F1

F1 is BACK this weekend as Lewis Hamilton aims for a third win in four races at the Spanish Grand Prix – and the Brit is back on pole. The English star has been bested just once this season, by Max Verstappen at the Emilia Romagna GP in March.

GET HUGE 20/1 OFFER ON LEWIS HAMILTON TO PODIUM

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.

FULL F1 Spanish Grand Prix schedule
Friday, May 7

Spanish GP Practice One – 10.30am
Spanish GP Practice Two – 2pm

Saturday, May 8

Spanish GP Practice Three – 11am
Spanish GP Qualifying – 2pm

Sunday, May 9

Spanish Grand Prix – 2pm

Stay up to date with all the latest from Barcelona in our live blog…

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.”
100 POLES! I can’t even begin to describe how this feels. I can’t thank the team and everyone back at the factory enough for everything they’ve done to help us secure this incredible milestone. I feel so humbled and very grateful. This feels like my first win all over again 🙌🏾💯 pic.twitter.com/KkCgShdhq2— Lewis Hamilton (@LewisHamilton) May 8, 2021

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.

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!

‘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.
Lewis Hamilton again proving why he’s one of the greatest of all time. 100 pole positions is absolutely staggering. We’re witnessing history right before our eyes.I hope whether you love or hate him, you can at least appreciate what he’s achieving in the sport we all love.— Matt Gallagher (@MattyWTF1) May 8, 2021

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.

‘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
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
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.
WHAT AN ACHIEVEMENT!
It’s a pole with a difference for Lewis Hamilton this weekend.
What an amazing achievement by the Brit.
100 POLES! I can’t even begin to describe how this feels. I can’t thank the team and everyone back at the factory enough for everything they’ve done to help us secure this incredible milestone. I feel so humbled and very grateful. This feels like my first win all over again 🙌🏾💯 pic.twitter.com/KkCgShdhq2— Lewis Hamilton (@LewisHamilton) May 8, 2021

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.

HAMILTON TAKES POLE POSITION FOR THE SPANISH GP.His 100th in F1. Astonishing.
VERSTAPPEN IS DOWN ON HIS LAP TIME
A Hamilton makes a mistake but it is enough for pole.
HAMILTON GOES FIRST
And he is quicker. His sector times are better than his pervious best.
TWO MINUTES TO GO
Busy track for the final runs of Q3. Could be traffic issues here.
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.
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.

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.
HAMILTON VERSES VERSTAPPEN FOR POLE

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.
IN THE ELIMINATION ZONE – FOUR MINUTES TO GO
Russell, Giovinazzi, Vettel, Perez and Ocon are in the bottom five.
STONKING FIRST RUN IN Q2 FROM VERSTAPPEN, WHO IS TOP
He is half a second up on second-placed Bottas. That will have Mercedes worried. They could have shown their hand here.
What can Mercedes do in response? That Red Bull looks dialled in.
GREEN LIGHT Q2 IS GO – BOTTAS IS FIRST OUT
Aside from Russell and Giovinazzi, who else will fail to make the top 10 shoot out. Both Aston Martins looking vulnerable.
ELIMINATED FROM Q1
Mazepin, Latifi, Schumacher, Raikkonen and Tsunoda are all booted out at the first hurdle.
NORRIS LEAVES IT LATE
The McLaren man was held up during qualifying but he is in to Q2 after topping the session.
IN THE DROPZONE
Mazepin, Latifi, Schumacher, Stroll and Raikkonen are all in the drop zone with around three minutes to go.
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F1 is BACK this weekend as Lewis Hamilton aims for a third win in four races at the Spanish Grand Prix starting with today’s first practice.The Englishman has been bested just once this season, by Max Verstappen at the Emilia Romagna GP in March.

GET HUGE 20/1 OFFER ON LEWIS HAMILTON TO PODIUM

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.
First practice coverage will begin from 10am on Friday, May 7.
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.

