Poll: Official 2023 Spanish Grand Prix Thread - Circuit de Catalunya, Barcelona - Round 8

[chrismscotland]

Catalunya​

When was the track built?​

The Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya was built as part of the 1992 Barcelona Olympics development programme. The foundation stone was laid in 1989, while the first car race was a round of the 1991 Spanish Touring Car Championship.

When was its first Grand Prix?​

Two weeks after the touring cars raced at Barcelona, it was Formula 1’s turn. The track enjoyed a sensational debut, with Nigel Mansell and Ayrton Senna’s famous eyeball-to-eyeball drag race down the straight, before Mansell took the lead and drove on to victory.

What’s the circuit like?​

The drivers love the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, which is just as well, as they have traditionally spent huge amounts of time pounding around it during winter testing. The track is a good mix of high- and low-speed corners, with the challenging Turn 3 right-hander a great chance to evaluate the balance of the car your team’s designers have given you to fight with for the season.

Why go?​

You don’t need us to tell you that Barcelona is one of the world’s great cities, even if we just sort of did. Food, culture, beaches – it’s all there, making a Spanish Grand Prix holiday a properly attractive proposition.

Spanish Grand Prix - Schedule Information & TV Broadcast Times​

Channel 4 Highlights - Broadcast Times​

Saturday 3rd June- Spanish GP Qualifying Highlights - 19:40
Sunday 4th June - Spanish GP Race Highlights - 18:30

Weekend Weather Forecast (as at 08:39 - 29/05/2023)​

Track Diagram & Information​

Previous Race Highlights​

• Spanish Grand Prix 2022 - Highlights
• Spanish Grand Prix - 2021 - Highlights
• Spanish Grand Prix - 2019 - Highlights

Championship Standings​

Drivers Championship​

Constructors Championship​

Just a reminder, but consider it a warning - can we not have any further derogatory name calling of drivers, team bosses and the like. We don't expect you to like every driver/team, but at least keep comments respectful.

If you don't follow this warning, you will lose access to the race thread and the thread for the following race as well.

This includes but is not limited to such terms including Lulu, Crashstappen, Karen Horner, Whingey Spice etc.

 

[chrismscotland]

Folks, just to add - I've noticed that F1 are keeping the "Round" number consistent with the original calendar rather than omitting Imola, so I'll stick to that - hence this is Round 8 even though its actually only Race 7!

 

[chrismscotland]

Woohoo, only Monaco could make the prospect of Barcelona exciting

They've changed the layout for this year haven't they, removing the mickey mouse chicane at the end of the lap? Not sure it'll do much for the racing but it'll look better at least.

Thank god the old last corner is back, I've always hated that stupid little chicane they put in (its also a nightmare in F1 games!!)

 

[chrismscotland]

Dried up onto slicks for the end of the F2 race

 

[chrismscotland]

Christ can we ban Rosberg from the paddock again please.

Looking dry for Qualifying though, hope it rains tomorrow

 

[chrismscotland]

Raining again according to Natalie Pinkham on Sky, no umbrollies up though

 

[chrismscotland]

Perez... At this stage it'd be more useful having Tsunoda in that seat.

Edit: Wow, hadn't noticed that bit of contact between Hamilton and Russell. His car also looked like it had some damage on the headrest area.

They might as well just put Ricciardo in and see what happens

 

[chrismscotland]

Yeah at least Rosberg and Bottas kept Hamilton relatively honest through those periods. If he slipped up they would be there to take it off of him. Right now Perez is not doing that. People forget Hamilton’s consistency to take 7/8 world titles.

I’d imagine that most people have switched off due to Max, Horner, Helmut and co being thoroughly unlikeable. I mean, for what is essentially a British team I don’t know anyone that can stand them. I can’t imagine anyone other than the Dutch enjoy seeing Max on the podium week after week.

Personally I've zero issue with the Red Bull Team, but then I watch motorsport for the cars and the racing and not the dramatized Wrestling Style Netflix pish

 

[chrismscotland]

Were they allowed to fix the underfloor damage to Alonso's car over night?

 

[chrismscotland]

I was assuming they hadn't as he's been a bit lacking in pace all race.

Don't really need team orders, he's still a good bit behind, no?

2.5 secs

 

[chrismscotland]

Only just turned on, how come Norris is 18th from 3rd?

Damaged the front wing on lap 1

 

[chrismscotland]

Spain's never been a great race due to all the testing usually, thought moving that to Bahrain might have livened this race up but no

 

[chrismscotland]

Can someone (who can be bothered lol) show me a side by side of the Tsunoda incident compared to Verstappen on the first lap? Honestly does not make sense. There was a foot of circuit left for Joe before he bailed

Drivers get a lot more leeway on lap 1 generally

 

[chrismscotland]

Christ Rosberg, its getting turned off now

 

[chrismscotland]

There is something in his contract where he is incentivised to give up places (which he did today) or his motivation isn't there anymore.

His team radio was also bizarre. He was telling the team to tell Stroll not to worry about him getting so close. He wasn't planning on overtaking.

How can anyone possibly question Alonso's motivation after the first portion of this season? He's making drivers almost half his age look rubbish most weekends.
He had an off weekend, was always going to happen eventually, he screwed himself damaging the car in qualifying.

Incentivised to give up places? I don't think I've ever heard so much rubbish

 

[chrismscotland]

They usually let drivers off with more on lap 1, similar to something Alonso did at Sochi a couple of years ago isn't it? He knew he was going in and around the bollards on lap 1