Hamilton crashes as red flag brings Madrid FP3 to a halt

The seven-time world champion was able to get going again, but had to make his way around the entire circuit with the front wing trapped underneath the car. The team asked him over the radio to stop the car to avoid causing further damage.

After a back-and-forth with the pit wall during the lap, the Briton eventually parked the car in the middle of the track shortly after the Monumental corner.

The marshals are now working to clear the debris from the track and remove Hamilton's car, while at the final corner other track workers are repairing the barriers damaged in the impact.

The lengthy barrier repairs following Hamilton's crash prompted an unusual decision from the FIA. With 15 minutes still showing on the clock, the governing body opted to suspend the countdown, ensuring there would be enough time for the drivers to return to the track and complete some final running before qualifying.

Free practice sessions normally continue to count down during red-flag periods, making the decision to stop the clock a rare exception compared with the procedure generally seen in qualifying.

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