Russell takes Spanish GP pole ahead of Hamilton in tight qualifying

George Russell claimed pole position for the Spanish Grand Prix, edging out teammate Lewis Hamilton by a mere 64 thousandths of a second. This marks Russell's third pole of the 2026 Formula 1 season and the tenth of his career. The Mercedes driver's blistering lap set the pace in a closely contested qualifying session.

Completing the front row is championship leader Kimi Antonelli, also driving for Mercedes. Antonelli qualified third, trailing Russell by 0.319 seconds. He currently holds a significant 66-point lead over Hamilton in the overall standings and will be looking to extend it in Sunday's race.

The qualifying session saw Red Bull's Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar secure fifth and sixth places, respectively. However, it was a challenging day for the Spanish drivers. Carlos Sainz will start 16th on the grid, while Fernando Alonso faces an uphill battle from the back, beginning the race in 22nd position.

The Spanish Grand Prix is scheduled for Sunday, June 14, at 09:00 local time (13:00 GMT). Antonelli aims to further solidify his championship lead as the season progresses.