Mercedes will be firmly in the spotlight during the media activities that officially launch the 2026 Formula 1 Spanish Grand Prix weekend, with championship leader Kimi Antonelli scheduled to appear at Thursday’s FIA press conference and team principal Toto Wolff set to face the media on Friday.
Kimi Antonelli will be one of the headline names at the FIA press conference that opens the Barcelona-Catalunya race weekend. The Mercedes driver arrives in Spain leading the Formula 1 World Championship and carrying the momentum of an extraordinary run of results that has placed him at the center of attention throughout the paddock.
As is customary, the FIA has divided the drivers into two groups for Thursday’s media sessions. The first press conference will begin at 14:30 local time and will feature Fernando Alonso, Oliver Bearman and Liam Lawson. With the event taking place on home soil, Fernando Alonso is expected to be one of the major attractions for the local media and fans.
The second session will start at 15:00 local time and will include Kimi Antonelli alongside Carlos Sainz and Franco Colapinto. Fresh from five consecutive victories, the young Mercedes driver is likely to face numerous questions regarding his remarkable form and growing championship advantage.
The FIA has also reminded all participants of the importance of respecting official schedules throughout the weekend. During the Monaco Grand Prix, Charles Leclerc and Lando Norris received suspended fines of €5,000 after failing to fully comply with the timetable established for media commitments.
Attention will then shift to the team representatives’ press conference on Friday, following the opening day of track action. Among the key figures attending will be Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff, who will be joined by Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu and Audi project leader Mattia Binotto.
As usual, the weekend will conclude with the traditional FIA press conferences after qualifying on Saturday and after the race on Sunday, featuring the top three finishers from each session.
With Mercedes currently enjoying a strong campaign and Kimi Antonelli leading the championship standings, both the driver and the team are expected to attract significant interest as Formula 1 heads into another crucial weekend at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.
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