F1 Spanish Grand Prix LIVE RESULTS: Race build-up, Hamilton on pole, Verstappen front row – stream, TV, latest updates
LEWIS HAMILTON starts on pole today at the Spanish Grand Prix after a terrific performance in qualifying.
The Brit took his 100th pole position after a dazzling drive in Barcelona, with main rival Max Verstappen starting next to him on the grid.
- Race start time: 2pm BST
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What channel is it on and can it be live streamed?
- ALL of the F1 action from Friday to Sunday will be shown live on the Sky Sports F1 channel.
- Coverage of the Grand Prix will begin at 12.30pm on Sunday, May 9.
- You can live stream all of the action from the NOW TV or Sky Go app, both of which is available for download onto your mobile or tablet device.
Stay up to date with all the latest from Barcelona in our live blog…
- Thomas Blow
FANS IN SPAIN
F1 fans have returned for the Spanish GP.
Around 1,000 will attend today's race, despite spectators initially being banned due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.
Here are the first few supporters filtering into the Circuit de Catalunya…
- Thomas Blow
MODEST LEWIS
The official F1 Twitter account has posted a video of Lewis Hamilton from 2007, when he took his first career pole.
In the video, Hamilton said: "I’ve never really been a driver that sticks it on pole."
The eight-time world champion now has 100 poles – 32 more than anyone else.
- Thomas Blow
FIRST AND 100TH
Here's the moment Lewis Hamilton picked up his first – and 100th – pole position in F1.
The 36-year-old's next target is winning his 100th GP.
He's currently on 97 career wins.
Surely he'll achieve that remarkable feat this year?
He's also vying for a record eighth world title, although that may be difficult with Max Verstappen hot on his heels.
- Thomas Blow
TODAY'S GRID
Here's the starting grid for today's Spanish GP.
Lewis Hamilton will start on pole for the 100th time in his career, with main title rival Max Verstappen also on the front row.
Esteban Ocon impressed again in qualifying and he will start in fifth, while Brit Lando Norris is four places back.
- Thomas Blow
HAMILTON FIRST TO REACH 100
Lewis Hamilton became the first driver in F1 history to take 100 pole positions during qualifying for the Spanish GP.
To put this into context, Michael Schumacher – second on the all-time list of poles – started at the front of the grid 68 times during his illustrious career.
Sebastian Vettel is fourth on the list with 57 poles.
- Joshua Jones
MORNING PETROLHEADS
Lewis Hamilton sealed his landmark 100th pole position during yesterday’s qualifying for the Spanish Grand Prix.
The Brit has already set a number of records during his storied career, but that hasn’t made his latest achievement any less special.
Hamilton, 36, said after sealing pole for today’s race: “I can’t believe we are at 100. It’s down to the men and women back at the factory who are just continuing to raise the bar and never giving up.
"It has been a dream to work with these guys. Who would have thought when I made the move at the end of 2012 that we would get to 100? I am ecstatic, like it’s my first.
“The set-up that I made I just had so much understeer. The car was very lazy and wouldn’t turn around the corners in the way I wanted.
“I was making small adjustments within what we are able to change to get the car to turn and then it is just pulling everything together. It was my cleanest lap. I will always remember that.”
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen was pipped by Hamilton and will start second on the grid, and he said of qualifying: “Both laps were pretty decent, the second run was a little worse for whatever reason but second for us here on this track is very good today.
“We know they are hard to beat around here but to be that close I can be very happy with that.”
Valtteri Bottas will begin in third, with Charles Leclerc fourth and Esteban Ocon in fifth.
- Etienne Fermie
ICYMI – LEW BEAUTY
Lewis Hamilton was overjoyed after clinching his 100th pole position this afternoon.
He said: “P3 was looking really good, we have been strong all weekend. I made some changes, I had a bit of anxiety about the changes we were going make. You always try to make them better but it’s a bit of a gamble. It was my call in the end.
“We made this change and as soon as I got out it was immediately: ‘This is the wrong way.’ That’s why I was behind the whole way through qualifying.
“I was making changes all the way through to try to elevate the pace.
“I can’t believe we are at 100. It’s down to the men and women back at the factory who are just continuing to raise the bar and never giving up. It has been a dream to work these guys. Who would have thought when I made the move at the end of 2012 that we would get to 100? I am ecstatic, like it’s my first.
“The set-up that I made I just had so much understeer. The car was very lazy and wouldn’t turn around the corners in the way I wanted.
“I was making small adjustments within what we are able to change to get the car to turn and then it is just pulling everything together. It was my cleanest lap. I will always remember that.”
- Etienne Fermie
YEARS IN THE MAKING
It turns out you can achieve a lot in 5,000 days!
Take a look at Lewis Hamilton's first pole all the way back in 2007, compared to his hundredth earlier today.
- Etienne Fermie
LEW MUST BE KIDDING
After Lewis Hamilton sealed his stunning 100th pole position this weekend at the Spanish GP, feast your eyes on his astonishing record down the years.
His consistency is something quite phenomenal!
