Spanish Grand Prix: Presentation of a revamped circuit where F1 cars are likely to go even faster
Since its inauguration in 1991, the Catalunya circuit has offered rather eventful races thanks to a track that is among the most technical on the calendar.
For the 33rd consecutive year, Formula 1 is heading to Barcelona for the Grand Prix of Spain. A permanent circuit measuring 4.675km in length with 16 corners. The drivers will cover 307km and complete 66 laps of the race.
Its main characteristic is the long straight starting line that measures 1.3 km. Drivers usually reach speeds over 310 km/h. The rest of the circuit is just a succession of fast corners and significant braking points. These corners must be perfectly negotiated by the drivers, especially turn 4: that’s where Carlos Sainz and Max Verstappen made mistakes last year. Luckily, both were able to continue without getting stuck.
During the history of the circuit, several modifications have been made in an attempt to increase the number of overtakings on the track.
For the 2023 season, the chicane between turns 13 and 16 has been removed. This is a change that the drivers have been waiting for as they felt that the cars struggled to follow each other and as a result, overtaking was difficult. Other improvements include a wider run-off area and new barriers at the first turn.
The Pirelli tire type
On Pirelli’s side, the Italian manufacturer is making a complete change and bringing its hardest tires for this weekend, namely the C1 for the hard compound, C2 for the medium compound, and C3 for the soft compound. As for tire information, left turns are mainly taken at low speed, while right turns tend to be taken flat out. Charles Leclerc recently joked by stating, “I think the front left tire will cry throughout the race.”
A circuit that appears to be quite demanding on the tires, which can lead to various and diverse strategies. The asphalt is likely to be very abrasive, and the tires will be put to the test throughout the weekend.
Last year, the drivers made 3 to 5 stops during the race, alternating between soft and medium tires.
Previewing the #SpanishGP 🇪🇸🛞
⚖️ High lateral forces
🧪 Updated construction test sets on FridayRead more 👉 https://t.co/Eba1n44YfO#Fit4F1 pic.twitter.com/2bkk35rNyZ
— Pirelli Motorsport (@pirellisport) May 30, 2023
Can Alonso recreate the same feat as 10 years ago?
You may have noticed that Fernando Alonso’s last victory dates back to 2013 and that famous Spanish Grand Prix. He started the race in 5th place. This year, the task seems more complicated since the Red Bulls have been untouchable since the beginning of the season. However, this track is potentially a place where the AMR23 can have its chances.
This weekend in Barcelona will be the place where teams will bring improvements to the race cars. This can potentially reshuffle the deck in the quest for victory. The answer will come tomorrow with the first free practice session at 1:30 PM.
