Lewis Hamilton claimed a sensational first grand prix victory for Ferrari as he comfortably beat old team Mercedes to top spot in Barcelona.
The 41-year-old, who endured such an underwhelming first year in Scuderia red in which he failed to register a podium, started in second but had superior pace throughout the 66-lap race on Sunday.
Hamilton was catching race leader George Russell before a well-timed VSC (virtual safety car) meant Hamilton pitted, switched tyres and emerged in front. From that moment on, victory was assured.
It solidifies Hamilton’s position in second in the world championship and now he trails Kimi Antonelli by 41 points after seven races of the season, following the Italian’s late retirement. It is Hamilton’s first win in 686 days and Ferrari’s first win since October 2024.
Follow the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix with The Independent.
F1 BARCELONA-CATALUNYA GP - LATEST UPDATES
- Lewis Hamilton wins the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix
- Click HERE for the top-10 in Barcelona
- Hamilton now only trails by 41 points to Kimi Antonelli
- VSC! Hamilton emerges in front after well-timed VSC
- START! Pole-sitter Russell gets off to a super start
- ‘I left the track’: Lewis Hamilton reveals radical preparation for best-ever Ferrari F1 qualifying
Lewis Hamilton after his first Ferrari victory:
15:50 , Kieran Jackson
“A huge grazie here to my team in Ferrari. I started out with a dream last year which seemed impossible, but we didn’t give up hope. We made so many changes.
“I’ve got the greatest fanbase a sportsman could ever ask for.
On where this win ranks: “They’re all special in their own way, this one is something else.
“I watched Ferrari have all that success when I was younger, I always wondered what it’d be like to win in that car and it’s come. I’m forever grateful to them, this is the first of many for them, the car felt fantastic, Forza Ferrari!”
On how he’s done it: “Just working my way back to my centre, I’ve got great prep, trained so hard, so much work in the background. We’re slowly starting to see it come together, I’m just happy in my life, in a good place, love doing what I do, no better
On title race/Antonelli losing points: “I definitely will take it, there’s a long long way to go, they have great pace.
“It’s not over that’s for sure.”
Lewis Hamilton on launching title challenge:
19:30 , Kieran Jackson
“Absolutely, this is just beginning. Mercedes have an amazing package, it will take absolutely everything from all of us in this team to overcome the deficit.
“To get to being ahead of them consistently but nothing’s impossible, one step at a time.”
Max Verstappen after finishing fourth:
19:02 , Kieran Jackson
“Bit lucky with P4, pretty lonely for me. Did my own race, tried to make it work until the end.”
“We need to work harder, bring more performance to the car.”
Lewis Hamilton on his doubters:
18:40 , Kieran Jackson
“I often use it as fuel. I think it’s easy to be negative about people - when it’s worse is when it’s a driver; they don’t even have the success I have and they talk negatively.
“It was really the fans who rescued me; several fans said ‘don’t forget who you are. ’ How do I find myself again? How do I find the courage and strength to keep building and trying?
“There’s a lot of things I wanted to change, race team, engineer-wise, get the car pointing in the right direction, a lot of work to do.
“To cross the line in the red car, wow! Dreamed it having a bacon sarnie at home with my family! Lots of love to my family, everyone in the UK, world cup team - I will be supporting you.”
Constructor standings after Barcelona-Catalunya GP
18:20 , Kieran Jackson
1. Mercedes - 262 points
2. Ferrari - 190 points
3. McLaren - 141 points
4. Red Bull - 89 points
5. Alpine - 60 points
6. Racing Bulls - 38 points
7. Haas - 21 points
8. Williams - 11 points
9. Audi - 2 points
10. Cadillac - 1 point
11. Aston Martin - 0 points
Lewis Hamilton on his first Ferrari win:
18:01 , Kieran Jackson
Big puff of cheeks at the start of his Sky Sports interview....
“Jeez, where do I start?! I couldn’t have done this without this amazing team, more so coming into this year after such a difficult year. My fans really saved me through such a difficult moment of last year.
“Every day having this dream as a kid, 1996 - Michael won here with Ferrari, I remember watching the red car and wondering what it’d be like to win in that car, stand on top of that podium and sing the national anthem, there’s nothing like it, absolutely incredible.
“I came from quite a low place; it's about never giving up on yourself, keep on trying.”
Charles Leclerc after his late retirement:
17:45 , Kieran Jackson
“I had a fail, no power steering anymore. Then, that was the end of my race.
On Hamilton’s win: “I don’t want to take any credit for today’s race, I didn’t have a role. Lewis and the team have done the job, got the win all by themselves, I could have stayed two-three corners .
“Lewis won with an incredible margin, 20 seconds, incredible, he’s been really on it. It’s up to me to up my game, put everything together and hopefully clean weekends... we’ve had quite a lot of issues.”
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff:
17:30 , Kieran Jackson
On Hamilton’s win: “I’m happy for him, in a Ferrari, he’s waited a long time and worked very hard to get on the top step of the podium. Today, he deserved it.
