Spanish GP: Antonelli tops second practice as Lindblad crashes

Kimi Antonelli set the pace in a tense second practice at Madrid's new Madring, edging out Ferrari's Charles Leclerc as Mercedes continued its strong weekend. The session was interrupted by a crash for Racing Bulls rookie Arvid Lindblad, who walked away unharmed.

Why it matters:

The Madring's unforgiving layout—with concrete walls and minimal runoff—is punishing mistakes, making reliability and composure as crucial as raw speed. Mercedes' early form suggests a potential shift in the competitive order, while Ferrari lurks close behind.

The details:

• Antonelli's best lap of 1m33.662s came on soft tyres, putting him ahead of Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton.
• Lindblad's crash at Turn 13 brought out red flags with 25 minutes left, freezing the order.
• George Russell, FP1 pacesetter, ended fifth, behind Lindblad, with Max Verstappen sixth.
• Oscar Piastri led McLaren in seventh; Lando Norris managed just two laps before a gearbox change.
• Home heroes Carlos Sainz and Fernando Alonso languished in 16th and 17th, with Alonso delayed by a clutch issue.

What's next:

With the Madring already showing it can catch out even the best, Saturday's qualifying will demand both bravery and precision. Mercedes looks like the early benchmark, but Ferrari and Red Bull remain within striking distance.