We are now moving on from Monaco in our rush around the globe..... here we are still talking about Monaco and what it proved (Max and the Red Bull are quick on fast tracks, slow tracks, dry tracks and wet tracks and everyone else are having their own race for the Best of the Rest tag.) This time last week ,people were telling us hey Fernando may well win because blah blah. Well he came bloody close over one lap in qualifying.... until Max came out and drove round with two fingers in the air pretty much to snatch pole. Come raceday we all knew what was inevitable, and even a bit of rain couldnt do much other than add aa bit of interest down the field. Qualy was brilliant though.
But one thing I am really looking forward to..... after five consecutive races at street or temporary circuits we get to race on a proper permanent track. Yes its depressingly true....Jeddah, Albert Park, Absurdistan, Miami and then Monaco.
The teams have already loaded the trucks and sent them across the Pyrenees and now tey will all be unpacked and ready to roll at Barcelona. A new look Barcelona. Actually more of a déjà vu Barcelona with a version of the track from when a bloke calld Michael ruled the roost. Barcelona of course has been around as a venue for years, and Catalunya was just the most recent circuit in the area. It was always the venue where teams would test (remember when cars used to test between races) with the result everyone knew the circuit like the back of their hand and races were usually a bit boring. Hopefully going back to the layout used in the noughties will allow for better racing. More about the track differences down the page.
Actually the teams will be looking forward to it because they can all gets some relevant data and understanding of their cars. Remember all the updates that were online to happen in Imola.... well of course that didnt happen, and Monaco being such a one of circuit with unique needs and charcteristics, it didnt really give the teams a proper handle on the success of their updates. Lets not forget the Spanish GP is normally run before Monaco and historically was where the first updates were seen.
Barcelona is the ideal circuit for them to test updates though
I do have some bad news for you though..... With all the other teams updating merrily and all hoping to plug the gap this weekend, well they might need to think again because Red Bull are bringing their first major update package, so they will likely still be a quantum leap ahead. The speeding up of the circuit is only going to play more into the RB hands. Sadly I think that although Ferrari and Aston are bringing major updates the goal posts will have moved, the benchmark raised and Red Bull will again be the pace of the field.
However all the updates in the world are I believe not going to bring the home town hero Fernando the win some seem to think is round the corner.... it is now a decade since Fernando last won a Spanish GP.... in fact the 2013 Spanish race was his last GP win full stop. Carlos Sainz of course is racing back at home again. For Carlos to get to the podium, in the same way as for Fernando to greet the flag first, its going to need a mechanical issue or even a puncture at least for the Red Bulls to fail. Im sure there will be much pushing of pins and needles into voodoo dolls in Spain to make the Bulls unwell.
However with Ferrari bringing their first major updates we may well see them join the second division...... of late they have failed to be able to match even the Astons and Mercedes. PLus with Alpine seemingly getting their merde together we could be set for a big fight for the lower podium steps and points. The target for Ferrari and Alpine has been to increase the downforce in a balanced manner. And for Ferrari to be able to reduce its appetite for tyres. McLaren are also in that too much drag on the straights.
Mind you kindness on tyres is not always the way things run in Spain. All we can say for sure is the right hand side rubber will have it all a bit easier this year, but the left hand side will be tortured. I will look at the tyres later though.
We migght get some interest strategy wise, but as mentioned its tough on tyres and a 3 stopper is the norm
Of course when Sergio went off at Monaco everyone now will hve all the reference to the all conquering and secret until then magic floor and undertray.... the place where the Red Bull created all its Black Magic and performance. I fear this weekend is too soon for that level of upgrade but come the British GP......
THE TRACK
Get this in now for those doing their GTP guesses. THE TRACK IS DIFFERENT THIS YEAR.
Yes, the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya will feature a different configuration of its layout for 2023. F1 has decided to run the race without the dreadful chicane at the end thus returning the circuit to its original last two corner layout.
The 2023 version of the track will see the cars take the right-hander of Turn 13 at a much higher speed, which will then loop around to bring the drivers onto the start/finish straight.
