Tag: preview

Formula 1 2018: Roll on China

A short turn around and we are already at Round 3 of the Formula One World Championship in Shanghai, China.

This year marks the 15th iteration of the Chinese Grand Prix on Formula 1 Calendars. The race has been a staple on the F1 calendar since 2004.

The 5.451 km circuit, with its 7 left and 9 right turns in the F1 configuration has a good mix of fast-medium speed corners with a bit of slow corners thrown in for good measure with its party piece being the 1.175km back straight. There are some good overtaking opportunities on the back straight with or without DRS. The long, reducing radius, Turn 1 which leads into T2 is another good spot for overtaking as drivers can take different lines to get the drive to setup a pass into the Turn 6 hairpin.

Mercedes on the back foot?

Mercedes head into the Chinese Grand Prix as somewhat favorites. The Shanghai Circuit has been a happy hunting ground for them in the hybrid era with a Silver Arrows winning the Chinese Grand Prix each year since 2014. History certainly favors them. On the other hand, no driver has failed to win the Drivers Championship after winning the first two races since 1982. Both Mercedes drivers will want to get their first victory of the season out of the way, Hamilton more so as he’s the current defending world champion.

So where does that put Ferrari? The circuit being a front limited circuit, could make things a little tough for them, but they’ve shown since the start of the season that they can get over their issues rather quickly. A new floor update is scheduled for this weekend which could put them in the running once again. The cooler temperatures in Shanghai may play into the hands of Mercedes, but that’s never stopped the Ferrari’s before from getting close.

Kimi Raikkonen has been in good form lately with the 2018 Ferrari more to his liking and with his early retirement in Bahrain will be aching to get going again an hopefully another victory. Whether Ferrari let that happen with be another conversation on its own.

As for Red Bull, they’re coming into the weekend with something to prove. A double DNF in Bahrain and a 4th and 5th place finish in Australia doesn’t reflect their true potential. While they cannot match Ferrari on one-lap pace and by extension Mercedes, they know fully well that their race pace is quite good and they are able to keep up. Bahrain was shaping up to be a 2 way battle up front but their double DNF put an end to that quite early in the race.

Best of the rest

At the moment no midfield manufacturer can claim that title outright. In Bahrain it was Toro Rosso based on Pierre Gasly’s 4th place finish in the race. It’s an extraordinary start to the season for the Faenza outfit and their engine partner Honda. This in stark contrast to how Honda started with McLaren. Toro Rosso look like they’ve got their processes in place with Honda and they seem to be working well together, and Honda is delivering.

It’s close between Haas and Renault at the moment. The only thing counting against Haas at the moment is their consistency and their ability to maintain the development curve. McLaren are not too far either and their race performance shows that they could possibly sneak ahead of the works team and Haas later in the season.

Sauber who have taken some points in Bahrain will want to build on that points finish and no doubt will try to get higher up the order.

Pirelli Skips a Step

In Bahrain it can be said that Pirelli got their compound nominations spot on. There were many strategy variations and options which made for very interesting racing and gamesmanship between the teams. For China they’re bringing the white marked medium compound, yellow marked soft compound and the purple marked ultra-soft compound, skipping the super soft. Part of the reason why they can skip a compound for china is that the asphalt is smoother than in Bahrain. The rough asphalt would’ve shredded the ultra softs.

“The new wider range of 2018 P Zero compounds have allowed us to come up with some nominations this year where there is a gap in the tyres selected,” explains Mario Isola, Pirelli’s Head of Car Racing.

“There’s quite a big gap from medium to the softer compounds, which are quite close together (with the exception of the hypersoft). So, by missing out the supersoft in China, we end up with three choices that are quite evenly spaced out, which in turn opens up several different possibilities for strategy.

“These strategy calculations have, of course, already begun, with teams selecting different quantities of the ultrasoft heading into the race, and we could also see some different approaches to qualifying as well.

“With China being an unpredictable race anyway, thanks to a number of different overtaking opportunities and notoriously variable weather, this tyre nomination introduces another parameter, which should hopefully contribute to an even better spectacle.”

April 12, 2018
2017 Japanese GP Preview: Red Bull Resurgence

As quickly as the pack up in Malaysia had started, teams were in Suzuka, Japan preparing for the 16th Round of the Formula One World Championship.

The Suzuka Circuit has been a regular feature on the Formula 1 calendar and traditionally has hosted the final Grand Prix of the season which saw many drivers crowned world champions.

The current F1 layout of Suzuka is 5.807km long with 18 turns. Some famous corners such as 130R, sector one with the esses, Spoon and of course Degner 1 and 2 make this a real drivers track and it is a well known favourite of drivers.

“It’s just a great circuit. It’s extremely fast, and you have the section in sector one with all the esses – that feels amazing going through there in a Formula One car,” says Haas’ Kevin Magnussen.

The drivers probably cannot wait to get these 2017 cars around the track. With all the downforce this years cars produce we can expect times to be very quick. There’s a possibility that Degner 1 could be taken flat out.

Pirelli goes one step softer

Pirelli are bringing going one step softer this year and for the first time will not bring the hard compound tyre to Suzuka this year. Instead they are bringing the white marked medium compound, yellow marked soft compound and the red marked super soft compound.

Suzuka is one of the hardest tracks on the tyres in terms of longitudinal loading on the tyres. The long fast corners like Spoon and 130R and in the Esses put large amounts of energy through the tyres. High downforce configurations are usually run by teams around Suzuka.

Pirelli expects high tyre wear and high degradation, and with the fast cornering graining can also be a factor.

Although the tyres this year are more durable we could see a two-stop race this weekend.

Red Bull Resurgence

Red Bull have been looking increasingly competitive since coming back from the summer break despite being down on power. A Red Bull car has been a regular feature on the podium since the summer break the team from Milton Keynes are the team in form at the moment.

Red Bull head into Suzuka on the back of a dominant Max Verstappen victory in Malaysia less than a week ago on a track which Mercedes were, on paper, supposed to dominate. It could be argued that Ferrari had the faster car over the Malaysian Grand Prix weekend but engine problems for both Ferrari’s cost them and they were not able to capitalise on Mercedes’ lack of pace.

The Suzuka circuit characteristics will suit Mercedes, but Red Bull will fancy their chances this weekend. They clearly have a very good package and with two drivers hungry for wins and nothing to lose, we can expect them to get in the mix between Mercedes and Ferrari.

Over in Maranello Sergio Marchionne has reportedly made some changes to the team structure following the engine problems that plagued Sebastian Vettel after FP3 and Kimi Raikkonen just before the race for the Malaysia Grand Prix. There were also concerns that Vettel may have to take a gearbox penalty following his collision after the race on the cool down lap with Williams’ Lance Stroll but Ferrari have come out and said that everything seems to be fine with the gearbox and that they will conduct tests during Friday Practice in Suzuka as a final check.

Mercedes will want to put their Malaysia weekend behind them and will no doubt be in a fighting mood come Friday in Suzuka. It’s a track where the W08 will feel right at home. Hamilton will see this as another chance to extend his championship lead over Vettel and put some breathing room between himself and German and who knows may already have one hand on the Championship trophy come Sunday.

Photo credit: Red Bull Racing Formula One Team

October 4, 2017
2014 Bahrain GP Preview – Mercedes set to sparkle under desert floodlights

Less than a week after the Malaysian Grand Prix, where Mercedes thundered to its first one-two finish since the 1955 Italian Grand Prix, Formula One sets up shop in Bahrain for round three of the 2014 F1 World Championship.

Mercedes will remain in good spirits for this weekend’s Bahrain GP. The car is perfectly suited to the layout of the Saakhir International Circuit.

The Sakhir circuit offers more stop-and-go corners and more throttle time than the twisty Malaysia circuit. No need to compromise super speed on the straights for downforce through the turns. Most of the corners in Bahrain are around 160kph or less.

