{"id":10589,"date":"2022-05-16T12:00:06","date_gmt":"2022-05-16T11:00:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/f1vault.co.uk\/?p=10589"},"modified":"2022-05-16T12:00:06","modified_gmt":"2022-05-16T11:00:06","slug":"prixview-spanish-grand-prix-2022","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.f1vault.co.uk\/index\/prixview-spanish-grand-prix-2022\/","title":{"rendered":"PRIXVIEW \u2013 Spanish Grand Prix"},"content":{"rendered":"

Round six brings F1 back to Barcelona and the \u00a0Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya for the Spanish Grand Prix. The 2.906mi current configuration of the circuit introduced last year returned the circuit more to its original design, the circuit one which requires high downforce and straight-line speed.<\/p>\n

One of the important factors is the slip stream through the final corner making aerodynamic balance important as equally as speed. The changing wind direction also makes set up very difficult cars can have massive aerodynamic drag and understeer on one part of the circuit in the morning, but suffer oversteer at the same part of the circuit in the afternoon.<\/p>\n

This can make qualifying and the race more difficult if teams overreact to the changing conditions, making it possible to win and lose on strategy. The Catalonia region has hosted more races at different circuits in the world, the current circuit in the county of Valles Oriental was built as part of the development in the region ahead of the 1992 Olympic & Paralympic games<\/p>\n

The challenge of the circuit is finding the right set-up because the circuit changes massively, in one sessions drivers could complain about oversteer in one part of the circuit but come the next session the car could be struggling with understeer. This makes it very difficult to find the right set-up on the car, getting it into the correct window.<\/p>\n

This year’s regulation changes should help improve the overtaking and create closer racing, this circuit has not been the best for overtaking but the changes to this year’s regulations along with the changes made last winter to the layout in the final<\/p>\n

The circuit should be better for overtaking given the changes to the regulations this season. Barcelona is a circuit that drivers know well, having do thousandths of laps across race weekends and testing over the years. This also represents the first real opportunity for the teams to bring upgrades and compare the progress they have made since testing.<\/p>\n

The circuit gives them a direct comparison to pre-season testing at the end of February, which will give the best insight. The drivers know this circuit very well as already this year they have driven hundreds of laps in testing, the challenge is going to be adapting the cars to the warmer conditions.<\/p>\n

Barcelona hosted its first Grand Prix in 1951 at the Pedralbes street circuit, that race was won by Juan Manuel Fangio, who took advantage of tyre problems. However the race would be placed on hiatus for financial reasons and following the 1955 Le Mans disaster would not return until 1967 as a non-championship race at Jarama starting an alternating arrangement with Montjuic, in the city of Barcelona.<\/p>\n

These two circuits were very different, Jarama a fast wide and sweeping circuit while Montju\u00efc was a slow, tight and twisty circuit. Jackie Stewart would win the first race in 1969 he would win again for the following three years, before Niki Lauda took his debut win in 1974.<\/p>\n

The 1975 race held at Montju\u00efc had been blighted by safety concerns following practice. There were several protests, and the drivers refused to race. The organizers panicked, and they threatened to lock the cars inside the stadium where they stayed while not being raced.<\/p>\n

Those concerns became a reality when the race was abandoned on lap twenty-nine, three laps earlier Rolf Stommelen’s car crashed when the rear wing broke off, killing four spectators. The race was stopped on the 29th lap and won by Jochen Mass, though only half the points were awarded.<\/p>\n

In 1976 the race at Jarama saw James Hunt take advantage of Lauda’s broken ribs in a tractor accident; he was then disqualified after his McLaren was found to be 1.8 inches too wide. McLaren appealed the decision, and it was successful; Hunt’s points were restored<\/p>\n

However, the early 1980s proved problematic then FISA president Jean-Marie Balestre announced the 1980 race would be a non-championship race, as a result, none of the manufacturers took part and the race was won by Alan Jones. The following year, Gilles Villeneuve despite his ill-handling of Ferrari took the victory.<\/p>\n

