By the time Lewis Hamilton made it to the press conference room at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, an hour or so after completing what was a brilliant and well-deserved maiden grand prix victory for Ferrari, George Russell and Lando Norris were getting ready to leave.
Usually the three podium finishers will do the post-race press conference together. But on this occasion, with the best will in the world, Russell and Norris were superfluous to requirements.
They knew it, too. “Is anyone actually going to ask us anything or can we just go?” Norris had joked before Hamilton showed up.
In the end they hung around long enough to get a few selfies. Three British drivers on the podium of a Formula One race for the first time in nearly 60 years was pretty historic after all. Then they left their more celebrated compatriot to it.
Hamilton on top again. Who would have thought it? Certainly not the many, many people who wrote him off towards the end of his time at Mercedes. Or the many more who said the seven-time world champion was doing irreparable damage to his legacy pootling around in a Ferrari last year, miles behind his team-mate Charles Leclerc.
Hamilton was always adamant that he wanted the chance to see what he could do with the 2026 regulations, and with a car into which he had actually had some input.
Turns out he can do quite a lot. Hamilton has looked a completely different driver this year. Time will tell whether Ferrari have enough in the tank to take the title fight to Mercedes. Ferrari brought a new front wing and floor package to this race, which clearly made a big difference. They also have an extra “upgrade token” on their internal combustion engine compared with Mercedes thanks to the FIA’s ADUO rankings. But either way, it is clear that Hamilton is now driving the development at Maranello.
Time and again after this win, he spoke about how Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur had “finally listened” to him; how the Frenchman had “implemented all the things he wanted”; how difficult it was to turn a supertanker as big as Ferrari around, but how grateful he was that they were willing to try.
“If I see something which I don’t feel is right I push very, very hard,” Hamilton told us. “And I am relentless with it. It’s not easy to be on the receiving end of that when you’re also dealing with a culture which on its own is set in a certain way.”
Leclerc’s head must be spinning. The Monegasque took seven podiums to Hamilton’s none last season. Now he is having to copy his team-mate’s brake setup – switching for this race to the same combination of Brembo calipers and Carbon Industries discs and pads which Hamilton has been using since Japan. And he is having to watch as Ferrari’s mechanics chant “Lewis, Lewis…” up at their new star from beneath the podium.
Hamilton’s victory here was achieved thanks to Ferrari’s bold three-stop strategy versus the two-stop employed by Mercedes and McLaren. In a high-degradation race Hamilton started on the soft tyres, pitted early, giving Russell a conundrum over who to cover, and was able to push hard and extract maximum lap time out of his tyres.
He also got lucky with the timing of a virtual safety car with 25 laps remaining, which gave him the chance to make his third stop and come out ahead of Russell. But Hamilton’s pace was such he would likely have won anyway.
Russell was probably cursing his luck at that point, wondering what he had done to deserve this latest “kick in the balls” as he had described his Monaco Grand Prix fate last Thursday. But in the end, he was lucky to get second. Russell was fading on his second set of hard tyres when Mercedes team-mate and championship rival Kimi Antonelli passed him with six laps remaining, only for the Italian’s power unit to shut down. It meant Russell snatched 18 points back in the championship, but he is still 50 points behind. It is Hamilton who is now sitting pretty in second place, 41 points behind Antonelli, an intriguing new player in what many assumed to be a two-horse race.
Watching him celebrating on the podium with his new race engineer Carlo Santi, or “the Italian Bono” as someone described him in honour of Hamilton’s old Mercedes engineer Peter Bonnington, it was not hard to imagine further victories down the line.
Even in this area, Hamilton has made his presence felt, ditching his engineer from last year, Riccardo Adami, forcing Ferrari to give him a new one. “We didn’t know each other, we’d never spoken and I didn’t know anything about him,” Hamilton admitted, smiling.
What a day. For Hamilton. For British motorsport. This was the first all-British podium since Sir Jackie Stewart led Graham Hill and John Surtees home at Watkins Glen in 1968. To find an all-English podium, you would have to go even further back, to 1958 when Peter Collins beat Mike Hawthorn and Roy Salvadori to the win at Silverstone. Collins was driving a Ferrari that day too.
