George Russell Takes Barcelona GP Pole; Leclerc Crashes in Qualifying
George Russell topped all three practice sessions and secured pole position for the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix, edging Lewis Hamilton by 0.064 seconds. Championship leader Kimi Antonelli qualified third, missing the front row for the first time in 2025. Charles Leclerc crashed at Turn Four, finishing 10th. McLaren and Mercedes showed strong pace, while Max Verstappen struggled. The race is set for June 14.
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Toto Wolff Furious After Lewis Hamilton's First Ferrari Win Sparks Red Alert at Mercedes
Lewis Hamilton (41) secured his first victory driving for Ferrari at the Barcelona Grand Prix, causing extreme frustration at his former team Mercedes. Hamilton outsmarted the competition with a superior strategy including an extra pit stop, while Mercedes' internal rivalry between Kimi Antonelli (19) and George Russell (28) cost them crucial championship points. In lap 61, Antonelli damaged his front wing while overtaking Russell and eventually retired. Team principal Toto Wolff openly criticized the situation, hinting that team orders may be enforced in the future to prioritize championship leader Antonelli. Sky expert Ralf Schumacher stated that Russell must now subordinate himself to Antonelli as the team's clear number one. The victory moves Hamilton to 115 points, closing in on Antonelli's 156-point championship lead.
BILD - SportWolff: Mercedes can't compete for championship with unreliability
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has warned that the team cannot compete for a championship due to persistent power unit reliability issues, following Kimi Antonelli's late retirement from second place at the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix. Antonelli had just overtaken teammate George Russell when his car shut down with a suspected power unit problem, mirroring Russell's battery failure in Canada two races earlier. Mercedes customer teams McLaren, Alpine, and Williams have also suffered problems this season. Antonelli's lead in the Drivers' Championship was cut to 41 points over Lewis Hamilton, who won his first race for Ferrari. Mercedes' Constructors' Championship advantage was trimmed to 72 points over Ferrari, who also lost Charles Leclerc to a hydraulics failure. Wolff emphasized the need to solve the issues, stating the team will 'leave no stone unturned' to understand the root cause.
SkySports | NewsVerstappen Disheartened: Red Bull Behind Ferrari, Mercedes and McLaren
Max Verstappen has expressed frustration, acknowledging that Red Bull is clearly behind Ferrari, Mercedes, and McLaren in Formula 1. The Dutch driver made the comments at the Barcelona Grand Prix, where he debuted a new engine in the RB 22. The article also reports that Lewis Hamilton, driving for Ferrari, won the Catalan Grand Prix, marking his first victory since July 2024 and ending Mercedes' dominance in 2026. George Russell secured pole position for the race, with Hamilton in second and Kimi Antonelli in third. Additionally, Sporting forward Ioannidis was seen with Lando Norris at the event.
RecordHamilton celebrates first victory with Ferrari after winning Barcelona GP as Antonelli breaks down
Lewis Hamilton won his first race since joining Ferrari two years ago, claiming victory at the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix on June 14, 2026. The seven-time world champion increased his record win haul to 106 career victories, his first since the Belgian GP in July 2024 while still with Mercedes. Hamilton took advantage of fresher tires and a superior three-stop pit strategy by Ferrari to overtake pole-sitter George Russell, who finished second. Formula 1 leader Kimi Antonelli broke down with just four laps to go, ending his five-race winning streak. Defending champion Lando Norris finished third, followed by Max Verstappen. Hamilton's victory ended Mercedes' six-race grip on the top podium spot this season. Antonelli still leads the championship with 156 points, Hamilton has 115, and Russell 106.