On Antonelli: “We can’t compete for a championship if every second race we have a car fails; to finish first you have to finish, not good enough. We tried to race fair with the team game... they raced each other quite hard.
“We lost about 4/5 seconds to Lewis.”
Kimi Antonelli, after his late retirement:
17:10 , Kieran Jackson
“We were quickest on track today, second stint, super quick. The pace was very good, Lewis after the VSC was not possible to catch - very happy for his win. On my side, very disappointing; I feel a bit angry right now. But these things happen, happen to everyone, more important to come back stronger.
“For sure, they’re on incredible form, Ferrari is very reliable and quick as well. We need to maximise every opportunity we have and try to do our best, won’t be straightforward but I'm already looking forward to the next one.”
Top-10 - driver standings
16:55 , Kieran Jackson
Hamilton is now just 41 points behind Antonelli.
Title charge?
1. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) - 156 points
2. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) - 115 points
3. George Russell (Mercedes) - 106 points
4. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) - 75 points
5. Lando Norris (McLaren) - 73 points
6. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) - 68 points
7. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) - 55 points
8. Pierre Gasly (Alpine) - 41 points
9. Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls) - 34 points
10. Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls) - 26 points
Lando Norris after nicking a podium:
16:42 , Kieran Jackson
“I want to congratulate Lewis, nice to see him back on top, very happy for you mate.
“Tough race, did my best but too quick. We gave ourselves a chance; we got a bit lucky with Antonelli going out - very happy to be back on the podium.
“We’re doing good job as a team, making good progress, credit to them, we have to keep working hard, we’ve got to keep our heads down, we’ll be there soon.”
George Russell after finishing second:
16:31 , Kieran Jackson
“Huge congrats to this guy. I know how hard he works, we spent a lot of years together at Mercedes. Good to see him back to the Lewis we remember.
“Ferrari massive impressive today... we need to keep on pushing. The last two stints were more difficult; good to be back here [on podium].
“Yesterday was a real surprise, the pace today was insane from Lewis. Yeah, they’re coming, I think…”
PHOTOS: Hamilton wins for Ferrari
16:21 , Kieran Jackson
Nico Rosberg on Hamilton's win:
16:12 , Kieran Jackson
“I can honestly enjoy it with him, very happy to congratulate him. Very happy to see. He’s driving so well, flying and confident, enjoying it. For him to get this win is spectacular, historic.”
Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur:
16:05 , Kieran Jackson
“One year and a half, bit up and down, but now the win.”
“From lap one, we knew tyre management would be key - he did a fantastic job in the rest.”
A special podium for Hamilton
15:53 , Kieran Jackson
Lewis Hamilton stands on top of the podium in Ferrari red!
Incidentally, that’s the first all-British top-three since the 1968 United States Grand Prix - which was Jackie Stewart, Graham Hill and John Surtees.
Fitting, really, that it’s Hamilton who is on top for this one!
Top-10 in Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix
15:43 , Kieran Jackson
1. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari)
2. George Russell (Mercedes)
3. Lando Norris (McLaren)
4. Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
5. Oscar Piastri (McLaren)
6. Isack Hadjar (Red Bull)
7. Pierre Gasly (Alpine)
8. Franco Colapinto (Alpine)
9. Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls)
10. Arvid Lindblad (Racing Bulls)
Hamilton jumps into Ferrari team
15:40 , Kieran Jackson
Hamilton drives into the pit-lane and runs towards his Ferrari team!
He then pauses, down on his haunches, as he reflects on what he’s achieved.
Antonelli and Norris embrace the 41-year-old.
What a glorious moment.
Hamilton's team radio
15:39 , Kieran Jackson
Engineer Carlo Santi: Well done Lewis, well done! You got what you deserved.
Fred Vasseur: Congratulations we did it.
Hamilton: Woo. Grazie tutti. Thank you so much for helping me to achieve this dream, can;t thank you enough. Thanks to everyone pushing at home, to my family, I love you and to the fans, thank you for continuing to remind me who I am - couldn’t do it without you!”
“Thank you for those great pit stops too!”
Lewis Hamilton wins the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix
15:36 , Kieran Jackson
It’s the moment Hamilton dreamed of when he signed for Ferrari last year - and now the moment has finally arrived!
Hamilton victorious for the first time in 686 days, since Spa 2024, for his first win in Scuderia red!
Russell 2nd, Norris 3rd.
VSC ends (Lap 65/66)
15:34 , Kieran Jackson
One more lap for Hamilton - and his lead is comfortable, 21 seconds clear.
What a moment this will be for Hamilton and Ferrari...
VSC (Lap 63/66)
15:32 , Kieran Jackson
Crucially for Hamilton, it’s just a VSC - so that keeps his 25 second lead to Russell.
Antonelli’s car is on the edge of the grass, so they’re oging to wheel it away.
A nightmare for the championship leader - that’s 18 points gone!
Hamilton should be fine here...
Antonelli's out (Lap 62/66)
15:30 , Kieran Jackson
Oh wow!
Antonelli has just stopped out on track - his engine has gone!
He’s OUT of the race.
Leclerc also has issues.
VSC.
