As Formula 1 drivers and teams prepare for the 2018 Spanish Grand Prix, many will look to refocus and make changes as the European season gets underway.
The Circuit de Catalunya-Barcelona is one of Formula 1‘s more balanced tracks, which is why it’s a prime testing facility for teams. It is not too power-heavy and has plenty of overtaking points. It’s no surprise that the circuit has been home to many firsts and thrilling races from those outside of the front row. Red Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen’s first win in 2016 and Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel’s charge from starting P15 to finishing P4 in 2014 come to mind.
With a new championship points leader in Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton, teams going all-in with the first major upgrades of the year, and Bottas and the Red Bull pair of Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo seeking redemption after Azerbaijan, the 2018 Spanish Grand Prix promises to be memorable. Here are the storylines you should follow for the Spanish Grand Prix.
Team Upgrades
With Spain being the official start of the European season, teams have a chance to regroup and bring in new updates that wouldn’t have been plausible during the early flyaway races.
McLaren are all-in on bringing the MCL33 to spec as possible, with team principal Eric Boullier declaring that we will finally see the real 2018 car. He explained that the early versions of the MCL33 were still based on the Honda version of 2017. Williams has plans for a “huge” upgrade, but whether it’ll be on the scale of McLaren’s, we’ll have to wait and see.
Force India and Red Bull have brought new aero pieces. Renault have a new engine upgrade that they hope will prove to be reliable. Ferrari are trialing Halo-mounted mirrors, while Mercedes are more focused on closing up the tire weak points of the W09.
Driver Mentality
Both Red Bull drivers will be hoping to avoid friendly contact again in Barcelona after the disaster in Baku. Verstappen said that team orders are a strong possibility to make sure an incident like the one at Baku doesn’t happen again. However, the team are against making it formal.
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Mercedes are feeling cautious heading into Barcelona. Hamilton, the new points leader, says he is uncomfortable with the lead and his current form. His teammate, Valtteri Bottas, is out to prove his mettle after a devastating end in Azerbaijan. Bottas is currently fourth in the standings following his late Azerbaijan retirement thanks to a tire puncture. Without it, he would be leading the championship.
Other drivers who suffered in Baku will seek redemption in Barcelona. Haas’ Romain Grosjean will be out to prove his mistake under the safety car was a fluke. Vettel will try to shore up his late-braking technique, as that failed him during the closing laps in Azerbaijan.
On the other side, McLaren’s Fernando Alonso goes into his home Grand Prix on a high after taking victory at the WEC 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps. Will the new McLaren upgrades coupled with Alonso’s recent victory mentality help propel McLaren to their first win of the V6 hybrid era?
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With two weeks of preparation, drivers and teams will hope to reset in Spain and right the wrongs of the early flyaway races. Who among the paddock has enough to prove that man and machine are now in harmony? We’ll find out this Sunday.