Tasanapol Inthraphuvasak’s ART Grand Prix car erupted in flames after striking the Turn 19 wall rear-first during Friday morning’s sole Formula 2 practice session at the Madring. The Thai driver climbed out unhurt, but marshals needed time to smother the fire from a ruptured fuel tank.

The stoppage ran to 24 minutes, leaving the field with about six minutes of running before qualifying later the same day. It was the second red flag of the morning at the circuit, after DAMS driver Nicola Lacorte crashed at Turn 9 in the earlier F3 session.

The 5.414-kilometre Madring, which replaces Barcelona as Spain’s Formula 1 venue for 2026, has been under safety scrutiny long before the paddock arrived. A two-day Formula 3 test earlier in the month produced 19 red flags and three broken chassis.

Williams team principal James Vowles was blunt about what his engineers saw in the data.

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“In the Formula 3 test there were 19 red flags and three broken chassis, broken suspensions… okay, they’re Formula 3 drivers, but it’s a track that kills cars,” Vowles told GPFans.

The banked La Monumental corner is a separate concern. Vowles said the loads there are unlike anything currently on the calendar.

“It’s been a surprise for us seeing the data, the sustained G-forces we’re going to have to endure on the banked corner,” he said. “I think it’s four and a half seconds flat out with very high G-forces, which is a challenge for the whole car: tyres, hydraulics… everything.”

Drivers braced for chaos

Mercedes driver George Russell arrived expecting the walls to bite.

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“I was surprised there were only 19 red flags. So, it’s a crazy circuit,” Russell told ESPN. “I would put it, arguably, as the most risky circuit of the whole calendar. The walls are very close. There’s no margin for error.”

Williams driver Carlos Sainz, racing on home ground, said the layout and the barriers together set the tone.

“I think definitely with the way they’ve put the barriers and the design of the track it’s going to be one of the biggest challenges in Formula 1 recently,” Sainz told Sky Sports.

Alpine driver Pierre Gasly put money on the outcome.

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“I’ll put my money on the red flag, that’s for sure,” Gasly said to ESPN. “It’s a type of track a bit like Monaco, where if you do a slight mistake, it can have big consequences.”

A title fight with no F1 laps of Madring on the clock

The safety debate lands on a weekend that could reshape the championship. Kimi Antonelli arrives in Madrid leading Russell by 66 points after his comeback win at Monza, with 10 grands prix still to run.

No driver has an F1 lap of the Madring on the books. First practice is the moment the paddock stops guessing what the walls will do to a full-power car.

Qualifying is scheduled for Saturday, with the inaugural Spanish Grand Prix at the Madring on Sunday, 13 September.

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