Russell takes Barcelona pole ahead of Hamilton, Leclerc crashes

BARCELONA, June 13 : George Russell seized pole position for a race that could snap teammate Kimi Antonelli's winning streak while Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton split the Mercedes pair in Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix qualifying on Saturday.

Italian Antonelli, who will be seeking his sixth win in a row on Sunday to extend what is currently a 66-point lead over seven-times world champion Hamilton, qualified third with McLaren's world champion Lando Norris fourth.

Mercedes have taken pole for all seven F1 races so far in 2026,  and Saturday was Russell's third of the season to 19-year-old Antonelli's four, in a morale boost for the Briton as he seeks to bounce back from two races without scoring.

The team are unbeaten in regular grands prix this campaign.

"Nice to feel in the groove again," said Russell over the team radio after lapping 0.064 of a second quicker than compatriot Hamilton for a 10th career pole ahead of what will be his 100th grand prix for Mercedes.

"It's been a great weekend so far. I feel like my old self again where every lap I'm doing the job, always fighting in those top positions," he added later.

"The last few races for numerous reasons haven't quite been on our side but I came in this weekend with a clean slate, felt good and it's great to be on pole."

LECLERC 'ASHAMED' AFTER SUFFERING ANOTHER CRASH

The final phase of qualifying was briefly halted after Ferrari's Charles Leclerc crashed into the tyre wall at turn four.

Leclerc clambered out and walked away after his third crash in eight days, with incidents in both qualifying and the race at his home Monaco Grand Prix last weekend.

The Monegasque blamed himself, offering no excuses and saying he felt ashamed.

He will start 10th, unless changes to the engine and