Antonelli takes second place (Lap 61/66)
15:28 , Kieran Jackson
Russell didn’t make it easy - but Antonelli has second place!
Russell dived to the right at turn 1 but Antonelli held his nerve and steamed through!
Can Russell fight it?!
Top-10 with six laps to go (Lap 60/66)
15:26 , Kieran Jackson
1. Hamilton - leader
2. Russell +13.8
3. Antonelli +0.9
4. Norris +2.6
5. Verstappen +16.0
6. Leclerc +7.1
7. Piastri +9.2
8. Hadjar +1 lap
9. Gasly +1 lap
10. Colapinto + 1 lap
Russell given hurry-up (Lap 56/66)
15:21 , Kieran Jackson
Russell is told to speed up, with Antonelli within a second.
McLaren, with Norris behind by 1.7 seconds, have told the FIA that Antonelli should be getting a five-second penalty for track limits.
Nothing yet.
Oh, you want to know about Hamilton’s lead, right? Need not worry: 12.1 seconds at the moment.
Hamilton building his lead (Lap 51/66)
15:17 , Kieran Jackson
This is some gap that Hamilton is building - he’s now 8.9 seconds out in front, with Russell powerless behind.
In fact, Antonelli is within one second of Russell now. Is this the main race now?
Antonelli: “I have so much more pace now.”
4-10: Norris, Verstappen, Leclerc, Piastri, Hadjar, Gasly, Colapinto
Hamilton cleared (Lap 49/66)
15:11 , Kieran Jackson
Relief for Hamilton fans - no further investigation for a potential yellow flag infringement.
His lead is now 6.6 seconds; Mercedes look like they have no answer.
Kimi Antonelli is 1.5 seconds behind his teammate in third.
Hamilton builds his lead (Lap 47/66)
15:10 , Kieran Jackson
The seven-time world champion is storming away out in front, with a lead of over SIX seconds now to George Russell.
Is today the day, tifosi?
3-10: Antonelli, Norris, Verstappen, Leclerc, Piastri, Hadjar, Gasly, Colapinto
Still, some way to go yet...
Hamilton noted for yellow flag infringement (Lap 45/66)
15:07 , Kieran Jackson
Uh oh.
Hamilton has been noted for a yellow flag infringement.
Did he not lift off when the yellow flag at turn 9 was waved?
We shall see. Let’s hope it’s all OK...
Hamilton leads (Lap 43/66)
15:04 , Kieran Jackson
That was perfect timing for Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari.
He pitted under VSC conditions, saving him time and is now three seconds ahead of Russell - and with slightly fresher tyres!
Now, it’s all about his Ferrari car’s performance.
Could this be his first win in Ferrari red?
Russell’s engineer; “24 laps remaining, this is the race in front of you.”
VSC (Lap 41/66)
15:02 , Kieran Jackson
What will this do here?
Alonso has stopped on the grass at turn 9 - VSC deployed.
Everyone’s pace is neutralised.
Verstappen dives into the pits - and Hamilton heads in as well from the lead!
He pits - and comes out ahead of Russell!
Wow. Is this Hamilton’s race?
Leclerc pits (Lap 40/68)
14:59 , Kieran Jackson
Leclerc dives in - after holding up Russell for a while - and comes out in sixth.
Antonelli pits (Lap 38/66)
14:57 , Kieran Jackson
Another 2.8 second stop and Antonelli JUST emerges in front of Norris.
Hamilton now leads the race - he’s on 11-lap old mediums and he’s 14.7 seconds clear of Leclerc in second.
Russell trails Leclerc by two seconds...
Russell pits (Lap 37/66)
14:54 , Kieran Jackson
Mercedes bite.
Russell pits - 2.8 second stop - and comes out in fourth, in clean air.
Antonelli now leads. 4.5 seconds ahead of Hamilton.
Antonelli’s engineer: “It won’t be long Kimi, we have to cover Norris.”
Norris pits (Lap 36/66)
14:53 , Kieran Jackson
McLaren make their move with their leading man - Norris pits and is back out in sixth on hard tyres.
How long will Mercedes leave it?
Lewis Hamilton on radio (Lap 35/66)
14:51 , Kieran Jackson
Hamilton: “Am I catching them?”
Engineer: “You are catching, keep pushing.”
Hamilton can smell a win here...
Russell defends against Antonelli (Lap 33/66)
14:49 , Kieran Jackson
Russell shifts over to the right to defend from Antonelli and he holds first place - for now!
Who is this helping? Lewis Hamilton, storming through the field. He’s in fourth now and lapping very quickly...
Antonelli closing in on Russell (Lap 31/66)
14:47 , Kieran Jackson
Out of nothing, the Italian is zoning in on his teammate - the difference is just 0.5 seconds out in front!
Will we have any squabbles between the Mercedes men?
Hamilton sweeps past Piastri (Lap 29/66)
14:45 , Kieran Jackson
Hamilton up to sixth, cruising past the McLaren on fresher tyres at the sweeping turn 3.
Russell is also warned about Hamilton’s strategy. What will they do?
