13:37
A strong Real Madrid contingent on the F1 grid, and it's absolutely packed down there.
Norris starts from pole in Spain
© XPB Images
LIVE
F1 Madrid LIVE: Spanish GP race updates
Live coverage of Sunday at the F1 Spanish Grand Prix
KEY MOMENTS
- Norris storms to Madrid pole
- Safety car interruptions expected
- Sainz takes grid penalty for blocking
The 14th round of the 2026 Formula 1 season takes place at the Spanish Grand Prix.
The Madring becomes F1's newest grand prix venue as it replaces Barcelona as the home of the Spanish Grand Prix. The street track layout features 22 turns packed into a 5.414km distance, with the banked Turn 12 the focal point.
In the lead-up to the weekend, drivers have commented on an expectation of red flags, with many in the lower reaches keen to take advantage of any opportunities that may present themselves.
However, Friday saw only one stoppage, as Arvid Lindblad lost control of his Racing Bulls car at Turn 13 in the second practice session.
Holding a 66-point advantage over George Russell, Kimi Antonelli has a chance to further extend the margin from second on the grid, while the Briton goes from seventh. Lando Norris starts from pole position for McLaren on a track where track position will be crucial.
2026 Spanish Grand Prix Sunday schedule
Grand Prix: 2:00pm BST - 4:00pm BST
13 Sep 2026
13:36
Here come the drivers. The cars are being pushed down the grid with Norris' car just arriving on pole.
It seems that Ferrari has been scrubbing its hard tyres on the formation laps to the grid. The tactics begin already.
13:29
McLaren ramping up efforts for early Max Verstappen race engineer arrival amid Madrid F1 paddock meeting
McLaren ramping up efforts for early Max Verstappen race engineer arrival amid Madrid F1 paddock meeting
McLaren is ramping up its efforts to bring in leading Red Bull Formula 1 engineer Gianpiero Lambiase earlier than planned.
It was announced back in April that Lambiase, who is most well known for being Max Verstappen’s long-standing race engineer, will make the switch to McLaren, where he will become the Woking squad's chief racing officer.
McLaren boss Zak Brown has held talks with Gianpiero Lambiase in the F1 paddock
13:20
The engines have fired up and the pit lane is open. A couple of laps, and then the drivers will be lining up on the grid for the usual pre-race formalities.
13:16
We are 45 minutes away from lights out in Madrid. The drivers will be leaving the garages in a few moments, and the first red flag is expected in...well, we'll see about that one.
So far, the drivers have largely been well-behaved, but when the red mist descends, that could all change very quickly.
13:14
Twist in Madrid Ferrari power deficit between Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc
As of Saturday at the Spanish Grand Prix, both Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc were running the same specification power unit in their Ferrari Formula 1 cars.
It was known that Leclerc would be forced to use Ferrari’s old ADUO 1 power unit for the weekend in Madrid as a consequence of his huge crash at last weekend’s Italian Grand Prix, while Hamilton was set to continue with the team’s upgraded ADUO 2 engine that was introduced at Monza.
Lewis Hamilton qualified fourth for the Spanish Grand Prix
13:08
F1 2026 Spanish Grand Prix: Full starting grid for first race in Madrid after two penalties
F1 2026 Spanish Grand Prix: Full starting grid for first race in Madrid after two penalties
This is the full starting grid for the 2026 Formula 1 Spanish Grand Prix.
Lando Norris will start from pole position on F1’s first visit to its Spanish Grand Prix home in Madrid.
The top three qualifiers for Sunday's Spanish Grand Prix
13:03
Good afternoon!
Good afternoon and welcome to Madrid for the Spanish Grand Prix. It's the first time that F1 has raced at the Madring, and from what we've seen in the junior categories so far, overtaking is going to most certainly be at a premium today.
Norris starts from pole position, with Antonelli alongside. In bad news for Russell's championship hopes, the second Mercedes driver will go from seventh place.