MADRID — Ollie Bearman escaped injury after a heavy crash brought Spanish Grand Prix FP3 to a dramatic early finish on Saturday, leaving Haas with a frantic repair job before qualifying at Madrid’s new Madring circuit.
Nooo, Ollie!
— Formula 1 (@F1) September 12, 2026
The Haas driver loses control and hits the wall in the final moments of FP3 😳#F1 #SpanishGP pic.twitter.com/hpsS2lksRk
LATEST UPDATE — Spanish GP Qualifying
Lando Norris has taken pole position for the inaugural Spanish Grand Prix at Madring, beating Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli by just 0.011 seconds with a 1:31.824 lap.
Home favourites Carlos Sainz and Fernando Alonso were both eliminated in Q1, dealing a major blow to Spanish hopes at Madrid’s first Formula 1 qualifying session. Sergio Perez was also among the notable drivers knocked out in the opening stage.
For Haas, Ollie Bearman’s heavy FP3 crash had major qualifying consequences. The team faced an urgent repair operation after his car suffered extensive damage in the session-ending accident.
Front of the grid: Norris will start from pole ahead of Antonelli, with Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton among the leading challengers for Sunday’s race.
The British driver hit the barriers in the closing moments of final practice, badly damaging the left side and rear of his Haas. Bearman climbed out without assistance and was reported OK, but with qualifying approaching, attention immediately shifted to whether his VF-26 could be repaired in time.
Bearman crash ends FP3 under red flags
Bearman’s accident came as drivers were pushing through their final qualifying simulations. The impact triggered an immediate red flag and, with almost no useful session time remaining, FP3 was effectively over.
Bearman was classified 13th, 1.684 seconds off the fastest time. Haas teammate Esteban Ocon finished 12th.
The result mattered less than the state of Bearman’s car. Haas mechanics faced a tight turnaround to inspect the damage and replace any affected suspension, bodywork or other components before qualifying.
For Bearman, simply being ready to return would only be part of the challenge. He would potentially have to attack the same unfamiliar circuit in qualifying without completing his planned final practice run.
Hamilton crash adds to chaotic Spanish GP session
Bearman was not the only driver caught out by Madring.
Lewis Hamilton crashed his Ferrari earlier in FP3 near the end of the lap, damaging the car and causing another red flag. The stoppage significantly reduced the amount of final practice running available to the field.
Alex Albon also made contact with the wall during the session, adding to a difficult weekend for drivers learning the limits of Formula 1’s new Madrid venue.
Those interruptions could have a direct impact on qualifying. FP3 is normally the final chance for teams to fine-tune low-fuel balance, tyre preparation and qualifying setups. This time, several drivers were denied clean representative runs.
Antonelli beats Leclerc and Piastri to fastest time
Mercedes youngster Kimi Antonelli topped FP3 with a 1:32.797, continuing an impressive weekend for the team.
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc finished second, just 0.166 seconds behind. McLaren’s Oscar Piastri was third at +0.189, followed by Lando Norris, Max Verstappen and George Russell.
Mercedes has now shown pace throughout practice. Russell led FP1 before Antonelli went fastest in FP2 and again in FP3, giving the team plenty of momentum heading into the fight for pole.
The timesheets do not tell the entire story, however. Hamilton’s interruption and Bearman’s session-ending crash meant some drivers could not complete their quickest planned laps.
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Haas had shown promising pace before Bearman’s accident
Bearman entered Saturday after completing useful mileage on Friday. He was 16th in FP1 with a 1:36.853 before improving to 14th in FP2.
Ocon provided a stronger indication of the VF-26’s potential by finishing ninth in FP2. According to Haas’ official Spanish Grand Prix practice report, the team used Friday to build its understanding of the completely new venue.
The situation highlights how quickly an F1 weekend can change before the grid is decided. Similar qualifying pressure has shaped other major race weekends, including the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix schedule and qualifying battle.
Madring is proving unforgiving
The Spanish Grand Prix is being staged at Madring for the first time in 2026. The Madrid circuit measures 5.416 kilometres and features 22 corners, mixing purpose-built track with public-road sections around IFEMA Madrid and Valdebebas.
Its narrow stretches, nearby barriers and unfamiliar braking points have already punished mistakes. Arvid Lindblad crashed during Friday practice before Hamilton, Albon and Bearman encountered trouble on Saturday.
For fans following major sporting events this weekend, the Patriots vs Seahawks matchup is another high-profile contest on the schedule.
Qualifying clock is ticking for Haas
Bearman walking away safely was the most important outcome. For Haas, the sporting question is now whether the team can turn a heavily damaged car back into a qualifying-ready machine in a matter of hours.
Bearman had not been confirmed out of qualifying following the crash. His participation depended on the extent of the damage and how quickly Haas could complete the necessary repairs.
If the VF-26 is ready, Bearman will face an immediate test: put the crash behind him and attack Madring again with a starting position on the line. If repairs cannot be completed, the late FP3 accident could reshape his entire Spanish Grand Prix weekend.
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