Team-BHP
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First European race of 2016 is here! This is my favourite part of the season.
Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya:
Most Formula 1 drivers know the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya like the back of their hands, given the vast number of test sessions which have taken place at the Montmeló venue over the years.
Although tedious for some, it provides a true test for man and machine, given the mixture of low-, medium- and high-speed corners, while the usual first update packages arrive up and down the pit lane.
"We've already spent a couple of weeks in Barcelona for winter testing, but when you come back for the race everything is different," explains Force India driver Nico Hülkenberg.
"The cars have evolved, the temperatures are warmer, and you have to work hard to find the right set-up.
"Confidence counts for a lot and, if you're not totally comfortable, your lap times really suffer."
Form guide:
Rosberg will be looking for his fifth straight win in 2016, and eighth overall at this weekend's event, while Hamilton arrives at the track searching for a first triumph since last year's United States Grand Prix.
Hamilton's efforts have been hindered by MGU-H woes, with the issue striking during qualifying for both the Chinese and Russian Grands Prix, which left him in dangerous mid-grid starting positions.
In the battle behind the Silver Arrows pair, Kimi Räikkönen heads a pack of drivers covered by just 11 points – Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull), Ferrari team-mate Sebastian Vettel and Felipe Massa (Williams).
Nico Rosberg won last year's Spanish Grand Prix from pole, his first of the season on both counts, while Räikkönen and Fernando Alonso are the active drivers with the most wins at the track – two apiece.
Michael Schumacher holds the overall win record (1995, 1996, 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004).
Factfile:
Venue: Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya
Direction: Clockwise
Turns: 16
Laps: 66
Race date: 15 May 2016
Circuit opened: 1991
First Grand Prix: 1991
Lap record: 1:21.670 (Kimi Räikkönen, 2008)
Circuit length: 4.655 km (2.892 mi)
Race distance: 307.104 km (190.826 mi)
2015 pole-sitter: Nico Rosberg (Mercedes)
2015 winner: Nico Rosberg (Mercedes)
2016 timetable (GMT +2):
Friday 13 April
Practice 1 10:00-11:30 local time
Practice 2 14:00-15:30 local time
Saturday 14 April
Practice 3 11:00-12:00 local time
Qualifying 14:00 local time
Sunday 15 April
Race 14:00 local time
Additional on-track events:
GP2 Series
GP3 Series
Porsche Supercup
Driver steward: TBC
DRS zones:
Zone 1 – Back straight
Zone 2 – Main straight
Pitlane speed limit:
80 km/h (49.7 mph) for the entire event
Fuel usage: 1.52kg per lap
Top speed: 335 km/h (208 mph)
Full throttle: 53 per cent of lap
Gear changes: 52 per lap
Max. corner g-force: 3.6 (Turn 3)
Safety Car probability: 17 per cent
Weather forecast:
Friday – Light rain, high 20°C / low 13°C
Saturday – Light cloud, high 21°C / low 14°C
Sunday – Light cloud, high 20°C / low 13°C
Factfile Source: GPupdate.net
Wonder if this will provide the first 'normal' race of the season without any reliability issues for any of the top teams.
Should be an interesting press conference with Kvyat and Max.
The stage is set for a fantastic season. Rosberg winning the first 4 races and probably not being tipped as the favourite for the title, Hamilton and Vettel hitting problems almost every race and starting a charge from behind. Hopefully things should 'normalize' from this weekends GP.
Williams have always been a threat at this circuit and could be up there with the top two I predict.
I don't expect anything different from what we've seen in Russia, except maybe a fight between HAM and ROS. We haven't seen VET in an European circuit this season, hopefully should be this one. The gap on race pace here will decide what will happen to the championship this year. If RAI's timings at Sochi were a benchmark, am afraid we are just going to see a repeat of last 2 years.
Unless it rains in Catalunya, the Spanish GP is a boring race is what i feel. Not much overtaking opportunities. If the Mercedes cars occupy the first two places post-qualifying, then we can be sure that they'll pretty much occupy the top 2 places on the podium provided they don't end up having any mechanical issues.