But it was another Ferrari win, Michael Schumacher’s first for the Scuderia, here in Barcelona, almost exactly 30 years ago, which Hamilton most wanted to recall.
“I’ve just been reminded that it was 30 years ago that Michael won,” he reflected. “You know, I would have been at home on my couch watching that race, probably like many of you, with a plate on my lap, eating a sandwich, or maybe chicken noodle soup. And, yeah, just looking at that red car and thinking, ‘I wonder what it’s like sitting in that red cockpit?’
“To stand in first place in front of that amazing crew when they were singing the national anthem. To see the joy in their eyes and to feel it with them. I nearly passed out after I hugged them. My heart was exploding with joy.”
Updated constructor standings
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Mercedes maintain a healthy lead but Ferrari increase their lead over McLaren.
Updated driver standings
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Hamilton cuts Antonelli’s lead to 41 points and Russell is now 50 points behind. Finally the luck that he needed, if not deserved. A three-way fight for the title? Perhaps...
Norris on a good podium
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“We stayed there, we gave ourselves a chance if anything happened... but otherwise very happy for the team, very happy to be back on the podium. A good day for us.”
He is asked what more they need to do to win: “A little bit of everything, I think,” he says.
Russell speaks after a strong second
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“I know how hard he [Hamilton] works and we spent a lot of years together at Mercedes, really pleased to see him back to the Lewis I saw when I was growing up watching Formula One. Yesterday was a real surprise for us in the team and the pace today was insane from Lewis, so yeah, they are coming, I think.”
Hamilton speaks after his 106th GP win
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He is a little out of breath...
“First, I have to say a huge grazie to say everyone here, my team here at Ferrari, everyone back at the factory. I started out a dream last year but we never gave up hope and the team just continued to lift me up. We made so many changes and so many improvements. Thank you to everybody.
“They are all special in their own way but this one in something else. I watched Ferrari have all that success when I was younger... I wondered what it would be like to win in that car and it’s come. This is just the first I hope of many. The car felt fantastic and forza Ferrari.”
Quite a turnaround from Ferrari
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In Hamilton’s hands at least the Ferrari was a match for, in fact probably faster than Mercedes. McLaren have been left behind a bit, though Norris wasn’t a million miles off the pace.
⏱️Barcelona-Catalunya GP - Classification
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- HAM 25pts
- RUS 18pts
- NOR 15pts
- VER 12pts
- PIA 10pts
- HAD 8pts
- GAS 6pts
- COL 4pts
- LAW 2pts
- LIN 1pt
🏁LEWIS HAMILTON WINS THE BARCELONA-CATALUNYA GRAND PRIX!
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His first win for Ferrari! I think an emotional one.
Russell in second, making up a crucial 18 points up on Antonelli.
Norris a slightly fortunate but hard-earned podium. He kept with the front-runners well all race, never letting them get away.
FINAL LAP
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Hamilton might or might not win this by 20 seconds but it doesn’t matter. It has been a superb weekend from him, he has found his best form for the last few years...
Lap 65 of 66 - VSC ends
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Just a handful of corners for Hamilton to negotiate now.
It will be three Britons on the podium as it stands.
Lap 64 of 66 - They are struggling to remove Antonelli’s car
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There is a gap in the barriers but they are not doing a good job of threading it through. Not much steering lock and it looks uphill too...
This race might end under non-racing conditions.
Lap 63 of 66 - Order under the VSC
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- HAM
- RUS
- NOR
- VER
- PIA
- LEC
- HAD
- GAS
- COL
- LAW
Leclerc is technically in sixth but has retired his car into the pits. Looks like we will get away with just a VSC rather than a full safety car.
Lap 62 of 66 - ANTONELLI IS OUT!
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Is Russell vulnerable to Norris behind? Perhaps? Antonelli has some of his front wing endplate loose on the right-hand side. Did the two Mercedes cars come together?
❌It doesn’t matter now because Antonelli has stopped on the track! It sounds like a gearbox or engine issue! He is out! Finally some luck for Russell.
