Verstappen on Red Bull's grip and balance struggles in Barcelona
Max Verstappen says Red Bull cannot compete for the top positions at the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix after struggling for grip and balance in Friday practice. Verstappen said: "We're losing out at high speed and at low speed - basically everywhere. All day long, we lacked grip, feel for the car, and balance. So that's what we need to work on. I don't think we can compete for the top positions; this is where we stand."
Max Verstappen draws painful Red Bull conclusion
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Sainz on Williams' long-run pace deficit in Barcelona
Carlos Sainz says Williams are “one second off the midfield” on long runs at the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix after the car’s “key weaknesses” were exposed in Friday practice. Sainz said: "But on the long run, when we start degging, we are one second off the midfield, so it is back to where we were in China, Suzuka, or Australia, which is quite a shock to all of us. We need to really have a look at this long-run pace and see what we can do. But I fear it is something pretty big."
"Quite a shock" - Carlos Sainz concedes Williams' heavy F1 deficit in Barcelona
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Hamilton on drivers struggling after missing Barcelona FP1
Lewis Hamilton said it was “unusual” that most drivers who missed the opening practice session in Barcelona appeared to be significantly further off their team-mates in FP2, after he sat out FP1 to hand his Ferrari to rookie Dino Beganovic. Hamilton said: "I only had FP2 so it was an unusual one in the sense that a majority of the drivers, maybe not Lando, those who missed the first session were quite far off their team-mates in the second session. The grip was the lowest, with this generation of car, that I've ever had."
Lewis Hamilton spies 'unusual' trend after challenging Barcelona practice
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Gasly on FIA transparency after Monaco pitlane penalty reversal
Pierre Gasly says he is proud of Formula 1 and the FIA for their transparency after the Monaco Grand Prix stewards rescinded his two five-second penalties for exceeding the pit lane speed limit, having found the pit lane length had been measured incorrectly by the official timekeepers. Gasly said: "But the team did an amazing job. I must say I'm very proud of F1, the FIA, for the transparency and everybody recognising their responsibilities in that situation. We all know that with everything at stake, when you look at world championships in all different sports, you know how complicated things can be. Today, it's a massive step forward for our sport."
Gasly “proud” of FIA after penalties rescinded: “It's a massive step forward for our sport”
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Winner and losers from Barcelona GP F1 practice
Is McLaren's return to form real? Barcelona F1 long-run analysis
Antonelli on no longer doubting himself after difficult 2025 spell
Kimi Antonelli says he no longer doubts his potential after a “difficult period” in Europe last year that led him to question himself. Antonelli said: "Not really, to be fair. I would doubt a lot about myself, especially during that period, that difficult period in Europe, but this year obviously has been a different story. Considering how bad it was in the moment, actually I'm very grateful that it happened, because it made me grow a lot and it taught me a lot about myself. This year, so far, I haven't been questioning or doubting myself."
Kimi Antonelli reveals turning point in dramatic F1 transformation
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Antonelli on tyre overheating and balance issues in Barcelona practice
Kimi Antonelli said tyre overheating and balance issues made it “tricky” to put a lap together after he finished fifth in second practice at the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix. Antonelli said: "It's been a bit tricky over a single lap. The window is so small and the tyres are overheating quite a lot. Just trying to find the best balance. With only one lap for each set, it's always difficult but I think overall, there's still quite a bit of work to do. But I'm still confident ahead of tomorrow."
Why Kimi Antonelli was off the pace in Barcelona F1 practice
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Norris on remaining concerns despite Friday pace in Barcelona
Lando Norris says there are still “things I’m not happy with” despite setting the pace on Friday in Barcelona. Norris said: "It's clear that the car's working better. It's probably not working as good as we want still, and there's still things I'm not happy with, and we need to improve and I want to improve, but I think we can't complain too much considering how the last month has been, and we'll just work hard tonight and see what we can maximise."
Lando Norris has "things I'm not happy with" despite topping F1 Barcelona practice
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Norris on McLaren suiting Barcelona's faster layout
Lando Norris said the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya’s faster “regime” has McLaren “working in a better place” after he topped second practice for the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix. Norris said: "It's quick, obviously very different to the last few tracks we've been to in Monaco and Montreal, so obviously a lot quicker, you're playing with the car in a very different regime to where we have been the last few weeks, and it seems to be also just working in a better place than the last few weeks. It's difficult with the wind and the conditions, so yeah, it just seems to be working better than the last few weeks, which is a good sign."
Lando Norris credits 'regime' change for McLaren recovery
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Norris gives his take on McLaren's Barcelona chances
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Wolff on ADUO system after FIA power unit rankings
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff says Formula 1’s Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities system is “how it should be” after the FIA’s data placed Red Bull-Ford Powertrains at the top of the ADUO rankings, leaving it as the only manufacturer not entitled to the allowances. Toto Wolff said: "I think it was a protection mechanism, how it was intended to be, to avoid the 2014 situation that one engine manufacturer was having such an advantage and was running away with engine, with testing mileage and race results. We were on the good end of that, but this is what we wanted to avoid, especially newcomers coming in like Audi and to a certain degree Honda with Aston Martin, and Red Bull of course. That's what it is, and that's how it should be."
