2017 Formula 1 Gran Premio de Espana PirelliFormula 1

[SVT Cobra GT]

Mercedes took the win in Russia and beat Ferrari fair and square after Bottas' brilliant start to jump Vettel and Raikkonen, however the race was pretty much said and done after the safety car returned to the pits. The biggest highlight after that was Kimi being confused on team radio. Anyways now we return to what they consider the non fly away races. Barcelona is the race where the teams bring their first round of upgrades so naturally the paddock talk is of the upgrades. Can Red Bull catch up to Mercedes and Ferrari? Can Mercedes bring upgrades that will put them firmly ahead of Ferrari? What do Ferrari have up their sleeve? What about the teams further down the field? No doubt Bottas' win and Hamilton's struggles will also be a talking point. Answers will be given at the Spanish Grand Prix.

CIRCUIT DE BARCELONA-CATALUNYA

FIRST RACE
1991

NUMBER
OF LAPS
66

CIRCUIT LENGTH
4.655KM (2.892 Miles)

RACE DISTANCE
307.104KM (190.825 Miles)

LAP
RECORD
1:21.670, Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari, 2008

TYRE ALLOCATIONS
Soft, Medium & Hard


SKY SPORTS CLASSIC RACE SCHEDULE
Tuesday - Missed (Oops)
Wednesday - Spain 1996
Thursday - Spain 1986
Sunday - None

2016 RESULT

1 Max Verstappen (Red Bull-TAG Heuer)

2 Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari)

3 Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari)

2016 Fastest lap - Daniil Kvyat (Toro Rosso-Ferrari) 1:26.948 (lap 53)​

 

[RX-7_FD3S]

Keep in mind that temp will be higher and that they had tyres that were softer than the ultra soft.

 

[Tom]

I only live an hour or so away from the circuit and it's incredibly tempting to attend on the Sunday. However, €200 for a ticket is far too steep in my mind, so I'll watch it on the TV.

Regardless, it should be an exciting race if the Ferraris can continue their pace with the Mercedes. I'd tip Red Bull to do OK here given their form last year.

 

[RX-7_FD3S]

I only live an hour or so away from the circuit and it's incredibly tempting to attend on the Sunday. However, €200 for a ticket is far too steep in my mind, so I'll watch it on the TV.

Regardless, it should be an exciting race if the Ferraris can continue their pace with the Mercedes. I'd tip Red Bull to do OK here given their form last year.

Except both Mercedes were out last year so it automatically created some space.

I can't see them coming higher than 3rd and that's if they are perfect and Ferrari and Mercedes are not.

But then again it's Barcelona, it's a special track (Max first win, Maldonado first win) and all team will have major upgrade that can change the car quite a bit. We'll see who will win the most. It's gonna be hard for RBR to catch up 1 seconds on aero only tho.

 

[Jimlaad43]

BBC Weather currently predict thunderstorms for Sunday. Rain is about the only thing that will make Barcelona a good watch, it's just so boring.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

Mercedes reveal their new numbering scheme:

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/129414/mercedes-first-to-reveal-revised-numbers

 

[Tom]

Except both Mercedes were out last year so it automatically created some space.

I can't see them coming higher than 3rd and that's if they are perfect and Ferrari and Mercedes are not.

But then again it's Barcelona, it's a special track (Max first win, Maldonado first win) and all team will have major upgrade that can change the car quite a bit. We'll see who will win the most. It's gonna be hard for RBR to catch up 1 seconds on aero only tho.

It's something of an unpredictable circuit which will make it very exciting.

Also a note to the OP. The letter 'n' on Espana should be changed to an 'ñ', as it is a letter in the Spanish alphabet.

 

[SVT Cobra GT]

Also a note to the OP. The letter 'n' on Espana should be changed to an 'ñ', as it is a letter in the Spanish alphabet.

Managed to change it now you've written it.

My keyboard doesn't have that option.

