Spanish Grand Prix: F1 – live | Formula One

The celebs have departed and the engines are revving. It’s hot and humid, and the garage crews are waved off, too. Off they go on the formation lap.

The portentous music tells us that we are just about to go in Barcelona, as we await the formation lap, and the rain, too.

They’re playing this Camp Nou classic now.

Mason Mount breaking news:

In the pit lane, Martin Brundle is chatting to Neymar, who says he is “happy to be here”. Mason Mount – Manchester United-bound? – is also spotted. And a bloke who is mates with the Bridgerton cast. It’s rather packed in there, and Brunds is struggling for content. But grabs Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones. Their lad, Brandon is there too. Zeta’s accent has strayed far from South Wales, it has to be said. Mercedes seem full of cheer. Toto Wolff on Lewis H: “Good to have him feisty.” Lando Norris: “All good for now. The main job is today.” Kev Magnussen wonders whether it will rain. Max Verstappen: “Maybe a bit of rain but it will be OK.” Flavio Briatore says he is ready for a “super race…a little bit of rain…fantastico…..”

And here come the national anthems…

George Russell had a slight mishap but no harm done is the word from the Merc team. “Just pushing the limits, car’s fine, car’s fine,” he says. “I’ll do my best and see what comes.”

Two drivers are starting in the pit lane.

He brings the rain…it’s expected to downpour at the start.

Lando Norris in third on the grid the first sign of McLaren being a progressive outfit?

After an impressive third in 2020, the sheen has come off their resurgence. In 2021 they finished fourth; in 2022 under the new regulations and with hope of a real step forward, they emerged with a car off the pace and ended up fifth.

This year has been even worse, with Norris and his new teammate, the talented Australian Oscar Piastri, returning best finishes of sixth and eighth respectively in Melbourne. The downward slide continuing, McLaren are currently sixth in the constructors’ championship.

Giles Richards is our man in Barcelona.

Lewis Hamilton and his fellow Mercedes driver, George Russell, hit one another on track, the first time the pair have clashed since becoming teammates in 2022.

The incident was unintentional, Wolff said, and a failing on behalf of the team. “It’s all down to miscommunication because drivers in the same team don’t want to crash into each other on their final lap in qualifying,” he said. “It was just an unfortunate situation. It looks silly.”

Russell, who had aborted a flying lap and was looking to start another, did not know Hamilton was behind him and approaching at pace to begin his own hot lap when he moved over on the straight. Hamilton was forced on to the grass to avoid Russell but clipped him, taking damage to his front wing in the process.

Hamilton accused his teammate of backing off, saying: “That is really dangerous.”

Preamble