Formula 1 heads to Spain this weekend to race at Circuit de Catalunya, Barcelona, a track that is acutely familiar to drivers as it is the home of winter testing. This Grand Prix also holds the distinction of being won by 10 drivers in the last 10 seasons, including Max Verstappen’s first victory in 2016.
McLaren Honda enter the weekend with planned upgrades to their aero package as well as their power unit; however, those updates are largely unspecified at the time of publishing and are thought to be primarily MGU-H improvements trialed at the Bahrain test. Fans will hope for another performance-defying drive by Fernando Alonso to bring the car home in a relatively decent position.
Elsewhere on the grid, the main battle remains between Mercedes and Ferrari as the former’s Valtteri Bottas will be buoyed by his first taste of victory in Russia and the latter is frantically pushing to upset years of Silver Arrow dominance. The wild card is Red Bull whose upgrade package is said to be so significant some are calling it a 'B-spec’ car. Force India has an upgrade package of their own and is hoping to pick off Red Bull who have seemingly been fledgling to this point. Both Williams and Haas will be bringing aero upgrades and both are seeking their first double points finishes of the season. Torro Rosso and Sauber are not expected to make much movement.
US TV SCHEDULE:
Practice 1, Friday May 12th, 4AM
EST
,
NBC
Sports Live Extra
Practice 2, Friday May 12th, 8AM
EST
,
NBCSN
Practice 3, Saturday May 13th, 5AM
EST
,
NBC
Sports Live Extra
Qualifying, Saturday May 13th, 8AM
EST
,
CNBC
Race, Sunday May 14th, 7:00AM,
NBCSN
CIRCUIT
INFORMATION
Lap data
Lap length: 4.655km (2.892 miles)
Race laps: 66
Race distance: 307.104km (190.826 miles)
Pole position: Left-hand side of the track
Lap record*: 1’21.670 (205.192 kph) by Kimi Raikkonen, 2008
Fastest lap: 1’19.954 (209.596 kph) by Rubens Barrichello, 2009
Maximum speed: 318kph (197.596 mph)
DRS
zone/s (race): Pit straight and straight after Campsa
Car performance
Full throttle: 67%
Longest flat-out section: 1310m
Downforce level: High
Fuel use per lap: 1.7kg
Time penalty per lap of fuel: 0.051s
Strategy
Quickest complete pit stop in 2013: 18.471s by Ferrari
2015 prime tyre: Hard (2014: Hard)
2015 option tyre: Medium (2014: Medium)
*Fastest lap set during a Grand Prix
Data sources:
FIA
, Williams, Mercedes
2016 (V6
TURBO
ERA
) RESULTS:
Laps: 66
Pole: Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, 1:22.000
Fast race lap: Danil Kvyat, Torro Rosso, 1:26.948
Podium
1. Max Verstappen, Red Bull
2. Kimi Raikonnen, Ferrari
3. Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari
CURRENT
STANDINGS:
Drivers
1. Sebastian Vettel, Scuderia Ferrari, 86
2. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes
AMG
Petronas, 73
3. Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes
AMG
Petronas, 63
4. Kimi Raikkonen, Scuderia Ferrari, 49
5. Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, 35
Constructors
1. Mercedes
AMG
Petronas, 136
2. Scuderia Ferrari, 135
3. Red Bull Racing, 57
4. Sahara Force India, 31
5. Williams Martini Racing, 18
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