Fire‑filled F2 crash marks dramatic start to Madring weekend

The Spanish Grand Prix weekend opened with a dramatic incident at the newly introduced Madring circuit, where Tasanapol Inthraphuvasak suffered a violent crash during Formula 2 free practice. The ART Grand Prix rookie lost control in the high‑speed third sector, spinning into the Tec‑Pro barriers at the exit of Turn 19. The impact triggered a fire at the rear of the car, likely involving the fuel tank, but the Thai driver escaped immediately and avoided injury. Marshals needed several minutes to extinguish the flames and remove the car, with the session halted roughly thirty minutes before its scheduled end.

Earlier in the morning, Formula 3 driver Nicola Lacorte had already brought out the first red flag after hitting the barriers at Turn 9. The incidents reinforced warnings from several drivers about the track’s treacherous grip levels. Pierre Gasly even joked he had “hit every wall” during simulator training, a sentiment now echoed on track.