F1-Blog

Right back to doing something on the site, after sorting out our ‘technical problems’ (note to self, don’t annoy the FOM), let’s get back to race news and issues.

The Spanish GP is the first of two proposed Grand Prix’s in Spain this year, however the Valencia GP has bumped into some issues of late.

So with that all dealt with, what are we looking at this weekend?

It might be a little more hazey this weekend, as almost all of the teams tested at the track earlier this week and last week, so the teams should have an idea of the settings they will use over the weekend. It’s not however completly clear cut, as rain is forcast, as well as the track getting rubbered in differently.

With that said, it will be the same names at the front, with McLaren playing catchup to the Ferrari and BMW’s. The cars will almost all have new aero parts on them this weekend, and even some that were not shown off last week in testing, with the Ferrari ‘nostrils’ probably being the most visible change to the big teams.

The 4.655 km track is suited to well balanced cars, and cars that look after their tyres well, so the Ferrari’s should certainly be quick here this weekend. That will suite Filipe as he was fastest all weekend last year, and took the top spot, he just has to make sure that he makes no mistakes this weekend, and he will be in with a good chance of repeating the results.

Kimi will not make it easy for him though, and will want to show his dominance over his team mate with another win this weekend.

Lewis should be trying to show that his lackluster 2008 start is just a blip in the radar, he came in second last year, and will certainly want to go one better this year, that is if his McLaren will let him compete. But the McLaren team are in bigger trouble if their car is not competitive, as the Ferrari will certainly have moved on a step.

BMW are probably going to be there or thereabouts again, they are certain to have found some more performance in the car, and their drivers are looking strong and reliable. It’s only a matter of time now before they win their first race.

Further back, I still see it close between the Williams, Toyota and Red Bull teams, so the mid field will again be an interesting watch. It will be good to see how much development work all three of those teams have done, and how much performance they have found.

Honda are steadily improving as well, so let’s hope Jenson and Rubens see some battle action this weekend. The team deserve to get a decent result.

Further back it’s not good news for Super Aguri, Honda seem to have bailed them out again, but that will not continue for much longer. Let’s hope the new deal they are doing comes through for them this time.

Force India are fighting above their weight, and it will be interesting to see if they have managed to move the car along enough to get out of the back of the pack, and into the midfield. Toro Rosso have been testing their new car, and as it’s a clone of the Red Bull for all intense and purpose, but with a Ferrari lump it should be at least as competitive, if not more so.

So this will be an interesting weekend, lets see who has got the development right, and who made a mess.

Google Earth View of Circuit de Catalunya / Windows Live View

Stats :

Fastest Lap : 1:15.641 (Giancarlo Fisichella, Renault, 2005)
Pole Time : 1:21.421 - Filipe Massa
Most Wins : 6 by Michael Schumacher

Link to ITV Web Simulcast for the GP and Practice/Qualifying sessions.

Broadcast Times for Spain in UK time

First practice Friday 09:00
Second practice Friday 13:00
Qualifying Saturday 13:00
Race Sunday 13:00

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