Russell just pips Hamilton to Barcelona pole as Leclerc crashes out

George Russell just pipped Lewis Hamilton to claim a much-needed pole position in his bid to kick start a championship fightback at the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix.

Kimi Antonelli, the championship leader, was third in the second Mercedes but Charles Leclerc, another pole contender, crashed out in the other Ferrari at the start of Q3 and qualified 10th.

Having fallen 68 points behind his Mercedes team-mate after failing to score points in the last two grands prix, Russell needed a big weekend and has hitherto delivered one with a pace edge over Antonelli around the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya so far.

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But in a Q3 shootout compromised by Leclerc's accident on his first attempt at Turn Four, Russell was pushed all the way for one of the season's historically most-valuable poles and produced a superb final lap of 1:14.679 to initially outpace Antonelli by an impressive 0.3s margin.

But Hamilton, carrying Ferrari's hopes after his team-mate's crash, nearly beat both Mercedes' with a brilliant final lap of his own to fall just 0.064s short in pursuit of his first Grand Prix pole since 2023.

"It's going to be an interesting race tomorrow," said Russell. "Lewis did an amazing job to get up there. That was a real surprise."

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McLaren had looked likely to be Mercedes' closest challengers through practice but their challenge faded in qualifying, with Lando Norris having to be content to pip Red Bull's Max Verstappen to fifth.

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Oscar Piastri originally held provisional pole at the start of Q3 before the Leclerc-triggered red flag but slipped to seventh on the resumption, with Isack Hadjar close behind Red Bull team-mate Verstappen in sixth.

Liam Lawson continued his fine form with eighth for Racing Bulls, while Nico Hulkenberg made Q3 for the first time this year to take ninth for Audi ahead of the sidelined Leclerc.

Barcelona-Catalunya GP Qualifying: Top 10

1) George Russell, Mercedes

2) Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

3) Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

4) Lando Norris, McLaren

5) Max Verstappen, Red Bull

6) Isack Hadjar, Red Bull

7) Oscar Piastri, McLaren

8) Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls

9) Nico Hulkenberg, Audi

10) Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

More to follow…

Sky Sports F1's Barcelona-Catalunya GP schedule

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Sunday June 14

7.35am: F3 Feature Race

9.05am: Porsche Supercup

10.20am: F2 Feature Race

12.30pm: Barcelona-Catalunya GP build-up: Grand Prix Sunday*

2pm: THE BARCELONA-CATALUNYA GRAND PRIX*

4pm: Barcelona-Catalunya GP reaction: Chequered Flag

5pm: Ted's Notebook

*Also on Sky Sports Main Event

Formula 1 is in Spain for the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix with live coverage on Sky Sports F1. Sunday's race starts at 2pm. Stream Sky Sports with NOW - no contract, cancel anytime