After a four year absence, the race was revived at Jerez near Seville, the first race saw a furious battle between \u00a0Ayrton Senna and Nigel Mansell resulting with the two cars finishing side by side. Senna won by 0.014 seconds, one of F1’s closest finishes.<\/p>\n

F1 returned to Barcelona once again 1991 with the current circuit in the town of Montmelo, twenty-four miles from the city centre. Nigel Mansell would win the first race at the new circuit overtaking Alain Prost and Gerhard Berger on lap twenty. The following year the Englishman would dominate the race on his way to the title. Williams made it three out of three in 1993 with Prost winning after Ayrton Senna and Michael Schumacher.<\/p>\n

Schumacher would take the first of his six wins in Barcelona, and his first win for Ferrari in 1996. His victory in torrential rain is regarded as one of his best, the race saw numerous crashes including Jos Verstappen being the final driver to crash with twelve laps to go. Mika H\u00e4kkinen would also take three victory in the late 1990s, a fourth was looking likely until his car failed on the last lap.<\/p>\n

Fernando Alonso broke through in 2003, and finished second three times between 2003 and 2007 as well as taking his first home win in 2006 from pole. He would win again in 2013 for Ferrari.<\/p>\n

The beginning of the hybrid era in 2014 has seen Mercedes dominate, apart from the infamous crash in 2016. On the opening lap, while fighting for the lead, Lewis Hamilton went wide as Nico Rosberg defended the lead at Turn Three coming back at Respol, the Englishman his position, Hamilton went off the track and spun and they collided taking them both out.<\/p>\n

That set up a thrilling battle between newly prompted Max Verstappen, teammate Daniel Ricciardo and the Ferrari\u2019s. Verstappen inherited the lead on lap forty thanks to the pit stops going onto control the race and take victory on his debut for Red Bull, the youngest ever winner.<\/p>\n

Hamilton would go on to dominate this race for the next five years, but that\u2019s likely to change this season as they have been in no man’s land. Verstappen has won every race he has finished this season, but reliability is a lingering issue for Red Bull, while Ferrari looked quick in testing.<\/p>\n

Race & Circuit Guide<\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Round<\/td>\n06 of 23<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Race<\/td>\nFormula 1 Pirelli Grand Premio de Espana 2022<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Venue<\/td>\nCircuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, Montmel\u00f3, Catalonia, Spain<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Configuration<\/td>\n2021<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Circuit Length<\/td>\n4.675 km (2.905 mi)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Laps<\/td>\n66<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Race Distance<\/td>\n308.424 km (191.645 mi)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Lap Record<\/td>\nRace<\/td>\n01:18.149 (Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, 2021)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Outright<\/td>\n01:16.741 (Sir Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, 2021)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Most wins drivers<\/td>\nMichael Schumacher (6)<\/p>\n

Lewis Hamilton<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Most wins manufacture<\/td>\nFerrari (13)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Fast facts<\/h2>\n
    \n
  • The 2020 Spanish Grand Prix marked the first time in the event\u2019s history, dating back to 2013, that the race had been held in August, having been postponed because of the pandemic. It was also the first time F1 raced in Spain in August since the 2009 European Grand Prix.<\/li>\n
  • Since it joined the calendar in 1991, only 11 podium finishes at this circuit have come from lower than fifth on the grid. Only three races at the track have not been won from the front row of the grid.<\/li>\n
  • At the 1993 Spanish Grand Prix, Alain Prost, Ayrton Senna and Michael Schumacher all finished on the podium. By the end of their careers, they\u2019d have 14 World Championship victories between them; the most to have ever finished on an F1 podium together.<\/li>\n
  • Between 2007 and 2016 ten different drivers, Fernando Alonso, Felipe Massa, Kimi R\u00e4ikk\u00f6nen, Jenson Button, Mark Webber, Sebastian Vettel, Sir Lewis Hamilton, Nico Rosberg and Max Verstappen won the race.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Event timetable<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
    \n

    Session<\/h3>\n<\/td>\n

    		\n

    Local (CEST)<\/h3>\n<\/td>\n

    		\n

    UK (BST)<\/h3>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

    \n

    Friday<\/h3>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

    P1<\/td>\n13:00-14:00<\/td>\n12:00-13:00<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    P2<\/td>\n17:00-18:00<\/td>\n16:00-17:00<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    \n