Through this change, lap times at the circuit will it has been said likely to be several seconds faster, and it may provide better opportunities to overtake into Turn 1. With the modification of the third sector, the circuit now has only two slow corners. Most of the corners will be taken above 130 km/h on Saturday, including Campsa (corner 9), which was approached at approximately 250 km/h last year. This suggests an undisputed dominance of the RB19..... it has no rivals in this type of corner, and even the well-balanced Aston struggles to keep up.
New TECPRO barriers have been installed at the last two turns to meet the safety standards set by the FIA, with delegates approving the modification during a usual track inspection.
Another modification that will affect all track configurations is the widening of the run-off area in Turn 1. A first phase of works has already been completed there, with the result of an area of 70 metres of gravel and the installation of a new FIA fence protecting turns 1 and 2, thus significantly improving the safety of the drivers and riders. With this modification, the Circuit can hold on-track action while a second phase of works is being carried out simultaneously, which affects the service roads surrounding the area and a part of the public area. This second phase is scheduled to be finished by the end of March so is presumably now finished..
Still 2 DRS zones and here is the official track map.
First Grand Prix
1991
Number of Laps
66
Circuit Length
4.657km
Race Distance
307.236 km
Lap Record
N/A (N/A) Nada . But there will be after the weekend.
The track is a good mix of high- and low-speed corners, with the challenging Turn 3 right-hander a great chance to evaluate the balance of the car your team’s designers have given you to fight with for the season. So, with all the updates that did not get too much of a workout in Imola and Monaco this is where the teams will be hoping the fruits of their labour will reward them.
Here is a pretty little graphic showing all the different versions we have had at Catalunya.
OK lets move on to a bit about the history of the Spanish GP.
First stop in the History..... what happened last year?
In a nutshell Ferrari shot themselves in the foot. Got Pole, were leading the race comfortably with CLAP, only for his engine to fail with you know who there to sweep up the pieces with Sergio following the boss home.. Sergio did at one stage try an alternate strategy, and indeed led for a while. Until Max got onto the soft rubber and reined Sergio in. Verstappen was allowed past and eventually won by 13 seconds; Perez took P2 and fastest lap having stopped for softs late on dur to the gap behind him.
Oh and Max managed it all with a troublesome DRS.
It was stinking hot, and very windy. Windy enough to allow the excuse of bad wind causing the spins.
Early in the race whilst Charles was up the road Max and George had a pretty good tussle for 2nd..
2022 Highlights.
Usual watch on youtube order.
2022 Results
POS NO DRIVER CAR LAPS TIME/RETIRED PTS
1 1 Max Verstappen RED BULL RACING RBPT 66 1:37:20.475 25
2 11 Sergio Perez RED BULL RACING RBPT 66 +13.072s 19
3 63 George Russell MERCEDES 66 +32.927s 15
4 55 Carlos Sainz FERRARI 66 +45.208s 12
5 44 Lewis Hamilton MERCEDES 66 +54.534s 10
6 77 Valtteri Bottas ALFA ROMEO FERRARI 66 +59.976s 8
7 31 Esteban Ocon ALPINE RENAULT 66 +75.397s 6
8 4 Lando Norris MCLAREN MERCEDES 66 +83.235s 4
9 14 Fernando Alonso ALPINE RENAULT 65 +1 lap 2
10 22 Yuki Tsunoda ALPHATAURI RBPT 65 +1 lap 1
11 5 Sebastian Vettel ASTON MARTIN ARAMCO MERCEDES 65 +1 lap 0
12 3 Daniel Ricciardo MCLAREN MERCEDES 65 +1 lap 0
13 10 Pierre Gasly ALPHATAURI RBPT 65 +1 lap 0
14 47 Mick Schumacher HAAS FERRARI 65 +1 lap 0
15 18 Lance Stroll ASTON MARTIN ARAMCO MERCEDES 65 +1 lap 0
16 6 Nicholas Latifi WILLIAMS MERCEDES 64 +2 laps 0
17 20 Kevin Magnussen HAAS FERRARI 64 +2 laps 0
18 23 Alexander Albon WILLIAMS MERCEDES 64 +2 laps 0
NC 24 Zhou Guanyu ALFA ROMEO FERRARI 28 DNF 0
NC 16 Charles Leclerc FERRARI 27 DNF 0
Note - Perez scored an additional point for setting the fastest lap of the race. Albon received a five-second time penalty for exceeding track limits.
