George Russell just pipped Lewis Hamilton to claim a much-needed pole position in his bid to kick start a championship fightback at the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix. Kimi Antonelli, the championship leader, was third in the second Mercedes but Charles Leclerc, another pole contender, crashed out in the other Ferrari at the start of Q3 and qualified 10th. Having fallen 68 points behind his Mercedes team-mate after failing to score points in the last two grands prix, Russell needed a big weekend and has hitherto delivered
one with an edge over his title-leading team-mate around the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya so far. Barcelona-Catalunya GP: UK schedule and how to watch on Sky SportsF1 2026 standings | F1 2026 Calendar | F1 Gossip ColumnDownload the Sky Sports app for expert analysis, best video & more📱Not got Sky? Get Sky Sports or stream with no contract on NOW📺 But in a Q3 shootout compromised by Leclerc’s accident at Turn Four, Russell was pushed all the way for it and produced a superb final lap
of 1:14.679 to initially outpace Antonelli by an impressive 0.3s margin. But Hamilton, carrying Ferrari’s hopes after his team-mate’s crash, nearly beat both Mercedes’ with a brilliant final lap of his own to fall just 0.064s short in pursuit of his first Grand Prix pole since 2023. Lando Norris was fourth for McLaren ahead of Max Verstappen in the lead Red Bull in fifth. More to follow… Sky Sports F1’s Barcelona-Catalunya GP schedule Sunday June 147.35am: F3 Feature Race9.05am: Porsche Supercup10.20am: F2 Feature Race12.30pm: Barcelona-Catalunya
GP build-up: Grand Prix Sunday*2pm: THE BARCELONA-CATALUNYA GRAND PRIX*4pm: Barcelona-Catalunya GP reaction: Chequered Flag5pm: Ted’s Notebook *Also on Sky Sports Main Event Formula 1 is in Spain for the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix with live coverage on Sky Sports F1. Sunday’s race starts at 2pm. Stream Sky Sports with NOW – no contract, cancel anytime
Barcelona-Catalunya GP, qualifying, George Russell, Lewis Hamilton, Charles Leclerc, Kimi Antonelli, pole position, Q3, 1:14.679, Ferrari crash, Mercedes
Leclerc crashing out in Q3 is wild, like how do you mess up Turn Four that bad… anyway Russell’s pole right? congrats
Wait Hamilton was “nearly beat” Russell? So he didn’t actually get pole but I swear I saw a clip where he did?? Maybe Barcelona is cursed lol. Also Kimi being third feels like he should’ve been closer.
The article says Leclerc crashed at the start of Q3, but I’m confused because it also says it was compromised at Turn Four. Like was it start-start or during the lap? Either way Russell pulling pole by 0.3 then Hamilton only 0.064 behind sounds like a setup for chaos in the race.
All this talk about pole like it matters if they can’t keep the tires alive. Norris 4th and Verstappen 5th… that seems backwards. And why would Antonelli be third if he’s leading the championship? Sounds like Ferrari messed up more than just one crash.