    Saturday<\/h3>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

    P3<\/td>\n13:00-13:00<\/td>\n12:00-11:00<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Qualifying<\/td>\n16:00-17:00<\/td>\n15:00-16:00<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    \n

    Sunday<\/h3>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

    Race<\/td>\n15:00<\/td>\n14:00<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

    What happened in 2021?<\/h2>\n

    Lewis Hamilton took the hundredth pole of his career after beating Max Verstappen by three hundredths, that was despite the Mercedes driver failing to improve on his final run leaving him millimetres ahead of the Red Bull driver. Neither managed to improve on their final laps, with the closes times in the hybrid era.<\/p>\n

    Hamilton went on to victory by fifteen seconds, becoming the first driver to take five consecutive wins at the same race in two decades. The Mercedes driver past Verstappen for the lead with six laps to go having initially losing the lead at the start, then pushing to hard on the tyres.<\/p>\n

    The battle between the two was reminiscent of the race in Budapest in 2019, Verstappen leading at a circuit similarly difficult to overtake, where Mercedes also did two stops with Hamilton allowing the world champion to charge late in the race to pass the Dutchman and take the victory.<\/p>\n

    The pivotal moment came when Hamilton started taking a second a lap out of Verstappen with sixteen laps to go. The Englishman closed five laps later to within a second before diving down the outside to take the lead and then rebuilt his lead to fifteen seconds in the closing five laps.<\/p>\n

    Bottas was unable to stay with the leaders having lost the place to Leclerc on the opening lap, before dropping behind Leclerc following the safety car. He was told he was able in theory to catch Verstappen, but Mercedes instructed him not to hold his teammate up.<\/p>\n

    Race Result \u2013 1) L. Hamilton, Mercedes, 01:33:07.680, 2) M. Verstappen, Red Bull \u2013 Honda, +15.841, 3) V. Bottas, Mercedes, +26,610<\/p>\n

    What to watch for?<\/h2>\n

    This weekend is one of the most important for the teams, after the first five races they can compare how much progress they have made since testing at the end of February. The teams are likely to bring upgrades as they can compare to where they finished off in testing, we know that Barcelona can be a tricky circuit in terms of set up as conditions can change from session to sessions.<\/p>\n

    The final sector traditionally has been seen as a good indicator for Monaco, though last year’s modifications to the circuit have in my view made it slightly harder to do this. But it\u2019s a big learning weekend every season, as the teams look to understand progress since testing and the upgrades, we will need to be patient and wait until qualifying to see where the land lies.<\/p>\n

    Ferrari had a really strong test in February and the performance they have shown this season has allowed for great racing between Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen. The question is whether the changes to the circuit last year coupled with this years regulation changes can create closer racing, though they didn\u2019t really see that last season, but this has been a circuit which will test the hopes of these regulation changes.<\/p>\n

    Mercedes I think are starting to make progress, though they are still in \u2018no man\u2019s land\u2019 the question is whether these upgrades in what realistically could be the last chance to enter the title race. But I think the long main straight will be a chance to see if they are better with the porpoising, as they struggled a lot in testing here, they then need to make that jump.<\/p>\n

    McLaren could be the surprise challenger they were very good in testing and though through the opening race weekends they struggled, they have started to resolve those issues and are behind Mercedes in their main battle with the likes of Alpine and Alpha Tauri. Alpine are another team who have made a step forwards, but its all still about understanding these cars.<\/p>\n