🟨VSC is deployed... Leclerc goes off after losing the power steering.
Lap 61 of 66 - Antonelli gets Russell for second!
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Russell pushes him wide at turn one but he makes the move stuck. Russell tries to come back but he does not have the pace or the grip, it seems.
Lap 60 of 66 - Is Antonelli going to go for this?
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I wouldn’t put it past him... Norris is now 3.2sec behind and he will find it hard to make that time up unless they start fighting and losing time again.
Antonelli has driven a good race and looks to be the faster driver today... he gets overtake mode on the pit straight.
Lap 59 of 66 - Hamilton could win this by 20sec
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Hadjar pits from eighth but he had a big gap in which to do so.
Antonelli now closer to Russell than ever...
Timing of the VSC just about sums up Russell’s luck this season. But questionable whether he would have held Hamilton off. The 41-year-old’s pace has been excellent today. Barring calamity this is going to be an historic first win in Ferrari colours for the seven-time world champion. A first win in 686 days (2024 Belgian GP). His first time crossing the line first in 707 days (2024 British GP). And a massive two fingers up to his doubters.
Lap 58 of 66 - Norris has backed off a bit
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He might come back later on. Russell has had a fairly trying afternoon. Not the win he was hoping for but he might make up a few points on Antonelli if he can keep him behind.
13.5sec Hamilton leads by now.
Lap 57 of 66 - Hamilton leads by 12.7sec
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Antonelli is a second behind Russell, Norris is two seconds behind Antonelli.
Behind him are Verstappen, Leclerc, Piastri, Hadjar, Gasly and Colapinto.
Lap 56 of 66 - Hamilton has been on it all weekend
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Motivated and fast, too. No doubt his finest weekend for Ferrari, but one of the finest in the last few years, too.
Lap 55 of 66 - Hamilton leads Russell by 11.3sec
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Hamilton’s last victory came in 2024 in Belgium. He is cruising to 106th now...
Lap 54 of 66 - Hamilton leads Russell by 10.9sec
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The Ferrari upgrades are working a treat. Mercedes have no answer for this. Norris is joining the battle for second, just behind Antonelli...
Albon update:
Williams say Albon came in to the pits to “fix a loose camera”. A spokesperson adds: “The team has since made changes to his car and he will return to the Grand Prix as a testing session to gather more data.”
Lap 53 of 66 - Penalty for Antonelli?
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McLaren are watching him like a hawk and have gone to the FIA because they believe he has gone over limits more than three times. How will that pan out?
Antonelli still on the back of Russell...
Lap 52 of 66 - Top 10 and gaps
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- HAM
- RUS +9.6
- ANT +10.7
- NOR +11.8
- VER +12.0
- LEC +31.0
- PIA +41.8
- HAD +68.5
- GAS +1lap
- COL +1lap
Russell told to pick up the pace. Antonelli believes, correctly, that he has so much more pace.
Lap 51 of 66 - Great pace from Hamilton
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You have to ask the question, would he have had the pace even without the VSC? Perhaps, but it is hard to say given he would have been in dirty air behind two Mercedes cars. But the pace does look good.
Lap 50 of 66 - Norris has a chance of a podium here
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Antonelli will be given a five-second penalty if he exceeds track limits once more. Perhaps Norris could have a say in that. He charges and is now within 1.3sec of the Italian and championship leader.
Hamilton now leads by 8.8sec...
Lap 49 of 66 - Albon is 10 laps down
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I didn’t catch that but he stopped in the pit lane and is 10 laps down.
Hamilton, meanwhile, has extended his lead to 7.1sec. Antonelli is now within 1.5sec of Russell. Norris doing a fine job, only 1.7sec behind Antonelli.
Lap 48 of 66 - No further investigation for Hamilton
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It sounds like he approached Alonso’s car just as the yellow flags came out...
I am not sure Mercedes have an answer for this.
Lap 47 of 66 - Four cars out of this race
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Alonso, Hulkenberg, Bottas and Stroll. Albon is showing as retired and 10 laps down but he is still out there as far as I can see. Possibly a timing issue.
