The 2026 Spanish Grand Prix qualifying session is set to begin at 16:00 local time, with the battle for pole position expected to be one of the most closely contested of the season.
Live coverage of Spanish GP qualifying
Our live coverage of qualifying for the 2026 Formula 1 Spanish Grand Prix will begin at 15:45 on Saturday, June 13.
Over the course of the hour-long session, drivers will battle not only against one another but also against the clock as they attempt to survive the eliminations in Q1 and Q2 before fighting for the highest possible starting position on Sunday’s grid.
George Russell enters qualifying as the favourite
Good afternoon and welcome to our live coverage of qualifying for the Formula 1 Spanish Grand Prix weekend in Barcelona.
The session is scheduled to start at 16:00 local time and, barring any interruptions caused by accidents or red flags, should conclude around 17:00. Based on the evidence from all three practice sessions, George Russell appears to be the driver to beat.
The Mercedes driver confirmed the impressive form he had already displayed on Friday by topping FP3, finishing more than two tenths clear of the McLarens of Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris. Splitting the two papaya cars was Charles Leclerc, who secured third place for Ferrari and once again demonstrated the potential of the Scuderia’s upgraded SF-26.
Ferrari chasing the second row
Ferrari heads into qualifying with realistic ambitions of securing a place on the second row of the grid. While the team has shown encouraging pace throughout the Barcelona weekend, particularly with Charles Leclerc, Mercedes and McLaren still appear to hold an advantage when it comes to outright one-lap performance.
The challenge for the Scuderia will be to maximize the gains delivered by its latest upgrade package while overcoming the power unit and energy deployment limitations that have been evident throughout the weekend.
Can Andrea Kimi Antonelli bounce back?
One of the biggest question marks heading into qualifying surrounds Andrea Kimi Antonelli.
The championship leader has not looked quite as comfortable as expected around the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya and has endured a somewhat frustrating weekend so far. His FP3 session was also compromised by traffic, preventing him from completing a final qualifying simulation on fresh soft tyres. As a result, the young Mercedes driver finished only seventh in the final practice session.
The key question now is whether qualifying will follow the trend established during the three practice sessions or whether one of the leading contenders can produce a surprise when it matters most. Join us as we follow all the action from qualifying for the 2026 Spanish Grand Prix and discover who will secure pole position in Barcelona.
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