Components 1 could have solely hosted the Monaco Grand Prix final weekend, however it’s already again with Barcelona as a part of a double-header to start out the 2026 European stretch.
received from pole within the principality to essentially eke out a championship lead and go for a sixth consecutive victory this weekend, 4 off the document held by .
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However groups like , and Purple Bull will all be wanting to finish ’ good begin to the marketing campaign, whereas there’s additionally drama within the midfield following what occurred in Monaco.
So, listed here are 5 issues to look out for within the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix.
Antonelli can’t go on successful without end, can he?Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
At what level will we cease the query, ‘will bounce again’, and simply shift the main focus in the direction of Antonelli and his dominance? As a result of proper now, it appears to be like like nothing will cease the teenage sensation from romping in the direction of his maiden F1 title after 5 consecutive victories to determine a 68-point lead over his Mercedes team-mate.
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This has gone utterly towards the pre-season assumption. Heading into this yr’s regulation change, Mercedes was the plain favorite, which meant Russell was anticipated to cost in the direction of his first crown. That was down to 2 causes: the Briton’s expertise in comparison with Antonelli’s rawness, and his extremely robust 2025 in comparison with his team-mate’s up-and-down rookie marketing campaign.
The hole between the Mercedes pair final yr was so giant – 169 factors, statistically talking – that it was arduous to see how Antonelli may out of the blue soar forward within the pecking order. However credit score to him, he has, and it’s as a lot right down to the Italian’s brilliance as it’s Russell’s unhealthy luck that the state of affairs is as it’s.
Sure the Briton endured issues in Shanghai, Suzuka and Montreal, however he was additionally utterly second-best in Miami and Monaco. A lot in order that post-Monaco, Russell was utterly bewildered as to how the season had unravelled.
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He portrayed a person beginning to realise that his goals of a championship this yr are beginning to slip away. Just for so lengthy can he use and Verstappen’s restoration in 2025 as inspiration for his personal turnaround. However on the similar time, Antonelli can’t carry on successful, so maybe this weekend is when Russell will flip the tide.
First Ferrari win for Hamilton?Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
If one was to take a look at the championship now, Russell isn’t even Antonelli’s closest challenger – as a result of that honour in actual fact goes to . The Ferrari driver is 2 factors forward of his previous Mercedes team-mate after consecutive runner-up finishes as a part of a rejuvenated marketing campaign for the seven-time world champion.
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His Ferrari woes final yr had been effectively documented, however now driving a automotive extra to his liking, having truly been concerned in its improvement in contrast to the SF-25, paired with modifications to the personnel round him, Hamilton is far more buoyant in 2026 and that first Ferrari victory is knocking on the door.
“It couldn’t be nearer. I can’t consider that I’m second within the championship and I’m actually completely satisfied and grateful for that,” . So, will this weekend be the one the place he lastly tastes victory for Ferrari?
It definitely wouldn’t be a complete shock if he does, as a result of Hamilton has historic success in Barcelona, with a joint-record of six victories alongside . But, one can’t assist however really feel that Ferrari missed its golden alternative within the slow-speed corners of Monaco, as a result of if it could not beat the Silver Arrows then, then the prevalence of the Mercedes energy unit ought to come to the fore this weekend.
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So it’ll be a tricky ask for Hamilton to interrupt his nearly two-year victory drought, however it will possibly’t be utterly dominated out. All it takes is a mechanical failure for the Mercedes pair and he’s proper within the combat.
The primary actual check of F1 improve packagesBarcelona
Barcelona
For 2026, F1’s sweeping guidelines overhaul has shaken up the aggressive order. McLaren and Purple Bull, which fought for glory lately, have been changed by Mercedes on the prime after it lastly introduced an finish to a tricky interval in its F1 historical past.
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However succeeding in 2026 will likely be all about improvement, and groups will solely have the ability to unlock the true potential of their automobiles via aggressive rounds of upgrades over the course of the season. This started in Miami, when groups up and down the grid introduced new elements to the US race, and continued into the following spherical in Montreal as effectively.
Nonetheless, the run of races in Miami, Montreal and Monaco didn’t supply a transparent image of the aggressive order as a result of format and situations at every monitor. Barcelona, in the meantime, is a circuit the groups are all too acquainted with and will present a a lot sharper picture of how issues stand.
Mercedes is prone to stay on prime due to the dominance of its powertrain, however new elements for Ferrari and Purple Bull may shut the hole. McLaren, nonetheless, stays one thing of an unknown entity after exhibiting indicators of promise in Miami due to its new elements, earlier than stumbling throughout the following two rounds.
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Within the midfield, , and are all out to assert the crown for better of the remainder, whereas new elements for Cadillac and Aston Martin will assist the 2 groups scrap to remain off the underside.
Monaco GP falloutPierre Gasly, Alpine
Pierre Gasly, Alpine
The Monaco Grand Prix could have taken place final weekend, however one ought to anticipate its fallout to proceed into Barcelona. That’s due to , who dropped from third to seventh after two penalties for pitlane rushing.
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to try to overturn the consequence because it reckons Gasly didn’t truly go over the restrict. His penalties had been two of an unusually great amount of pitlane offences in Monaco, triggered by its distinctive configuration and the best way velocity is measured there.
As a substitute of taking an instantaneous studying, the FIA calculates a mean via the quick lane utilizing transponders and timing loops embedded into the floor. This successfully caught out drivers who shortened their route via the curved pitlane, that means they lined much less distance between timing factors regardless of travelling on the permitted velocity.
Believing this occurred to Gasly, Alpine is hoping to get him his podium with the listening to as a result of occur on Thursday. So as soon as that has occurred, the Frenchman will little doubt be requested questions on it, particularly contemplating how emotional he was afterwards, claiming to have been “robbed” of his sixth profession podium.
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Will the way forward for F1 be on monitor?Colton Herta, Hitech GP
Colton Herta, Hitech GP
Groups are required to run a driver with not more than two grand prix begins no less than twice per automotive in an FP1 session throughout the yr. Barcelona is a well-liked place to take action and this weekend is not any exception, with , McLaren, Mercedes, Cadillac, Purple Bull, Ferrari and Audi all taking their probability with younger expertise.
Williams has known as on Luke Browning, Mclaren will give Leonardo Fornaroli his F1 debut in Barcelona and Audi has recruited Alpine reserve Paul Aron for 2 FP1 periods – the second coming subsequent outing in Austria.
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Additionally taking to the monitor will likely be Dino Beganovic for Ferrari, Ayumu Iwasa instead of at Purple Bull and Frederic Vesti in motion for Mercedes. Lastly, IndyCar-turned F2 racer Colton Herta may also be on monitor for Cadillac on Friday.
Herta is maybe essentially the most fascinating prospect taking to Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya as he fights his means via the F2 season after leaving IndyCar on a excessive. He’s hoping to rack up sufficient superlicence factors to make the transfer as much as F1 with Cadillac someday, so his laps on Friday may present essential child steps in the direction of that objective.
Fornaroli is one other thrilling younger driver, having received the F3 crown in 2024 and the F2 title in 2025 throughout his first full season within the championship. He now acts as reserve driver for Mclaren and has made no secret of his need to discover a full-time seat to proceed racing.
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Whereas the possibility to run in FP1 will give the F1 hopefuls invaluable monitor time, it’s additionally a possibility for groups to evaluate their prospects as they work to fine-tune set-ups and perform simulation runs to help over the race weekend. They’ll even be in quest of bragging rights as every rookie seeks to impress their on-track groups.
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