Had to just stick that photo of Regga at Montjuic somewhere. It used to be my desktop. Love the photo.
HISTORY
To appease those with a love of stuff before 1950 (looking at you (@Michael Ferner) lets start at the very beginning.
The first Spanish Grand Prix was held in 1913 and was run to touring car rules. It took place on a 300-kilometre road circuit at Guadarrama, near Madrid. There was also the Catalan Cup of 1908 and 1909 before that, on roads around Sitges, near Barcelona, marking the beginning of a long-standing racing tradition in Catalonia, which of course since Alonso turned up remains to this day, backed by the inclusion of Carlos Sainz. Sitges-Terramar was the site of the 1923 Spanish Grand Prix.
1913 Spanish GP
In 1926, the Spanish Grand Prix was held at Circuito Lasarte on the north coast, home of the main race in Spain during the 1920s – the San Sebastián Grand Prix. A year later, the Spanish Grand Prix was part of the AIACR World Manufacturers’ Championship, but the race. was run to sports car regulations.
1934 Starting Grid.
The Pedralbes Circuit first opened in 1946 where it hosted the Penya Rhin Grand Prix, a famous Spanish motor race that began in 1916. The high-speed 6.316km circuit, which swept through the wide city streets, had just six turns but was a favourite among the drivers and fans.
In 1950, Pedralbes hosted a non-championship round during the inaugural Formula One World Championship season and a year later hosted the very first Formula One Spanish Grand Prix, won by Juan Manuel Fangio in an Alfa
Pedralbes in 1951
and Fangio the winner....
Hawthorn wins in a Ferrari 1954. Pedralbes
In the 1960s the Royal Automobile Club of Spain commissioned a new circuit north of Madrid in Jarama, ( designed by Suzuka creator John Hugenholtz). Catalonia rebuilt their Barcelona circuit, making it much safer, in Montjuïc. Montjuic was set in the Montjuïc mountain in Barcelona. Like the Pedralbes circuit from the 1950s, it was set on the streets of Barcelona, had incredible views, was loved by the drivers and fans… and it was extremely dangerous.
Arturo Mezario raises his hand in protest over safety in the 1975 race
Another Montjuic Pic
Ahead of the 1975 race, drivers even went on strike and refused to take part in practice due to the circuit’s poor safety standards. Despite track staff and even F1 team personnel doing their best to fix up barriers and improve safety, the race would end in tragedy, when on lap 26 Rolf Stommelen launched over the barriers and five spectators were killed. Formula One never returned.
Montjuic in1973
From the Spanish Grand Prix in 1968 at Jarama, the race would then alternate between these two tracks. Jarama was a bit tricky on overtaking. ...it was quite narrow and held its last GP in 1981, when Gilles Villeneuve held of a faster pack for most of the race.
Jarama in 1976
and in1979
In 1985, the Mayor of Jerez commissioned a new racing circuit, the Circuito Permanente de Jerez.
When Barcelona was awarded the 1992 Olympic Games a massive investment was made in infrastructure throughout the region. The Catalans were now powerful in the country and used the influx of funding to construct the Grand Prix circuit they had wanted for some time. Organisers spent two years building the track and used input from Spanish drivers to design the layout.
The event moved to this new track, Catalunya in 1991, where it has remained since. The event the following year was advertised as the Grand Prix of the Olympic Games though still run as the Spanish GP.
So we have had 51 Championship Spanish GP's
31 at Barcelone. 1991 - current day.
9 at Jarama. 1968,70,72,74, 1976-81
5 at Jerez de la Frontera 1986-1990
4 at Montjuïc Park. 1969,71,73,75
2 at Pedralbes 1951,54
We have had some memorable moments at the various Spanish GPs though....
