George Russell captured pole position for the 2026 Formula 1 Barcelona Grand Prix after a dramatic qualifying session at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, ending teammate Kimi Antonelli’s unprecedented streak.
Russell secured his third pole of the season with a 1:14.679 flyer that put him just 0.064 seconds ahead of Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton, who will start Sunday’s race from second place alongside the Mercedes on an all-British front row that has never happened at Barcelona before.
Title leader Antonelli will headline the second row after qualifying third, while reigning world champion Lando Norris joins him in the leading McLaren.
Max Verstappen will line up on the third row alongside Red Bull teammate Isack Hadjar, followed by Oscar Piastri and Racing Bulls’ Liam Lawson on the fourth row.
Audi’s Nico Hulkenberg will start from ninth, while Charles Leclerc completes the top ten after a disappointing qualifying that saw the Monesgaque suffer a heavy crash at Turn 5 during his first Q3 run.
2026 F1 Barcelona Grand Prix starting grid
| Pos | Driver | Team |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | George Russell | Mercedes |
| 2. | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari |
| 3. | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes |
| 4. | Lando Norris | McLaren |
| 5. | Max Verstappen | Red Bull |
| 6. | Isack Hadjar | Red Bull |
| 7. | Oscar Piastri | McLaren |
| 8. | Liam Lawson | Racing Bulls |
| 9. | Nico Hulkenberg | Audi |
| 10. | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari |
| 11. | Arvid Lindblad | Racing Bulls |
| 12, | Gabriel Bortoleto | Audi |
| 13. | Franco Colapinto | Alpine |
| 14. | Pierre Gasly | Alpine |
| 15. | Oliver Bearman | Haas |
| 16. | Carlos Sainz | Williams |
| 17. | Esteban Ocon | Haas |
| 18. | Alex Albon | Williams |
| 19. | Sergio Perez | Cadillac |
| 20. | Valtteri Bottas | Cadillac |
| 21. | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin |
| 22. | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin |
