Spain ~ 2017

[J.Clark]

Me encanta España. Tengo viviendo allí durante cuatro años, entre 1990 y 1994 y fue buen amigo de un juez de pista para el circuito de Jerez. Si hubiera sido posible trabajar allí como estadounidense, tal vez habría movido allí cuando me retiré de la marina de guerra.

The Spanish Grand Prix has been held in a couple of locations over the decades, and as I recall, alternated between Jerez and Valencia.  I cannot remember if Barcelona and Jerez ever held it alternately - thinking once it began being held in Barcelona, that was it.  There were a few years when there was a second race in Spain, held in Valencia on the street circuit, which was a really horrible layout and produced some of the most boring races in history.

Barcelona however, has over the years had some extremely exciting events.  It is a great circuit and has taken over winter testing almost completely from Jerez and Valencia, each of which have hosted winter testing in years gone bye.

The Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya was built in 1991 and began hosting the Spanish Grand Prix that same year. It is 2.9 miles long, run clockwise, and has 16 turns.  It is generally wide, which allows, or has in the past allowed, overtaking to occur in areas other than braking zones; although, turn one is one of the most used under braking, of course.  The start/finish straight, like the Hungaroring, is downhill a bit.  Turn one is also the first of two, making a medium speed chicane, and if  driver can hold the car on the outside line in turn one, he'll have the inside of turn two.  Turns 7 and 8 make up the other fast chicane and are uphill.  The front straight past the pits is quite long, and DRS will definitely come into play there.  DRS could play into overtaking on the back straight leading into la Caixa (turn 10 I think), but it will more likely allow the overtaking driver to get closer to the car he wants to overtake on the front straight.
     Winds in Barcelona, as a sea-side venue play heavily at times, as they frequently are strong and come from different directions during the course of a race.
     Race winners currently gridding up:
Verstappen, Hamilton, Alonso (2), Vettel, Raikkonen (2), and Massa
The lap record of 1:21.670 is held by Kimi, and I imagine it will fall the year.



We won't likely see this again, but it certainly made last year's race in Spain interesting.


I know I am putting this up a full two weeks before the race, but I have the time right now to do it and may not have the time as we get closer to it.  I much appreciate others of you jumping in to do this for other races.  You are doing a fine job.  I think the previews are important so please keep it up - I am just quit busy this year with things.

[J.Clark]

Interesting article in Crash today.

Merc is shifting to backing Hamilton.  They say Hamilton's set up, was not of his choosing (?) apparently, and that is why he could only finish fourth.  I think there was more than set up in play, personally.

In any case, they want Lewis up front in Spain.

http://www.crash.net/f1/news/245331/1/improving-mercedes-to-help-hamilton-a-big-focus-wolff.html

[J.Clark]

FFP-1 results:
1. Lewis Hamilton   GBR   Mercedes - Mercedes   1m 21.521s
2. Valtteri Bottas   FIN   Mercedes - Mercedes   1m 21.550s
3. Kimi Raikkonen   FIN   Ferrari - Ferrari   1m 22.456s
4. Sebastian Vettel   GER   Ferrari - Ferrari   1m 22.600s
5. Max Verstappen NED   Red Bull - TAG   1m 22.786s
6. Daniel Ricciardo AUS   Red Bull - TAG   1m 23.084s
7. Kevin Magnussen DEN   Haas-Ferrari   1m 23.670s
8. Romain Grosjean FRA   Haas-Ferrari   1m 23.758s
9. Nico Hulkenberg   GER   Renault - Renault   1m 23.993s
10. Carlos Sainz   ESP   Toro Rosso-Renault   1m 24.004s
11. Sergio Perez   MEX   Force India-Mercedes   1m 24.188s
12. Esteban Ocon   FRA   Force India-Mercedes   1m 24.324s
13. Stoffel Vandoorne   BEL   McLaren-Honda   1m 24.400s
14. Felipe Massa   BRA   Williams - Mercedes   1m 24.618s
15. Daniil Kvyat   RUS   Toro Rosso-Renault   1m 24.642s
16. Marcus Ericsson   SWE   Sauber - Ferrari   1m 24.966s
17. Pascal Wehrlein   GER   Sauber - Ferrari   1m 25.182s
18. Lance Stroll   CAN   Williams - Mercedes   1m 25.919s
19. Sergey Sirotkin   RUS   Renault - Renault   1m 26.293s
20. Fernando Alonso   ESP   McLaren-Honda   No Time

No time for Alonso ???

[cosworth151]

Alonso's engine let go (Big surprise, what?). When the snatch tractor picked it up, oil was pouring out of the back of the car.

[Dare]

Alonso didn't even make it ti the 3rd corner...engine failure

[Monty]

Everyone is complaining that the tyre compounds are too hard but I am really enjoying seeing the tail hanging out on some corners and full 4-wheel drifts on others 

[cosworth151]

Notice the difference in the paint jobs this weekend. Much larger car numbers and the drivers' 3 letter abbreviation posted prominently on them.

Merc & Red Bull also have notable new body mods, too.

[Monty]

I know it is just FP2 but interesting that the top 8 are currently running in pairs; Mercedes, Ferrari, Red Bull and Renault!! Palmer a respectable three tenths behind the Hulk.
And say it quietly but Alonso is on track and has posted a time (6 seconds behind the leader!)

