F1 GP of Spain

[Mycroft]

Barcelona! One of my favorite circuits. Now that the circus has left Miami, we can get back to racing (Although with Monaco up next, we will be back into the circus...)

So with the first pre-season test happening at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, the teams have a benchmark and many are bringing extensive upgrade packages to Spain. So lots of wire windflow cages and vis-flow paint are to be had. This is to say that the times in FP 1 are probably not representative.

position/number/Name/team/time/time off leader/laps

1 16 Charles Leclerc Ferrari 1:19.828 27
2 55 Carlos Sainz Ferrari 1:19.907 +0.079s 27
3 1 Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing RBPT 1:20.164 +0.336s 28
4 63 George Russell Mercedes 1:20.590 +0.762s 28
5 14 Fernando Alonso Alpine Renault 1:20.768 +0.940s 24
6 44 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 1:20.811 +0.983s 27
7 4 Lando Norris McLaren Mercedes 1:21.279 +1.451s 24
8 10 Pierre Gasly AlphaTauri RBPT 1:21.422 +1.594s 23
9 3 Daniel Ricciardo McLaren Mercedes 1:21.737 +1.909s 23
10 22 Yuki Tsunoda AlphaTauri RBPT 1:21.814 +1.986s 28
11 31 Esteban Ocon Alpine Renault 1:21.891 +2.063s 26
12 18 Lance Stroll Aston Martin Aramco Mercedes 1:21.920 +2.092s 23
13 88 Robert Kubica Alfa Romeo Ferrari 1:21.975 +2.147s 20
14 20 Kevin Magnussen Haas Ferrari 1:22.089 +2.261s 16
15 47 Mick Schumacher Haas Ferrari 1:22.146 +2.318s 21
16 5 Sebastian Vettel Aston Martin Aramco Mercedes 1:22.164 +2.336s 20
17 77 Valtteri Bottas Alfa Romeo Ferrari 1:22.614 +2.786s 25
18 45 Nyck De Vries Williams Mercedes 1:22.920 +3.092s 28
19 6 Nicholas Latifi Williams Mercedes 1:23.011 +3.183s 27
20 36 Juri Vips Red Bull Racing RBPT 1:24.138 +4.310s 23

[Tahitijack]

Twoo of my favorite places Barcelona and Monte Carlo.

[Charmed Life Picks]

Practice sessions indicate that Mercedes is making progress on their porpoising, but qualifying and the race itself will be the real test. I still see the three top finishers as LeClerc, Verstappen and Perez. It would be great to see Perez do well at his home race. Shaping up to be a good one.

scott

[Mycroft]

Originally Posted by Charmed Life Picks

Practice sessions indicate that Mercedes is making progress on their porpoising, but qualifying and the race itself will be the real test. I still see the three top finishers as LeClerc, Verstappen and Perez. It would be great to see Perez do well at his home race. Shaping up to be a good one.

scott

Indeed, Mercedes looked pretty good in the FP2 runs, including the practice soft-tyre qualifying runs. Only Leclerc faster, and less than a tenth separating Russell and Hamilton. The track, with it's twisty bits may suit Ferrari over the straight-line powerful Red Bull. But, will it all translate to track position once shots are fired in anger in qualifying? It would be cool to see Mercedes in a position to start sniping podiums off the big two if they make any mistakes.

FYI Perez is from Mexico, not Spain. Sainz and Alonzo are Spanish, though.

FP2 Results.

1 16 Charles Leclerc Ferrari 1:19.670 29
2 63 George Russell Mercedes 1:19.787 +0.117s 27
3 44 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 1:19.874 +0.204s 26
4 55 Carlos Sainz Ferrari 1:19.990 +0.320s 31
5 1 Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing RBPT 1:20.006 +0.336s 27
6 14 Fernando Alonso Alpine Renault 1:20.203 +0.533s 26
7 11 Sergio Perez Red Bull Racing RBPT 1:20.632 +0.962s 30
8 5 Sebastian Vettel Aston Martin Aramco Mercedes 1:20.703 +1.033s 31
9 31 Esteban Ocon Alpine Renault 1:20.745 +1.075s 27
10 47 Mick Schumacher Haas Ferrari 1:20.757 +1.087s 25
11 10 Pierre Gasly AlphaTauri RBPT 1:20.917 +1.247s 28
12 20 Kevin Magnussen Haas Ferrari 1:21.013 +1.343s 24
13 18 Lance Stroll Aston Martin Aramco Mercedes 1:21.249 +1.579s 32
14 22 Yuki Tsunoda AlphaTauri RBPT 1:21.285 +1.615s 29
15 3 Daniel Ricciardo McLaren Mercedes 1:21.385 +1.715s 22
16 77 Valtteri Bottas Alfa Romeo Ferrari 1:21.828 +2.158s 3
17 24 Zhou Guanyu Alfa Romeo Ferrari 1:21.866 +2.196s 30
18 23 Alexander Albon Williams Mercedes 1:22.319 +2.649s 31
19 6 Nicholas Latifi Williams Mercedes 1:23.197 +3.527s 25
20 4 Lando Norris McLaren Mercedes 1:23.388 +3.718s 6

[Jeff Scott]

Originally Posted by Charmed Life Picks

It would be great to see Perez do well at his home race. Shaping up to be a good one.

scott

Originally Posted by Mycroft

FYI Perez is from Mexico, not Spain. Sainz and Alonzo are Spanish, though.

