Fiery F2 crash halts Madring practice, driver escapes unhurt

ART Grand Prix's Tasanapol Inthraphuvasak escaped unhurt after a fiery crash at Turn 19 brought Friday morning's F2 practice at the Madring to a 24-minute halt. The Thai driver lost control through the fast final sequence and slammed rear-first into the barriers, his car quickly engulfed in flames. He climbed out unaided, but the lengthy red flag left just six minutes of running for the field ahead of qualifying.

Why it matters:

The stoppage was especially costly for the F2 grid, as this session was the only practice before qualifying later today. It also amplified existing concerns about the brand-new Madrid circuit, where close barriers and an unfamiliar layout have already produced a high number of incidents during a recent F3 test.

The details:

• Inthraphuvasak's crash occurred late in the lap, with the car spinning rear-first into the wall at Turn 19.
• Marshals extinguished the fire and cleared the wreckage, causing a delay of around 24 minutes.
• Nicola Lacorte also crashed earlier in F3 practice at Turn 9, though that session was near its end.
• A recent F3 test at the Madring produced 19 red flags across two days — 11 from crashes.
• F1's FP1 is scheduled to begin at 9:30pm AEST, with drivers preparing for their first official laps at the 5.414km circuit.

What's next:

The F2 field will regroup for qualifying later today, but the limited running could leave drivers struggling for confidence on a circuit that has already proven unforgiving. All eyes now turn to F1 FP1, where the sport's top runners will get their first taste of the Madring — and a chance to assess its safety quirks firsthand.