News

The Barcelona-Catalunya grand prix is shaping up to be a true tyre battle. Long-run simulations at the end of Friday’s second free practice session revealed one thing above all else: exceptionally high tyre degradation across the entire Formula 1 field.

Lewis Hamilton has enjoyed a resurgence at Ferrari with consecutive podiums in Canada and Monaco, but 1997 Formula 1 champion Jacques Villeneuve has warned that the seven-time champion still cannot beat Mercedes in a straight fight.

All eyes are on the Formula 1 Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix weekend ahead of Saturday qualifying. Friday practice sessions suggested a shake-up in the order, as upgraded cars and warm weather are challenging teams' preparation for qualifying and the grand prix. Lando Norris and McLaren went fastest in FP2 ahead of George Russell for Mercedes.

Pierre Gasly started the day in seventh place at the 2026 Monaco Grand Prix before ending it with a podium, officially the sixth of his Formula 1 career.

Formula 1's official television feed came under the scrutiny of fans during the first practice session for the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix after seven-time MotoGP champion Marc Marquez was labelled as a former rider.

Lando Norris snatched the fastest time of the Formula 1 Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix's second practice session from George Russell by just 0.009s, as Oscar Piastri also got within 0.06s of his McLaren team-mate's benchmark.

Formula 1 fans are convinced that a masked figure spotted in the grandstands during the first practice session ahead of the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix was an undercover Kimi Antonelli. 

The surprising ADUO outcome that teams received in Monaco remains one of the main talking points in the Barcelona paddock. Rather than Mercedes, it was Red Bull-Ford Powertrains that was placed at the top of the rankings, meaning the newcomer from Milton Keynes is the only manufacturer not entitled to Formula 1's Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities.

Toto Wolff says Mercedes is "looking what it can do" for George Russell after FIA stewards overturned Pierre Gasly's Formula 1 Monaco Grand Prix penalty.