The Hindu: Latest News today from India and the World, Breaking news, Top Headlines and Trending News Videos.Lewis Hamilton Claims Emotional First Ferrari Win in Barcelona; Antonelli Suffers Late Retirement
Lewis Hamilton secured his first Formula 1 victory in 686 days and his maiden win for Ferrari at the 2026 Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix. Starting second, Hamilton benefited from a three-stop strategy and a safety car triggered by Fernando Alonso's stoppage, building a 20-second lead over George Russell. Championship leader Kimi Antonelli retired on lap 62 with an engine failure while running second, allowing Russell to take P2 and Lando Norris to finish third in the first all-British podium since 1968. Hamilton's emotional win moves him to second in the drivers' standings with 115 points, 41 behind Antonelli (156). Charles Leclerc also retired, remaining fourth with 75 points. The victory marks Hamilton's 106th career win and his first crossing the finish line first since the 2024 British Grand Prix.
Forbes - BusinessToto Wolff Furious After Hamilton's Historic Ferrari Win; Mercedes in Crisis
Lewis Hamilton, aged 41, secured his first victory for Ferrari at the Barcelona Grand Prix, marking a historic moment in Formula 1. The win has caused significant tension at Mercedes, Hamilton's former team. Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff expressed fury after the race, particularly due to an intra-team collision between drivers Kimi Antonelli and George Russell that forced Antonelli to retire, costing him crucial championship points. Wolff hinted at potential team orders in the future, suggesting Russell should have let the faster Antonelli pass. Sky expert Ralf Schumacher declared Antonelli the number one driver at Mercedes, calling for Russell to submit. Hamilton's win closes his championship gap to Antonelli, who leads with 156 points to Hamilton's 115.
BILD - SportRecord World Champion Lewis Hamilton Secures First Ferrari Win at Barcelona Grand Prix
Lewis Hamilton ended a 686-day winless streak by winning the Barcelona Grand Prix, his first victory with Scuderia Ferrari. The 41-year-old seven-time world champion capitalized on a virtual safety car and a daring three-stop pit strategy to outclass the field. Championship leader Kimi Antonelli, who had won five consecutive races, retired shortly before the end due to a technical defect, allowing Hamilton to take the checkered flag. George Russell finished second for Mercedes, ahead of world champion Lando Norris in the McLaren. The race marked the first time this season that no Silver Arrow won. Hamilton solidified his second place in the standings, 41 points behind Antonelli. Nico Hülkenberg retired early with technical issues, still awaiting his first points for Audi. Russell, who secured pole position, had been encouraged by team boss Toto Wolff to undergo talk therapy after being outperformed by his younger teammate.
Nachrichten - WELTKimi Antonelli Passes Russell for Second Before Retiring with Engine Failure at Barcelona GP
During the 2026 Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix, Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli overtook his teammate George Russell to move into second place, only to retire shortly afterward due to an engine failure. The dramatic turn of events occurred at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, highlighting a promising but ultimately disappointing race for the young Italian driver. The incident underscores ongoing reliability concerns for the Mercedes power unit and reshuffled the race standings late in the event.
SkySports | NewsHamilton's Ferrari Victory Reignites Title Hopes in 2026 F1 Season
Lewis Hamilton secured his first victory as a Ferrari driver at the 2026 Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix, ending a near-two-year win drought and reigniting his world championship hopes. The seven-time champion, now 41 points behind Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli with 15 races remaining, stated 'nothing is impossible' in the title race. Hamilton's win was aided by a well-timed Virtual Safety Car and Antonelli's late retirement from second place. Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff acknowledged Ferrari as a new contender in both driver and constructor championships. Hamilton has not challenged for the title since 2021 but has shown growing momentum with consecutive second-place finishes before Barcelona.
SkySports | NewsGeorge Russell secures pole position for the Catalan Grand Prix
Mercedes driver George Russell secured pole position for the 2026 Catalan Grand Prix, leading the grid ahead of teammate Lewis Hamilton in second place and Kimi Antonelli in third. The qualifying session took place at the Barcelona circuit. The article also includes brief mentions of other Formula 1 news, such as Sporting forward Ioannidis attending the event with Lando Norris, Pierre Gasly recovering third place at the Monaco GP, and Max Verstappen using a new engine in Barcelona after retiring in Monaco.