Antonelli, meanwhile, already has a black-and-white flag for track limits. Any more violations and he’ll be given a five-second penalty...
Verstappen pits a lap later and comes out in seventh, despite a slow four-second stop.
Hamilton pits (Lap 28/66)
14:42 , Kieran Jackson
Hamilton already in for his second pit-stop - a 2.6 second stop - and he comes out in seventh, behind Piastri but ahead of Hadjar.
Interesting. Is he going for a three-stop? And will Mercedes respond?
Top-10 after 25 laps
14:40 , Kieran Jackson
1. Russell - leader
2. Hamilton +2.6
3. Antonelli +1.7
4. Norris +1.7
5. Verstappen +7.7
6. Leclerc +2.3
7. Piastri +6.7
8. Hadjar +19.4
9. Lawson +16.4
10.Hulkenberg +0.5
Antonelli on radio (Lap 22/66)
14:33 , Kieran Jackson
Antonelli: “Happy to keep pushing.”
Engineer: “Affirm Kimi, good lap times.”
Antonelli now four seconds behind Hamilton, with Russell’s lead in front a 2.1 second advanatage...
Leclerc pits (Lap 17/66)
14:28 , Kieran Jackson
Leclerc does now pit and feeds out ahead of Piastri.
Top-10, more or less, is as you were: Russell, Hamilton, Antonelli, Norris, Verstappen, Leclerc, Piastri, Lindblad, Bearman, Hadjar
Leclerc stays out (Lap 16/66)
14:26 , Kieran Jackson
Leclerc rallies back over radio after being told to box - he’s going to stay out in front.
It’ll only be one more lap, though...
Antonelli and Piastri pit (Lap 15/66)
14:24 , Kieran Jackson
Fear not, George.
Antonelli pits and comes out behind Russell and Hamilton. Leclerc has a temporary lead, but could be heading in too...
Lando Norris pits (Lap 14/66)
14:23 , Kieran Jackson
Norris dives in this time for hard tyres - and feeds out in sixth, behind Hamilton.
Antonelli, meanwhile, not pitting. Is the advantage with the Italian now?
Russell: “I was managing, you’ve exposed me to Kimi.”
Russell and Verstappen pit
14:21 , Kieran Jackson
The race leader stops with a 2.4 second stop and comes out ahead of Hamilton in fifth.
Verstappen also dived in for a 2.5-second stop and comes out in a bit of traffic, behind the Racing Bull of Arvid Lindblad.
Kimi Antonelli is your new race leader...
George Russell...
14:20 , Kieran Jackson
Engineer: “So Lewis is in.”
Russell: “He’s probably going for a 3 (stop).”
Russell looks set to head in though...
Lewis Hamilton pits (Lap 12/66)
14:19 , Kieran Jackson
Only 12 laps for Hamilton’s soft tyres - 2.5-second stop - and the Ferrari man comes out in seventh, as the first driver to pit in this race.
How will this work out?
Top-10 after 10 laps
14:17 , Kieran Jackson
1. Russell - leader
2. Hamilton +3.4
3. Antonelli +1.8
4. Norris +2.6
5. Verstappen +2.2
6. Leclerc +1.1
7. Piastri +2.7
8. Lawson +9.0
9. Hulkenberg +1.0
10. Hadjar+3.2
Leclerc grabs sixth from Piastri (Lap 8/66)
14:14 , Kieran Jackson
The McLaren really struggling to keep it together and Leclerc’s Ferrari storms around the outside at turn 3 to take sixth place from the Australian.
Out in front, Russell has a 3.2-second advantage over Hamilton - who has 1.7 seconds over Antonelli.
Smooth as you like for Russell thus far...
Lance Stroll retires (Lap 7/66)
14:12 , Kieran Jackson
A day after outqualifying his teammate for the first time in 42 races, Stroll is the first retiree of the race.
His Aston Martin has a gearbox issue.
Further ahead, Leclerc almost ran into Piastri at the end of the main straight, jinking left just in time!
Russell's lead already over a second (Lap 3/66)
14:08 , Kieran Jackson
A near-perfect start for Russell, who has a 1.4-second advantage on Lewis Hamilton - who himself is 1.3 seconds clear of Kimi Antonelli.
4-10: Norris, Verstappen, Piastri, Leclerc, Lawson, Hulkenberg, Lindblad
A horror start for Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar - who has dropped from sixth to 13th.
Russell retains lead at start
14:05 , Kieran Jackson
Lights out - and it’s a good start from George Russell!
He reacted well and had enough speed to keep the lead at turn 1 - and all the front four are through cleanly!
Charles Leclerc up three places to P7 at the start!
Formation lap
14:02 , Kieran Jackson
George Russell working hard to get some heat in the tyres as he leads the pack around for the formation lap.
Russell on mediums, Hamilton on softs, Antonelli and Norris on mediums.
Will that get Hamilton into the lead at the start?
