Sir Lewis Hamilton will line up fifth on the grid for the Spanish Grand Prix, continuing his promising resurgence in Ferrari colours. The seven-time world champion has been steadily building momentum throughout the demanding triple-header, and now he’s firmly targeting a return to the podium as the F1 circus heads into Sunday’s race at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.
Though Hamilton’s FP3 session earlier in the day was less than ideal, he bounced back in qualifying to secure P5 — a result that underscores Ferrari’s growing competitiveness. “FP3 wasn’t ideal, but P5 in quali shows the progress we’ve made since the start of the triple-header,” Hamilton remarked after the session. “The car felt good, so I’m going all in tomorrow, aiming for a podium finish. The field’s tight, just a few tenths between the top ten, so it’s going to be a proper fight. There’s still work to do tonight, but we’ll stay focused and make sure we’re ready for the race.”
With the top ten drivers separated by just fractions of a second, Hamilton’s confidence is well-founded. Strategy, tyre degradation, and execution will likely define the race — a battleground where Hamilton’s experience could prove invaluable. As he bids an emotional farewell to Mercedes and embraces a new chapter with Ferrari, fans are seeing glimpses of vintage Hamilton, ready to challenge at the sharp end once more.
While Hamilton’s strong qualifying drew attention, it was Oscar Piastri who stole the headlines at the front of the grid. The McLaren driver delivered under immense pressure in the final moments of Q3 to snatch pole position — his fourth of the season. His blistering lap of 1:11.546 saw him edge out teammate and title rival Lando Norris by 0.209 seconds, overturning Norris’ provisional pole in dramatic fashion.
Piastri had set the tone early in the session by topping both Q1 and Q2. Norris responded with a strong showing in the initial Q3 runs, but it was the Australian who had the final say, continuing his remarkable form and strengthening his lead in the championship battle.
Behind the McLarens, Red Bull’s Max Verstappen claimed third on the grid, narrowly ahead of Mercedes’ George Russell. The two set identical lap times, but Verstappen crossed the line first, earning him the position. Russell will therefore start fourth, one spot ahead of Hamilton.
Further down the grid, Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli will start sixth, continuing his impressive rookie campaign. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, unable to match his teammate’s pace, will line up seventh. Alpine’s Pierre Gasly secured eighth, followed by Racing Bulls’ Isack Hadjar in ninth, while Spanish hero Fernando Alonso delighted the home crowd by securing tenth for Aston Martin.
Just missing out on Q3 was Williams’ Alex Albon, who fell short by a mere 0.03 seconds and will start from 11th. He’ll be joined on row six by Kick Sauber’s Gabriel Bortoleto. Racing Bulls’ Liam Lawson, Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll, and Haas rookie Ollie Bearman completed the Q2 exits.
Q1 saw several surprises, with Kick Sauber’s Nico Hulkenberg, Haas’ Esteban Ocon, and Williams’ Carlos Sainz all failing to advance. Sainz, in particular, struggled and could only manage 18th. Alpine’s Franco Colapinto encountered issues in the pit lane and qualified 19th, while Red Bull’s Yuki Tsunoda brought up the rear in 20th.
As the stage is set for a tightly contested Grand Prix, all eyes will be on the front-runners — and on Hamilton — as the lights go out in Barcelona. With margins razor-thin and stakes sky-high, the Spanish Grand Prix promises a strategic and fiercely competitive battle from start to finish.