MEMORABLE MOMENTS
1971. Tyrrells first F1 win 1971 JYS at the Spanish GP. Stewart leads Ickx in the battle for the lead
1970 Jackie Stewart on his way to winning the race, between the fiery wreckage of Ickx and Oliver. As an aside Mario Andretti took his first Formula One podium in third place that day. It was also Bruce McLaren's final podium.
François Cevert, here in 1973, among the climbs and swoops of Montjuïch Park
1991: Senna v Mansell: The very first F1 race at the Catalunya circuit produced a memorable wheel-to-wheel scrap between McLaren’s Ayrton Senna and Williams’ Nigel Mansell. After plenty of position switches and tyre changes from wet to dry, Senna lost his nerve and spun, leaving Mansell to become the first victor at the circuit.
1981 Villeneuve wins
1996: Schumacher in the wet: Michael Schumacher was in a class of his own at the wet 1996 Spanish Grand Prix. The hectic race saw plenty of drivers slide off the track, including polesitter Damon Hill. Schumacher snatched the lead from Hill’s team-mate Jacques Villeneuve and proceeded to set lap times three seconds faster than any other driver. He eventually won the race by over 45 seconds from Jean Alesi to take his first victory for Ferrari.
2001 : Mika Hakkinen looked set for an easy victory until the final lap when his clutch exploded. The McLaren crawled to a halt just five corners from the chequered flag.
2006 Fernando Alonso became the first Spaniard to win his home (Championship) GP.
Oh I better not say that @Michael Ferner will correct me.
OK.... before Fernando won in 2006, the last Spaniard to win their home Grand Prix was Carlos de Salamanca driving a Rolls-Royce in a sportscar race at Guadarrama back in 1913 – the very first year the event was held.
2012: Maldonado’s only victory: After Lewis Hamilton was disqualified from the Qualifying result, it would be Pastor Maldonado who started from pole for the first time in his career. He faced no easy feat on Sunday, with Fernando Alonso starting alongside him on the front row. Predictably, Alonso overtook him at the start, but Williams’ pit-stop strategy and a super speedy out-lap while the Ferrari was stuck in traffic saw Maldonado emerge in the lead. He went on to take his only F1 win, as well at the only Grand Prix victory for a Venezuelan driver. It was Williams’ first win in eight years, and their latest so far in F1.
2016: Verstappen makes history, and Nico and Lewis took each other out.: The first lap of the 2016 Spanish Grand Prix is notable for one of the most talked about incidents of recent times in F1, as Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg came together on the opening lap, ending both of their races. The crash allowed Max Verstappen to take an impressive victory on his very first appearance with the Red Bull team. It was hard fought for, as Kimi Raikkonen pushed Max all the way to the finish, Max winning by just over half a second. As a result, he became the youngest ever Grand Prix winner at 18 years and 228 days.
2018 Romain Grosjean and the Hulk got together. Romain went wide , put his boot in and spun back on to the track blinding the oncoming pack with thick tyre smoke. The stewards were not impressed.
Some of those are in the following video
Click "Watch on Youtube"
Are you still with me?
WHO HAS WON THE SPANISH GP.(More than once)?
Michael Schumacher, who won the race six times in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
Lewis Hamilton equalled Schumacher’s Spanish Grand Prix win record in 2021.
Other multiple winners of the event include Jackie Stewart, Mika Hakkinen, Nigel Mansell and Alain Prost, each with three wins apiece.
Between 2007-2016, the Spanish Grand Prix was won by ten different drivers! Then Lewis got a bit possessive with it winning every race from 2017.
Multiple winners
Driver Nb
SCHUMACHER Michael 6
HAMILTON Lewis 6
STEWART Jackie 3
MANSELL Nigel 3
PROST Alain 3
HAKKINEN Mika 3
FITTIPALDI Emerson 2
ANDRETTI Mario 2
SENNA Ayrton 2
RAIKKONEN Kimi 2
ALONSO Fernando 2
VERSTAPPEN Max 2
Current drivers who have won here once..... well that is easy because the answer is none. Lewis Fernando and Max are the only ones to have won here.... and they have won 10 between them.