A reminder of the starting grid:
13:58 , Kieran Jackson
1. George Russell (Mercedes)
2. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari)
3. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)
4. Lando Norris (McLaren)
5. Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
6. Isack Hadjar (Red Bull)
7. Oscar Piastri (McLaren)
8. Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls)
9. Nico Hulkenberg (Audi)
10. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
11. Arvid Lindblad (Racing Bulls)
12. Gabriel Bortoleto (Audi)
13. Franco Colapinto (Alpine)
14. Pierre Gasly (Alpine)
15. Ollie Bearman (Haas)
16. Carlos Sainz (Williams)
17. Esteban Ocon (Haas)
18. Alex Albon (Williams)
19. Sergio Perez (Cadillac)
20. Valtteri Bottas (Cadillac)
21. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin)
Pit lane. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)
Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix
13:56 , Kieran Jackson
Turn 1, lap 1, feels like a big moment this afternoon.
It’s a long run down to the first corner - can George Russell retain the lead at the start? What can Lewis Hamilton do from P2? Or will it be Kimi Antonelli who steals a march on his rivals?
We’re about to find out!
Lando Norris, who starts P4:
13:54 , Kieran Jackson
On his goal: “Don’t ruin our race by trying to achieve something which isn’t possible - but we’re here to race, we’re against some fast cars, we’ll play it as we should.”
George Russell, who starts on pole:
13:51 , Kieran Jackson
“Slightly, they are still the team to beat off the line, faster than us in a lot of the corners but I still think we have the best package - and we’ll go for the win.
“In these conditions, it will never be comfortable.”
Novak Djokovic, speaking on the grid:
13:47 , Kieran Jackson
“I’ve been rooting for McLaren last season but I’m with Audi today!”
Time for the Spanish national anthem
13:45 , Kieran Jackson
This will be the first of two times we hear the Spanish national anthem before a race this season.
Madrid makes its street circuit debut in September.
Work on Antonelli's car
13:42 , Kieran Jackson
Some serious work on the front wing of Antonelli’s Mercedes.
His engineer, Peter Bonnington, confirms there’s an issue with the brakes. He didn’t sound too concerned, mind.
Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur
13:40 , Kieran Jackson
On Leclerc’s crash: “He was OK because he was doing good laps, it’s not a drama when you crash in this situation. He was very early on throttle.”
On Hamilton: “We had a good long stint on Friday, the track is completely different - let’s see.”
Nico Rosberg on Hamilton's switch in form:
13:35 , Kieran Jackson
“A few races, he changed form the Brembo brakes to the carbon industry brakes at Mercedes - that coincides with his change; he feels the car better.
Leclerc has now followed him as he’s been struggling with his brakes. Lewis had an incredible lap - on race pace, we know he’s a little a tenth off the Mercedes; he’s a definite candidate for the big win.
“You always reset: the cars are different, regulations are different. Things move so quickly; look at Kimi Antonelli last year, he was nowhere...and now Lewis is flying,
“Charles is having one problem after another, mental game is so important in this sport.”
What time is the race on Sunday?
13:33 , Kieran Jackson
The Barcelona-Catalunya GP starts at 2pm BST.
George Russell is on pole with Lewis Hamilton alongside him. Box-office.
Top-10 - driver standings
13:30 , Kieran Jackson
Antonelli’s lead over Hamilton is 66 points heading into Barcelona..
1. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) - 156 points
2. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) - 90 points
3. George Russell (Mercedes) - 88 points
4. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) - 75 points
5. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) - 58 points
6. Lando Norris (McLaren) - 58 points
7. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) - 43 points
8. Pierre Gasly (Alpine) - 35 points
9. Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls) - 26 points
10. Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls) - 24 points
Alonso in the pit lane
13:28 , Kieran Jackson
Not a huge surprise that Alonso - who qualified last - will start in the pit-lane after taking some new power unit parts.
A horrendous final Barcelona weekend so far for the veteran..
PHOTOS - F1 drivers parade
13:25 , Kieran Jackson
Martin Brundle on Hamilton's race win hopes:
13:21 , Kieran Jackson
“Ferrari have done a very good job with their updates, Lewis clearly likes the 2026 cars - the whole paddock are very impressed with Ferrari.
“Ferrari feel that with Leiws up there that they can hold on to Mercedes.”
Speaking to Sky Sports
Lewis Hamilton, who starts P2:
13:15 , Kieran Jackson
“It’s hot! I feel good. I’ve been here a long time but this never gets old, the amazing crowd, doesn’t matter which driver they’re supporting - it’s great energy.
On whether turn 1 is his best chance for the lead: “I don’t know if it’s the best one, it’s one of the strong ones.
“Mercedes have a lot of power, it’s a long run - it’s an opportunity, we’ll try and maximise. I hope we have similar pace to the guys ahead - if we can we can have a great race.”
Kimi Antonelli after finishing third:
13:09 , Kieran Jackson
“It’s been a little bit of a difficult weekend so far, didn’t have the feeling with the car. Long run was strong yesterday; today I’ve been lacking a little bit – looking forward to tomorrow.
“We’ll try to get a good start and make the best use of the tow; the slipstream will be strong, a lot of work to do.”
It’s the first time this season that Antonelli will not start a grand prix on the front-row.