With 13 more races to go. I dont see Nico running away with this. Looks like this will go down to the wire.
Some how this season All races have had first corner casualties.
Hope this race nico has an eventful first corner.:uncontrol
As it stands it looks like it'll be a Mercedes 1-2 unless Vettel and Ferrari can pull out something out of the bag . The first European race , Ferrari did seem to do well during testing at catalunya or was it Mercedes shielding their true pace pre season !?
Most interesting aspect would be Max at Red Bull . That guy is quick and fearless . A true Rising star . Maybe he's the real Mad Max lol:.Reminds me of the times when F1 used to be truly legendary and drivers used to throw their cars around the track to achieve a faster lap time.
Quote:
Originally Posted by danlalan
(Post 3971897)
With 13 more races to go.
|
Buddy, 17 more races to go including this one, not 13.
Quote:
Originally Posted by ecenandu
(Post 3971948)
Buddy, 17 more races to go including this one, not 13.
|
Sorry my bad. Good then i hope lewis can catch up the points deficit.
Driver's PC will be interesting. Max. and Daniil coming across each other after the swap.
Keen to see what all updates the teams are bringing.
Force India says their car would look "different" to the old one.
Lol, look who all are sitting at the front row.
Damn, Poor Daniil Kvyat, looks shattered. You can feel his disappointment in the voice.
Chin up and do your talking on the track, Daniil.
Aerodynamic suspension:D
Red Bull literally gives you wings:uncontrol
Interesting to see formula 1 uploading press conference coverage to the official YouTube page.
No worries, this video won't be taken down :)
They have done a good job to cover the interesting parts of the press conference, candid editing as well.
More of this Formula1, I mean, videos.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5nRaIqNWedI
EDIT:
You have it watch it on YouTube.
Gremlins, be gone!!
Lewis will be looking for blood. He has not been upstaged by a teammate like this ever in his F1 career. Meantime, Nico will be on a high, and with an aura of good fortune, so will probably be driving very positively.
Going to be interesting. The mercs have been alternating for the past two races here. Guess who's turn it is? :D
FP1 timings are out.
1. Sebastian Vettel GER Ferrari-Ferrari 1m 23.951s (soft)
2. Kimi Raikkonen FIN Ferrari-Ferrari 1m 24.089s (soft)
3. Nico Rosberg GER Mercedes-Mercedes 1m 24.454s (Medium)
4. Lewis Hamilton GBR Mercedes-Mercedes 1m 24.611s (Medium)
5. Daniel Ricciardo AUS Red Bull-Renault 1m 25.416s
6. Max Verstappen NED Red Bull-Renault 1m 25.585s
7. Valtteri Bottas FIN Williams-Mercedes 1m 25.672s
8. Carlos Sainz Jr ESP Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1m 25.078s
9. Felipe Massa BRZ Williams-Mercedes 1m 26.186s
10. Fernando Alonso ESP McLaren-Honda 1m 26.243s
11. Kevin Magnussen DEN Renault-Renault 1m 26.576s
12. Daniil Kvyat RUS Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1m 26.583s
13. Nico Hulkenberg GER Force India-Mercedes 1m 26.938s
14. Sergio Perez MEX Force India-Mercedes 1m 27.064s
15. Felipe Nasr BRA Sauber-Ferrari 1m 27.253s
16. Romain Grosjean FRA Haas-Ferrari 1m 27.258s
17. Esteban Gutierrez MEX Haas-Ferrari 1m 27.283s
18. Marcus Ericsson SWE Sauber-Ferrari 1m 27.392s
19. Jenson Button GBR McLaren-Honda 1m 27.610s
20. Pascal Wehrlein GER Manor-Mercedes 1m 28.084s
21. Rio Haryanto INA Manor-Mercedes 1m 29.052s
22. Esteban Ocon FRA Renault-Renault Did not set a time
And also Lewis to get new turbo and revised MGU-H for this weekend. However Rosberg will not get the same updates.
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