14/06/2026 03:41 - Deportes
Auto de Fórmula 1 Alpine de Franco Colapinto en el circuito de Barcelona-Catalunya durante una sesión de clasificación con sol intenso y asfalto brillante
The Spanish Grand Prix qualifying session felt less like a speed test and more like a survival challenge. The seventh round of the championship faced brutal conditions at the Montmeló circuit: while ambient temperatures hovered around 30.9°C, the track surface scorched at 50.9°C (over 123°F). Under these circumstances, tire management became the decisive factor of the day.
With such high heat and an abrasive track surface, teams knew there was zero margin for error. The strategy was clear: one fast lap, maybe two at most. Drivers had to be surgical, which is why many delayed their exits to the track, treating every new set of soft tires like gold.
In this context, Alpine arrived with moderate expectations. The team had received good news on Friday when the FIA reinstated Pierre Gasly's podium finish from Monaco after reviewing a penalty, but the practice sessions hadn't shown promising pace. Still, reaching Q2 remained the target.
The first benchmark was set by Lewis Hamilton with a 1:15.625. At that point, Gasly sat 13th and Franco Colapinto 14th, times sufficient to advance. However, Alpine refused to take risks and sent both drivers out on another set of new soft tires.
The gamble paid off. Colapinto improved to a 1:16.590, finishing Q1 in 12th place, just ahead of Gasly (13th with 1:16.599). The teammates were practically synced. Those eliminated included Esteban Ocon, Alex Albon, Sergio Pérez, Valtteri Bottas, Lance Stroll, and Fernando Alonso.
Q2 proved to be a much tougher mission for Alpine. The gap to the front-running teams was evident, and the top ten spots seemed out of reach.
Early runs confirmed the struggle. While George Russell set the pace with a 1:15.228, Colapinto clocked a 1:17.376 and Gasly a 1:17.626, leaving them 12th and 14th temporarily.
With one final push on fresh tires, both improved but fell short. Colapinto dropped his time to 1:16.191 and Gasly to 1:16.261, results that locked them into 13th and 14th on the starting grid. Colapinto, a rising star from Pilar, Buenos Aires, was seen hitting the steering wheel in frustration after missing the Q3 cutoff by a narrow margin.
| Pos. | Driver | Team |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | George Russell | Mercedes |
| 2 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari |
| 3 | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes |
| 4 | Lando Norris | McLaren |
| 5 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull |
| 6 | Isack Hadjar | Red Bull |
| 7 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren |
| 8 | Liam Lawson | Racing Bulls |
| 9 | Nico Hülkenberg | Audi |
| 10 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari |
| 13 | Franco Colapinto | Alpine |
| 14 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine |
Q3 was reserved for the usual front-runners. The only exception was Nico Hülkenberg, who managed to sneak into 10th place. The session's biggest shock came with a heavy crash for Charles Leclerc. The Monégasque driver went wide at Turn 4 and slammed into the barriers, effectively ending his bid for pole.
In the final showdown, the Mercedes cars showed immense pace. George Russell secured pole with a 1:14.679, while teammate Kimi Antonelli initially sat second. However, Lewis Hamilton, now driving for Ferrari in this 2026 season, split the Mercedes duo with a 1:14.743, setting up an exciting race start.
The Argentine driver showed visible frustration after his final Q2 lap. A correction in Turn 4 cost him valuable tenths, preventing a Q3 appearance.
Race Schedule (Spanish GP):
The Barcelona-Catalunya circuit is historically tough on tires. The extreme temperatures this weekend add a layer of complexity that could play into strategy hands, potentially benefiting midfield teams like Alpine if they manage degradation better than rivals.
Alpine arrived with momentum after the FIA returned Pierre Gasly's Monaco podium points following a penalty review.
Colapinto had a tricky Friday, finishing 10th and 15th in practice sessions. The team worked overnight to adjust the setup of the A526 car for qualifying.
Source: Olé
Alfredo S. Quiroga
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