FP3: Antonelli sets fastest lap in final practice as Hamilton suffers high-speed crash

F1 Grand Prix, GP Belgium, Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps

Championship leader Andrea Kimi Antonelli continued his fine form from the opening day at the Belgian grand Prix weekend by topping the third and final practice session while seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton suffered a high-speed crash in the dying stages of the sixty-minute session. F1Technical's senior writer Balazs Szabo delivers his report from the final Spa practice.

Formula 1 championship leader Andrea Kimi Antonelli continued his impressive form at the Belgian Grand Prix by setting the fastest time in the final practice session, while Lewis Hamilton brought out the red flags after crashing his Ferrari late in the hour.

Having topped Friday's second practice, the Mercedes driver delivered a strong performance in the third and final practice session by lapping Spa-Francorchamps 0.139 seconds faster than McLaren's Lando Norris. Max Verstappen finished third for Red Bull, just 0.148s adrift of Antonelli's benchmark.

The session ended dramatically when Hamilton suffered a rare accident at Turn 13. The Ferrari driver lost control of his car on corner entry, slid through the gravel trap and struck the tyre barriers.

The incident closely resembled Pierre Gasly's crash during Friday's second practice, with both drivers losing the rear of their cars at the same corner before making contact with the barriers.

Hamilton's Ferrari sustained substantial rear-end damage, forcing the seven-time world champion to stop on the circuit and triggering a red flag in the closing minutes of the session.

The accident leaves Ferrari facing a race against time to repair the SF-26 ahead of qualifying, which begins less than two and a half hours after the end of final practice.

Behind the leading trio, George Russell continued to struggle to match his Mercedes teammate's pace, finishing fourth but 0.367s slower than Antonelli.

Despite his late crash, Hamilton still ended the session fifth fastest, almost four tenths behind the Mercedes driver. Charles Leclerc endured a difficult session in the sister Ferrari, finishing sixth and nearly four tenths slower than Hamilton.

Oscar Piastri was seventh for McLaren, while Audi enjoyed another encouraging session with Nico Hülkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto claiming eighth and ninth respectively. Isack Hadjar completed the top ten for Red Bull.

Several drivers will head into Sunday's Belgian Grand Prix carrying grid penalties. Norris and Aston Martin's Lance Stroll are each set to receive 10-place grid drops, while Hadjar will start from the back of the grid after exceeding his permitted power unit allocation. Fernando Alonso will also take a grid penalty following additional power unit changes.