Formula 1 heads to Spain for Round 7 of the 2026 season, the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, from 12–14 June. It is the first of two Spanish rounds this year, with Madrid making its Formula 1 debut later in the season in September.
Kimi Antonelli arrives at one of the most data-rich circuits on the calendar having won five consecutive races, extending his championship lead to 66 points after another dominant display in Monaco. Lewis Hamilton is now up to second in the standings after a second consecutive podium for Ferrari, with George Russell dropping to third — 68 points behind his team-mate — after failing to score points in either Canada or Monaco. For Russell, Barcelona represents an opportunity to reset a championship challenge that is in serious danger of slipping beyond reach.
Race and Session Times (BST)
Barcelona follows the standard grand prix format this weekend, with two practice sessions on Friday, practice and qualifying on Saturday, and Sunday’s race at 14:00 BST.
Friday, 12 June:
First Practice: 12:30–13:30
Second Practice: 16:00–17:00
Saturday, 13 June:
Third Practice: 11:30–12:30
Qualifying: 15:00–16:00
Sunday, 14 June:
Race: 14:00
Weather Forecast
Barcelona is set for a hot, dry and sunny weekend throughout. Friday’s practice sessions and Saturday’s qualifying are forecast to be sunny with light winds and temperatures reaching 26°C — ideal conditions for teams looking to extract maximum setup data from the new 2026 cars. Sunday’s grand prix, starting at 15:00 local time, looks similarly glorious with a high of 27°C and no rain in sight. Tyre management in the heat will be a key strategic factor across the race distance, particularly in the closing stages.
A Name Change Worth Noting
Regular followers of the calendar will have noticed a change this year — this race is no longer called the Spanish Grand Prix. Barcelona now hosts the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix, following the addition of Madrid to the Formula 1 calendar. The Spanish Grand Prix name moves to the Spanish capital, where the brand new Madring circuit — a 22-corner track combining public roads and private land — makes its Formula 1 debut on 11–13 September. Barcelona and Belgium’s Spa-Francorchamps will also both appear on the calendar together for the last time this season, with the two circuits set to alternate from 2027 until 2032.
What to Expect
The Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya is widely regarded as one of the most complete tests of a Formula 1 car. Its mix of high-speed corners, technical chicanes and a long main straight makes it a genuine all-round benchmark — which is precisely why teams have historically used it for pre-season testing. Under the new 2026 regulations, the active aerodynamics and hybrid power systems will be pushed to their limits around a circuit that demands a fine balance between downforce and straight-line speed. Turn One remains the primary overtaking point, and with the championship battle between Antonelli and Russell at a critical juncture, the strategic decisions made on Saturday afternoon in qualifying could prove as decisive as anything that happens in the race itself on Sunday.