Constructor standings ahead of Barcelona
12:58 , Kieran Jackson
1. Mercedes - 244 points
2. Ferrari - 165 points
3. McLaren - 116 points
4. Red Bull - 69 points
5. Alpine - 50 points
6. Racing Bulls - 35 points
7. Haas - 21 points
8. Williams - 11 points
9. Audi - 2 points
10. Cadillac - 1 point
11. Aston Martin - 0 points
Lando Norris after qualifying P4:
12:48 , Kieran Jackson
“We showed some progress today and I'm reasonably happy with P4. The Red Flag in the final corner on my first push lap was unlucky and probably cost us a shot at P3, but P4 is still a strong place to start. Compared to Monaco, we’re back closer to where we should be, and the pace felt better overall. With that said, the gap to Pole, around three and a half tenth, is still significant, and the car wasn’t easy to drive with the wind and heat making it inconsistent, especially at the rear.
"Looking at the race, it’s going to be a hot, high-degradation race and tyre management will be everything. Strategy could go one, two, or even three stops depending on how the tyres behave, and I think most teams will end up doing similar things. There’s definitely an opportunity off the start, with smart calls, to move forward, but sustaining that against Ferrari and Mercedes over 66 laps will be tough.
“We’ll fight for every chance, maximise track position and try to force errors, but we’re realistic, if we’re three tenths off per lap today, we need to be perfect to stay in the mix tomorrow. Overall, happy with the step we’ve made, not happy enough with the gap. We’ll keep pushing."
Fernando Alonso after qualifying last at his home event:
12:40 , Kieran Jackson
“There are no surprises that we qualified at the back as we know this is our level of car performance right now. We had downshifting issues and it was very difficult to drive the car in each Qualifying lap.
“It’s always special to drive in front of the Spanish fans though and thanks to them for their amazing support over the weekend.”
Full starting grid:
12:30 , Kieran Jackson
1. George Russell (Mercedes)
2. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari)
3. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)
4. Lando Norris (McLaren)
5. Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
6. Isack Hadjar (Red Bull)
7. Oscar Piastri (McLaren)
8. Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls)
9. Nico Hulkenberg (Audi)
10. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
11. Arvid Lindblad (Racing Bulls)
12. Gabriel Bortoleto (Audi)
13. Franco Colapinto (Alpine)
14. Pierre Gasly (Alpine)
15. Ollie Bearman (Haas)
16. Carlos Sainz (Williams)
17. Esteban Ocon (Haas)
18. Alex Albon (Williams)
19. Sergio Perez (Cadillac)
20. Valtteri Bottas (Cadillac)
21. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin)
22. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)
‘I left the track’: Lewis Hamilton reveals radical preparation for best-ever Ferrari F1 qualifying
12:20 , Kieran Jackson
Lewis Hamilton revealed he left the circuit ahead of his best-ever qualifying for Ferrari at the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix on Saturday.
The 41-year-old, who has finished second on the podium in the last two rounds in Canada and Monaco, was within a tenth of a second of pole position in Barcelona.
Mercedes’ George Russell, Hamilton’s former teammate, pipped the seven-time world champion to top spot with F1 world championship leader Kimi Antonelli in third place – the first time this season the Italian won’t start a grand prix on the front row.
Yet in his post-session interview, Hamilton divulged that he went back to his off-site motorhome in between final practice and qualifying, setting him up for a first-ever front row start in Ferrari red.
Full quotes below:
‘I left the track’: Hamilton reveals radical preparation for Barcelona qualifying
George Russell secures much-needed F1 pole in Barcelona with Lewis Hamilton impressive in qualifying
12:11 , Kieran Jackson
George Russell seized pole position for a race that could snap teammate Kimi Antonelli's winning streak while Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton split the Mercedes pair in Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix qualifying on Saturday.
Italian Antonelli, who will be seeking his sixth win in a row on Sunday to extend what is currently a 66-point lead over seven-times world champion Hamilton, qualified third with McLaren's world champion Lando Norris fourth.
Mercedes have taken pole for all seven F1 races so far in 2026, and Saturday was Russell's third of the season to 19-year-old Antonelli's four, in a morale boost for the Briton as he seeks to bounce back from two races without scoring.
Full report below:
Russell secures much-needed pole in Barcelona with Hamilton impressive in qualifying
Toto Wolff after a P1 and P3 for Mercedes in qualifying
11:36 , Kieran Jackson
“George has been the quickest driver all weekend. Ahead of the session, if you had asked me for a favourite for pole it would have been him. He's been on it all weekend, has reset and refocused after his recent bad luck and put together an accomplished performance so far this weekend. He will need to carry that on into the race tomorrow if he wants to fight for victory but he's in a good place this weekend and reminding everyone just how good he is.
“On Kimi's side, missing FP1 took some track time away from him but P3 is still a solid result. It is easy to forget he is only in his second year and has an incredibly fast team-mate alongside him. His long run pace in FP2 was competitive so I am sure he will be looking forward to tomorrow.
“It will be a long race with high tyre degradation. Whilst we want to be leading the way into turn one, we know the Grand Prix can't be won there but can be lost. We will need to look after the tyres well, hopefully have good pace, and see what we are racing for come the closing stages.”
