Barcelona – 13.06.2026: In qualifying for the Spanish Grand Prix, George Russell secured the pole position. The British Mercedes driver set the best time of 1:14.679 minutes, narrowly beating his teammate Lewis Hamilton by 64 thousandths of a second, who took second place. Hamilton, now racing for Ferrari, once again showed strong performance but could not surpass Russell.
The current world champion and leader of the drivers’ standings, Kimi Antonelli, will start in Barcelona for the first time this season not from the front row. The Italian Mercedes driver had to settle for third place after he could not match the times of Russell and Hamilton in his fast lap. Up until now, Antonelli had started every race from the first two rows.
Charles Leclerc, also racing for Ferrari, suffered setbacks in qualifying. After an accident in turn four, where he lost control of his car and crashed into the barriers, the Monegasque was unable to set a fast time. Therefore, he will start only from tenth place on Sunday.
Behind the top three, Lando Norris was fourth, followed by Max Verstappen in fifth and Isack Hadjar in sixth. Oscar Piastri, Norris’s McLaren teammate, claimed seventh place, while other drivers such as Fernando Alonso and Sebastian Vettel are also represented in the top 10.
The race on Sunday, June 14, 2026, begins at 14:00 local time at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. The track is known for being technically demanding, requiring a high level of concentration and tire management from the drivers. Pole position is particularly important here due to the difficulty of overtaking on this circuit.
The weather conditions are promising for an exciting race: with a dry track and moderate temperatures, fast lap times are expected. Experts anticipate a close battle between Mercedes, Ferrari, and Red Bull, where strategy and racecraft on Sunday could prove decisive.
Broadcast rights in Germany are held by Sky Sports, while viewers in the USA can watch the race via Apple TV, which offers a seven-day free trial. In Australia, Fox Sports, Foxtel, and Kayo Sports provide live coverage. For F1 fans worldwide, F1 TV Pro is also available as a streaming platform, though regional restrictions may apply.
Russell’s pole position gives him an advantage, but competition from Hamilton and Antonelli remains strong. After qualifying, it is clear that the season remains open and full of excitement. Fans can look forward to seeing how the Spanish Grand Prix will influence the course of the Formula 1 season so far.