16:12
But all of those now fall a place as Hamilton puts in a 1m143.743s to go second fastest!
Norris in Barcelona
© XPB Images
F1 Barcelona GP Saturday practice and qualifying as it happened
Live coverage of Saturday at the F1 Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix
KEY MOMENTS
- Russell fastest in FP3 from Piastri
- Antonelli looks to make it six wins in a row
- McLaren breached Friday curfew for precautionary reasons
The seventh round of the 2026 Formula 1 season takes place at the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix.
There is perhaps no track on the F1 calendar better known to the drivers than the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, with the pre-pre-season behind-closed-doors test having taken place at the Spanish venue earlier this year, and endless tests having taken place on the circuit across the years.
With long straights and several major braking zones, overtaking is certainly possible on the 4.65km layout, but the action can be somewhat muted, with few viewing the venue as a favourite.
After the build-up to the weekend was dominated by Alpine's appeal against penalties handed to Pierre Gasly in Monaco, the Frenchman was returned to the podium positions on Friday morning. Red Bull and McLaren have now registered an intent to appeal that decision, meaning the topic continues to rumble on.
As for the on-track action, Kimi Antonelli is looking to further extend his championship lead with a sixth victory in succession. He has already equalled Lewis Hamilton's career-best winning streak, and could surpass that marker on Sunday. Highlighting the achievement, only Max Verstappen (10), Sebastian Vettel (9), Nico Roseberg (7), Michael Schumacher (7), and Alberto Ascari (7) have won more than five in a row.
But it was McLaren and Lando Norris who led the way on Friday, with George Russell second from Oscar Piastri. Antonelli was fifth in FP2, behind Charles Leclerc, but Lewis Hamilton could manage only ninth place after scoring back-to-back podiums in Canada and Monaco.
Aston Martin appears set for perhaps its worst weekend of the season so far, with Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll at the foot of the time sheet, with the latter over four seconds off the pace, and home hero Alonso not much better off.
2026 Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix Saturday schedule
FP3 11:30pm BST - 12:30pm BST
Qualifying: 3:00pm BST - 4:00pm BST
13 Jun 2026
16:24
F1 Barcelona GP: Qualifying Report
George Russell pips Lewis Hamilton to F1 Barcelona GP pole after Charles Leclerc crashes out
George Russell pipped Lewis Hamilton to pole position in a tight Formula 1 qualifying session at the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix.
George Russell, Mercedes
16:23
F1 Barcelona GP: Qualifying results
2026 F1 Barcelona Grand Prix: Full qualifying results
George Russell took pole position for the Formula 1 Barcelona Grand Prix.
The Mercedes driver is looking to get his title charge back on track after back-to-back races without scoring a point.
Hamilton in Barcelona
© XPB Images
16:13
F1 Barcelona GP: Top 10
The top 10 are:
- Russell
- Hamilton
- Antonelli
- Norris
- Verstappen
- Hadjar
- Piastri
- Lawson
- Hulkenberg
- Leclerc
16:12
Chequered flag
Norris goes third, Verstappen fourth, Hadjar fifth, and Piastri sixth.
16:11
But Russell smashes the time with a 1m14.679s! That will be pole position for Russell!
16:11
Across the line and Antonelli goes fastest with a 1m14.998s!
16:10
Russell and Antonelli are both improving, and both are going purple!
16:10
The garages empty, and all nine challengers are now on the track.
16:07
But Russell goes fastest with a 1m15.145s! By 0.031s he is fastest of all. Hamilton is P6.
16:06
P3 for Antonelli on half-used tyres - the ones he was on before the red flag. He's 0.238s back on Piastri.
16:05
Antonelli, Hamilton, Hadjar, and Russell are all out on the track. Norris, who was meters from the finish line when the red flag was thrown, is holding back and will have just one effort.
16:03
Q3 resumes
The light goes green, and Q3 resumes with just over eight minutes remaining.
16:02
Only Piastri and Verstappen have set times so far, so they won't need to rush out, but the rest need to set a banker.
16:01
The session will resume in two minutes. This could be frantic.
15:59
Drivers are getting ready to head out of the garage again.
15:55
The big thing here is how many drivers have just lost a set of fresh tyres? Piastri set the fastest time of qualifying so far with his 1m15.176s.
Russell had a lucky escape and was able to return to the pits before starting his hot lap, but that is still a heat cycle put through his tyres.
15:53
RED FLAG
Leclerc has smashed into the barriers at Turn 4. That is a heavy impact. He lost the rear on turn-in, caught the slide, and then the Ferrari gripped and fired into the wall.
15:52
A 1m15.328s for Verstappen as Piastri goes faster, but Leclerc has crashed!
15:51
Verstappen will be the first to set a time, and his purple microsectors are largely holding as the McLaren drivers chase him down.
15:50
All 10 drivers are on the move now, but who will set the initial pace?
15:49
Here come the drivers for a first Q3 run. The Mercedes drivers are hanging back a little in the garage.
15:48
Q3 begins
Q3 begins, but no rush to take to the track.
15:42
Top 10 in Q2
Through to the final phase are:
- Russell
- Leclerc
- Antonelli
- Norris
- Hamilton
- Verstappen
- Piastri
- Lawson
- Hadjar
- Hulkenberg
15:42
Chequered flag
There's the flag, and out drops Lindblad, Bortoleto, Colapinto, Gasly, Bearman, and Sainz.