Charles Leclerc after qualifying crash:
11:15 , Kieran Jackson
“I tried to carry some more speed into Turn 4, but then I went onto the dirty side of the track and lost the rear. There’s not much more to say, it was a driving error. I think we can do well tomorrow.
“The upgrade was a good step forward and I will push to make up as many positions as possible and bring home a positive result for the team.”
Fernando Alonso drops major hint over his F1 future
11:00 , Kieran Jackson
Two-time Formula 1 champion Fernando Alonso has indicated that Sunday's Spanish Grand Prix is likely to be his final race in Barcelona, as the event is set to become biennial from 2027.
The Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix will not be staged again until 2028, leading the 44-year-old to tell reporters on Thursday: "It is probably going to be my last Barcelona race in Formula 1."
While Alonso was quick to clarify he was not announcing his immediate retirement, the extended break until the next Barcelona event makes his involvement highly improbable.
He revealed plans to consider his future in the coming months, weighing up whether to continue racing next season, especially given Aston Martin’s struggles to provide a competitive car.
Full story below:
Fernando Alonso drops major hint over his F1 future ahead of Spanish Grand Prix
Christian Horner suffers F1 return delay as Renault Group says ‘no discussions’
10:30 , Kieran Jackson
Christian Horner has suffered a dent in his Formula One comeback bid after the boss of the Renault Group which controls Alpine said there are currently “no discussions” with the former Red Bull team principal.
Horner is exploring a way back to the paddock after he was sacked by Red Bull following last July’s British Grand Prix.
Alpine confirmed earlier this year that Horner, 52, was among a group of investors interested in acquiring Otro Capital’s 24 per cent shareholding in the Enstone team. Renault Group owns the other 76 per cent in Alpine.
More detail below:
Christian Horner suffers F1 return delay as Renault Group says ‘no discussions’
Carlos Sainz after qualifying P16:
10:00 , Kieran Jackson
"We maximised everything we had today and reached our target of getting into Q2, which is an honest reflection of where we are at this track. We used all our new tyres in Q1 which left us with not much more to extract in Q2, so improving P16 was not possible.
"We’ll be going into tomorrow with a fresh mindset as we know anything can happen here. On pure pace, points aren’t on the table, but this track is hard on everyone’s machinery and strategy can make a big difference. We'll be ready to take any opportunity that comes.
“It's been a tricky weekend so far, but feeling the support of the Spanish fans has been incredible. I'll give them everything I have tomorrow."
Monaco Grand Prix result changes – five days after F1 race ended
09:00 , Kieran Jackson
Pierre Gasly has had his third-place finish at the Monaco Grand Prix reinstated after a successful appeal from his Alpine F1 team.
Gasly finished third at the chequered flag before he was punished by two five-second time penalties – due to speeding in the pit lane – and dropped to seventh.
Full news below:
Monaco Grand Prix result changes – five days after F1 race ended
McLaren team principal Andrea Stella:
08:00 , Kieran Jackson
"We are back in a situation where four teams are incredibly close to one another, which is great news and a positive step forward for us after Monaco. Today was a bit of a missed opportunity, primarily because Lando was incredibly unlucky with the Red Flag. He was on a very strong first lap just 250 meters from the finish line, which forced him to be cautious on his final attempt to ensure we got a time on the board. For Oscar, the margins were razor-thin, just a tenth of a second separated P3 from P7 today.
"Looking ahead to the race, we are optimistic. The Grand Prix will be heavily dictated by strategy, race pace, and tyre management. While we know we still have work to do from a technical standpoint to fully optimise our tyre exploitation over a race distance, our qualifying and race pace are closely matched this year. We are definitely in the game and looking forward to an exciting fight down into Turn 1."
George Russell vows to bounce back from latest setback in drivers’ championship
05:00 , Kieran Jackson
“If it was just… if there was no luck either way, I would have been on the podium in Japan, either P1 or P2, I think I would have won in Canada and I probably would have finished third in Monaco,” Russell said.
“For sure I don’t think I’d be ahead of Kimi in the standings but we’d be right there and then it’s a different story.
“I’ve definitely not given up on the championship. It’s just something I’m not thinking about.
“I’m just really going race by race. Until it’s over, you’re still in the fight because in this sport it does change very quick and it doesn’t take a lot to swing.”
What is the starting grid?
03:00 , Kieran Jackson
1. George Russell (Mercedes)
2. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari)
3. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)
4. Lando Norris (McLaren)
5. Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
6. Isack Hadjar (Red Bull)
7. Oscar Piastri (McLaren)
8. Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls)
9. Nico Hulkenberg (Audi)
10. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
11. Arvid Lindblad (Racing Bulls)
12. Gabriel Bortoleto (Audi)
13. Franco Colapinto (Alpine)
14. Pierre Gasly (Alpine)
15. Ollie Bearman (Haas)
16. Carlos Sainz (Williams)
17. Esteban Ocon (Haas)
18. Alex Albon (Williams)
19. Sergio Perez (Cadillac)
20. Valtteri Bottas (Cadillac)
21. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin)
22. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)
Pierre Gasly after qualifying P13:
Saturday 13 June 2026 23:59 , Kieran Jackson
“It's been a difficult day and we seem to be struggling at this track for some reason. I'm sure there was a bit more in it today, but Q3 was definitely too far out of reach for us. We are trying to understand a few things as I've not been comfortable in the car all weekend. I can't attack on braking and I'm struggling to have any confidence, with the car moving around quite a lot.
