Formula 1 heads to Spain this weekend to race at Circuit de Catalunya, Barcelona, a track that is acutely familiar to most drivers as it is typically the home of winter testing and this is the race where most teams bring their first major upgrade packages for their cars. In recent memory Circuit de Catalunya is considered a Mercedes track with the German marque winning 7 or the last 8 Grands Prix here. With their form in 2022 it’s fair to say a new era may begin this weekend.
Red Bull will enter the weekend with a cautious confidence that they are finally getting on top of the issues they suffered earlier in the season. Look for upgrades to the RB18 to keep the team competitive as main rival Ferrari brings a major upgrade package of their own. Given recent momentum, expect Red Bull to be favorites for the win. On the AlphaTauri side of the garage we can expect one car to finish in the points with the other close behind.
Elsewhere on the grid, look for this to be a general ranking of team performance coming into the race weekend:
1. Red Bull ↑
2. Ferrari ↓
3. McLaren
4. Mercedes
5. Alfa Romeo
6. Alpine
7. AlphaTauri
8. Haas ↓
9. Aston Martin
10. Williams
US TV SCHEDULE
Practice 1 – Friday, May 20 – 7.55AM – ESPN2
Practice 2 – Friday, May 20 – 10.55AM –
ESPNU
Practice 3 – Saturday, May 21 – 6.55AM –
ESPNU
Qualifying – Saturday, May 21 – 9.55AM – ESPN2
Pre-race show – Sunday, May 22 – 7:30AM – ESPN2
Spanish Grand Prix – Sunday, May 22 – 8.55AM – ESPN2
Post-race show – Sunday, May 22 – 11.00AM – ESPN3
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*: 1’18.149 by Max Verstappen, 2021
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
2022 tyres: Hard (C1), Medium (C2), Soft (C3) (2021: Hard (C1), Medium (C2), Soft (C3))
*Fastest lap set during a Grand Prix
2021 RESULTS
Race Info.
Pole: Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, 1:16.741
Laps: 66
Fast race lap: Max Verstappen, Mercedes, 1:18.149
Podium
1. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes
2. Max Verstappen, Red Bull
3. Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes
CURRENT STANDINGS
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