JUST IN: F1’S NEW MADRING CIRCUIT HIT BY TERRIFYING CRASH AS CAR BURSTS INTO F…..see more details into comment

JUST IN: F1’S NEW MADRING CIRCUIT HIT BY TERRIFYING CRASH AS CAR BURSTS INTO F…..see more details into comment 

    Fiery F2 crash opens Madrid weekend

Formula 1’s return to Madrid got off to a dramatic start on Friday as Thai Formula Two driver Tasanapol Inthraphuvasak escaped unhurt from a terrifying crash at the new Madring circuit. The 20-year-old ART Grand Prix driver lost control and spun backwards into the barriers at Turn 19 early in F2 practice, with the car bursting into flames on impact. Inthraphuvasak jumped out of the cockpit unaided and climbed over the wall, but it took some time before marshals arrived with fire extinguishers. The session was immediately red-flagged and it took around 24 minutes to clear the track, leaving just six minutes of running remaining.

   “Car-wrecking” Madring under scrutiny

The incident was the first major crash at the 5.414km Madring, a mix of street circuit and purpose-built track around IFEMA with 22 turns and the banked “La Monumental” corner. Drivers had already warned the layout is punishing. George Russell called it “arguably the most risky circuit of the whole calendar because you have real high-speed corners, Jeddah-esque. The walls are very close, so there’s no margin for error”. Max Verstappen added, “In some places, when you have a tiny moment, it can result in a crash”. Concerns grew after an F3 test last month produced 19 red flags over two days, with 11 due to crashes, plus three broken chassis and six broken suspensions. Williams boss James Vowles summed it up: “It’s a car-wrecking track”.

   F1 session also halted as Lindblad crashed

The drama continued into F1’s second practice. Racing Bulls rookie Arvid Lindblad became the first F1 driver to crash at the Madring, losing the rear on the approach to Turn 13 after La Monumental and hitting the barriers hard enough to damage the right side and rear wing. He was unhurt and radioed “I am ok”, but the red flags flew with 24 minutes to go. Despite the chaos, Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli topped FP2 ahead of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton. With blind corners, high-speed sections and overtaking expected to be difficult, teams and drivers now face a weekend where, as Pierre Gasly put it, “I’ll put my money on the red flag”.