“We tried a few things overnight, including a chassis change, and we're still not finding the answers we want, so there is definitely a lot more work ahead of us. We are likely to see quite high tyre degradation tomorrow, so it will probably be a tough race for everyone. We'll see what we can do and try to recover some positions.”
Oscar Piastri after qualifying 7th:
Saturday 13 June 2026 23:00 , Kieran Jackson
"It was incredibly tight today, with such a small gap from third down to us in P7. We lost more than expected in the final sector, so we need to review why because the lap up to then felt good. Right now, Mercedes looks strong, and Ferrari have taken a step with their upgrades - their corner speeds have been impressive all season, even if they’re still paying a price on the straights.
"Tomorrow will likely be a long, hot two-stop race, maybe more, and the key will be managing degradation and maintaining pace across the stints. While Mercedes and Ferrari were quicker today than yesterday, strategy and tyre offsets could open up opportunities, and we feel more in the fight than last week.
“If the race plays out like we’ve seen here in recent years, with multiple stops and differing tyre life, there’s definitely a chance to gain a few positions."
Cadillac drivers after their Q1 exit:
Saturday 13 June 2026 21:00 , Kieran Jackson
Debriefing the day 🫡 pic.twitter.com/itH2QzW87I
— Cadillac Formula 1 Team (@Cadillac_F1) June 13, 2026
George Russell after claiming pole:
Saturday 13 June 2026 17:10 , Kieran Jackson
“It’s been a great weekend so far, feel like my old self again. The last few races having been on our side, but clean slate this weekend, felt good and great to be on pole.
“It’s going to be an interesting race tomorrow, Lewis did an amazing job to get up there. We thought the fight was with us and McLaren. We’ll have a fight on our hands.”
Lewis Hamilton after qualifying P2:
Saturday 13 June 2026 16:57 , Kieran Jackson
”It feels great to be up there with them. These tyres only last one lap… I left the track between p3 and qualifying, I went back to my motorhome, came back and then was first.
“These guys did a great lap, congrats to George, but we’re in a good position to fight for tomorrow.
“All weekend we’ve been four-tenths off these guys – for us to be a tenth off, shows the hard work that’s been done. Big thank you to everyone back to Maranello, hopefully we can keep up with these guys tomorrow for once.”
What time is the race on Sunday?
Saturday 13 June 2026 16:28 , Kieran Jackson
The Barcelona-Catalunya GP starts at 2pm BST.
George Russell is on pole with Lewis Hamilton alongside him. Box-office.
Top-10 in Barcelona-Catalunya GP qualifying:
Saturday 13 June 2026 16:27 , Kieran Jackson
1. George Russell (Mercedes)
2. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari)
3. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)
4. Lando Norris (McLaren)
5. Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
6. Isack Hadjar (Red Bull)
7. Oscar Piastri (McLaren)
8. Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls)
9. Nico Hulkenberg (Audi)
10. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
George Russell, team radio:
Saturday 13 June 2026 16:18 , Kieran Jackson
Wolff: “George, how does it feel?”
Russell: “Nice to feel the groove again.”
George Russell on pole position
Saturday 13 June 2026 16:13 , Kieran Jackson
The Briton goes even quicker - and he needed to after Antonelli briefly had provisional pole - and he has pole by 0.064 secs to Lewis Hamilton, who claims a terrific second late on!
Antonelli takes third, with Norris in fourth and Verstappen fifth.
6-10: Hadjar, Piastri, Lawson, Hulkenberg, Leclerc
George Russell quickest out of early runners
Saturday 13 June 2026 16:08 , Kieran Jackson
Not quite provisional pole, with only six times set, but Russell top of all of them so far.
He’s 0.031 secs ahead of Piastri in second, followed by Verstappen, Antonelli, Hadjar and Hamilton.
Lewis will want better than that...
4:00 to go in Q3...
VIDEO: Leclerc's crash
Saturday 13 June 2026 16:06 , Kieran Jackson
That's a pretty big hit 💥
— Formula 1 (@F1) June 13, 2026
Here's the moment Leclerc's qualifying came to an end 🎥#F1 #BarcelonaGP pic.twitter.com/XmX5kp76mw
Q3 resumes
Saturday 13 June 2026 16:05 , Kieran Jackson
8:30 left. Should be time for two laps, still.
Nine remain.
Leclerc's car being moved
Saturday 13 June 2026 15:56 , Kieran Jackson
The crane is out to move Leclerc’s car.
The man himself has been taken away in the medical car.
A real shock: Leclerc has actually been quicker than Hamilton!
He just lost the car coming out of turn 4...
Click here to read the full blog on The Independent's website