Well,, they all speak Spanish, so...

[Mycroft]

Originally Posted by Jeff Scott

Well,, they all speak Spanish, so...

By which logic, I'm, Australian? <G>

[Charmed Life Picks]

Originally Posted by Mycroft

Indeed, Mercedes looked pretty good in the FP2 runs, including the practice soft-tyre qualifying runs. Only Leclerc faster, and less than a tenth separating Russell and Hamilton. The track, with it's twisty bits may suit Ferrari over the straight-line powerful Red Bull. But, will it all translate to track position once shots are fired in anger in qualifying? It would be cool to see Mercedes in a position to start sniping podiums off the big two if they make any mistakes.

FYI Perez is from Mexico, not Spain. Sainz and Alonzo are Spanish, though.

FP2 Results.

1 16 Charles Leclerc Ferrari 1:19.670 29
2 63 George Russell Mercedes 1:19.787 +0.117s 27
3 44 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 1:19.874 +0.204s 26
4 55 Carlos Sainz Ferrari 1:19.990 +0.320s 31
5 1 Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing RBPT 1:20.006 +0.336s 27
6 14 Fernando Alonso Alpine Renault 1:20.203 +0.533s 26
7 11 Sergio Perez Red Bull Racing RBPT 1:20.632 +0.962s 30
8 5 Sebastian Vettel Aston Martin Aramco Mercedes 1:20.703 +1.033s 31
9 31 Esteban Ocon Alpine Renault 1:20.745 +1.075s 27
10 47 Mick Schumacher Haas Ferrari 1:20.757 +1.087s 25
11 10 Pierre Gasly AlphaTauri RBPT 1:20.917 +1.247s 28
12 20 Kevin Magnussen Haas Ferrari 1:21.013 +1.343s 24
13 18 Lance Stroll Aston Martin Aramco Mercedes 1:21.249 +1.579s 32
14 22 Yuki Tsunoda AlphaTauri RBPT 1:21.285 +1.615s 29
15 3 Daniel Ricciardo McLaren Mercedes 1:21.385 +1.715s 22
16 77 Valtteri Bottas Alfa Romeo Ferrari 1:21.828 +2.158s 3
17 24 Zhou Guanyu Alfa Romeo Ferrari 1:21.866 +2.196s 30
18 23 Alexander Albon Williams Mercedes 1:22.319 +2.649s 31
19 6 Nicholas Latifi Williams Mercedes 1:23.197 +3.527s 25
20 4 Lando Norris McLaren Mercedes 1:23.388 +3.718s 6

Thanks for the correction. Got the wrong guy. Qualifying should be interesting tomorrow.

sm

[Silurian]

Looking forward to it.

Drivers have said tyre degregation has been very high in practice so strategy could be key to the race.

Mercs looking better? They thought that in Miami but it didn't really materialise. We'll see in qualifying.

[Silly Moustache]

Just come in from toiling in the fields, and missed Qualis 1 & 2,

Really ineresting lineup !

LeClerc, Verstappen, Sainz, Russel, Perez, then Russell.

Good track, hot weather (hard on tyres, plenty of pit stops???)

And who is this Naomi Shiff ? a Rwandan-Belgian professional female racing driver, raised in South Africa!

She really knows the questions to ask the guys and how to ask them ! Impressed!


Looking forward to 2. p.m.tomorrow!

[Mycroft]

Mercedes turnaround looks like it might be for real. Russell 2 tenths off the leader.

