Lewis Hamilton is targeting a first Ferrari pole position (Reuters)Formula 1 heads to Barcelona for the renamed Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix this weekend and round seven of the 2026 F1 season. Life could not be better for Kimi Antonelli right now. In Monaco, he claimed his fifth consecutive victory with a dominant lights-to-flag performance after claiming a stunning pole position. His lead in the world championship is now 66 points.Lewis Hamilton is now Antonelli’s closest contender after finishing second in Monte-Carlo, a fortnight after finishing second in Canada. The 41-year-old is showing his best form in Ferrari colours, but is still chasing that elusive first grand prix win. As for George Russell, it was another frustrating weekend as he finished outside of the points after a late drive-through penalty. It was in Barcelona last year that he tangled with Max Verstappen - what will happen this time around? Follow the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix with The Independent. Fernando Alonso out Not just out and bottom - but slower than Lance Stroll for the first time in 43 qualifying sessions!Desperate for the Spaniard, in what he has confirmed to be his last appearance in Barcelona. Bottom-six (17-22) and out in Q1: Ocon, Albon, Perez, Bottas, Stroll, AlonsoTop-3: Hamilton, Russell, Leclerc (PA)Kieran Jackson13 June 2026 15:26Esteban Ocon in bottom-six for now Ocon in P19 has work to do. Other than that, the bottom six is largely as expected. Current bottom-six (17-22): Perez, Ocon, Bottas, Albon, Alonso, Stroll. Carlos Sainz is the man just outside the drop-zone.Top-3: Hamilton, Russell, Leclerc 5:00 to go in Q1. Kieran Jackson13 June 2026 15:13Carlos Sainz quickest out of early runnersPretty routine running so far, with Sainz the quickest out of seven drivers to set times. This track, of course, is one they all know so well given that testing used to take place here. A reminder: we won’t see this circuit next year as it switches to a biennial rotation with Spa. 12:00 to go in Q1. Kieran Jackson13 June 2026 15:07Q1 underwayBig queue at the end of the pit-lane as we get underway with Q1. 18 minutes of action where we’ll lose the slowest six cars from the rest of qualifying. Can Cadillac and Aston Martin, somehow, find a way through?(Getty)Kieran Jackson13 June 2026 15:02Weather in BarcelonaHot, pretty hot. Temperatures around 28C - and it’s in the 40s at track level. How the drivers can nurse their tyres will be critical in this qualifying session...Kieran Jackson13 June 2026 14:58It’s a big hour for George Russell, me thinks. It’s early in the season but the wave of momentum is completely in Kimi Antonelli’s favour. Can his Mercedes teammate bounce back? McLaren look Mercedes’s closest rival this weekend, but Ferrari are not far behind either. As for Red Bull, they’ve been on the back foot it’d be foolish to doubt Max Verstappen. Qualifying coming up in 10 minutes! (Getty)Kieran Jackson13 June 2026 14:50McLaren's Lando Norris: "We're up there with the people we want to be with," he said after topping FP2 on Friday."It's hot and I don't think anyone's going to be that happy."It's difficult with the wind and with the conditions but it seems to be working better than the last few weeks, which is a good sign."Lando Norris (Reuters)Kieran Jackson13 June 2026 14:40Kieran Jackson13 June 2026 14:28Christian Horner suffers F1 return delay as Renault Group says ‘no discussions’Christian Horner has suffered a dent in his Formula One comeback bid after the boss of the Renault Group which controls Alpine said there are currently “no discussions” with the former Red Bull team principal.Horner is exploring a way back to the paddock after he was sacked by Red Bull following last July’s British Grand Prix.Alpine confirmed earlier this year that Horner, 52, was among a group of investors interested in acquiring Otro Capital’s 24 per cent shareholding in the Enstone team. Renault Group owns the other 76 per cent in Alpine.More detail below: Kieran Jackson13 June 2026 14:10Kimi Antonelli on a tricky practice"The tyres are overheating quite a lot," said Antonelli on Friday."Just trying to find the best balance. With only one lap, it is always difficult, but overall there is still quite a bit of work to do," he said."But I am quite confident ahead of [Saturday]. Long run was good but looking forward to tomorrow and the changes we're going to make."Kimi Antonelli (Reuters)Kieran Jackson13 June 2026 14:00