Formulation 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 begin the 2026 European stretch.
Kimi Antonelli gained from pole within the principality to essentially eke out a championship lead and go for a sixth consecutive victory this weekend, 4 off the file held by Max Verstappen.
However groups like Ferrari, McLaren and Pink Bull will all be wanting to finish Mercedes’ 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 ceaselessly, can he?
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Photograph by: Erik Junius
At what level can we cease the query, ‘will George Russell bounce again’, and simply shift the main target in 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 direction of his maiden F1 title after 5 consecutive victories to determine a 68-point lead over his Mercedes team-mate.
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 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 massive – 169 factors, statistically talking – that it was onerous to see how Antonelli might abruptly leap forward within the pecking order. However credit score to him, he has, and it’s as a lot all the way down to the Italian’s brilliance as it’s Russell’s dangerous luck that the scenario 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 desires of a championship this yr are beginning to slip away. Just for so lengthy can he use Lando Norris and Verstappen’s restoration in 2025 as inspiration for his personal turnaround. However on the identical 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
Photograph by: Erik Junius
If one was to have a look at the championship now, Russell isn’t even Antonelli’s closest challenger – as a result of that honour in truth goes to Lewis Hamilton. The Ferrari driver is 2 factors forward of his outdated Mercedes team-mate after consecutive runner-up finishes as a part of a rejuvenated marketing campaign for the seven-time world champion.
His Ferrari woes final yr have been effectively documented, however now driving a automotive extra to his liking, having really been concerned in its improvement in contrast to the SF-25, paired with modifications to the personnel round him, Hamilton is rather more buoyant in 2026 and that first Ferrari victory is knocking on the door.
“It couldn’t be nearer. I can’t imagine that I’m second within the championship and I’m actually comfortable and grateful for that,” mentioned Hamilton in Monaco. So, will this weekend be the one the place he lastly tastes victory for Ferrari?
It actually 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 Michael Schumacher. 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.
So it’ll be a troublesome ask for Hamilton to interrupt his virtually two-year victory drought, however it might probably’t be utterly dominated out. All it takes is a mechanical failure for the Mercedes pair and he’s proper within the battle.
The primary actual take a look at of F1 improve packages
Barcelona
Photograph by: Pirelli
For 2026, F1’s sweeping guidelines overhaul has shaken up the aggressive order. McLaren and Pink Bull, which fought for glory in recent times, have been changed by Mercedes on the prime after it lastly introduced an finish to a troublesome interval in its F1 historical past.
However succeeding in 2026 might be all about improvement, and groups will solely be capable of unlock the true potential of their vehicles 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 subsequent spherical in Montreal as effectively.
Nevertheless, the run of races in Miami, Montreal and Monaco didn’t provide a transparent image of the aggressive order as a result of structure and circumstances at every monitor. Barcelona, in the meantime, is a circuit the groups are all too aware of and will present a a lot sharper picture of how issues stand.
Mercedes is more likely to stay on prime due to the dominance of its powertrain, however new elements for Ferrari and Pink Bull might 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 subsequent two rounds.
Within the midfield, Audi, Racing Bulls and Alpine are all out to assert the crown for better of the remaining, whereas new elements for Cadillac and Aston Martin will assist the 2 groups scrap to remain off the underside.
Monaco GP fallout
Pierre Gasly, Alpine
Photograph by: Sam Bagnall / Sutton Pictures by way of Getty Pictures
The Monaco Grand Prix could have taken place final weekend, however one ought to count on its fallout to proceed into Barcelona. That’s due to Pierre Gasly, who dropped from third to seventh after two penalties for pitlane dashing.
However his Alpine group has requested a Proper of Evaluate from the FIA to attempt to overturn the consequence because it reckons Gasly didn’t really go over the restrict. His penalties have been two of an unusually great amount of pitlane offences in Monaco, triggered by its distinctive configuration and the way in which velocity is measured there.
As an alternative 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, which 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 on account of occur on Thursday. So as soon as that has occurred, the Frenchman will little question be requested questions on it, particularly contemplating how emotional he was afterwards, claiming to have been “robbed” of his sixth profession podium.
Will the way forward for F1 be on monitor?
Colton Herta, Hitech GP
Photograph by: James Sutton / Formulation 1 / Formulation Motorsport Ltd by way of Getty Pictures
Groups are required to run a driver with not more than two grand prix begins a minimum of twice per automotive in an FP1 session throughout the yr. Barcelona is a well-liked place to take action and this weekend isn’t any exception, with Williams, McLaren, Mercedes, Cadillac, Pink Bull, Ferrari and Audi all taking their probability with younger expertise.
Williams has referred to 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 classes – the second coming subsequent day out in Austria.
Additionally taking to the monitor might be Dino Beganovic for Ferrari, Ayumu Iwasa instead of Isack Hadjar at Pink Bull and Frederic Vesti in motion for Mercedes. Lastly, IndyCar-turned F2 racer Colton Herta may even be on monitor for Cadillac on Friday.
Herta is maybe probably the most fascinating prospect taking to Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya as he fights his method 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 in the future, so his laps on Friday might present essential child steps in direction of that purpose.
Fornaroli is one other thrilling younger driver, having gained 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.
Whereas the prospect to run in FP1 will give the F1 hopefuls invaluable monitor time, it’s additionally a chance 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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