Kimi Antonelli will carry a five-race winning streak and a commanding 66-point lead in the Drivers’ Championship into this weekend’s Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix, the seventh round of the 2026 Formula 1 season, at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.
The young Mercedes driver secured his fifth consecutive victory with a maiden win in Monaco at the previous round, opening a significant gap over his championship rivals. His competitors now face a daunting task as the series heads to one of the most familiar circuits on the calendar for what will be the 36th time the venue has hosted a Grand Prix since Nigel Mansell won the inaugural race there in 1991.
This year’s event marks a notable change in branding. The race will be held under the new title of the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix, having previously been known as the Spanish Grand Prix. The name change comes as Madrid is set to host a separate event around a new circuit later this season. Michael Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton share the record for most wins at the Barcelona venue with six each, while Oscar Piastri led home teammate Lando Norris for a McLaren one-two at the track last season.
Free Practice 1 opens proceedings at 1330 local time on Friday, followed by Free Practice 2 at 1700. Saturday’s schedule features Free Practice 3 at 1230 and Qualifying at 1600. The Grand Prix itself is set for 1500 local time on Sunday.
Weather conditions look favorable for the entire weekend, with clear skies and bright sunshine expected from Friday through Sunday. A maximum temperature of 27 degrees Celsius is forecast for both Saturday and Sunday, with no rain anticipated at any point during the event.
The support program features both Formula 2 and Formula 3 action. F3 Free Practice begins at 0955 on Friday, with Qualifying at 1500, the Sprint Race at 1005 on Saturday, and the Feature Race at 0840 on Sunday. F2 Free Practice is scheduled for 1105 on Friday, followed by Qualifying at 1555, the Sprint Race at 1415 on Saturday, and the Feature Race at 1125 on Sunday.
Fans can watch all sessions live on F1 TV Pro, which is available in selected countries and offers onboard cameras on all 22 cars, commentary in six languages, and no ad breaks. F1 TV Premium provides 4K Ultra HD and HDR viewing on up to six devices with 26 different feeds available through a personalized Multiview feature. Live timing is also accessible on F1.com and the official F1 app throughout the weekend.