Samwise F1 Newsletter
Sunday, June 14, 2026
Russell Ends Antonelli’s Pole Run at Barcelona
George Russell secured his third pole position of the 2026 Formula 1 season at the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix on Saturday, setting a 1m14.679s in Q3 to beat Lewis Hamilton by 0.064 seconds. Kimi Antonelli, arriving as championship leader with five consecutive wins, qualified third—0.3 seconds behind his team-mate. Russell’s lap ended a run of Antonelli pole positions and hands the Briton a crucial advantage for Sunday’s 66-lap race. Lando Norris qualified fourth ahead of Max Verstappen, while Isack Hadjar took sixth. Antonelli had topped the timesheets on his first Q3 run before Russell responded with a dominant final effort.
Sources: Autosport, Formula1.com
Leclerc “Ashamed” After Second Crash in Two Weekends
Charles Leclerc described himself as “ashamed” following a Q3 crash during Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix qualifying on Saturday, leaving him to start Sunday’s race from tenth on the grid. Running through the long Turn 4 right-hander on his first flying lap, Leclerc drifted onto the dirty line and snapped into the barriers. The Monegasque driver said Ferrari’s car had been performing well all weekend and that he had no excuses. “I am ashamed of my mistake. It must be tough to stick with me,” he said. The accident comes one week after he also retired from the Monaco Grand Prix, worsening an already difficult run of form.
FIA Error Gives Gasly Monaco Podium Back — McLaren and Red Bull Appeal
Pierre Gasly has been reinstated to third place at the Monaco Grand Prix after a post-event LIDAR survey found timing loops were 77 centimetres shorter than the values used to issue his two pitlane speeding penalties, rendering the recorded speeds artificially elevated. The reinstatement demoted Isack Hadjar to fourth. McLaren and Red Bull have since lodged their intention to appeal the reversal, while Mercedes confirmed they are exploring legal options over George Russell’s own Monaco penalty. Williams team principal James Vowles added that he would support the Red Bull and McLaren challenge. Franco Colapinto and Liam Lawson each also dropped one place.
Sources: Sky Sports, RaceFans
Antonelli Under Stewards’ Probe After Barcelona FP3
Kimi Antonelli was placed under investigation by FIA stewards during final practice for the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix on Saturday, adding uncertainty to the championship leader’s preparations. George Russell led the way in FP3 ahead of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, with Charles Leclerc fourth. The investigation followed an incident in the session and added extra pressure on Antonelli ahead of qualifying, where the Italian ultimately could only manage third after Russell and Hamilton locked out the front row. Antonelli holds a 66-point lead in the Drivers’ Championship heading into the Spanish Grand Prix, with sixteen rounds remaining.
Sources: RaceFans
Sainz: Williams “Even Further Away” Than Expected at Barcelona
Carlos Sainz acknowledged that Williams is “even further away than expected” at the 2026 Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix, despite the team arriving at a circuit they had hoped would suit the FW48 chassis. Sainz told media the team had anticipated a stronger showing and was disappointed by its competitive position relative to the frontrunners. Williams sits eighth in the Constructors’ Championship with eleven points, Sainz having scored six of them. The team’s James Vowles separately confirmed Williams would support Red Bull and McLaren’s appeal against the overturning of Pierre Gasly’s Monaco Grand Prix pitlane speeding penalties.
Sources: RaceFans
Antonelli’s 66-Point Lead Intact as Hamilton Starts Second at Barcelona
Kimi Antonelli takes a 66-point Drivers’ Championship lead into Sunday’s Spanish Grand Prix after Lewis Hamilton qualified second at Barcelona on Saturday. Antonelli holds 156 points to Hamilton’s 90 after six rounds; George Russell is third on 88 points, with Charles Leclerc fourth on 75. Antonelli has five race victories to his name in 2026. In the Constructors’ Championship, Mercedes dominates with 244 points, 79 clear of Ferrari on 165 and 128 ahead of McLaren on 116. Alpine climbed to fifth on 50 points after Pierre Gasly’s Monaco Grand Prix podium was reinstated following an FIA right-of-review hearing this week.
Drivers Back F1’s Phased Engine Rule Changes for 2027–28
Formula 1, the FIA, and all ten constructors have agreed a staged power unit revision for 2027 and 2028. The internal combustion engine will increase from 400kW to 420kW in 2027 and 450kW in 2028, with fuel flow rising five percent and thirteen percent respectively. MGU-K deployment falls from 350kW to 300kW, with 350kW remaining available in Overtake mode. The power split moves to 58–42 in favour of the ICE for 2027 and 60–40 in 2028. Drivers including Max Verstappen backed the changes at Barcelona, calling them “a step in the right direction.” Formal approval is required from the FIA World Motor Sport Council on June 23 in Macau.
Sources: Speedcafe, Sky Sports
Drivers’ Championship
| Pos | Driver | Pts |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | K. Antonelli | 156 |
| 2 | L. Hamilton | 90 |
| 3 | G. Russell | 88 |
| 4 | C. Leclerc | 75 |
| 5 | L. Norris | 71 |
| 6 | P. Gasly | 50 |
| 7 | O. Piastri | 45 |
| 8 | I. Hadjar | 42 |
| 9 | M. Verstappen | 38 |
| 10 | F. Colapinto | 24 |
Constructors’ Championship
| Pos | Constructor | Pts |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mercedes | 244 |
| 2 | Ferrari | 165 |
| 3 | McLaren | 116 |
| 4 | Red Bull | 62 |
| 5 | Alpine | 50 |
| 6 | Sauber | 20 |
| 7 | Haas | 15 |
| 8 | Williams | 11 |
| 9 | Racing Bulls | 9 |
| 10 | Aston Martin | 5 |
Standings after Round 6 (Monaco GP), updated after FIA right-of-review. Sources: Crash.net, RaceFans
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.