FULL F1 Spanish Grand Prix schedule
Friday, May 7

Spanish GP Practice One – 10.30am
Spanish GP Practice Two – 2pm

Saturday, May 8

Spanish GP Practice Three – 11am
Spanish GP Qualifying – 2pm

Sunday, May 9

Spanish Grand Prix – 2pm

Stay up to date with all the latest from Barcelona in our live blog…

WHAT AN ACHIEVEMENT!
It’s a pole with a difference for Lewis Hamilton this weekend.
What an amazing achievement by the Brit.
100 POLES! I can’t even begin to describe how this feels. I can’t thank the team and everyone back at the factory enough for everything they’ve done to help us secure this incredible milestone. I feel so humbled and very grateful. This feels like my first win all over again 🙌🏾💯 pic.twitter.com/KkCgShdhq2— Lewis Hamilton (@LewisHamilton) May 8, 2021

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.

HAMILTON TAKES POLE POSITION FOR THE SPANISH GP.His 100th in F1. Astonishing.
VERSTAPPEN IS DOWN ON HIS LAP TIME
A Hamilton makes a mistake but it is enough for pole.
HAMILTON GOES FIRST
And he is quicker. His sector times are better than his pervious best.
TWO MINUTES TO GO
Busy track for the final runs of Q3. Could be traffic issues here.
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.
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.

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.
HAMILTON VERSES VERSTAPPEN FOR POLE

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.
IN THE ELIMINATION ZONE – FOUR MINUTES TO GO
Russell, Giovinazzi, Vettel, Perez and Ocon are in the bottom five.
STONKING FIRST RUN IN Q2 FROM VERSTAPPEN, WHO IS TOP
He is half a second up on second-placed Bottas. That will have Mercedes worried. They could have shown their hand here.
What can Mercedes do in response? That Red Bull looks dialled in.
GREEN LIGHT Q2 IS GO – BOTTAS IS FIRST OUT
Aside from Russell and Giovinazzi, who else will fail to make the top 10 shoot out. Both Aston Martins looking vulnerable.
ELIMINATED FROM Q1
Mazepin, Latifi, Schumacher, Raikkonen and Tsunoda are all booted out at the first hurdle.
NORRIS LEAVES IT LATE
The McLaren man was held up during qualifying but he is in to Q2 after topping the session.
IN THE DROPZONE
Mazepin, Latifi, Schumacher, Stroll and Raikkonen are all in the drop zone with around three minutes to go.
EARLY PACE FOR VERSTAPPEN, HAMILTON AND PEREZ
All three should be safely in to Q3. All eyes on the bottom five in this section.
The track is in fantastic condition. No excuses from anyone today.
GREEN LIGHT – WE ARE GO FOR QUALIFYING FOR THE SPANISH GP
Q1 has started and it is an early run for the Williams and Haas boys.
LEWIS HAMILTON IS GOING FOR HIS 100th POLE POSITION
He has won this race four years in a row.
Mercedes have taken pole every year since 2013.
90 percent of the races in Spain have been won from the front of the grid.
10 MINUTE DELAY TO QUALIFYING DUE TO SOME BARRIER REPAIRS
There was an accident in a support race at Turn 9, which is currently being repaired.
LEWIS HAMILTON IS GOING FOR HIS 100th POLE POSITION TODAY

Q3 IS DONE AND VERSTAPPEN IS TOP
The Red Bull man leads the way in final practice from Hamilton. Leclerc in P3, Sainz P4. Bottas down in P5.
GAME ON
Verstappen replaces Hamilton at the top. He betters the Brit’s time by 0.235 seconds.
It is close. This is shaping up to be another three-horse race for pole position.
LECLERC BACK IN THE MIX

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F1 is BACK this weekend as Lewis Hamilton aims for a third win in four races at the Spanish Grand Prix starting with today’s first practice.The Englishman has been bested just once this season, by Max Verstappen at the Emilia Romagna GP in March.