FP3
position/number/Name/team/time/time off leader/laps

1 16 Charles Leclerc Ferrari 1:19.772 23
2 1 Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing RBPT 1:19.844 +0.072s 12
3 63 George Russell Mercedes 1:19.920 +0.148s 16
4 44 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 1:20.002 +0.230s 18
5 55 Carlos Sainz Ferrari 1:20.129 +0.357s 23
6 11 Sergio Perez Red Bull Racing RBPT 1:20.260 +0.488s 19
7 4 Lando Norris McLaren Mercedes 1:20.403 +0.631s 18
8 20 Kevin Magnussen Haas Ferrari 1:20.646 +0.874s 21
9 77 Valtteri Bottas Alfa Romeo Ferrari 1:20.781 +1.009s 24
10 31 Esteban Ocon Alpine Renault 1:20.882 +1.110s 18
11 3 Daniel Ricciardo McLaren Mercedes 1:20.910 +1.138s 17
12 5 Sebastian Vettel Aston Martin Aramco Mercedes 1:20.944 +1.172s 24
13 14 Fernando Alonso Alpine Renault 1:20.981 +1.209s 17
14 24 Zhou Guanyu Alfa Romeo Ferrari 1:21.201 +1.429s 19
15 22 Yuki Tsunoda AlphaTauri RBPT 1:21.449 +1.677s 22
16 18 Lance Stroll Aston Martin Aramco Mercedes 1:21.520 +1.748s 23
17 23 Alexander Albon Williams Mercedes 1:21.572 +1.800s 18
18 6 Nicholas Latifi Williams Mercedes 1:22.419 +2.647s 18
19 47 Mick Schumacher Haas Ferrari 1:25.467 +5.695s 4
20 10 Pierre Gasly AlphaTauri RBPT 1

[Charmed Life Picks]

Here are the final qualifying results. Overall it's pretty clear that Red Bull and Ferrari are still the teams to beat. Mercedes' problem is they've clawed back a bit, but the other teams are dialing in their cars too, so they're still roughly .50 second off the pace, per lap. That's a huge margin by the end of the race, or even with only one safety car. Lots more work to do. Let's see how the race goes.

The season is less than 1/3 completed, but Ferrari and Red Bull have clearly separated themselves from the rest of the teams -- for now, at least.

Spanish Grand Prix qualifying results: Leclerc on pole from Verstappen
Cla Nº Driver Car Time Delay
1 16 Charles Leclerc Ferrari 1'18.750
2 1 Max Verstappen Red Bull 1'19.073 0.323
3 55 Carlos Sainz Jr. Ferrari 1'19.166 0.416
4 63 George Russell Mercedes 1'19.393 0.643
5 11 Sergio Pérez Red Bull 1'19.420 0.670
6 44 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 1'19.512 0.762
7 77 Valtteri Bottas Alfa Romeo/Ferrari 1'19.608 0.858
8 20 Kevin Magnussen Haas/Ferrari 1'19.682 0.932
9 3 Daniel Ricciardo McLaren/Mercedes 1'20.297 1.547
10 47 Mick Schumacher Haas/Ferrari 1'20.368 1.618
11 4 Lando Norris McLaren/Mercedes 1'20.471 1.721
12 31 Esteban Ocon Alpine/Renault 1'20.638 1.888
13 22 Yuki Tsunoda AlphaTauri/Red Bull 1'20.639 1.889
14 10 Pierre Gasly AlphaTauri/Red Bull 1'20.861 2.111
15 24 Zhou Guanyu Alfa Romeo/Ferrari 1'21.094 2.344
16 5 Sebastian Vettel Aston Martin/Mercedes 1'20.954 2.204
17 14 Fernando Alonso Alpine/Renault 1'21.043 2.293
18 18 Lance Stroll Aston Martin/Mercedes 1'21.418 2.668
19 23 Alexander Albon Williams/Mercedes 1'21.645 2.895
20 6 Nicholas Latifi Williams/Mercedes 1'21.915 3.165

[Silurian]

That was a fantastic performance by Leclerc to take pole after the earlier spin.

I think the race pace of the RBs might show through if Max can get ahead early but it could be all about the tyres.

[Silly Moustache]

Lasp 6, Hamilton gets a puncture from Magnusson, and suggests that they "save the engine" - so not a fighting mindset.

Sainz goes gardening but gets back on track.

Max does the same - Turn 4 - Side winds?

Boxing - 2.6 and 2.7!

Russell's car running "cold"

Max's DRS "intermittent"! Max losing oportunities to overtake, and getting angry!

Lap 24 wheel to wheel action with Max and George, frustrating as I'm rooting for both!

[Charmed Life Picks]

Fun race. Verstappen is racing like a world champion. He looks pretty unstoppable to me this year if their car stays reliable. He pretty much ran away from the field.

Russell on the podium spells a lot of promise for Mercedes. He's driven so well this season, and they're getting the car dialed in. Hamilton had a puncture early on, but fought back to finish P5. So now the season really is a three-team race. Red Bull finishing one-two is very impressive. My bet is they overtake Ferarri as the season wears on.

Bottas looked fantastic.

Monaco next week. An impossible street circuit. Poll is more crucial in that race than probably any other race all season. Close to impossible to pass someone unless they make a mistake. Poll will likely go to either Verstappen or LeClerc.

sm

[Silly Moustache]

True! Monte Carlo is a rather silly street race as Mycroft says, but we'll watch it anyway!

My wife has booked tickets for a day time concert on the same day as he British GP - argh!