“How it should be” – Mercedes backs FIA's ADUO verdict after surprise Red Bull result
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Alonso given pit exit warning
Fernando Alonso has been given a warning by the stewards for crossing the white line at the pitlane exit during FP2 at the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix. A stewards’ statement said: “The outside edge of the left front wheel crossed the white line at pit exit.”
Fernando Alonso discovers stewards' verdict after Barcelona investigation
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Fernando Alonso FIA verdict reached as punishments issued
McLaren back on the pace as Norris heads Russell in Barcelona FP2
McLaren's Lando Norris set the fastest time in second practice for the Barcelona GP but FP1 pacesetter George Russell was just 0.009s off behind
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Norris tops the FP2 times in Barcelona
Norris pips Russell as McLaren strikes back in Barcelona practice
McLaren fight back with resurgent pace in Barcelona FP2 as Lewis Hamilton struggles
Norris pips Russell in second practice for Barcelona-Catalunya GP
F1 Barcelona GP: Lando Norris edges 0.009s clear of George Russel
Daniel Valente 🏎️
@F1GuyDan
🚨 Race runs from FP2 in Barcelona 🚨
The longer stints:
Kimi Antonelli - 21.425 (S)
Charles Leclerc - 21.696 (M)
George Russell - 21.788 (M)
Lando Norris - 22.029 (S)
Oscar Piastri - 22.336 (M)
Max Verstappen - 21.818 (S)
Max Verstappen - 21.911 (H)
Lewis Hamilton - 22.594 (M)
2h ago
Daniel Valente 🏎️
@F1GuyDan
🚨 Fastest sectors in FP2 in Barcelona
🔵 S1: George Russell (21.917)
🔴 S2: Charles Leclerc (30.459)
🟠 S3: Oscar Piastri (22.849)
Very colourful.
2h ago
Alonso summoned over pitlane exit infringement
Fernando Alonso has been summoned to the stewards after second practice in Barcelona over an alleged pitlane exit infringement. Alonso was emerging from the pitlane with two Red Bull cars ahead of him and, in trying to move ahead, was deemed to have crossed the pitlane exit line, which is prohibited.
Fernando Alonso summoned to F1 stewards over Barcelona practice incident
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⏱️ FP2 Results
P1) Lando Norris - 1:15.426 P2) George Russell: +0.009 P3) Oscar Piastri: +0.057 P4) Charles Leclerc: +0.373 P5) Kimi Antonelli: +0.589 P6) Max Verstappen: +0.895 P7) Arvid Lindblad: +0.985 P8) Gabriel Bortoleto: +1.185 P9) Lewis Hamilton: +1.205 P10) Isack Hadjar: +1.248 P11) Nico Hulkenberg: +1.508 P12) Oliver Bearman: +1.519 P13) Liam Lawson: +1.541 P14) Carlos Sainz Jnr: +1.594 P15) Franco Colapinto: +1.625 P16) Pierre Gasly: +1.834 P17) Esteban Ocon: +2.112 P18) Valtteri Bottas: +2.799 P19) Alexander Albon: +3.364 P20) Sergio Perez: +3.835 P21) Fernando Alonso: +3.860 P22) Lance Stroll: +4.033
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F1 2026 Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix – FP2 Results
2026 F1 Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Free Practice 2 results
Wolff on ADUO as alternative to balance of performance
Toto Wolff says Formula 1’s ADUO power unit upgrade mechanism is the right way to manage performance gaps, and a better option than introducing balance of performance, after the FIA told teams at the Monaco Grand Prix it had benchmarked the Red Bull-Ford as the most powerful engine. Wolff said: "I get a rash allergy when talking about BOP, this is something that we should stay far away from in F1. It's a political mess in all the other series; it makes manufacturers go out of the sport also. If there is a mechanism that consists of fine tuning in order to make sure that nobody's embarrassed on the power unit side, I think that's the right way to go."
Wolff jokes about Briatore call amid Mercedes F1 ADUO defence
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Antonelli on Hamilton and Verstappen's support in F1
Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli says Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen have been supportive since he joined Formula 1, but have not given him specific advice on how to beat his Mercedes team-mate George Russell. Antonelli said: "No, we haven't talked specifically about that [how to beat George Russell]. He just said to keep doing what I'm doing, keep enjoying, keep being myself, and then the results will come. They've been very kind as well since I've joined the sport, and they seem to be very supportive as well. But they also don't want to - we're still competitors at the end of the day, so you still don't want to give too much advice."
Kimi Antonelli details Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen support in F1 rise
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F1 - 2026 Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Friday Press Conference Transcript
Norris on likely grid penalties from power unit allocations
Lando Norris says he expects to have to take grid penalties for using extra power-unit parts after reliability problems at the Monaco Grand Prix left him “towards the end” of his allocations as he tries to defend his world title. Norris said: "I have no idea about the future. I'm towards the end of some of my allocations, but look, I can't do anything about that now. As a team, we can't really do anything about that. We can re-maximise what we have. I'm sure at some point I'll start running into having to take penalties and take parts that ideally I wouldn't be having to, but that's just the situation we're in."
‘Hurting' Lando Norris braced for engine penalty blows in title defence
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