Russell starts title fightback with Barcelona pole as Hamilton qualifies second

Russell starts title fightback with Barcelona pole as Hamilton qualifies second Last updated 13 June 2026 4:39pm BST Save Share article Log in or Subscribe Copy link X Icon twitter Facebook Icon facebook WhatsApp Icon whatsapp email Add us as preferred source Add us as preferred source Copy link X Icon twitter Facebook Icon facebook WhatsApp Icon whatsapp email Key moments Russell takes pole! Hamilton close in second, Antonelli third Leclerc crashes He loses his Ferrari at turn four and is out of Q3 Russell quickest in Q2 McLaren struggling for pace Hamilton fastest in Q1 Stroll out-qualifies Alonso Expand all George Russell delivered a much-needed pole position on Saturday Credit: Bruna Casas/Reuters Tom Cary Senior Sports Correspondent, at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. Luke Slater live updates Last updated 13 June 2026 4:39pm BST Save Share article Log in or Subscribe Copy link X Icon twitter Facebook Icon facebook WhatsApp Icon whatsapp email Add us as preferred source Add us as preferred source Copy link X Icon twitter Facebook Icon facebook WhatsApp Icon whatsapp email Key moments Russell takes pole! Hamilton close in second, Antonelli third Leclerc crashes He loses his Ferrari at turn four and is out of Q3 Russell quickest in Q2 McLaren struggling for pace Hamilton fastest in Q1 Stroll out-qualifies Alonso Expand all George Russell took a morale-boosting pole for Sunday’s Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix and will line up alongside a resurgent Lewis Hamilton on the front row in Spain. Russell, who has had a torrid few weeks in which he has fallen 68 points behind Mercedes team-mate Kimi Antonelli in the title race, told his team it was “nice to feel the groove again” as he returned to the pits. The British driver beat Antonelli by over three-tenths of a second at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya to continue his fine form from practice. Hamilton, who has profited from Russell’s recent struggles to move into second in the championship, very nearly pipped his former Mercedes team-mate to pole. The seven-time world champion was up on Russell’s time midway through his final push lap, but lost time in the final sector to finish 0.064sec behind. Hamilton’s Ferrari team-mate Charles Leclerc suffered a heavy shunt in Q3, bringing out red flags while marshals carried out repairs to the barriers. It follows the Monegasque’s race-ending crash in Monaco last weekend, since when he has switched his brake setup to match his team mate. Leclerc’s latest accident led to suggestions he may be rattled by Hamilton’s form. Antonelli will start third, with McLaren’s Lando Norris fourth and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen fifth. More to follow… Latest updates Tom Cary Senior Sports Correspondent, at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. Luke Slater live updates 4:34PM Hamilton and Antonelli speak Link copied to clipboard Antonelli:  “A little bit of a difficult weekend, didn’t really have the feeling with the car. But long-run was strong yesterday so that is a positive. “We try to get a good start and make the best use of the tow. The slipstream will be strong.” Hamilton: “We didn’t feel quite comfortable and up to it, in FP3 I was four, five tenths off and I was thinking jeez, where am I going to find that pace. “I left the track between FP3 and qualifying, came back and in Q1 I was first. These guys did great, congrats to George but we are in a position to fight tomorrow so let’s have a great race.” 4:32PM Russell speaks after a much-needed pole Link copied to clipboard “It’s been a great weekend so far, I’m always fighting. I came into this weekend with a clean slate, felt good and it is great to be on pole. “It will be an interesting race tomorrow, Lewis did a great job to get up there so I’m sure there will be a fight. Tomorrow will not be easy. 4:20PM Russell: ‘Nice to feel the groove again’ Link copied to clipboard That is his message to his team over the radio. It has been a turbulent few races for him and he needs a win more than ever here. Even finishing first ahead of Antonelli in second would be quite a good result. Credit: Lluis Gene/Getty Images 4:14PM ⏱️Q3 - Classification Link copied to clipboard RUS 1:14.679HAM +0.064ANT +0.319NOR +0.322VER +0.342 HAD +0.398PIA +0.411LAW +1.863HUL +1.978LEC (NO TIME) 4:13PM RUSSELL TAKES POLE FOR BARCELONA-CATALUNYA GP! Link copied to clipboard Verstappen into fourth, can Hamilton hang on to take pole? Hadjar into fifth.  