Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix 2026: How to watch, F1 race and qualifying times and weather forecast

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Formula 1 heads to Spain for the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix in the seventh round of the 2026 season. Here’s everything you need to know ahead of this weekend’s race.

The Barcelona-Catalunya GP is a new name for the F1 calendar, but it is not a new race as Formula 1 has renamed its round held in Montmelo due to the Spanish Grand Prix moving to Madrid later this year.

Kimi Antonelli enters the weekend still firmly atop the Drivers’ Championship standings after earning his sixth consecutive win in Monaco. Even a red flag stoppage wasn’t enough to put an end to the impressive winning streak the young Italian is currently on.

From the moment the race started, Antonelli was comfortably in the lead, finally capitalising on yet another pole position with a strong start. Even with the likes of Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc chasing him through the streets of Monte Carlo, the Mercedes driver delivered an assured performance to earn the win.

With his win at Monaco, Antonelli managed to extend his lead in the championship from 43 points to 66 points, as his teammate, George Russell, lost second place in the standings to Lewis Hamilton, who managed to finish P2 in Monte Carlo.

But now Antonelli must try to conquer a track where he has yet to finish a race, as Formula 1 heads to Spain for the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix. Mercedes are likely to be the favourites heading into the weekend yet again, even with Formula 1’s new sensation having a torrid time last year.

Kimi Antonelli is going for his sixth straight win at the Barcelona GP. Who’s your pick for the top step of the podium?

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When is the 2026 Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix, including full weekend schedule

The 2026 Formula 1 Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix is set to take place from 12-14 June, as the European leg of the calendar continues. Drivers will compete at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya for 66 laps, with the race beginning at 3pm local time on Sunday, June 14th.

How to watch the 2026 Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix, including free highlights

Full details on how to watch the 2026 Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix in your country can be found on the official Formula 1 website.

UK viewers can catch all the action from the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix on Sky Sports Main Event, with additional coverage, including practice and qualifying, on the Sky Sports F1 channel. Sky Sports packages start at £22 per month. NOW TV customers can also access the race via the Sky Sports pass, with access starting from £27.99 a month.

Free highlights of the race in Barcelona will be shown on Channel 4 at 6:30pm on Sunday, 14 June.

In the United States, Formula 1 is now available on Apple TV after the broadcaster replaced ESPN as the rights holder this season. Fans who previously subscribed to F1TV should see savings, having previously paid $129 per year last season compared to Apple TV’s $99 annual subscription.

In Australia, fans can watch the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix through Kayo or Foxtel. Kayo is a streaming platform that gives subscribers access to more than 50 live sports, including F1 coverage for $29.99 per month. Foxtel is currently offering a significant discount until 30 June 2026, with its packages starting from $60 per month.

Formula 1 will also upload race highlights from the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix to its official YouTube channel later on Sunday, following the race.

What is the weather forecast for the 2026 Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix?

At the time of writing, the 2026 Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix is expected to be unsurprisingly sunny and warm. There is a very small chance of rain on Sunday morning, but there doesn’t appear to be any chance of rain during the hours of the race.

Temperatures should reach highs of 27°C on Sunday, just barely cooler compared to Saturday, with the forecast predicting a high of 28°C. Some gentle breeze is expected throughout the afternoons across the weekend, with the strongest wind speed coming during qualifying on Saturday.

What is the Pirelli tyre allocation for the 2026 Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix?

Unlike previous iterations of the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix, Pirelli’s tyre allocation includes the C2 tyres for Hards, C3 tyres for Mediums, and C4 tyres for Softs. For a weekend where higher track temperatures are anticipated, this is a somewhat unusual allocation.

With the track being one of the older venues on the calendar, having been operational since 1991, the asphalt is expected to be grinding, which is set to contribute to wear, along with the higher track temperatures leading to quicker tyre degradation.

With 14 high-speed corners on the track, Pirelli expect some impact on tyre behaviour, especially with Turns 3, 13, and 14 set to exert the highest amounts of lateral force on tyres. This is why there is a high level of superclipping expected over the weekend, so don’t be surprised to see drivers lift-and-coast frequently across the corners.

Where is the 2026 Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix held?

The 2026 Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix will be held at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. The 4.657 km (2.893 mi) track was built and began hosting races in 1991, with the first event being the 1991 Spanish Grand Prix, replacing Jerez as the host of the race.

This year will mark the first time that the event will be named after the city and track, with the Spanish Grand Prix title being assigned to the debut of the Madring circuit in Madrid later this year.

In 2017, the grandstands were removed from the circuit, allowing the track to keep Turn 10, known as the La Caixa hairpin, which had previously proven to be quite dangerous. The removal of the grandstands allowed for there to be additional runoff, thus letting La Caixa be used by eliminating the risky chicane.

In 2023, Formula 1 adopted the MotoGP layout of the track, with drivers being able to drive through the sweeping curve between Turns 13 and 14 rather than the chicane.

When it comes to the history of Formula 1 at the circuit, both Michael Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton are tied for the most wins there with six each. Max Verstappen sits closely behind them with four wins at the track, including the first Grand Prix win of his career in 2016.

Who won the 2025 Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona?

McLaren driver Oscar Piastri won in Barcelona when the race was still called the Spanish Grand Prix. Piastri converted pole position into a victory in Barcelona, despite pressure from Max Verstappen, who was eyeing his fourth consecutive win at the track.

After a strong start, Piastri lost the lead to Verstappen briefly but managed to lead for most of the race before crossing the chequered flag to earn an important win in what was then a brewing title fight with Lando Norris.

Norris managed to finish behind Piastri, as Verstappen settled for third after making contact with Charles Leclerc at the start of the 61st lap, allowing the Ferrari driver to move into P3. Things got worse just three laps later, when Verstappen made contact with George Russell despite being told to let him pass.

The incident would derail the Dutchman’s entire race, as he would finish 10th. Right ahead of him were Fernando Alonso, Pierre Gasly, Isack Hadjar, Lewis Hamilton, Nico Hulkenberg, and George Russell, as these drivers closed out the points.

Meanwhile, this year’s championship leader, Kimi Antonelli, didn’t have a good race, as an engine failure on Lap 55 forced him into an early retirement. Both he and Mercedes will be hoping that isn’t the case this year.