The circuit is also very demanding on fuel. This could be a game-changer for teams like Red Bull, who’ve had fuel flow sensor issues in both races so far this season.

This is the tenth outing for F1 to the Saakhir International Circuit and with this anniversary, the Bahrain Grand Prix presents a new challenge to teams and drivers – the first race under floodlights in the desert as Bahrain joins Abu Dhabi as the second twilight race on the F1 calendar.

The cooler evening temperatures lead to changes in balance and grip levels so teams have their work cut out for them. They do already have data on these conditions which they would have gathered at the two pre-season tests held at this circuit.

The lower temperatures will favour the cooling capabilities of the new power units which has been an issue for some teams leading up to the start of the 2014 season. Red Bull in particular had a very difficult time with overheating power units.

Mercedes will be the team to beat as the sun sets over Bahrain on Sunday. One thing is certain – we are in for a visual spectacular!

April 5, 2014
Monaco Grand Prix Preview Quotes: Sauber F1 Team

Preview Quotes from the Sauber F1 team ahead of the Monaco Grand Prix this weekend.

Nico Hulkenberg: “I’m really looking forward to the Monaco Grand Prix. The circuit along with the backdrop of the principality are just fantastic, and the atmosphere is one of the best in the season. The track is one of a kind with extremely narrow streets that will punish every little mistake. This is a great challenge between me, the car and the track, and I always have a lot of fun driving there. In terms of performance, I’m quite positive. We’ve seen that the softer tyre compounds suit us quite well, which gives me confidence we’ll have a good weekend.”

Esteban Gutierrez: “Driving on the limit through the narrow streets of Monaco is something special that I am really looking forward to. It’s one of my favourite tracks. I’ve driven there in GP2 twice and competing there in a Formula 1 car will be even more challenging and interesting. It’s a high down force track with a lot of slow corners, and management of the rear tyres will be crucial. After the positive race in Barcelona, I am focusing on building on my performance there.”

Tom McCullough, Head of Track Engineering: “The circuit in Monaco is a real challenge for the drivers and the team. The track improves throughout the weekend and it’s important to give the drivers a set-up that gives them confidence as the barriers are very close. For Esteban it will be his first experience in a F1 car in Monaco, but his GP2 experience has given him a good reference. This will be the first race of the season where we use both the soft and super-soft tyres. We have some further updated aero parts to add to the package we took to Barcelona. Coming off the back of our better race pace in Barcelona, our aim is to qualify stronger, as this is particularly important in Monaco where overtaking is so difficult.”

May 22, 2013
Monaco Grand Prix Preview Quotes: Mercedes F1 team

Here are the Monaco Grand Prix Preview Quotes from the Mercedes F1 team:

Nico Rosberg: Monaco is always a fantastic weekend and it’s great to race in the city where I live. Knowing that all my family and friends are watching makes it very special and I love being able to drive from home into the paddock on a scooter! The surroundings definitely make Monaco the coolest track on the calendar and the atmosphere over the weekend is great. I have good memories from the race last year after finishing in second place and I hope we can get another good result this time around. At the moment we have a good car for qualifying which helps in Monaco as it’s the most important qualifying session of the year as track position is so important. So that might be helpful for us but there are so many unknowns, especially with the tyres, so we will just have to wait and see.

Lewis Hamilton: Whilst there hasn’t been a lot of time since Barcelona, we’ve been working hard to put the disappointment of the last race behind us and focus on the opportunities ahead. Monaco is one of my favourite races of the year and I love driving the streets there. As a driver, you know that you have to perform on every single lap and it’s a challenge that I really enjoy. It’s a real experience to see the barriers flashing past at high speed and I love the fact that the fans can get so close to the track making for a great atmosphere. Perhaps more than at many other tracks, qualifying and getting the best possible track position is crucial in Monaco, but we have to keep our focus on Sunday as well and keep working to improve our race pace. Everyone is working really hard and I know we can get there. We just need to keep motivated and work it out together.

Ross Brawn: Monaco is a not usually a race to which teams bring many updates because the track conditions change so much across the weekend. The priority is always to get the drivers comfortable with the unique challenge the circuit presents and to give them a set-up they feel confident pushing to the limit. Both Nico and Lewis have historically been incredibly competitive in Monaco and this weekend will certainly allow their talent to shine. The engineering team will be focused on getting the most from our car on the slow, bumpy layout and there will of course be particular emphasis on achieving tyre consistency and durability. Meanwhile, our work continues back at Brackley and Brixworth to fully understand the reasons for our below-par race performance in Barcelona, in order to develop the right solutions for the upcoming circuits where high tyre usage could once again be a limitation for us.

Toto Wolff: Monaco is the most famous race in our sport and a special moment of every Formula One season. The narrow streets will give our drivers the perfect opportunity to display their talents and, historically, the team’s cars have performed strongly there in terms of pure speed. However, it is clear to everybody in the team that, while we have a strong car right now, we are not able to use that performance properly on Sunday afternoon. Although overtaking in Monaco is difficult, we cannot afford to be complacent in terms of tyre management and we will need to do significantly better than we managed in Barcelona in order to score a strong result. We have only scored points with one of our cars at the past three races and this is something we must improve quickly, beginning next weekend in Monte-Carlo.

May 22, 2013
Monaco F1 Grand Prix Preview Quotes: Lotus

Here are the preview quotes from the Lotus Formula One team ahead of the Monaco F1 Grand Prix.

Kimi Raikkonen

You must be feeling pretty good with your championship position and the performance of the car this season?

Well, we’re not in first place so we can’t be too happy. For sure it’s not a nightmare, but we’ve still got a lot of races yet to come and anything can happen in Formula 1. Monaco’s a different challenge, so we’ll have to see what happens there this year.

Last year’s Monaco Grand Prix was not one of the team’s better outings, so you’ll be hoping for better this year?

We certainly won’t make the mistakes we made last time. There were a few things we didn’t do right over the weekend and we suffered because of that. Sometimes that’s the way it goes, but the important thing is not to make the same mistakes again.

How do you define the Monaco Grand Prix?

It’s useless to put races in different categories, because all of them are as important as each other if you want to win a Championship. However, as a real special race there is nothing like Monaco; there is no better feeling than to get things going well there. To race in the streets of Monte Carlo is really different from everywhere else and it’s a challenge I look forward to every year. It is very, very difficult – almost impossible in fact – to have a clean weekend down there.

You won in Monaco in 2005; how did that feel?

I’ve only managed to get it right once before and you really experience the greatest feeling you can get by winning it. My win in 2005 ranks up there with my most memorable, so to win it again would be just as special.

What’s the challenge behind the wheel?

It’s such a narrow, twisty track; you have to be extra sharp and focused through every single metre. It gives such a good feeling; a fast lap around Monaco. Overtaking is almost impossible, so to really enjoy racing there you have to be in the front.

What about the atmosphere?

Monaco is always special. It’s an interesting place to go to, with a lot of fans and a lot of parties going on; or so I’m told. It’s a completely different atmosphere from anywhere else.

What’s your approach to the weekend?

We have to focus on qualifying. It’s a difficult place to race as it’s so narrow and – as I said before – passing is nearly impossible. I was stuck behind Rubens [Barrichello] in 2009 and we had KERS then, but you just couldn’t get past. We’ll have to see how the tyres perform and if there are any good strategies to be made, but the most important thing is to qualify well. It’s difficult to know how good the car will be in Monaco as you can’t simulate its characteristics; certainly not at any of the circuits we’ve visited so far this year anyway. We can say the E21’s been fast everywhere else so let’s hope it’s also fast there.

With qualifying so important, is it a worry that this doesn’t seem to be one of the E21’s strongest areas?

We’ll do the best we can, but of course everyone will be trying to be on the front row. It’s not impossible for us, but we won’t know how good we are until we get there. We know that tyre changes have to be made so there are opportunities if you run a different strategy to your rivals, but it’s certainly more difficult here than anywhere else.

Romain Grosjean

How frustrating was the Spanish Grand Prix?

I can’t lie and say I wasn’t frustrated! As a driver you want to race every lap possible, especially when you’ve got a good car. That said, at least with a technical problem like we experienced it’s easier to move on as it was immediately obvious that it was a component failure rather than being caused by a mistake, contact or driving off the track. In the race itself, I didn’t make the best start but after that I was on the pace and we know we’re able to have strong race strategies, so there was potential for a good result. The car was feeling pretty good until the issue with the rear suspension.

When did you feel there was something wrong?

It was a sudden sensation that something was wrong, and it was clear straight away that we wouldn’t be able to continue in the race. I returned to the pits and that was the end.

What do you do after a short race like this?

Get out of the car, speak with your engineers to confirm if there’s anything more which can be done, then you join the crew to watch the rest of the race. Sometimes you can give some extra information to the engineers on the pit wall which might assist them. After the chequered flag you have a quick debrief as you would after a race where you’ve completed all the laps, though if there are only eight laps to talk about it doesn’t take too long. The full post-race analysis takes place with the engineers afterwards, back at Enstone.

Monaco next, a track you really love…

It’s going to be fantastic to be racing there again. It’s like a home race to me and it’s a circuit I really love. We were quick there last year so I hope we’re quick again. It’s a crazy week with all the focus and attention, but everyone loves Monaco. I’ve got a week to get some rest before it all starts. I can’t wait.

What is so special about Monaco?

Monaco is a very special event in its own right, and the atmosphere is quite crazy! As a driver you have to stay calm and relaxed and try to do your job. It is a track that doesn’t allow any mistakes. You have to respect it and that is the key there. For me it’s fantastic for there to be so many French fans, and I’m looking forward to their support.

It’s a very particular and distinct track; how do you think the E21 will perform there?

Well this is what we will discover. Monaco is quite a specialist track and it is very difficult to say if a car will be suited to it or not. It’s bumpy on the straights and it’s a very low grip surface. All these things mean that you never know what to expect. On a more normal racetrack you know more what you are going to get. I hope we will have a pleasant surprise and that the car will suit Monaco’s unique challenges. That would be nice.

What do you want to achieve in the sixth race of the season?

I have to be honest and say I want to be on the podium again. I experienced it for the first time last season, and it felt just as good this year too. A podium result in Monaco would be amazing.

May 21, 2013
Monaco F1 GP preview quotes: McLaren

Here is what the McLaren Mercedes F1 team have to say ahead of this weekend’s Monaco F1 GP.

Jenson Button: “Monaco is unlike any other racetrack in Formula One. A qualifying lap around there is an exhilarating experience for a driver: you turn into corners on the limit and you kiss every barrier at the exit. To get pole position, as I did in 2009, is hugely satisfying and you need to be inch-perfect for 78 laps in order to win the race. It’s a great challenge.

“The average speed around Monaco is the slowest of the year, but it feels very quick. The track’s quite narrow in places and there are some fast sections. The run up the hill from Ste Devote to Casino Square involves some quick changes of direction, as does the Swimming Pool, and the Tunnel is fast, loud and dark.

“Everyone at Vodafone McLaren Mercedes has been working flat-out since the Spanish Grand Prix. We’re not yet where we want to be in terms of competitiveness, but I’m confident that we can make another small step forward in Monaco. We’ll continue to chip away at the performance of the MP4-28 until it’s capable of challenging at the front; there’s no other agenda for a winning team like McLaren. The aim for Monaco is to get both cars home in the points, as we did in Barcelona.”

Sergio Perez: “Monaco is a great challenge for the drivers. It’s the only circuit on the calendar where you have to build up your speed during practice, rather than going flat-out on lap one. You push a little bit harder with every lap, getting a bit closer to the barriers each time.

“But it’s not just the track that makes Monaco special; it’s the atmosphere as well. The grandstands are closer to the track here than anywhere else on the calendar and that gives us a very close connection to the spectators. The huge grandstand between Tabac and the Swimming Pool can get pretty noisy when it’s full, which is great.

“Last year was my first Monaco Grand Prix. I missed out on a World Championship point by one position and I’m looking to change that this year. The MP4-28 is improving, as we introduce upgrades and understand its performance better. It was more driveable in Spain a couple of weeks ago, particularly on light tanks. That will be vital in Monaco because qualifying is very important.”

Martin Whitmarsh – Team principal, Vodafone McLaren Mercedes: “Vodafone McLaren Mercedes has a fabulous record in Monte Carlo. We’ve taken 15 wins – more than any other constructor – through the streets of the Principality and while we’re not yet in a position to challenge for victories this year, we’ll relish the challenge provided by this race and we hope to challenge for more points with both cars.

“Our aim is to continue improving the performance of the MP4-28 in Monaco. The tight and twisty nature of the circuit makes its requirements fairly exceptional, but every kilometer that we complete with the car provides us with useful data because we have a very busy development programme.

“Overtaking opportunities are limited at Monaco, even with the DRS, so qualifying is going to be very important on Saturday afternoon. Both of our drivers know how to turn a quick lap, and Sergio can take a lot of confidence from his excellent performance during Q2 at the Spanish Grand Prix.

“Monaco is one of the jewels in Formula One’s crown. It’s an iconic setting and the race has a lot of history. I’m proud of McLaren’s peerless record in the Principality and would love nothing than to add to it this year.”

May 21, 2013
Spanish Grand Prix Preview Quotes: Force India

Force India looks ahead to this weekend’s 2013 Formula One Spanish Grand Prix.

Paul di Resta

Q. Paul, you’ve enjoyed your strongest start to a season – what’s your feeling after four races…
PdR: “We’ve got to feel very happy with how things are going and I want to congratulate everybody in the team. We took a very sensible approach to the winter and focussed on understanding the key areas that drive performance, which seems to have paid off. It’s important to pick up good points early in the season against our competitors and to be ahead of McLaren after four races is a credit to the team and a nice feeling. Of course we want to be on the podium and it was very close in Bahrain, but I’m sure it will come soon enough.”

Q. Do you feel you have a car that will be competitive on any type of circuit?
PdR: “The car is performing well, especially in the heat, and we were also strong in the cooler conditions of China – so that’s a good sign. The key is making sure you find the right operating window whatever the conditions because that’s what makes the difference. We need to keep doing what we’re doing, but at the same time we know the return to Europe always sees every team bring more upgrades. Hopefully we can stay fighting with the big teams and keep picking up the points.”

Q. With two tests already completed in Barcelona do you feel well prepared ahead of this weekend’s race?
PdR: “I guess we have more data around Barcelona than anywhere else, but at the same time the temperatures will be much higher at this time of year. So I’d expect that to change things quite a lot and impact on the tyres. Also, it’s one of those tracks where you’re constantly chasing the right aero balance to cope with the long, high-speed corners, especially turn three. But when you come to the end of the lap you need the mechanical grip for the hairpins and chicanes.”

Adrian Sutil

Q. Adrian, four races in, how do you sum up the start of 2013?
AS: “The start of the season was good, especially if you consider I had only two or three test days to prepare. Australia was a strong race and the best way to come back to Formula One. Since then I’ve been unlucky with being hit in China and the puncture in Bahrain, and I definitely missed out on a few good points. On the other hand there are lots of positives, especially the performance of the car and the experience of the races. It is still early in the season so there is more to come and the car is really fast. I’m sure we can recover the points we lost in the last few races.”

Q. How hard is it to accept the disappointment when you’re simply in the wrong place at the wrong time – as was the case in China and Bahrain?
AS: “These things happen all the time in Formula One – sometimes you benefit from them and sometimes it goes against you instead. They all balance by the end of the year. I try not to spend too much time thinking about the negatives, I try to move on and focus on how to do better. If something happens, I think whether I did anything wrong, learn from it and avoid doing it again.”

