Russell takes Barcelona-Catalunya GP pole by 0.064s over Hamilton

Mercedes George Russell takes pole position for the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix, pipping Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton by 0.064 seconds.

Feature image credit: Mercedes F1

Russell has sealed his first pole position since the Canadian Grand Prix as the Briton continued to dominate the weekend at the iconic Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.

The Mercedes driver had shown strong pace all weekend, claiming two fastest laps in practice before converting that into pole position, with a one-minute and 14.679-second lap around the Spanish circuit.

He will be joined by his former and current teammates, inside the top three, with his former colleague, Hamilton, standing as his closest rival. The seven-time world champion looked like he could threaten pole position, going fastest in Q1, but it was not to be in the final third.

Ferrari’s #44 missed out on pole position by 0.064 seconds, the only driver to sit within a tenth of the pole time, with Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli in third, 0.319 seconds behind.

Russell returns to top in FP3 at Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix

Qualifying wasn’t without interruptions as Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc brought out a late red flag as he crashed on the exit of turn four.

Onboards showed the Monegasque began to lose control of his car as he rotated the corner, with it slipping underneath him. As he corrected the slide, his car finally gripped up, but it sent him across the gravel at high speed.

Leclerc was helpless to avoid the barrier and collided at speed, damaging the nose and front-left suspension of his SF-26. Thankfully, the Monqgasque was okay and climbed out of his car.

Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix: the full F1 schedule and times

So, who will start where at the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix?

Provisional Grid

22 – Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin +3.190s

21 – Lance Stroll, Aston Martin +3.133s 

20 – Valtteri Bottas, Cadillac +2.132s 

19 – Sergio Perez, Cadillac +1.920s 

18 – Alexander Albon, Williams +1.799s 

17- Esteban Ocon, Haas +1.448 (+0.192s from safety – Sainz, 16th)

16 – Carlos Sainz, Williams +2.599s 

15 – Oliver Bearman, Haas +1.161s

14 – Pierre Gasly, Alpine +1.033s 

13 – Franco Colapinto, Alpine +0.963s 

12 – Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi +0.773 

11 – Arvid Lindblad, Racing Bulls +0.612s (+0.072s to safety – Hulkenberg, 10th)

10 – Charles Leclerc, Ferrari (Crashed)

9 – Nico Hulkenberg, Audi +1.914s

8 – Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls +1.863s

7 – Oscar Piastri, McLaren +0.411s

6 – Isack Hadjar, Red Bull +0.398s

5 – Max Verstappen, Red Bull +0.342s

4 – Lando Norris, McLaren +0.322s

3 – Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes +0.319s

2 – Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari +0.064s

1 – George Russell, Mercedes – 1m 14.679s

Read more Formula 1 here:

• Antonelli reprimanded for FP3 erractic driving at Barcelona-Catalunya GP
• Why are McLaren and Red Bull looking to appeal FIA Decision?
• Mercedes ‘assessing’ after Gasly Monaco P3 is reinstated
• Pierre Gasly elated despite ‘challenging’ practice at Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix
• Honda set to lose $3million in upgrades as Aston Martin miss out on ADUO boost.
• Norris fastest by 0.009s ahead of Russell at Barcelona-Catalunya GP
• Russell tops first practice ahead of Piastri at Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix

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