Grand Prix 2011 Spanish Grand Prix Practice, Qualifying & Race Discussion

And so on to Spain, after the anti climax that was Turkey, it seems that no-one can stop Vettel as he marched to his 3rd win in 4 races and is in dominant form as we head to the Iberian peninsula. Despite the highest amount of overtakes since records began (126), a lot of people were questioning how authentic these overtakes were due to their artificial nature because of the DRS. The Spanish Grand Prix hasn't been known for its overtakes, indeed this is a track where more often than not, the driver who gets pole goes on to win so thats the race in the bag for Vettel. In 2010 the race was won by Mark Webber in the first of back to back wins from Fernando Alonso and Sebastian Vettel. lewis Hamilton was on course for second until a wheel rim failure with two laps to go.

After a dominant performance in Turkey, Red Bull will be aiming at another one two in Spain, and on current form and given the nature of the track it is hard to see past the Red Bulls from extending their championship lead. However Ferrari and particularly Alonso have showed that Red Bull won't have it their own way and no doubt Alonso will be boosted by a capacity crowd all cheering him on. Mclaren planned to bring updates to Turkey but abandoned them and instead will introduce them this weekend to plug the ever increasing gap with Hamilton currently second in the drivers championship, over 30 points behind Vettel.

Mercedes were Jekyll and Hyde in Turkey and its not exactly hard to figure out who was who. Mercedes Rosberg has shown improved form recently and has been mixing with the Mclarens and Ferraris and with continued development, Mercedes will be confident of a top 5 finish this weekend.

Renault have seemed to have fallen back recently with Heidfeld and Petrov in the lower reaches of the points, their podium form of Australia and Malaysia now seems a distant memory and have now been overtaken by Mercedes in the development battle. In the midfield it is really tightening up as Toro Rosso have found a speed boost with Buemi claiming points in Turkey and Kobyashi coming from last on the grip to claim a top 10 position with Force India not holding the same level of competitiveness as the first few races with Di Resta's first DNF of his career.

While Team lotus didn't gain the jump that they hoped, they have high hopes that this weekend is the one where they establish themselves as a solid midfield runner while Virgin and HRT continue to fight it out over who gets the wooden spoon.

With the arguments over DRS raging on, no doubt we will see a circuit record of overtakes as cars breeze past each other down the main straight but if only one thing is certain it is that Red Bull will be right at the front barring major developments (or crashes)

For Galahads excellent circuit write up, see here http://cliptheapex.com/pages/circuit-de-catalunya/
 
I have a good feeling about the McLaren upgrades for this race. Maybe im just being optimistic, but seeing their new rear packaging and how beautiful it looks, I don't see how this latest exhaust / floor upgrade can go wrong. Mercedes and Ferrari are suddenly talking as though they will be on the podium, and directly behind Red Bull, but I think they have forgotten about McLaren. Even at Turkey with no upgrades, McLaren had potential to finish 2nd.
 
Curious facts ahoy!

This lot will be encouraged, like Napoleon on his way to conquering Spain, by the sight of the town of Montmelo:
  • Michael Schumacher has scored more points at Catalunya than any other circuit - 110, including six victories, and has seven pole positions
  • Felipe Massa has lasted the distance in all eight of his previous Spanish Grands Prix
  • Mark Webber won from pole position last season
On the other hand these will be disappointed, like Napoleon on his way back out of Spain, to arrive at Montmelo:
  • Lewis Hamilton has yet to get his McLaren onto the front row of a Spanish GP grid
  • Nico Rosberg's best finish at Catalunya is a sixth place from five starts
  • Sebastien Buemi has retired from both his previous starts...
  • ...while Heikki Kovalainen has only registered one finish from four
  • Back in 2001 Benetton's Jenson Button was thoroughly trounced by Fernando Alonso in qualifying and the race. Nothing too unusual, perhaps, but the local hero was driving a Minardi...
  • Toro Rosso/Minardi have, however, recorded a two-out-of-three retirement rate at Catalunya over the past ten years
 
So can anyone actually see Red Bull not winning this weekend? I can't

To be honest, I'm treating this year like 2004 - ignore the procession at the front and concentrate on the battle behind. Unless McLaren actually use what they learned in China & don't pull another Turkey from the hat, they risk letting that pesky Iberian into the hunt again :popcorn:
 
Showers forecast for Sunday, McLaren didn't use the DRS at all during the session, Vettel and Webber's times were in the 1m29s for their third runs, RBR didn't appear to be testing lots of new upgrades, it's still just the first practice session.

It ain't over til' the fat lady sings.
 
I'm not bothered about McLaren's times - all im worried about is that their new parts are an improvement. Theoretically if all of these new 10 - 12 parts bring extra performance then they could be on pole.

Red Bull do have updates, they've got new wheels, although they didn't use them in FP1 I don't think. They did use a new rear wing that has extended endplates, similar to McLaren.

Also, NobleF1 on twitter just reported:- "Upgrades still arriving at the Spanish GP. Lots of bubble wrapped bits spotted at Red Bull this morning - and new McLaren floor just arrived".

Surely the new McLaren floor is just a spare addition of the one they already have on. Unless they have two new floors to compare??
 
He was being facetious Brogan. Red Bull never give anything away about their upgrades because they are paranoid about everyone trying to copy them.

I know 100% for a fact that they have "at least" 3 updates.

1. Changes to rear upper floor, directing airflow / exhaust gases around rear tyres and into the diffuser - this was introduced at Turkey but not ran because Vettel smashed up his car in FP1.

2. New wheels with a radial vane on them which has aero benefits, similar to McLaren + Ferrari.

3. New rear wing endplates, essentially acting like an extention to the diffuser, similar to McLaren.

They probably have a few more too! Question is, will McLaren gain more than them. If McLaren's updates work, I'd say yes. But we all know that's never guaranteed.
 
Red Bull are the one team not constantly announcing updates,
They just like "Brer Fox" just lie low and say nothing.They still have constant updates.
 
LOL:rolleyes:

On Red Bull keeping schtum. I think that is generally the case with the team out front isn't it? I dunno, been a while since someone else was in that position!
 
Back
Top Bottom