Hamilton stretches his lead further by nearly a second on this lap...
Lap 46 of 66 - Hamilton leads Russell by 4.7sec
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Antonelli is 1.8sec behind Russell and might be wise just to limit the damage this weekend and accept a three-point hit to his championship lead over his team-mate. Hamilton, of course, will take more out of it stays like this.
Lap 45 of 66 - Superb pace from Hamilton
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He was 0.7-0.8sec faster than the Mercedes cars on the last lap. Still no further word on the yellow-flag infringement. Colapinto has also been noted for that. Hamilton might need to keep pushing...
Lap 44 of 66 - Top 10 and gaps
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- HAM
- RUS +3.9
- ANT +5.5
- NOR +7.0
- VER +26.4
- LEC +28.5
- PIA +34.2
- HAD +53.6
- GAS +1lap
- COL +1lap
Lap 43 of 66 - ⁉️Yellow-flag infringement noted for Hamilton
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I assume that is for Alonso’s car being stopped. It has not been confirmed as being investigated yet.
Lap 42 of 66 - Hamilton leads...
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He has hard tyres that are four and five laps fresher than the Mercedes cars behind him. Can he cling onto the win in the next 24 laps? It’s going to be fun finding out...
Lap 41 of 66 - Will Ferrari stop Hamilton?
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This would be the best way to make up time, surely? I am surprised they didn’t do it a bit sooner, but I think he passed the point of pitting before it was called...
Out come the Ferrari mechanics... Hamilton pits. Will he go onto the hard tyres? Surely...
Yes... he gets too close for comfort with an Alpine.
Hamilton comes out of the pit lane ahead, just as the VSC is ending...
Lap 40 of 66 - 🟨Yellow flags
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Alonso has stopped by the side of the track. This becomes a Virtual Safety Car. Will this help Hamilton? He could get a cheap stop.
Lap 39 of 66 - Hamilton told to ‘give everything’
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Seven laps, foot to the floor. That is what he is told.
Russell into second ahead of Leclerc now, a bit close for comfort, though, towards the end of the lap. Leclerc pits.
Lap 38 of 66 - Antonelli comes out ahead of Norris
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Not much in it, though, that undercut almost worked beautifully for Norris.
It’s currently a Ferrari 1-2. Let’s look at the lap times from Hamilton compared to the Mercedes cars. When will Hamilton stop again? He is currently 17-19sec clear of the two Mercedes cars but is likely to be a decent chunk slower than them, with their fresh tyres.
Lap 37 of 66 - Antonelli leads
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Hamilton in second, 4.7sec behind him and much quicker. Leclerc in third with Russell about 7.3sec behind him. This will be a fascinating end to the race.
Here is the top 10 now:
- ANT
- HAM
- LEC
- RUS
- NOR
- VER
- PIA
- HAD
- GAS
- LIN
Some varying strategies out there but it is essentially a three-horse race with Hamilton on a three-stopper, with one more to go and Antonelli and Russell on two-stoppers. Russell has stopped twice, Antonelli will stop at the end of this lap most likely.
Lap 36 of 66 - In comes Russell...
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Norris pits, Hamilton into third. Russell is told to pit this lap, which will help his cause. A long way to go, though...
Lap 35 of 66 - Norris still in play here
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He is 4.5sec away from Antonelli. Not really in this race for victory but doing a fine job nevertheless.
Antonelli is reminded of Norris and to not fight too hard.
Lap 34 of 66 - Hamilton 2.3sec faster than the leaders
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He is around 10 seconds adrift of Antonelli and Russell.
“Am I catching them?” Hamilton asks. “You are catching them very well! Keep pushing,” he says.
Lap 33 of 66 - Antonelli makes a move!
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Russell has to defend at turn one and he does so fairly well but puts himself on the back foot before things settle down again.
Russell has tyres that are older by two laps but Antonelli looks to be the faster man in this stage of the race. This plays into Hamilton’s hands. Antonelli also needs to stay within track limits, he has been reminded of that by his race engineer.
Lap 32 of 66 - Hamilton is keen
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“Let me know what times I need to do,” he says. He is focused and locked-in here. Leclerc had just let him through for fourth.
