F1's first Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix has been accompanied by classic early-summer conditions at the circuit bearing the same name — which has been on the F1 calendar under the Spanish Grand Prix since 1991 — with warm sunshine and dry weather dominating throughout the weekend.
Friday's practice running took place under clear skies and temperatures approaching the high 20s, allowing teams to gather representative data without interruption.
Conditions became even hotter on Saturday, with qualifying held in bright sunshine and air temperatures climbing beyond 30°C, placing additional emphasis on tyre management and track evolution.
The trend is set to continue for Sunday’s race at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, where drivers and teams can expect another hot and dry afternoon.
Race day is forecast to bring uninterrupted sunshine, light cloud at most, and no meaningful threat of rain.
Air temperatures are expected to rise from around 20°C in the morning to approximately 29-34°C by the time the grand prix gets underway, while track temperatures are likely to exceed 50°C during the hottest part of the afternoon.
Wind speeds are forecast to remain relatively light, although occasional gusts could be felt through some of the circuit’s more exposed sections. Those gusts are not expected to have a significant impact on running, leaving teams free to focus primarily on tyre degradation and cooling requirements.
The combination of sustained sunshine, high ambient temperatures and a traditionally demanding circuit surface is expected to place considerable stress on the tyres across the 66-lap race. Drivers will need to manage overheating carefully, particularly during long stints and when running in turbulent air behind rivals.
With dry conditions forecast from lights out to the chequered flag, strategy discussions are likely to centre on tyre wear rather than weather uncertainty. Barring an unexpected change, the 2026 Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix looks set to be run under some of the hottest and most stable conditions seen so far this season.
The Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix starts at 15:00 local time.
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