For the first time in 2021, Formula 1 has a repeat polesitter, and it’s a historic one.
Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton takes pole position into Sunday’s Spanish Grand Prix, his 100th career pole, just edging out Red Bull driver Max Verstappen. Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas enters Sunday’s race in third, completing the Mercedes-Red Bull-Mercedes sandwich at the top of the grid.
It’s the latest chapter penned in what should be a continued front-row duel between Hamilton and Verstappen all season, with Round 4 coming on Sunday.
MORE: Watch Formula 1 live with fuboTV (7-day free trial)
Here’s how the drivers will line up in the Spanish GP:
Formula 1 starting lineup for 2021 Spanish Grand Prix
Through three races, three drivers have earned pole position: Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and Mercedes drivers Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas. Hamilton becomes the first repeat polesitter of 2021.
| Position | Driver (Team) |
|---|---|
| 1. | Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) |
| 2. | Max Verstappen (Red Bull) |
| 3. | Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes) |
| 4. | Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) |
| 5. | Esteban Ocon (Alpine) |
| 6. | Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) |
| 7. | Danniel Ricciardo (McLaren) |
| 8. | Sergio Perez (Red Bull) |
| 9. | Lando Norris (McLaren) |
| 10. | Fernando Alonso (Alpine) |
| 11. | Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) |
| 12. | Pierre Gasly (AlphaTauri) |
| 13. | Sebastian Vettel (Aston Martin) |
| 14. | Antonio Giovinazzi (Alfa Romeo) |
| 15. | George Russell (Williams) |
| 16. | Yuki Tsunoda (AlphaTauri) |
| 17. | Kimi Raikkonen (Alfa Romeo) |
| 18. | Mick Schumacher (Haas) |
| 19. | Nicholas Latifi (Williams) |
| 20. | Nikita Mazepin (Haas) |
What channel is the F1 race on Sunday?
- Race: Spanish Grand Prix
- Date: Sunday, May 9, 2021
- TV channel: ESPN
- Live stream: WatchESPN, fuboTV
The ESPN family of networks will broadcast all 2021 F1 races in the United States using Sky Sports’ feed, with a few races heading to ABC later in the season.
In addition, ESPN Deportes serves as the exclusive Spanish-language home for all 2021 F1 races in the U.S.
What time does the F1 race start on Sunday?
- Date: Sunday, May 9
- Start time: 9 a.m. ET
The 9 a.m. ET start time for Sunday’s race means the Portuguese GP will start at 3:00 p.m. local time. The on-the-hour start time means lights out will likely take place just after 9 a.m. ESPN’s pre-race show usually airs in the hour prior to the start of the race.
Below is the complete TV schedule for the weekend’s F1 events at the Spanish Grand Prix. All times are Eastern.
| Date | Event | Time | TV channel |
| Friday, May 7 | Practice 1 | 5:30 a.m. | ESPN2 |
| Friday, May 7 | Practice 2 | 9 a.m. | ESPNU |
| Saturday, May 8 | Practice 3 | 6 a.m. | ESPN2 |
| Saturday, May 8 | Qualifying | 9 a.m. | ESPN2 |
| Sunday, May 9 | Race | 9 a.m. | ESPN |
Formula 1 live stream for 2021 Spanish Grand Prix
For those who don’t have a cable or satellite subscription, there are four major OTT TV streaming options that carry ESPN — fuboTV, Sling, Hulu, YouTubeTV and AT&T Now. Of the four, Hulu and YouTubeTV offer free trial options.Formula 1 live stream for Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
Below are links to each.
For those who do have a cable or satellite subscription but are not in front of a TV, Formula 1 races in 2021 can be streamed live via phones, tablets and other devices on the ESPN app with authentication.
Formula 1 schedule 2021
Formula 1 returns in 2021 with a zaftig 23 race schedule, starting with the Bahrain Grand Prix on March 28, and concluding with the customary Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Dec. 12.
The Portuguese Grand Prix returns for its second-consecutive running after a 22-year absence. Also making its debut this year is the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix taking pace on the Jeddah Street Circuit, scheduled for December.
In May, the Canadian Grand Prix was replaced by the Turkish Grand Prix for June 13, and the race will be run at Istanbul Park Circuit.
All times Eastern.
| Date | Race | Course | Start time | TV channel | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 28 | Bahrain Grand Prix | Bahrain International Circuit | 11 a.m. | ESPN2 | Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes |
| April 18 | Emilia Romagna Grand Prix | Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari | 9 a.m. | TBD | Max Verstappen, Red Bull |
| May 2 | Portuguese Grand Prix | Algarve International Circuit | 10 a.m. | ESPN | Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes |
| May 9 | Spanish Grand Prix | Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya | 9 a.m. | ESPN | TBD |
| May 23 | Monaco Grand Prix | Circuit de Monaco | 9 a.m. | ESPN2 | TBD |
| June 6 | Azerbaijan Grand Prix | Baku City Circuit | 8 a.m. | ESPN | TBD |
| June 13 | Canadian Grand Prix | Istanbul Park Circuit | TBD | ESPN2 | TBD |
| June 27 | French Grand Prix | Circuit Paul Ricard | 9 a.m. | ESPN | TBD |
| July 4 | Austrian Grand Prix | Red Bull Ring | 9 a.m. | ESPN | TBD |
| July 18 | British Grand Prix | Silverstone Circuit | 10 a.m. | ESPN | TBD |
| Aug. 1 | Hungarian Grand Prix | Hungaroring | 9 a.m. | ESPN | TBD |
| Aug. 29 | Belgian Grand Prix | Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps | 9 a.m. | ESPN2 | TBD |
| Sept. 5 | Dutch Grand Prix | Circuit Zandvoort | 9 a.m. | ESPN2 | TBD |
| Sept. 12 | Italian Grand Prix | Autodromo Nazionale di Monza | 9 a.m. | ESPN2 | TBD |
| Sept. 26 | Russian Grand Prix | Sochi Autodrom | 8 a.m. | ESPN2 | TBD |
| Oct. 3 | Singapore Grand Prix | Marina Bay Street Circuit | 8 a.m. | ESPN2 | TBD |
| Oct. 10 | Japanese Grand Prix | Suzuka International Racing Course | 1 a.m. | ESPN2 | TBD |
| Oct. 24 | United States Grand Prix | Circuit of the Americas | 3 p.m. | ABC | TBD |
| Oct. 31 | Mexico City Grand Prix | Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez | 3 p.m. | ABC | TBD |
| Nov. 7 | Brazilian Grand Prix | Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace | Noon | ESPN2 | TBD |
| Nov. 21 | Australian Grand Prix | Albert Park Circuit | 1 a.m. | ESPN News | TBD |
| Dec. 5 | Saudi Arabian Grand Prix | Jeddah Street Circuit | 11 p.m. | ESPN2 | TBD |
| Dec. 12 | Abu Dhabi Grand Prix | Yas Marina Circuit | 8 a.m. | ESPN2 | TBD |