The Mercedes cars squabbling would help his cause...
Lap 31 of 66 - Problems for Russell...
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Antonelli is now within one second of him as they negotiate traffic...
Lap 30 of 66 - Danger zone for Antonelli
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A black and white flag for track limits. One more of those and it’s a five-second penalty.
Hamilton with the new fastest lap, 2.6sec faster than Russell.
Lap 29 of 66 - Hamilton gets Piastri
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Around the outside of turn three on fresher tyres. It doesn’t seem to be the case that Russell will do a three-stop strategy. Hamilton on the medium tyres, by the way, so I guess both Hamilton, Antonelli and Russell will stop once more.
Lap 28 of 66 - Problems for Russell
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Were he to pit now he would come out behind Hamilton... superb pace from Hamilton so far.
Lap 27 of 66 - Undercut for Hamilton!
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He comes into the pits... what do Mercedes do now? Russell only 3.7sec ahead of team-mate Antonelli now. His race could become complicated and quickly.
Lap 26 of 66 - Antonelli making ground
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He is now 1.6sec behind Hamilton and 4.3sec behind leader Russell, who complains that his front-end feels a bit weak.
Lap 25 of 66 - Hamilton makes up some time
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The gap down to 2.2sec with Antonelli 2.6sec behind him. The final stint of the race could be an interesting one... no real on-track battles at the front yet, so let’s hope we get to see some in the second half.
Lap 24 of 66 - Is this a three-horse race?
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The top three are within five seconds of each other. Norris is a further two seconds back from Antonelli and is doing a good job but the pace is not there in the McLaren there today, I think.
Lap 22 of 66 - The trouble for Russell now...
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Is the undercut. Hamilton can pit first, get extra lap time on fresher tyres and gain position. That is at the moment. Russell could do with stretching his lead to 3.5sec or so that would mitigate if not eliminate that risk.
Lap 21 of 66 - Russell leads Hamilton by 2.1sec
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Again, Russell just seems to be a tenth or so faster most laps. Antonelli is four seconds behind Hamilton is by no means out of this race. Leclerc has good pace and is closing in on Verstappen in fifth. Norris a bit of a lonely race in fourth, which would be a decent result in a slightly problematic McLaren.
Lap 20 of 66 - Backmarkers update
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Challenging for the final points spot are Hulkenberg in 11th, then Gasly Colapinto close behind. Bit of a gap to Sainz in 14th, then it;s Ocon, Bortoleto, Albon, Alonso, Perez and Bearman.
Colapinto is told to let Gasly through, which he complies with. He is a little baffled. They are on similar strategies but perhaps Gasly appears to be the faster man, unequivocally.
Lap 19 of 66 - Top 10 and gaps
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- RUS
- HAM +2.0
- ANT +7.5
- NOR +9.6
- VER +13.7
- LEC +21.5
- PIA +23.3
- LIN +36.7
- HAD +41.6
- LAW +47.8
Lap 18 of 66 - Hadjar into the top 10
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He overtakes the Haas of Bearman to move into ninth. He has stopped, so is making decent progress. Russell still has the edge on Hamilton but it’s not a large one.
Lap 17 of 66 - ⁉️ Sainz under investigation
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That is for a start-line procedure infringement. As is his team-mate Alexander Albon.
❌Bottas retires from the race. A poor and disappointing season for him.
Lap 16 of 66 - Leclerc does stop
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He moves onto the hard tyres, so Russell regains the lead of the race.
Lap 15 of 66 - Leclerc leads Russell
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But it sounds like Leclerc is stopping. He does not want to, though, and has been told to stay out.
Hamilton is roughly keeping pace with Russell since they emerged from the pit lane. 1.8sec now the gap. Can or will Ferrari use Leclerc as a blocker?
Lap 14 of 66 - Antonelli stops
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So no real trouble for Russell on that front. Leclerc inherits the lead of the race, 5.5sec ahead of Russell but he has not stopped.
