The Spanish Grand Prix was thrown into chaos during free practice when a car hit the wall and burst into flames on Friday morning
The Spanish Grand Prix was thrown into chaos as a car burst into flames following a horror crash during free practice.
F2 star Tasanapol Inthraphuvasak escaped unharmed after he lost control and smashed his car into the wall in the third sector of the Madring circuit. The rear of his car burst into flames, but the Thai driver was able to leap out and quickly move away from the fire.
The car continued to burn as marshals arrived with fire extinguishers. The crash came before F1 drivers hit the circuit for their first practice on a circuit that has already been branded as a “car-killer” by Red Bull’s Max Verstappen.
JOIN US ON FB! Get all the best sports news and much more on our Facebook page
George Russell, meanwhile, admitted the track is the “craziest circuit on the calendar.” He continued: “You have real high-speed corners, Jeddah-esque. Here, the walls are very close, there’s no margin for error.
“Then you have corners like Baku: high-speed with slow braking zones. I’m excited to trial it out – I do think it’ll be really challenging to overtake.”
However, Madrid-born Carlos Sainz is relishing the chance to race on home roads: “I’m for sure going to enjoy this a lot,” he told the media on Thursday.
“It’s going to be busy, but also emotional. I’m going to try and enjoy it as much as possible. It looks like the track has a character that is charismatic, with a lot of different types of corners.”
Fernando Alonso added: “It’s going to be a very nice weekend. We have this privilege to race two times in Spain this year, and for the very first time in Madrid. It is special. Also a new track, so it adds this challenge for everyone to learn the track as quick as possible in Free Practice.
“For me, it’s double special being in Spain. Madrid is one of the best cities in the world so to have a Grand Prix and to welcome F1 here is incredible. I think for any racing driver, to win in Madrid will mean a lot.
“It’s very technical, lots of kerb riding and a couple of high-speed sections where you need to get very close to the walls, which is very attractive and very high adrenaline for a driver – close to Jeddah.”