- Etienne Fermie
'ABSOLUTELY STAGGERING'
Fans and pundits alike have been left awestruck by Lewis Hamilton's remarkable achievement of reaching 100 poles this afternoon.
And Matt Gallagher put it about as well as anyone.
- Etienne Fermie
ONE HUNDRED NOT OUT
Lewis Hamilton earned pole position for the hundredth time in his career today, edging out Max Verstappen in Spanish GP qualifying.
Here's his 100th pole lap in full, for your viewing pleasure.
- Etienne Fermie
'I CAN BE HAPPY'
Max Verstappen has spoken, after being beaten to pole position by Lewis Hamilton this afternoon.
The Red Bull star said: "Both laps were pretty decent, the second run was a little worse for whatever reason but second for us here on this track is very good today.
"We know they are hard to beat around here but to be that close I can be very happy with that."
Max Verstappen wasn't too downhearted after being beaten to poleCredit: Reuters - Etienne Fermie
LEW BEAUTY
Lewis Hamilton was overjoyed after clinching his 100th pole position this afternoon.
He said: "P3 was looking really good, we have been strong all weekend. I made some changes, I had a bit of anxiety about the changes we were going make. You always try to make them better but it's a bit of a gamble. It was my call in the end.
"We made this change and as soon as I got out it was immediately: 'This is the wrong way.' That's why I was behind the whole way through qualifying.
"I was making changes all the way through to try to elevate the pace.
"I can't believe we are at 100. It's down to the men and women back at the factory who are just continuing to raise the bar and never giving up. It has been a dream to work these guys. Who would have thought when I made the move at the end of 2012 that we would get to 100? I am ecstatic, like it's my first.
"The set-up that I made I just had so much understeer. The car was very lazy and wouldn't turn around the corners in the way I wanted.
"I was making small adjustments within what we are able to change to get the car to turn and then it is just pulling everything together. It was my cleanest lap. I will always remember that."
Lewis Hamilton reached a special milestoneCredit: Rex - Etienne Fermie
HAMIL-TON
Report by SunSport's Ben Hunt
Lewis Hamilton clinched a 100th career pole position as he beat world championship rival Max Verstappen in Saturday's qualifying for the Spanish Grand Prix.
It was the Red Bull driver who looked to be primed to top the leaderboard in the final round of qualification after showing good pace early on.
But despite Hamilton failing to improve on his first run in the dying moments of qualifying, Verstappen could not find the pace to clinch pole as he had to settle for second, three hundredths of a second off his British rival.
Click here to read more of Ben's report from Spanish Grand Prix qualifying.
- Etienne Fermie
WHAT AN ACHIEVEMENT!
It's a pole with a difference for Lewis Hamilton this weekend.
What an amazing achievement by the Brit.
- Thomas Blow
QUALIFYING RE-CAP
Lewis Hamilton clinched a 100th career pole position as he beat world championship rival Max Verstappen in Saturday's qualifying for the Spanish Grand Prix.
It was the Red Bull driver who looked to be primed to top the leaderboard in the final round of qualification after showing good pace early on.
But despite Hamilton failing to improve on his first run in the dying moments of qualifying, Verstappen could not find the pace to clinch pole as he had to settle for second, three hundredths of a second off his British rival.
Valtteri Bottas secured third place in the other Mercedes, while Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc impressed again in fourth.
Verstappen's teammate Sergio Perez was down in eighth behind Esteban Ocon, Carlos Sainz and Daniel Ricciardo.
Four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel missed out on the final round of qualification once more as he could only manage 13th.
- Ben Hunt
HAMILTON TAKES POLE POSITION FOR THE SPANISH GP.
His 100th in F1. Astonishing.
- Ben Hunt
VERSTAPPEN IS DOWN ON HIS LAP TIME
A Hamilton makes a mistake but it is enough for pole.
- Ben Hunt
HAMILTON GOES FIRST
And he is quicker. His sector times are better than his pervious best.
- Ben Hunt
TWO MINUTES TO GO
Busy track for the final runs of Q3. Could be traffic issues here.
- Ben Hunt
FIVE MINUTES TO GO
And it is Hamilton then Verstappen but just 0.036 seconds in it!
The Bottas, Ocon, Sainz, Ricciardo, Leclerc, Norris, Alonso and then Perez, who has yet to set a time.
- Ben Hunt
BLOW FOR PEREZ AND HAMILTON
The Mexican spun and caused Hamilton to lift on his flying lap.
But Hamilton still takes provisional pole. He has more in the tank though.
- Ben Hunt
GREEN LIGHT – WE ARE GO FOR QUALIFYING FOR THE SPANISH GP
Verstappen going for his first pole in Spain.
Hamilton going for his sixth in Spain, and his 100th in F1.
- Ben Hunt
HAMILTON VERSES VERSTAPPEN FOR POLE
- Ben Hunt
ASTON MARTINS ELIMINATED
Both Stroll and Vettel are OUT of Q2. Russell, Giovinazzi and Gasly are also eliminated from qualifying.
No real shocks here, despite it being Gasly's first failure to reach the top 10. Alpine are looking resurgent.
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