Lap 13 of 66 - Antonelli leads Norris
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But Norris is coming into the pits. Fair that Russell responded to Hamilton stopping, I guess, but does it compromise his race compared to Antonelli, who has not stopped, and is on medium tyres. Hamilton, remember, started on the soft tyres.
Russell says he has been exposed by his team, to his team-mate.
Lap 12 of 56 - This will be a flurry of pit stops
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A slow stop for Liam Lawson. 2.5sec stop for Hamilton. Russell thinks Hamilton is going for a three-stop race. Hamilton is on the hard tyres now and is in seventh. Verstappen also complaining about his tyres.
In comes Russell to the pit lane. It’s a tidy stop. 2.5sec so is not vulnerable to any undercut. Verstappen stops as well. 2.5sec for him.
Hamilton has gained some time from that earlier stop... he is 1.5sec off Russell as the Mercedes comes out of the pit lane. Can he make any further inroads with warmer tyres. They are both on the hards now.
Lap 11 of 56 - Leclerc closing in on Verstappen now
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He is within a second, so gets a boost. Hamilton has slipped to 3.5sec behind Russell. He just doesn’t have the pace to trouble Russell but is doing a decent job in not dropping back any further on the soft tyres.
Is Hamilton coming in now? It looks like he is...
Lap 10 of 56 - Top 10 and gaps
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- RUS
- HAM +3.5
- ANT +5.5
- NOR +8.0
- VER +10.3
- LEC +11.5
- PIA +14.2
- LAW +23.2
- HUL +24.2
- LIN +27.2
Lap 9 of 56 - Norris asked how the pace and tyres are
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“Yeah, just sliding everywhere,” he says.
Lap 8 of 66 - Leclerc gets Piastri for sixth
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Patient at the start of the lap but then hangs it around the outside of turn three to move up a place. The McLaren looked a little helpless to respond to it, really. The cars are sliding around the track and the gaps are growing.
Lap 7 of 66 - Scrap that, Russell ups his pace
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He takes another 0.4sec out of Hamilton behind him, though Hamilton is now 1.5sec ahead of Antonelli.
Lap 6 of 66 - Russell leads Hamilton by 2.6sec
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The lead has stabilised a little and Antonelli looks to be stuck a little in the dirty air behind the Ferrari of Hamilton.
Lance Stroll pulls into the pit lane to retire from the race.
Lap 5 of 66 - What happened to Hadjar?
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A poor start with too much wheelspin, really. Leclerc nearly ploughed into the back of him but avoided contact, thankfully.
Lap 4 of 66 - Russell leads Hamilton by 2.5sec
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Antonelli has closed in a little. Leclerc showing decent pace in seventh and is approaching Piastri as they end the lap.
Lap 3 of 66 - Russell leads Hamilton by 1.7sec
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Are Hamilton’s chances of victory gone? Too early to say that but his best chance was getting ahead of Russell on the soft tyres. He is now two seconds behind and Antonelli is only 1.1sec behind him.
🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴 THE BARCELONA-CATALUNYA GRAND PRIX IS GO!
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It’s a good start for Russell who holds the lead ahead of Hamilton at the first corner. Verstappen makes a decent start but has not made any positions up y turn four. Norris is on the back of Antonelli from early on for third. Leclerc up into seventh.
Hadjar, sixth on the grid, has dropped back to 15th somehow but is up to 14th by the end of the lap.
Russell extends his lead by the end of the lap, more than one second ahead.
Starting tyre types
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Interesting...
In the top 10 everyone is on mediums ecept for Hamilton in second, Verstappen in fifth and Hulkenberg in ninth. Below them it is softs and mediums until Perez in 19th and the two Aston Martins, who are all on hard tyres.
That grid is sweltering. Track temp is 50.9C according to the screens in the press room. It certainly felt like you could fry an egg on it during the gridwalk. All about the tyre deg today. Ferrari believe their delta to Mercedes is around 0.2sec on race pace. But that would easily be offset by clean air if Lewis can get out in front. Who does Russell block? Hamilton? Or Antonelli?