Hamilton second! Just 0.064sec away from Russell. Good performance, but not quite good enough for pole... Russell first, Hamilton second, Antonelli third.  4:12PM Q3 - Russell into first! Link copied to clipboard Antonelli onto provisional pole but Russell is on course to beat that... can he? Yes! Three tenths up on Antonelli.  Norris third. Verstappen with a good first sector but it is a big ask to put the rest of the lap together. Hamilton not looking too tidy.  Piastri third but Hamilton is on a charge in the middle sector... 4:11PM Q3 - A better first sector for Antonelli Link copied to clipboard His fastest, but Russell also improves. Norris is half a tenth off... Antonelli well up on Russell’s previous best after two sectors... but Russell is even faster than that! 4:09PM Q3 - Hamilton was on old tyres Link copied to clipboard So room to improve and that looks to be likely.  Into the final two minutes.  4:07PM Q3 - Order after the first runs Link copied to clipboard RUS 1:15.145PIA +0.031VER +0.183ANT +0.269HAD +0.505HAM +0.565 4:07PM Q3 - What can Russell do? Link copied to clipboard It’s fastest... just ahead of Piastri but 0.269sec faster than his team-mate.  Hamilton only sixth, half a second off Russell.  4:06PM Q3 - Antonelli crosses the line... Link copied to clipboard He is only third... Russell on a good lap, though has a bit of a moment in the final sector.  4:04PM Is Leclerc unsettled by Hamilton’s form? Link copied to clipboard The battle for supremacy at Ferrari is getting increasingly interesting. All the talk this week about Leclerc switching to Hamilton’s brakes for this race after his shunt in Monaco. Is he now pushing too hard trying to match Hamilton’s pace? Has he been unsettled by the manner in which the Briton has started to make himself at home at Ferrari?  4:01PM Session to restart in two minutes Link copied to clipboard Only two drivers have set a lap time so far.  3:56PM Watch: Leclerc crashes out of Q3 Link copied to clipboard RED FLAG: Charles Leclerc crashes out! 🚨 pic.twitter.com/xURjVrAnG2 — Sky Sports F1 (@SkySportsF1) June 13, 2026 Looks like he didn’t want to lose lap time and kept his foot on the throttle when he perhaps should not have.  3:53PM Q3 - Order under the red flag Link copied to clipboard PIA 1:15.176VER +0.152Only two drivers set a lap time. Everyone else either did not or had to bail out. 3:53PM Q3 - 🟥RED FLAG Link copied to clipboard Leclerc’s car hit the barriers on the outside of turn four and the front end of the car is hanging off. What happened exactly? Got a snap of oversteer, corrected it and then turned into the slide before it started to point into the gravel and into the barriers he went. Oosh. 🚩 RED FLAG 🚩 Leclerc into the barriers at Turn 4 #F1 #BarcelonaGP pic.twitter.com/yCTiaJv4Aw — Formula 1 (@F1) June 13, 2026 3:51PM Q3 - First runs under way Link copied to clipboard Verstappen and the McLarens on similar pace after one sector... Likewise in the middle sector, but I do not think any of these men are challenging for pole.  🟨Yellow flags... Leclerc has crashed somewhere... 3:49PM Q3 - It has not been the most eventful session so far Link copied to clipboard 11 minutes remain on the clock. Can Russell secure pole and a few places’ advantage over Antonelli? 3:48PM 🟢Q3 begins Link copied to clipboard Time for the main event... 