Q. What do you expect from the upcoming race in Barcelona?
AS: “I know Barcelona really well from all the testing we’ve done there over the years. It is important, after three difficult races without points, to finish the race without any incidents. If I do that, I should have the pace to be among the front-runners. I have to do my job, avoid mistakes and hopefully my luck will change. Wherever we have gone so far, the car has been competitive, so the next few races should see us scoring points and close to the podium.”

May 7, 2013
Formula One 2013 Spanish GP Preview: Who will gain in Spain?

In the world of motorsport there is no shortage of Spanish sporting heroes. The current crop of Jorge Lorenzo, Dani Pedrosa and Marc Marques and their domination of MotoGP is testament to the fact.

Spain may be smitten with MotoGP but it was Fernando Alonso who transformed this country’s interest in Formula 1 from mild curiosity to full blown infatuation. In 2005 the then Renault driver, Fernando Alonso, whipped the crowd into a frenzy as he stepped out in his home region of Asturias as the country’s first F1 champion. He would repeat the feat in 2006 and tag to his double glory a career as one of the most respected and revered Formula 1 drivers of his generation.

A different fairytale was written into the history books at last year’s Spanish GP as Williams returned to the very top of the sport they once dominated. An outstanding race and dogged determination accounted for Venezuela’s Pastor Maldonado first ever Formula 1 race victory. Replicating his deed in 2013 may be a bridge to far for Maldonado and his Williams team.

Nevertheless, a spirited battle there will be throughout the sixty-six laps around the Circuit de Catalunya. Sixteen corners in total are dotted throughout the 4.655 km lap and a mixture of medium to high speed corners typifies its layout. The first two sectors of the lap are characterised by high speed corners with the third sector offering a more technical and slower combination of corners.

If it hasn’t yet been in the headlines enough this season the Pirelli tyres will once again be a point of focus this weekend. Tyre wear around the Barcelona circuit has been described as ‘challenging’ and similar to what was seen in Bahrain. But after taking more than a little heat from several teams Pirelli have changed their hard compound tyres in time for Spanish GP. “This latest version of the hard compound is much closer to the 2012 tyre, with the aim of giving the teams more opportunity to run a wider range of strategies in combination with the other compounds, which remain unchanged,” Pirelli’s motorsport director Paul Hembery said.

The Catalan circuit is regularly used as a testing venue by the majority of the field which makes any advantage especially hard to come by. As the first European race of the season it makes traveling and logistics a much simpler task; hence the rolling out of highly expected upgrades this weekend. “The start of the so-called European season – where many teams unleash a raft of their latest upgrades – could shake up the order somewhat,” predicted Lotus technical director, James Allison. “What do we have in the upgrade cupboard for Catalunya? Nothing revolutionary, but plenty which should help us go faster. We have new front wing end plate detailing, new aero around the rear drums, modifications to the diffuser and a different top rear wing so there’s plenty to help keep us in the hunt,” he continued.

The gap on the points table between Sebastian Vettel and second-placed Kimi Raikkonen currently stands at ten points. But if Lotus and Raikkonen and the rest of the likely challengers want to make a serious bid for the title the gap must be narrowed and Vettel’s strong start to the season tempered.

There are not many things that can be controlled in Formula 1. Mechanical failures, a rival’s rash overtaking manoeuvre, weather and even car performance are all potential uncontrollable factors. Naturally it makes those aspects that can be controlled all the more important. Clinically performed pit stops, a perfectly executed pull-away, lightning quick reactions can all, reasonably, be controlled. And if you add a supremely fast and confident Ferrari loaded Fernando Alonso to this mix it should be a winning combination, shouldn’t it?

May 7, 2013
Video: Spanish Grand Prix Preview from a Tyre Point of View

Pirelli gives us a preview of the Catalunya Circuit in their Spanish Grand Prix Preview and tells us a bit about how they measure tyre performance.

May 7, 2013