The start today is massive because there is going to be very little yo-yoing by all accounts. The overtake mode here is less powerful than DRS used to be. McLaren’s Lando Norris starts P4 and I’ve just been reminded that Fernando Alonso started P4 in 2011 and blasted past both Red Bulls and Lewis Hamilton’s McLaren, braking late on the inside to take the lead by Turn 1. It can be done...
STARTING GRID
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1. RUS 2. HAM
3. ANT 4. NOR
5. VER 6. HAD
7. PIA 8. LAW
9. HUL 10. LEC
11. LIN 12. BOR
13. BOR 14. GAS
15. BEA 16. SAI
17. OCO 18. ALB
19. PER 20. BOT
21. STR
PIT LANE: ALO
It is hot, hot, hot in Spain
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It often is. 31C air temperature and 51C track temperature. Pirelli seem to suggest that a two-stopper is best but a three-stop race is possible. Russell, on his way to the grid, does not think it will be an easy race even if he keeps the lead at the end of the first lap.
Nico Rosberg on the grid
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He tries to grab a word with Lewis Hamilton on his way to the front of the grid for the national anthem, but politely declines. He acknowledged him, at least. 10 years since they crashed into each other here on the opening lap...
Work going on on Kimi Antonelli’s car
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They are adjusting the brakes as, according to race engineer Peter Bonnington, Antonelli reported a “long pedal”. Not what you want. It doesn’t look like it will be a problem that will stop him from starting the race.
Current constructor standings
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I suppose the one good thing about Aston Martin’s season is that they have scored a point and are ahead of Cadillac because of it.
Is Hamilton back to his best?
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It has been a fine season for him so far, and he has now taken three podiums for Ferrari this year, compared to none last year. He has the edge (just) over Leclerc in qualifying and also on results. It’s much better, in other words. What chance of a first Ferrari win today? Half decent, I guess, but might need a bit of luck.
Here are his results in grands prix so far this season.
Qualifying head-to-heads in 2026 so far
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Some standout results there. Leclerc losing to Hamilton, Albon being trounced by Sainz and Stroll actually managing to out-qualify Fernando Alonso for the first time in 40-odd races. Astonishing.
How Leclerc’s qualifying ended
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In the barriers... it has not been a brilliant season from him so far. Not terrible, just a few too many mistakes.
Current driver standings
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A long way to go for Russell... and also Antonelli. Plenty of points up for grabs from here on in, though the races do start coming thick and fast now.
Qualifying times
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Mercedes are, frankly, running away with it this year. Yet their dominance is not near the scale of the last big regulation reset in 2014, thankfully. In percentage terms, their gap to the next fastest team at the first race was one per cent; yesterday it was just 0.086 per cent, having been 0.06 per cent in Monaco and 0.208 per cent in Canada.
Good work from Cadillac, too. Both of their cars finished ahead of both Aston Martins in qualifying.
Good afternoon
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Welcome to our coverage for the 2026 Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix. It feels a bit too early to be saying this is a pivotal race for George Russell’s championship hopes, with so long to go, but that is not that wide of the mark.
Russell trails Mercedes team-mate and championship leader Kimi Antonelli by 68 points. Indeed, Russell’s two pointless weekends in Monaco and Canada mean that Lewis Hamilton, of Ferrari, has snuck into second place in the standings.
Has Russell been unlucky? Undoubtedly. But has he underperformed? Yes. And I think he would admit to that. Credit must also go to Antonelli, who was well beaten by Russell in his debut season last year, but has now won five races in a row. That doesn’t happen by accident. Even if Russell gets some good luck and finds form, beating Antonelli is not a formality.
Qualifying yesterday was, at least, some sign that he can turn this around. He took pole position – his third of the season and first since Canada – by just under a tenth of a second from Hamilton. Lewis. Unfortunately for Russell there was not a big gap to Antonelli, who was third. The order could well be swapped on the first lap.
What prospect of good racing today? Well, the larger issues with the electrically-charged cars have lessened in recent times, perhaps because of some tweaks by the FIA and also the nature of some of the tracks. This track isn’t the bore-fest that it once was, but any track is capable of hosting a dull event. I think this could be a decent one, though.
It’s lights out at 2pm and we will be here for all of the build-up, latest updates and reaction from the race.