Grand Prix 2013 Spanish Grand Prix Practice, Qualifying & Race Discussion

Four races into the season and we have seen three different winners. Sebastian Vettel won twice, Kimi Raikkonen and Fernando Alonso once each.
Vettel leads the WDC (77 points), followed by Raikkonen (67), Lewis Hamilton (50) and Alonso (47). So the race for the WDC still looks pretty open. It's great to see drivers from four different teams competing for the top spot.

The Circuit de Catalunya hosts the Spanish Grand Prix for the 23rd time. It's a track, which all the teams know exceptionally well from pre-season testing, so probably they won't experience major set-up issues...It also very often leads to pretty boring races. Last year we had a shocking victory for Williams' Pastor Maldonado, who this season doesn't have the car to compete for wins. Also his own driving looks pretty average at best.

Let's have a closer look at the current form of the four contenders for the WDC this year:

Sebastian Vettel will hope to continue his strong form, that enabled him to win the Bahrain Grand Prix pretty easily. He finished on the podium three times, and never finished worse than 4th. He overcame the controversy of the Malaysian GP and looks to be on course for a strong season again.

Kimi Raikkonen has finished on the podium three times this season and seems to be as consistent as last season. His last race in Bahrain was pretty strong. After starting eigth on the grid, he managed to finish second.

Lewis Hamilton had a pretty good start to the season. He's clearly outscoring his teammate Nico Rosberg (50-14) and seems to have matured a lot as well. His driving is much more composed, leading to him being able to deal with the tyres much better than Rosberg, who struggled throughout the most parts of the last race (From Pole Position to 9th).

Fernando Alonso had two very strong races (Australia and China) and two poor races, which were hampered by strange decisions (Malaysia) and mechanical failures (Bahrain). He'll hope for a trouble-free race in Spain, which should get him closer to Sebastian Vettel in the Championship. Another low finish though could mean that the gap to the German three-time champion could start to get bigger significantly.

Let's see how the race pans out! Have fun and discuss!

 

[Jos the Boss]

Penalties for Gutierrez and Massa, three places each

 

[jez101]

I think the Mercs will sprint away tomorrow and maybe even be clear of DRS by lap 3 but I fear they are either going to get sucked back or pit too early and end up stranded. Their long runs yesterday were only ok compared to their previous efforts and i think Nico was going very slowly to try and eke them out.

Meanwhile, the best on longer runs are in 4th to 7th places. Should make for an interesting race!

 

[Mephistopheles]

I see McLarens updates worked a treat then..

 

[downforce]

McLaren are becoming a joke and say what you will, I place that at Whitmarsh's feet.

 

[Slyboogy]

I'm not sure Massa deserved a penalty, there's not much he could have done mid-corner, and once he could he got out of the way.

Similar incidents between Guitterez and Maldonado, one gets one, the other escapes, of course Guitterez's one was a little more obvious.

 

[Quintessentially]

McLaren are becoming a joke and say what you will, I place that at Whitmarsh's feet.

It's difficult to understand their strategy of sitting in the pits twiddling their thumbs when others are making the most use of free practice and the limited track time available. Whitmarsh was on the radio/phone to someone and he looked very animated, even covering his mouth so the press wouldn't pick up what he was saying. Maybe Ron was telling him to get off his arse and do some work.

 

[Mephistopheles]

Kimi still managed fourth fastest at that time though and so it didn't cost him anything.

And yes I'm getting a bit pissed off with McLaren FFS do something about it, the car is riding the bumps like a pushchair going down concrete steps....

 

[Mephistopheles]

Yes why the **** did they even bother turning up to FP1 Jenson never even put in a single flying lap, what the **** are they playing at..?

 

[Johnny Carwash]

I didn't expect an all Mercedes front row today, but can they keep ahead of the drivers behind, i'm not so sure. If i was a betting man then i would say that the winner of the race tomorrow will be either Vettel, Raikkonen or Alonso.

 

[F1Yorkshire]

I have 5 of my hard won £££ on Vettel and another £5 on Hamilton, we'll see what happens during the race.

 

[Lewywo4]

i would say that the winner of the race tomorrow will be either Vettel, Raikkonen or Alonso.

Alonso behind Vettel, should be interesting to see if they won't become entangled at the start, and survive the first few turns.

 

[Mephistopheles]

Well the Lotus and the Ferrari's are the cars that look after their tyres the best...

 

[Lewywo4]

Oh I hope Mercedes get a good position maintaining start tomorrow.

If they do, game on. If they don't.......................

 

[FB]

The Ferrari is very fast off the line but I think the Red Bull will be fast enough through the twisty section to get back past. Also, the Mercs will get in Fernado's way for the first 2 or 3 laps meaning Vettel will be right on his tail until the DRS is enabled.

 

[Johnny Carwash]

If Vettel struggles to overtake the Mercedes in the first few laps then he could be Cannon Fodder for the Lotus' and the Ferrari of Fernando Alonso in the DRS zone.

 

[MCLS]

Even with DRS, overtaking at Barcelona is extremely difficult and that could factor into a mark in favour of Mercedes, but it all depends on tyre management, something they're poor at. I think it'll boil down to a Vettel, Alonso and Kimi fight with Hamilton on the coattails, much like given form so far this season

 

[Mephistopheles]

It won't happen on the main straight but there is at least a chance between turns 9 and 10...

 

[F1Yorkshire]

Are we not forgotten about the fact that only 1 race has ever been won from outside the front row of the grid. Overtaking doesn't happen here even with DRS and dodgy tyres.
Hamilton should be able to beat Rosberg who has gone backwards from his start position in the majority of his races, remember what happened last time Rosberg was on pole?

 

[Mephistopheles]

Here's a prediction for ya. The race is going to be absolute shite....

 

[Mephistopheles]

Actually if someone could put up the "Spanish Grand Prix out of 10 thread." I'll rate it now....