GET HUGE 20/1 OFFER ON LEWIS HAMILTON TO PODIUM

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.
First practice coverage will begin from 10am on Friday, May 7.
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.

FULL F1 Spanish Grand Prix schedule
Friday, May 7

Spanish GP Practice One – 10.30am
Spanish GP Practice Two – 2pm

Saturday, May 8

Spanish GP Practice Three – 11am
Spanish GP Qualifying – 2pm

Sunday, May 9

Spanish Grand Prix – 2pm

Stay up to date with all the latest from Barcelona in our live blog…

FER REAL
Can Ferrari close the gap this weekend?

WHERE THEY CAME
Lewis Hamilton impressed again during practice for the Spanish Grand Prix.

TOP TEN IN FP2
1. HAM – 1:18.1702. BOT – Just over a tenth off3. LEC – More evidence of Ferrari pace4. OCO 5. ALO – Alpine looking strong6. GAS – Most laps (32), joint with Lewis7. TSU8. SAI9. VER – Six tenths off but time was on Medium tyre as Softs run ruined, ended with damaged front wing.10. PER – Behind his team-mate despite getting Soft hot lap in.
Credit: AP
CHEQUERED FLAG
That is time for Friday’s track time ahead of the Spanish Grand Prix!
Lewis Hamilton cruises home in the Mediums to end his race run but there was some heavy graining on his right-rear tyre on his later laps – likewise Sergio Perez.
But the hot laps on the Softs in the first half of FP2 have left the Brit on top, followed by Valtteri Bottas and Charles Leclerc.
FINAL FIVE
Fernando Alonso radioing back to the Alpine garage complaining of ‘oversteer’ but the Spaniard is sitting pretty in fifth.
And Pierre Gasly, in sixth, is warned of wind picking up across the track.
Valtteri Bottas and Lewis Hamilton averaging times in the mid 1m 22s to lead the race-pace timesheet.
GIMME ME FUEL GIMME FIRE
While we know the tyres being deployed by each car, we do not know the exact amount of fuel loaded into each car at this stage.
And the teams appear to have all filled up for practice race runs around Circuit De Barcelona-Catalunya.
Credit: Getty
TURNAROUND
Plenty of quick cars hanging further back than expected with 20 minutes to go.
Daniel Ricciardo is 15th with McLaren team-mate Lando Norris 12th, and the Red Bulls are ninth and 10th.
It is currently the Alpines and AlphaTauris making the most of that opening, all four of which are in the top seven.
SLOW BURNER
Sergio Perez was 16th but is still seven-tenths off Lewis Hamilton as he goes 10th.
Like Max Verstappen, Sector 1 was his slowest part of the track before gathering momentum later on.
Most of the pack appear to be doing the opposite – a deliberate strategy perhaps?
TOP TEN AT HALFWAY
1. HAM 2. BOT3. LEC4. OCO5. ALO6. GAS7. SAI8. VER9. TSU10. VET
Credit: AP
FLYING DUTCHMAN
Max Verstappen, on the Softs, runs wide and tickles the gravel at Turn 10 to cancel his hot lap.
Meanwhile Nikita Mazepin and Kimi Raikkonen come out of their garages right at the same moment and almost trip over each other.
GETTING FASTER
The battle for third is on with the Soft compound plugged in for the midfield runners.
Charles Leclerc puts his Ferrari behind the Mercs and ahead of Esteban Ocon, Carlos Sainz and Pierre Gasly.
No sign of the Red Bulls on the quickest tyres just yet.
TSUNODA PROBLEM
Yuki Tsunoda has lost power after flying over a kerb at Turn 9 – the same area Carlos Sainz broke some bodywork on.
It looks like the vibrations cut his electronics and he’s crawled back to the pits.
BACK UNDERWAY
In the meantime, Valtteri Bottas has pushed into first on another hot lap after a brief interlude behind Max Verstappen.
The Finn puts in a 1:18.419 but Lewis Hamilton is right on his tail in second, 0.042 behind.
Then it’s three-tenths back to Max Verstappen with the Alpines fourth and fifth.
VIRTUAL SAFETY CAR
A piece of shrapnel has pinged off Carlos Sainz’s front wing as he ran over a kerb.
And the stewards are slowing down the pack to allow it to be retrieved.
MERCS FIRST UP
The Mercedes cars have been much quicker than Red Bull to hammer in hot laps during practice sessions recently.
Valtteri Bottas puts in an early time which Lewis Hamilton comes in just behind, but neither driver is in the 1m 18s yet.
RACE PACE
The Medium tyres are the order of the day with a lot of race runs expected in this session.
Many of the quicker teams will also try to use the middle compound for the first rounds of qualifying tomorrow.
But the grip level still isn’t perfect for Mick Schumacher who so nearly puts it in the gravel at Turn 2 but wrestles his Haas back just in time.
GREEN LIGHT
The second practie session is underway!
Kimi Raikkonen and Mick Schumacher are first out the gate.
PRACTICE TWO
Just ten minutes to go until we start FP2 and get a good look at who will be coming out on top on Sunday afternoon.
Credit: EPA
RED-Y STEADY GO
Christian Horner believes Red Bull and Mercedes are evenly-matched going into second practice.
Max Verstappen separated Valtteri Bottas and Lewis Hamilton this morning and certainly looked like he had a lot more in the tank.
Horner told Sky after FP1: “It looks like we are very close.
“It looks good today, but the red flag was unfortunate for us, so it was not a clean session for us. The gap is only less than one tenth with Mercedes and that at a circuit where Mercedes were very good last year.
“Barcelona is a circuit that has everything and you can see that Mercedes and Red Bull are very close. We are now close today and that is of course very encouraging for us.”
WE GO AGAIN
Second practice is less than an hour away…
Check out how FP1 shaped up ahead of the afternoon’s running.

