprimand to a grid penalty, although there is no official investigation from the FIA stewards announced as of Saturday final practice still running.