 

[PASM]

Managed to change it now you've written it.

My keyboard doesn't have that option.

On Windows: System Tools > Character Map

 

[TheElbows]

I really dislike Catalunya, but curious to see how the drama continues to unfold.

 

[niky]

It will be really interesting to see how the upgrade packages shake the field up.

Of course, the top three teams will most likely remain unchanged.

 

[sems4arsenal]

Really hope it rains, Sochi, this and Monaco are just too much.

Hope the RB 13.5 performs a lot better.

 

[BrainsBush]

Memory lane: last year GP Spain when our Max took his first victory. Will he do it again??
Sunday afternoon in Barcelona a mix of sun and rain. Very interesting.

Hopefully the Bull can control his tail attached.

 

[Vinylshark]

Memory lane: last year GP Spain when our Max took his first victory. Will he do it again??

No, because this time Ferrari would need to take themselves out too.

 

[LMSCorvetteGT2]

No, because this time Ferrari would need to take themselves out too.

And actually qualify ahead of one or both mercs and his team mate.

 

[Peter.]

This race just screams 'race over by turn 1'. Not looking forward to it except for where the upgrades will put everyone, if it even makes much difference.

Will the Honda be any faster or will it just finish this time?

 

[niky]

He'll need a full wet race to win. That Red Bull is just no match for the other two in the dry.

Unless the upgrade package includes rocket boosters.

 

[mustafur]

Basically this part of the year is the, "when is Canada again?" Spain is good for checking upgrades but don't hold your breath for a good race.

Monaco is the same but the completely different aero requirements tend to mix up the grid a bit.

 

[TenEightyOne]

Will the Honda be any faster or will it just finish this time?

We've known for (insert number of races here) that they're due for a big upgrade/reliability improvement/miracle

 

[sems4arsenal]

We thought RBR will bring a new car.

Turns out Mercedes actually did

 

[LMSCorvetteGT2]

We thought RBR will bring a new car.

Turns out Mercedes actually did

I posted in the constructor thread that they'd be bringing a decent size update, RBR just took the steam because everyone was excited for their basically new car, and hoping they'd be in the fight for WCC and WDC

 

[sems4arsenal]

@LMSCorvetteGT2 I'm still hoping it is true. Hope Ferrari have something big as well (they probably will). Gonna bet that the midfield will be significantly off the pace even more here.

 

[LMSCorvetteGT2]

@LMSCorvetteGT2 I'm still hoping it is true. Hope Ferrari have something big as well (they probably will). Gonna bet that the midfield will be significantly off the pace even more here.

No cause other teams brought updates as well, FI, TR, and Renault for example.

 

[sems4arsenal]

No cause other teams brought updates as well, FI, TR, and Renault for example.

Will the upgrades be as drastic though? the big teams with the big bucks have a better chance of improving.

 

[LMSCorvetteGT2]

Will the upgrades be as drastic though? the big teams with the big bucks have a better chance of improving.

I don't know the size of them and we probably wont until Friday practice sessions. I just know who is suppose to be bringing updates in the next few gp. Since Spain marks that the "official" start of the development wars. Some teams like Sauber brought updates in Russia though.

 

[BrainsBush]

what a disappointment for Alonso/Honda....5 minutes in FP1 and a huge oil leak

 

[prisonermonkeys]

what a disappointment for Alonso/Honda....5 minutes in FP1 and a huge oil leak

Replays show all four wheels locked up simultaneously, which is very unusual.

 

[NW48]

God damn it.

This will be a telling weekend for Alonso and McLaren's future. If he is embarrassed in front of his home crowd by an unreliable McLaren-Honda, I wouldn't be surprised if he walks out midseason. Likely after the Indy 500.

 

[BrainsBush]

Good start of FP1, Max' RBR issues, Sebs Ferrari gearbox issue (again), Alonso's Honda

 

[prisonermonkeys]

He does sound surprisingly upbeat walking back to the paddick.