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/
 
Seriously need to stop with this Ferrari and FIA business...

I can easily say that FIA favoured Red Bull and McLaren last year...Red Bull with the flexi wings and McLaren with the F-duct
 
Ferrari had a flexi wing as well in the second half of the season and it moved them ahead of McLaren and within striking distance of Red-Bull.
 
They got fined for something which nearly won Alonso the championship. Without wanting to derail this thread they put the sport with their actions but the way they defended themselves was even worse.
 
If it's outside the rules and can be proven to be so via the standard tests, then it will be deemed illegal, just as Sauber's wing was.
 
As have many times in the past got fined for something that nearly or got them a championship...

And back to topic...how is the front wing illegal? Flexing? They had a few new endplates in practice which they were testing out.
 
They got fined for something which nearly won Alonso the championship. Without wanting to derail this thread they put the sport with their actions but the way they defended themselves was even worse.

I think the more important rule they broke was the one not to bring the sport into disrepute. It was extremely embarrassing for everyone. The only thing worse was another event that lead to Alonso winning and Mclaren spygate stuff. Eek!
 
If the FIA are going to write ever-increasingly convoluted rules and regulations, then it's no surprise that even they don't know if, or when, a team is breaching them.
 
Anyway...anyone think these new hard tyres might lead to a few more mistakes? A few of the drivers were slipping all over the place in FP1/2.
 
Let's try not to derail the thread chaps :thumbsup:

Anyway, it looks like the Red Bulls are the team to beat but good to see Mark getting a bit of form. Lewis splitting them today was surprising but I can't see anything other than another front row lock out. The rest of them seem a long way off the leading pace and I'm expecting a carbon copy of Turkey, with Seb and Mark swapping places and Lewis taking Fernando's place as closest challenger.

Btw, does anyone know if there is a price on Alonso qualifying 5th again? ;)
 
But as we know Boyle, Friday running isn't an accurate indication of speed, that comes in qualifying
 
I expect to see business as usual from Red Bull.Vettel on pole with Mark alongside him.Alonso will mount a challenge and possibly Rosberg might get in the fight.McLaren will be hard pushed to to make a serious challenge.
Both Button and Hamilton seem to be struggling with the tyres, but if they can overcome that then they do have the speed.
 
As this is a high downforce track I don't see anyone getting near the Red-Bulls unless the new super hard tyres allows the tactic.
 
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