HOME AWAY FROM HOME
Valtteri Bottas has shown off the mobile home he lives in during race weekends since the pandemic hit.
The gorgeous Redwood 4001 LK boasts modern fittings, a kitchen, TV and much more…
Take a look here.

QUIDS IN
Lando Norris might want to think about striking a bet with his McLaren boss Zak Brown.
The Brit is currently third in the drivers’ championship just behind Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen after an excellent start to the season.
But so far his performances have failed to catch the creative mind of his McLaren chief, who is famed for his sporting wagers.
Norris said before FP1: “Sadly I don’t have any bets with Zak. I know he does with some people, but not me.
“Maybe it is because he is afraid I might achieve what he says! I know he sticks to his word. Pato O’Ward will get his McLaren F1 test after winning his IndyCar race.
“I saw with Daniel, he’s done a bet to drive a NASCAR in Zak’s private collection. Maybe he will give me a car to drive at home.
“Maybe if I am third in the championship at the end of the year, I could ask for the actual racecar, that would be lovely.”
SKID MARKS
An old head and a young head both encountered difficulties in that session.
Haas rookie Nikita Mazepin ended up in the gravel early on after losing it coming out of Turn 7.
And Robert Kubica was in for the session with Alfa Romeo but spun into the gravel at Turn 10, bringing about a late red flag.
Credit: Getty
Credit: Splash
TOP TEN FOR FP1
1. BOT – 1:18.5042. VER – Plenty still to come despite being only 0.03 seconds back3. HAM4. NOR – Another strong run from the Brit5. LEC – Ferrari in good form6. SAI – On the Medium tyres like his team-mate7. GAS – Most laps (26)8. VET9. PER – Held up by traffic on good lap10. STR
CHEQUERED FLAG
Sergio Perez pulls out of his hot lap after encountering a Daniel Ricciardo-sized piece of traffic.
Valtteri Bottas comes back into the Mercedes garage with the quickest time, a 1:18.504.
Credit: Splash
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