    2021 Lap time comparison<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
    \n
    <\/h6>\n<\/td>\n
    		\n
    FP1<\/h6>\n<\/td>\n
    		\n
    FP2<\/h6>\n<\/td>\n
    		\n
    FP3<\/h6>\n<\/td>\n
    		\n
    Q1<\/h6>\n<\/td>\n
    		\n
    Q2<\/h6>\n<\/td>\n
    		\n
    Q3<\/h6>\n<\/td>\n
    		\n
    Race<\/h6>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    \n
    Team<\/h6>\n<\/td>\n
    		\n
    Fastest Time<\/h6>\n<\/td>\n
    		\n
    Gap<\/h6>\n<\/td>\n
    		\n
    Fastest Time<\/h6>\n<\/td>\n
    		\n
    Gap<\/h6>\n<\/td>\n
    		\n
    Fastest Time<\/h6>\n<\/td>\n
    		\n
    Gap<\/h6>\n<\/td>\n
    		\n
    Fastest Time<\/h6>\n<\/td>\n
    		\n
    Gap<\/h6>\n<\/td>\n
    		\n
    Fastest Time<\/h6>\n<\/td>\n
    		\n
    Gap<\/h6>\n<\/td>\n
    		\n
    Fastest Time<\/h6>\n<\/td>\n
    		\n
    Gap<\/h6>\n<\/td>\n
    		\n
    Race. Time<\/h6>\n<\/td>\n
    		\n
    Gap<\/h6>\n<\/td>\n
    		\n
    Fastest Time<\/h6>\n<\/td>\n
    		\n
    Fastest Lap<\/h6>\n<\/td>\n
    		\n
    Gap<\/h6>\n<\/td>\n
    		<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    \n
    Mercedes<\/h6>\n<\/td>\n
    		01:18.504<\/td>\n+00.000<\/td>\n01:18.170<\/td>\n+00.000<\/td>\n01:18.070<\/td>\n+00.235<\/td>\n01:18.005<\/td>\n+00.184<\/td>\n01:17.142<\/td>\n+00.220<\/td>\n01:16.741<\/td>\n+00.000<\/td>\n01:33:07.680<\/td>\n+00:00.000<\/td>\n+01.281<\/td>\n01:19.430<\/td>\n+01.281<\/td>\n\u00a0<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    \n
    Red Bull<\/h6>\n<\/td>\n
    		01:18.537<\/td>\n+00.033<\/td>\n01:18.785<\/td>\n+00.615<\/td>\n01:17.835<\/td>\n+00.000<\/td>\n01:18.090<\/td>\n+00.269<\/td>\n01:16.922<\/td>\n+00.000<\/td>\n01:16.777<\/td>\n+00.036<\/td>\n01:33:23.521<\/td>\n+00:15.84<\/td>\n+00.000<\/td>\n01:18.149<\/td>\n+00.000<\/td>\n\u00a0<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    \n
    Ferrari<\/h6>\n<\/td>\n
    		01:18.996<\/td>\n+00.492<\/td>\n01:18.335<\/td>\n+00.165<\/td>\n01:18.308<\/td>\n+00.473<\/td>\n01:18.041<\/td>\n+00.220<\/td>\n01:17.656<\/td>\n+00.734<\/td>\n01:17.510<\/td>\n+00.769<\/td>\n01:34:02.296<\/td>\n+00:54.616<\/td>\n+01.029<\/td>\n01:20.459<\/td>\n+01.029<\/td>\n\u00a0<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    \n
    McLaren<\/h6>\n<\/td>\n
    		01:18.944<\/td>\n+0.440<\/td>\n01:19.092<\/td>\n+00.952<\/td>\n01:18.494<\/td>\n+00.659<\/td>\n01:17.821<\/td>\n+00.000<\/td>\n01:17.696<\/td>\n+00.774<\/td>\n01:17.622<\/td>\n+00.881<\/td>\n01:34:21.448<\/td>\n+01:13.768<\/td>\n+03.130<\/td>\n01:21.279<\/td>\n+03.130<\/td>\n\u00a0<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    \n
    Aston Martin<\/h6>\n<\/td>\n
    		01:19.234<\/td>\n+0.730<\/td>\n01:18.947<\/td>\n+00.777<\/td>\n01:18.887<\/td>\n+01.042<\/td>\n01:18.281<\/td>\n+00.460<\/td>\n01:17.974<\/td>\n+01.052<\/td>\nN\\A<\/td>\n+00.000<\/td>\n01:33:51.667<\/td>\n+Lap<\/td>\n+04.458<\/td>\n01:22.607<\/td>\n+04.458<\/td>\n\u00a0<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    \n
    Alpha Tauri<\/h6>\n<\/td>\n
    		01:19.020<\/td>\n+00.516<\/td>\n01:18.593<\/td>\n+00.449<\/td>\n01:18.535<\/td>\n+00.700<\/td>\n01:17.982<\/td>\n+00.161<\/td>\n01:17.982<\/td>\n+01.060<\/td>\nN\\A<\/td>\n+00.000<\/td>\n01:33:46.431<\/td>\n+Lap<\/td>\n+03.419<\/td>\n01:21.568<\/td>\n+03.419<\/td>\nPostponed<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    \n
    Alpine<\/h6>\n<\/td>\n
