Fiery F2 crash causes red flag at Madrid practice

F2 practice at the new Madrid circuit was red-flagged after Tasanapol Inthraphuvasak crashed heavily into the barriers at Turn 19, his car bursting into flames. The AIX Racing driver escaped quickly, but the fire took time to extinguish, leading to a lengthy cleanup.

Why it matters:

This was the only practice session before qualifying on a brand-new track. The lost running time leaves F2 drivers with limited laps to learn the Madring layout, adding pressure to the qualifying session later today.

The details:

• Inthraphuvasak spun at Turn 19 and hit the barrier rear-first, rupturing the fuel tank.
• The car caught fire immediately; the driver climbed out unaided.
• The cleanup was the second red flag of the day, after Nicola Lacorte made contact with the wall in F3 practice.
• The session offered drivers their first taste of the Madrid circuit, which is new to the F1 support calendar.

What's next:

Qualifying is still scheduled for later today, but the reduced running makes setup choices riskier. Inthraphuvasak’s car damage may also affect his participation, though the team will be working to repair it in time.