Formula 1 heads to Barcelona for the renamed Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix this weekend and round seven of the 2026 F1 season.
Life could not be better for Kimi Antonelli right now. In Monaco, he claimed his fifth consecutive victory with a dominant lights-to-flag performance after claiming a stunning pole position. His lead in the world championship is now 66 points.
Lewis Hamilton is now Antonelli’s closest contender after finishing second in Monte-Carlo, a fortnight after finishing second in Canada. The 41-year-old is showing his best form in Ferrari colours, but is still chasing that elusive first grand prix win.
As for George Russell, it was another frustrating weekend as he finished outside of the points after a late drive-through penalty. It was in Barcelona last year that he tangled with Max Verstappen - what will happen this time around?
Follow the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix with The Independent.
Read MoreF1 standings after Pierre Gasly’s Monaco GP podium reinstated following Alpine appeal
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F1 BARCELONA-CATALUNYA GP - LATEST UPDATES
- Round seven of the 2026 F1 season takes place in Barcelona
- Qualifying is at 3pm BST
- George Russell quickest in final practice; Piastri 2nd; Leclerc 3rd
- Pierre Gasly had his Monaco podium reinstated on Friday
- Kimi Antonelli has a 66-point lead after six races
Qualifying start time:
12:40 , Kieran JacksonQualifying at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya is at 3pm BST.
It feels like a really big one for George Russell, if he’s to turn his season around.
And what about Lewis Hamilton? Can he claim a first grand prix pole for Ferrari?
VIDEO: Gasly after Monaco podium reinstated
14:28 , Kieran Jackson"I'm very proud of the FIA for the transparency" 🗣️
— Sky Sports F1 (@SkySportsF1) June 12, 2026
Pierre Gasly shares his thoughts after his penalty from the Monaco GP was withdrawn. pic.twitter.com/8I8l3PXmZe
Top-10 - driver standings
14:20 , Kieran Jackson1. 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
Christian Horner suffers F1 return delay as Renault Group says ‘no discussions’
14:10 , Kieran JacksonChristian 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’
Kimi Antonelli on a tricky practice
14:00 , Kieran Jackson"The tyres are overheating quite a lot," said Antonelli on Friday.
"Just trying to find the best balance. With only one lap, it is always difficult, but overall there is still quite a bit of work to do," he said.
"But I am quite confident ahead of [Saturday]. Long run was good but looking forward to tomorrow and the changes we're going to make."
George Russell vows to bounce back from latest setback in drivers’ championship
13:50 , 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.”
Fernando Alonso drops major hint over his F1 future
13:40 , Kieran JacksonTwo-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
Constructor standings ahead of Barcelona
13:30 , Kieran Jackson1. 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
McLaren's Lando Norris:
13:20 , Kieran Jackson"We're up there with the people we want to be with," he said after topping FP2 on Friday.
"It's hot and I don't think anyone's going to be that happy.
"It's difficult with the wind and with the conditions but it seems to be working better than the last few weeks, which is a good sign."
VIDEO: Did you spot this?
13:10 , Kieran JacksonLeclerc with... Hamilton’s number on his shirt:
CL... 44?! 🧐#F1 #BarcelonaGP pic.twitter.com/ej5hkjpVhT
— Formula 1 (@F1) June 11, 2026
Max Verstappen on Red Bull's lack of competitiveness:
13:01 , Kieran Jackson"For sure not," he said, when asked if he could be fighting at the front. "We lose in the high speed, low speed and medium speed, the whole day lacking grip, feeling with the car, the balance. Nothing felt nice.
"There is no grip, the cars are drifting around, tyres not giving any kind of grip. We struggled a little more than the top guys but I think no one had a good balance."
Top-10 in FP3
12:50 , Kieran Jackson1. George Russell (Mercedes) - 1:15.679
2. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) +0.214
3. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) +0.243
4. Lando Norris (McLaren) +0.246
5. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) +0.702
6. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) +0.755
7. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) +0.821
8. Isack Hadjar (Red Bull) +1.005
9. Nico Hulkenberg (Audi) +1.282
10. Arvid Lindblad (Racing Bulls) +1.341
George Russell fastest in FP3
12:34 , Kieran JacksonA much-needed session of positivity for George Russell, who goes fastest in the third and final practice session.
Two-tenths behind is Oscar Piastri, then Charles Leclerc and Lando Norris.
5-10: Hamilton, Verstappen, Antonelli, Hadjar, Hulkenberg, Lindblad.
Now onto qualifying!
Kimi Antonelli angry
12:27 , Kieran JacksonAntonelli has been blocked by Stroll and a Haas car on a timed lap - and he’s not happy about it.
Antonelli: “Unbelievable mate.”
Bonnington: “I don’t tell those cars to leave the pit-lane, mate.”
Perhaps an underlying tone to ‘relax’ from his race engineer.
George Russell fastest with 10 to go
12:25 , Kieran JacksonRussell, with a 1:15:679, is fastest by two-tenths to Piastri and Norris.
4-10: Hamilton, Verstappen, Antonelli, Leclerc, Hulkenberg, Lindblad, Bortoleto
Lando Norris quickest after 30 mins
11:59 , Kieran JacksonMuch like yesterday, Norris is on form early on - going fastest by 0.076 secs to Charles Leclerc in second.
Oscar Piastri is third, six-tenths off his teammate, with Lindblad in fourth and Hulkenberg in fifth.
More of the frontrunners setting their first competitive laps in FP3 now...
Cheers for Alonso
11:52 , Kieran JacksonFernando Alonso makes his way onto the circuit and receives a chorus of cheers from the Spaniard’s fans in the grandstands.
Alonso said it would be a “miracle” if Aston Martin made it out of Q1 - let’s see how he rolls this morning.
Perez goes wide
11:43 , Kieran JacksonThe Cadillac driver, the first man out on track, goes wide and flicks up some gravel as he begins his run on Saturday.
Only a handful of drivers out on track in the opening 10 minutes...
FP3 underway
11:31 , Kieran JacksonAmid scorching hot conditions in Barcelona, we’re underway with the third and final practice.
A critical final hour for the drivers to get accustomed to the conditions ahead of a key qualifying session later this afternoon.
Who will put down the final marker?
Monaco Grand Prix result changes – five days after F1 race ended
11:25 , Kieran JacksonPierre 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
Start times in Barcelona:
11:23 , Kieran JacksonAll times BST
Saturday 13 June
- Free practice 3: 11:30am
- Qualifying: 3pm
Sunday 14 June
- Race: 2pm
F1 Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix
11:20 , Kieran JacksonFormula 1 heads to Barcelona for the renamed Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix this weekend and round seven of the 2026 F1 season.
Life could not be better for Kimi Antonelli right now. In Monaco, he claimed his fifth consecutive victory with a dominant lights-to-flag performance after claiming a stunning pole position. His lead in the world championship is now 66 points.
Lewis Hamilton is now Antonelli’s closest contender after finishing second in Monte-Carlo, a fortnight after finishing second in Canada. The 41-year-old is showing his best form in Ferrari colours, but is still chasing that elusive first grand prix win.
As for George Russell, it was another frustrating weekend as he finished outside of the points after a late drive-through penalty. It was in Barcelona last year that he tangled with Max Verstappen - what will happen this time around?
