Grand Prix 2014 Spanish Grand Prix Practice, Qualifying & Race Discussion

Hola amigos!!

The F1 circus rolls into not-in Barcelona for the 2014 Spanish Grand Prix, the fifth round of the championship. As it is the start of the European season, this Grand Prix is usually the scene of technical updates from all teams, or last-minute bits and bobs to hopefully reverse the awful job the engineers did at the start of the season, depending on your cynicism. Now, all teams say that they can get half-a-second per lap, so the field theoretically shouldn't change order, but inevitably this is never the case. So, it will be interesting to see which teams have been overly-optimistic. I mean, there's one thing talking the talk, but can they walk the walk (or in this case just go really fast).

Often hailed as a 'complete' circuit which tests all aspects of the cars - i.e. a byword for producing awful races - the circuit often used to hold pre-season tests, so teams had a reasonable ides of what to expect, but some guy in the FIA decided that it does rain in Spain, and it doesn't necessarily fall mainly on the plain. So the tests were shoved off to the Middle East, and the teams only now have an almost-certain ides of what to expect. Something to point out, though, it is often said by some people that those cars who are good in the (unfortunately) tight last sector should be good at Monaco.

In terms of classic races, er, well I suppose 2011 wasn't bad, nor '91 and '92. Oh, and of course everyone's favourite safety ambassador won in 2012.

Usually it's bone dry here, with the last wet race in 1996, and thus is inevitably more boring and predictable than usual. Stick a hairpin at the end of the main straight!!! But I suppose it'll be good to see a dry quali for once!!

Ready....Steady....Discuss!!
 
I'm looking forward the Catalan Grand Prix. BTW mjo this thread needs to be renamed. We all know this race isn't in Spain.
 
I expect Red Bull and Ferrari to be closer to the front this time with both the RB10 and the FIAT favoring fairly high-speed corners.

That said, the usual upgrade packages might have an unusually big impact this time due to the steep development curve under the new regulations. Remember how Ferrari gained an awful lot by Barcelona in 2009, the last year with big reg changes (was still unable to win, but became kind of a podium-contender).
 
The Mercedes lead seems like it might be down to 0.8 seconds, the only thing is that it was not a single flying lap; it was a series of laps with Hamilton purposely dropping off in the final sector several times before doing his fast one followed by his faster one.

Nice to see Button, Ricciardo, Alonso and Raikkonen doing well too.
 
Its Sebs wiring loom. It melted.

Christian said 'Yeah no, its a huge job won't be running in P2. We need to get it ready for P3.' (or words to that effect)
 
I know it's only free practice, but It's beginning to look very much like the cream is steadily rising to the top after four races (apart from Mercedes, who were already there).

Current order in FP2:
Merc/Merc/RB/Fer/Fer/Mcl/Mcl

I'm pretty sure Seb would also be in amongst that lot if it were not for his car problem.
 
There seems to have been a certain number of cars affected with braking issues this season... I suppose there is a greater load on them this year due to the combination of higher top speeds and lower downforce in the corners. Bigger decelerations are needed at the end of every bit of straight.

I wonder how they'll cope at places like Montreal?...
 
Hamilton's form looks ominous. Hamilton ahead of Rosberg on one-lap pace and also a better long run. Mercedes also have the best straight-line speed to boot.
 
208 m / 335k ph for Hamilton on the speed trap.

Makes me wonder what top speeds they'll reach at Monza this year.
 
Incubus A lot of the braking issues are caused by the new brake by wire system, or in other words figuring out how to get a consistent response from the brakes despite the effects of all the energy recovery systems.
 
Looks like Vettel's woes has gotten worse a whole session lost on a circuit where it suppose to play to Red Bull's strengths
 
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