Lewis Hamilton crashed his Ferrari into the barriers during the final practice session for the Spanish Grand Prix in Madrid on Saturday, subsequently defying his engineer's instructions to stop the car.
The incident occurred as Hamilton was reportedly on course to set the fastest lap of the session. The collision caused significant damage to the front wing of his car. Following the impact, Hamilton was instructed by his engineer to cease operations and allow a recovery vehicle to return the car to the garage. However, the 41-year-old driver reversed the vehicle out of the barriers himself and re-entered the track, despite a tire puncture.
He was repeatedly told to 'stop the car' but continued until he could eventually limp to a halt. The incident adds to recent tensions within the Ferrari team, following an on-track clash with teammate Charles Leclerc during the previous weekend's Italian Grand Prix. Hamilton had expressed frustration after being squeezed off track by Leclerc, stating, 'Here there are no rules,' in contrast to his previous experience at Mercedes.
Hamilton had spoken earlier in the week about having face-to-face discussions with Leclerc to resolve such issues, describing their communication as honest, open, and positive. He also mentioned having clearing discussions with team principal Fred Vasseur. Despite these efforts, Hamilton indicated that specific rules of engagement had not yet been formally agreed upon, stating, 'You can't change things in two days.'
Hamilton currently trails Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli by 76 points in the championship standings with 10 rounds remaining. Reflecting on his pursuit of an eighth world title, Hamilton acknowledged the significant points deficit but stated, 'Mathematically it is not impossible.' He described his role at Ferrari as a long-term process, emphasizing that cultural changes within a large team do not happen overnight.