    		01:19.669<\/td>\n+01.177<\/td>\n01:18.518<\/td>\n+00.348<\/td>\n01:18.662<\/td>\n+00.827<\/td>\n01:18.281<\/td>\n+00.460<\/td>\n01:17.743<\/td>\n+00.821<\/td>\n01:18.147<\/td>\n+01.406<\/td>\n01:33:46.241<\/td>\n+ Lap<\/td>\n+03.033<\/td>\n01:21.182<\/td>\n+03.033<\/td>\n\u00a0<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    \n
    Haas<\/h6>\n<\/td>\n
    		01:20.766<\/td>\n+02.262<\/td>\n01:20.356<\/td>\n+02.156<\/td>\n01:19.999<\/td>\n+02.164<\/td>\n01:19:117<\/td>\n+01.296<\/td>\nN\/A<\/td>\n+00.000<\/td>\nN\\A<\/td>\n+00.000<\/td>\n01:33:11.392<\/td>\n+ 2 Lap<\/td>\n+04.443<\/td>\n01:22.637<\/td>\n+04.443<\/td>\n\u00a0<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    \n
    Alfa Romeo<\/h6>\n<\/td>\n
    		01:19.694<\/td>\n+1.190<\/td>\n01:19.213<\/td>\n+00.952<\/td>\n01:18.597<\/td>\n+00.762<\/td>\n01:18.549<\/td>\n+00.728<\/td>\n01:18.356<\/td>\n+01.434<\/td>\nN\\A<\/td>\n+00.000<\/td>\n01:33:52.826<\/td>\n+ Lap<\/td>\n+04.653<\/td>\n01:22.802<\/td>\n+04.653<\/td>\n\u00a0<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    \n
    Williams<\/h6>\n<\/td>\n
    		01:20.270<\/td>\n+01.766<\/td>\n01:19.957<\/td>\n+01.787<\/td>\n01:19.00<\/td>\n+01.170<\/td>\n01:18.445<\/td>\n+00.635<\/td>\n01:19.154<\/td>\n+02.232<\/td>\nN\\A<\/td>\n+00.000<\/td>\n01:34:06.452<\/td>\n+ Lap<\/td>\n+04.719<\/td>\n01:22.868<\/td>\n+04.719<\/td>\n\u00a0<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Round six brings F1 back to Barcelona and the \u00a0Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya for the Spanish Grand Prix. The 2.906mi current configuration of the circuit introduced last year returned the circuit more to its original design, the circuit one which requires high downforce and straight-line speed. One of the important factors is the slip stream through<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":7858,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4,7,22],"tags":[254,379,417,1368,1584,1871,1873,1874],"class_list":["post-10589","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-editors-blog","category-features","category-prixview","tag-barcelona","tag-catalonia","tag-circuit-de-barcelona-catalunya","tag-montmelo","tag-prixview","tag-spain","tag-spanish-gp","tag-spanish-grand-prix"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.f1vault.co.uk\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10589","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.f1vault.co.uk\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.f1vault.co.uk\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.f1vault.co.uk\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.f1vault.co.uk\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10589"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/www.f1vault.co.uk\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10589\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.f1vault.co.uk\/index\/wp-json\/"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.f1vault.co.uk\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10589"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.f1vault.co.uk\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10589"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.f1vault.co.uk\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10589"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}