Fernando won his first back in 2006, his last in 2013. Max won his first in 2016 when Lewis and Nico did their thing, and won again last year.
Actually it is easier to day that since Maldonado won here in 2012 the only time of the current three did not win here was in 2015 when Nico Rosberg won.
Who would be brave enough to back any change to that this year. Seriously it has probably painted itself into another Max win by the time the chequered flag flies on Sunday . If I can stay awake that long.
SPECIAL MENTION: Rubens Barrichello has 7 non-finishes, also a record.
Multiple Constructors winners Nb
Ferrari 12
McLaren 8
Williams 7
Mercedes 7
Lotus 6
Red Bull 4
Carlos Pace and Ronnie Peterson at Montjuic in 1975
Finally some pics of winners with the year they won.
Graham Hill on his way to winning at Jarama 1968
1969 Jackie Stewart, Matra. Montjuic
1970 Jackie Stewart, March Jarama.
1971 Jackie Stewart Tyrrell Montjuic
1972 Fittipaldi Lotus. Jarama
1973 Emmerson Fittipaldi.on the Podium Montjuic. With Cevert. Bonus point for who tthe other driver on the podium is.
1974 Lauda
1975 Jochen Mass Montjuic
1977 Mario Andretti Lotus Jarama
1986 Senna Lotus Jerez
1987 Mansell Williams Jerez
1988 Prost Jerez
1989 Senna Jerez
1990 Prost Ferrari Jerez.
And then we moved on to Catalunya.and I think that is enough photos already.
[/quote]
Ooops nearly forgot the tyre stuff.....
TYRES
The teams will have the C1 as White hard, C2 as Yellow medium, and C3 as Red soft at their disposal in Barcelona. So almost as hard as it goes (Dont forget this year have the C0 ultra hard we have yet to see.)
I mentioned it earlier but last year, race winner Max used a three-stop strategy like most of his rivals, alternating between soft and medium. With the introduction of the new hard tyre, this now adds another strategic factor into the mix.
What Pirelli had to say.....
Mario Isola: “Barcelona is the perfect test track”
“Traditionally, Barcelona has been one of the most popular venues for testing: both for cars and tyres. It’s a complete track, featuring several different types of speeds and corners, and it also has a very long straight. As a result, aerodynamic efficiency is key to being competitive. The final sector has been modified for this year, reverting to the original layout without a final chicane. This makes it a much more flowing track now and also adds to the entry speed onto the main straight. There are two corners, Turn 3 and Turn 9, which are particularly demanding in terms of lateral forces exerted on the tyres.
We’ve chosen the same three types of tyre as the season-opener in Bahrain, but it’s important to remember, when comparing to last year, that this year’s C1 is an entirely new compound, specifically designed to bridge the gap between the hardest tyre in the range (now called the C0) and the C2. In theory, this should hand the teams a wider range of strategic choices, given that the hardest available compound last year wasn’t used at all in the race.
Another novelty is the chance that the drivers will have during the first two free practice sessions to try out two additional sets of hard tyres that feature the new construction that will be used from the British Grand Prix onwards. Apart from the use of some new material, which has already been homologated following an extensive test programme, the latest specification is identical to the previous version. Initially this was scheduled for 2024, but its introduction has now been brought forward to make the structure more resistant to fatigue, as the loads generated by the current cars have already reached the targets set for the end of the season after only a few races. This new construction has no impact though on the technical parameters or performance of the tyres. We also continue our 2024 testing campaign after the race, with Mercedes and Ferrari running over two days as we develop the compounds and constructions for next year.”
Enjoy and Discuss away.....
Nonetheless a good mention.
I almost spit out my coffee! [do we need a spit-out-my-coffee smiley?]
He says he is not being negative after in effect saying it was a bit useless..... OK Lewis. Seriously Lewis, judge it after a more relevant run, like after practice tonight. 