[Robem64]

This looks like a tough one to call right now - looks like the upgrades have added to the mix and if there are some showers during quali this could be anyones pole! Grid game brain into overdrive for this weekend.

[J.Clark]

FFP-2 results:
1.  Hamilton   Mercedes    1m 21.802
2.  Bottas      Mercedes    1m 21.892
3.  Raikkonen   Ferrari    1m 22.112
4.  Vettel      Ferrari    1m 22.220
5.  Verstappen    Red Bull    1m 22.438
6.  Ricciardo    Red Bull    1m 23.585
7.  Hulkenberg      Renault    1m 23.687
8.  Palmer      Renault    1m 26.992 *
9.  Massa      Williams    1m 24.015
10. Sainz      Toro Rosso   1m 24.265
11. Grosjean    Haas    1m 23.371
12. Ocon      Force India   1m 24.520
13. Vandoorne      McLaren   1m 24.693
14. Perez      Force India   1m 24.722
15. Magnussen     Haas   1m 23.007
16. Ericsson   Sauber    1m 24.082
17. Stroll      Williams    1m 25.221
18. Kvyat      Toro Rosso   1m 24.236
19. Wehrlein      Sauber    1m 25.599
20. Alonso      McLaren   1m 24.077
*Looks like this should be a 3.

Very tight at the top between teammates.
Qualifying could be very interesting indeed.

I too like that the tires may be too hard, based upon complaints; however, I think a softer, less durable tire that requires more than one stop, makes for much more interesting racing.

[J.Clark]

Saturday free practice results:
1. Kimi Raikkonen   FIN   Ferrari - Ferrari   1m 20.214s
2. Sebastian Vettel   GER   Ferrari - Ferrari   1m 20.456s
3. Lewis Hamilton   GBR   Mercedes - Mercedes   1m 20.595s
4. Valtteri Bottas   FIN   Mercedes - Mercedes   1m 20.868s
5. Max Verstappen NED   Red Bull - TAG   1m 21.025s
6. Daniel Ricciardo AUS   Red Bull - TAG   1m 21.249s
7. Nico Hulkenberg   GER   Renault - Renault   1m 21.670s
8. Felipe Massa   BRA   Williams - Mercedes   1m 21.746s
9. Carlos Sainz   ESP   Toro Rosso-Renault   1m 21.835s
10. Fernando Alonso   ESP   McLaren-Honda   1m 22.093s
11. Romain Grosjean FRA   Haas-Ferrari   1m 22.128s
12. Kevin Magnussen DEN   Haas-Ferrari   1m 22.214s
13. Sergio Perez   MEX   Force India-Mercedes   1m 22.237s
14. Esteban Ocon   FRA   Force India-Mercedes   1m 22.297s
15. Daniil Kvyat   RUS   Toro Rosso-Renault   1m 22.391s
16. Marcus Ericsson   SWE   Sauber - Ferrari   1m 22.513s
17. Lance Stroll   CAN   Williams - Mercedes   1m 22.574s
18. Jolyon Palmer   GBR   Renault - Renault   1m 22.755s
19. Stoffel Vandoorne   BEL   McLaren-Honda   1m 22.853s
20. Pascal Wehrlein   GER   Sauber - Ferrari   1m 22.974s

Qualifying in less than an hour - should be an interesting Q2 & 3.

[cosworth151]

A sure sign that F1 is now owned by us Yanks - The speed trap times are being displayed in miles per hour as well as that arcane, Napoleonic system.

[Ian]

Fernando P7. Where did that come from ?

[J.Clark]

The grid (I don't think there are penalties to change it this time):
1. Hamilton   Mercedes   1m 20.149
2. Vettel      Ferrari    1m 20.200
3. Bottas      Mercedes    1m 20.373
4. Raikkonen      Ferrari    1m 20.439
5. Verstappen    Red Bull    1m 21.706
6. Ricciardo    Red Bull    1m 21.175
7. Alonso      McLaren   1m 22.048
8. Perez      Force India   1m 22.070
9. Massa      Williams    1m 21.232
10. Ocon      Force Indias   1m 22.272

11. Magnussen     Haas   1m 21.329
12. Sainz   ESP   Toro Rosso   1m 21.371
13. Hulkenberg      Renault    1m 21.397
14. Grosjean       Haas    1m 21.517
15. Wehrlein      Sauber   1m 21.803
16. Ericsson      Sauber    1m 22.332
17. Palmer      Renault   1m 22.401
18. Stroll      Williams    1m 22.411
19. Vandoorne      McLaren   1m 22.532
20. Kvyat      Toro Rosso   1m 22.746

Much will come down to the start in this one - no question.  Less than .5 second separate the top four.

Alonso is amazing!

Too bad Grosjean botched his lap in Q-2.  He had the pace today to make the top 10 I think.  Hopefully, he and most certainly K-Mag can score some points tomorrow.

[F1fanaticBD]

Vettel botched it at the last group of corners. He was around 0.458 up on Hamilton till the last sector. If Ferrari thinks they could compromise 3rd Sector they are committing suicide.

And really from where did Alonso bring that unreliable tractor badged Honda brought to 7th place in Quali???