RecordRussell Races to Pole Position in Barcelona; Hamilton Pushes Antonelli Out of Front Row
In a significant development for the Formula 1 title race, Mercedes driver George Russell claimed pole position for the Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona. The British driver delivered a strong performance to secure the top starting spot, sending a signal of intent in the championship battle. Meanwhile, rookie Kimi Antonelli, who had started every previous race this season from the front row, was pushed back to third place after Lewis Hamilton edged him out in qualifying. This marks the first time in the 2025 season that Antonelli has missed the front row. The qualifying session sets up an intriguing race with Russell leading the pack, Hamilton alongside him, and Antonelli looking to recover from third on the grid.
Nachrichten - WELTRussell beats Hamilton to Barcelona pole as Leclerc crashes in qualifying
George Russell secured a crucial pole position for the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix, edging out Lewis Hamilton by 0.064 seconds. The qualifying session was disrupted when Charles Leclerc crashed at Turn Four for the second time in seven days, finishing 10th. Championship leader Kimi Antonelli took third for Mercedes. Lando Norris was fourth for McLaren, ahead of Max Verstappen in fifth. Russell, who had fallen 68 points behind his Mercedes teammate, needed a strong result to revive his championship hopes. The race is scheduled for Sunday June 14 at 2pm on Sky Sports F1.
SkySports | NewsRussell Fastest as Antonelli Left Frustrated in Barcelona Final Practice
George Russell topped the timesheets in final practice for the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix, finishing two-tenths ahead of Oscar Piastri. Championship leader Kimi Antonelli was left frustrated after traffic forced him to abort his qualifying simulation, leaving him seventh. Russell, who has a 68-point deficit to Antonelli, aims to close the gap in qualifying later on Saturday. Charles Leclerc and Lando Norris were close behind in third and fourth, while Lewis Hamilton struggled in fifth. A red flag was caused by Valtteri Bottas suffering a brake failure in his Cadillac. The session sets up a competitive qualifying session, with Mercedes showing strong pace after McLaren's dominance on Friday.
SkySports | NewsGeorge Russell back in groove after 'big reset' at Barcelona GP
George Russell secured pole position for the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix, marking a dramatic return to form after a difficult two-race stretch where he failed to score points. The Mercedes driver, who had fallen 68 points behind championship leader Kimi Antonelli, credited a 'big reset' and a decision to stop copying his teammate's setup. Russell revealed he did not look at any data all weekend, instead trusting his instincts. Meanwhile, Antonelli struggled with tyre management in the Spanish heat, admitting he has been 'over-driving' the car and has not felt comfortable. Russell's pole lap was four-tenths faster than Antonelli's best, and he aims to snap Antonelli's five-race winning streak in Sunday's race.
SkySports | NewsNorris Pips Russell to Top Barcelona Practice as McLaren Outpaces Mercedes
Lando Norris set the fastest time in second practice for the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix, edging George Russell by 0.009 seconds. McLaren showed strong pace on the high-speed circuit, with Oscar Piastri third. Championship leader Kimi Antonelli finished fifth, nearly 0.6s off the pace, while Lewis Hamilton struggled in ninth. Max Verstappen described his tyres as 'horrendous' in sixth. Liam Lawson's session was limited by a gearbox issue. The session highlighted McLaren and Mercedes as front-runners ahead of qualifying.
SkySports | NewsRussell fastest in first practice at Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix
George Russell topped the timesheets in first practice for the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix, setting the fastest lap on medium and soft tires. He finished two-tenths ahead of Oscar Piastri, who tested a new front wing on his McLaren. Russell, who has failed to score points in the last two races due to mechanical issues and penalties, trails championship leader Kimi Antonelli by 68 points. Antonelli missed FP1 as Mercedes ran a rookie. Ferrari introduced a major upgrade package including a new floor and front wing, but Charles Leclerc was 0.520s slower than Russell. Max Verstappen was six-tenths off the pace, raising questions at Red Bull. The session saw seven teams field rookies as part of mandatory season requirements.
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