Fiery Inthraphuvasak crash brings F2 Madrid practice to a standstill

Tasanapol Inthraphuvasak was involved in a fiery crash just minutes into Formula 2 practice at Madrid’s new circuit, bringing the session to a lengthy halt and leaving drivers with only a brief window to prepare for qualifying.

The F2 cars took to the track shortly after Formula 3 practice had concluded, giving the field its first experience of the new addition to the schedule. That opportunity was quickly interrupted when Inthraphuvasak spun at Turn 19 and struck the barrier heavily, making rear-first contact.

The impact immediately triggered a major response. The car burst into flames as the fuel tank exploded, although Inthraphuvasak was quick to climb clear. Trackside marshals then worked to extinguish the fire and make the area safe, creating the first major interruption of the F2 session.

The incident underlined the unforgiving nature of a circuit that is new to the drivers. With no prior practice running at the venue, every lap was important as teams and competitors worked to build their understanding of the layout ahead of qualifying later in the day.

Just six minutes remain after 24-minute clean-up

The clean-up operation lasted 24 minutes, significantly reducing the time available for the F2 field. Practice finally resumed with only six minutes remaining on the clock, turning the closing phase into a compressed effort to gather as much information as possible.

That limited restart leaves the drivers facing an unusually sharp transition from initial track discovery to qualifying preparation. The session had been intended to provide valuable running on the new circuit, but the crash instead forced the field to adapt to a heavily disrupted timetable.

The incident was also the second red flag of the day at the Madring track. Earlier, Nicola Lacorte had made contact with the barrier towards the end of Formula 3 practice. The F2 stoppage therefore added to a difficult opening sequence for the junior categories at Madrid.

For more on the weekend’s Formula 2 action, read our Formula 2 Madrid preview.