3:42PM Something not clicking for McLaren Link copied to clipboard Watched Q1 in the McLaren motorhome. There were a few concerned faces in there. They are hoping for a much better weekend here than they had in Monaco but something’s not clicking. Saving it for Q3 perhaps. 3:41PM ⏱️Q2 - Classification Link copied to clipboard RUSLECANTNORHAMVERPIALAWHADHULOUT: LIN, NOR, COL, GAS, BEA, SAI 3:40PM Q2 - Big guns staying in the garage Link copied to clipboard So it’s a scrap to get into Q3 now. Lawson into the top eight, not too far off Piastri.  Hulkenberg then slots into 10th, demoting Lindblad. Bearman fighting to get into the top 10 as Lindblad bails out. Bearman isn’t fast enough. Can Gasly improve? He does, but not enough. Only 13th.  Just Colapinto left, then... 13th, displacing Gasly but that is it.  3:39PM Q2 - What do the McLarens have? Link copied to clipboard It’s not brilliant after the first two sectors for either of them. Probably top six or so at best at this pace... Piastri goes sixth, Norris fourth. The fastest final sector for the world champion.  Into the final minute. Sainz does not progress.  3:36PM Q2 - Top 10 after the first runs Link copied to clipboard RUS 1:15.228LEC +0.053ANT +0.067HAM +0.190VER +0.256HAD +0.526LIN +0.612NOR +0.793LAW +0.952PIA +1.124DROP ZONE: BOR, COL, BEA, GAS, SAI, HUL No lap time set from Hulkenberg. McLaren were using scrubbed tyres, so should find some pace.  3:33PM Q2 - Russell goes fastest! Link copied to clipboard By 0.053sec from Leclerc. Piastri only ninth... nowhere really. Norris crosses the line in eighth... not pulling up any trees either. Credit: Andy Hone/LAT Images Hamilton fourth, nearly two tenths off Russell’s time. Strange from McLaren. Well off the pace. 3:32PM Q2 - First runs under way Link copied to clipboard Verstappen with a 1:15.484sec... Leclerc beats that by two tenths... up come the Mercedes cars. Antonelli is short, just. What about Russell? 3:26PM 🟢Q2 begins Link copied to clipboard ...and everyone sits in their garages for now.  3:21PM ⏱️Q1 - Classification Link copied to clipboard HAM 1:15.625RUS +0.092LEC +0.339ANT +0.352HUL +0.441PIA +0.513NOR +0.662VER +0.727LIN +0.800HAD +0.802BEA +0.946COL +0.965GAS +0.974BOR +0.991LAW +1.048SAI +1.256 3:19PM 🏁Q1 ends Link copied to clipboard Drivers out: OCO, ALB, PER, BOT, STR, ALO Sainz makes it through.  3:18PM Q1 - Final runs under way Link copied to clipboard Bearman with a decent lap into 11th. Both Williams cars in danger of missing out on Q2 here. Alonso propping up the grid and at risk of being out-qualified by Stroll. That almost never happens... 3:13PM Q1 - Four minutes remain Link copied to clipboard Everyone is back in their garages. The calm before the storm.  3:12PM Q1 - Here is the current order Link copied to clipboard HAM 1:15.625RUS +0.092LEC +0.339ANT +0.352PIA +0.513NOR +0.662VER +0.727LIN +0.800HAD +0.802BOR +0.991DROP ZONE: PER, OCO, BOT, ALB, ALO, STR 3:11PM Q1 - 🟨Yellow flags Link copied to clipboard Who is it for? Sainz, it seems. Locked up at turn one and ran wide. No real damage done.  3:09PM Q1 - Hamilton with a fine lap Link copied to clipboard Leclerc goes fastest. Hadjar doesn’t beat him, neither does Antonelli... but Russell does! Hamilton posted the fastest first sector with a decent middle sector... and the fastest final sector means he moves first. Not by much.  3:08PM Q1 - Verstappen on a flying lap Link copied to clipboard He is likely to go fastest and does. 0.602sec faster than Nico Hulkenberg’s Audi. The Ferraris have just started their flying laps. Gasly into third, slower than Hulkenberg.  3:06PM Q1 - Seven drivers have set a lap time Link copied to clipboard 12 minutes left on the clock and none of the big hitters have posted a time. That is about to change, though.  Here is the current order.  SAIOCOBEAALBBOTALOSTR 3:04PM Q1 - Bottas sets the first lap time Link copied to clipboard Good that he’s back out after the brake failure in FP3. He is then unsurprisingly beaten by the two Haas cars, who are both on the medium tyres. Albon cannot beat the Haas cars but Carlos Sainz in the other Williams does.  3:01PM 🟢GREEN LIGHT - Q1 begins! Link copied to clipboard A few cars out in the Catalonia sunshine already. Looks like a roasting day at 51C track temperature and 31C air temperature. Here we go then... qualifying is under way! 🙌 Q1 begins 👉#F1 #BarcelonaGP pic.twitter.com/lf03aL1bkK — Formula 1 (@F1) June 13, 2026 2:50PM A bit of a hairy moment for Bottas Link copied to clipboard Valtteri Bottas suffers a brake failure in final practice in Barcelona 😬 pic.twitter.com/godKOSQmyq — Sky Sports F1 (@SkySportsF1) June 13, 2026 It has not been the best season for him, but his team-mate Sergio Perez looks fairly sharp. Almost scored points at Monaco last week.  2:45PM Constructor standings Link copied to clipboard Mercedes have won each of the six grands prix so far this season. McLaren have at least won one sprint race, in Miami.  2:42PM This explains partly why Antonelli was so far down in FP3 Link copied to clipboard 'I always have traffic!' 🫣 Kimi Antonelli fumes at traffic in Barcelona as he abandons final practice! pic.twitter.com/EuseDLtNbA — Sky Sports F1 (@SkySportsF1) June 13, 2026 2:29PM Current driver standings Link copied to clipboard Aside from the gap between Russell and Antonelli, it is pleasing to see Lewis Hamilton doing so well. He’s not finished after all! 2:20PM Russell’s season so far Link copied to clipboard Bad luck in China (his car conked out in qualifying, so he only got one Q3 lap), Japan (without the safety car he probably would have won) was compounded by a poor performance in Miami. More bad luck in Canada (power unit gave up whilst in the lead) was followed by a poor qualifying and then further bad luck in the race, with various penalties (that were not correct) and his team making an error in the pit stop. In other words: a lot of ground to make up. He can do it bit by bit, though. I am sure there will be times when Antonelli goes missing or has a mechanical issue. All he can do is put himself in the best position to take the most points from Antonelli every weekend. The races come thick and fast now. 2:11PM FP3 results Link copied to clipboard Russell would be happy if qualifying ended like that.  11:29AM Good afternoon Link copied to clipboard Welcome to our coverage for qualifying for the 2026 Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix. For a while it looked as if this track, after decades on the calendar, would disappear and the new Madring track in Madrid would be the replacement for the Spanish Grand Prix. Well, the organisers managed to secure its future as a Formula One race venue until 2032, with races in 2028, 2030 and 2032, essentially alternating with Spa-Francorchamps, which will do the odd years. Is that a good thing? Well, having a race near Barcelona is no bad thing for F1 and accessibility but the track is hardly the most-loved on the calendar. Anyway, what will we see here this weekend? Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli has followed up his first win in F1 with his second, third, fourth and fifth all in succession. Combine that with some bad luck and poor pace for George Russell since his win in the opening round in Melbourne and that means the Italian has opened a 66-point lead over his nearest rival. That is not Rusell, though, but Lewis Hamilton. Can George Russell get his season back on track? Credit: Bruna Casas/Reuters What can Russell do to arrest this slide? Well, start scoring more points than his team-mate is the number one thing, but how? Tom Cary has a few thoughts. There is no great reason for Russell to panic at the moment but the problem is that chasing things, whether he does that consciously or subconsciously, can lead to larger gaps emerging. He could, perversely, also hope that teams like Ferrari, McLaren and Red Bull start challenging Mercedes in order to take points from Antonelli. Then again, there’s nothing to say that they may not take points off him, too. Anyway, qualifying begins in about an hour and we will be here for all the latest updates from that.