After a 3 week break Formula One is back for the first of the European races at Circuit de Catalunya, F1 uses a 2.9 mile long layout with a few key changes to that of MotoGP which races on the previous layout. The changes made for cars are to increase overtaking oportunities with the most recent of those being completed ahead of the 2007 race.
2011 Race: Pole Position: 1:20.981 - Mark Webber, Red Bull Renault Fastest Lap: 1:26.727 - Lewis Hamilton, McLaren Mercedes-Benz 1st: Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull Renault 2nd: Lewis Hamilton, McLaren Mercedes-Benz 3rd: Jenson Button, McLaren Mercedes-Benz
What you may have missed Since last race in Bahrain the team have been busy testing their cars out in Italy at the Mugello circuit, an high speed venue which is theoretically similar to the low downforce classics of Spa and Monza. Romain Grosjean and Lotus topped the times over the 3 days running. Full times: http://www.crash.net/f1/results/179258/1/mugello_f1_test_tim...
The test has also given the teams an oportunity to try out their latest gadgets and gizmo's with the main news being McLaren changing their front wing concept to a high nose design similar to the majority of the grid. Sauber have evaluated the benefits of copying Mercedes' controversial double DRS but have decided against it thanks to its high costs in relation to minimal benefits.
A couple of driver changes will be made for practice this week, Alexander Rossi will drive Heikki Kovalainen's Caterham in FP1 and Dani Clos will take the wheel of Narain Karthikeyan's Hispania for the same session.
For UK viewers live coverage will be available on BBC.
Edit: I'll move the onboard lap down to here, thanks to the formatting errors caused by the new ads. Onboard lap: Mirko Bortolotti
Gonna be hard to see past a redbull 1-2 imo. In fact I might stick a bet on :) I want McLaren to win but just think the track will eat up their rear tyres.
ps, the car in that onboard lap looks horrible to drive... never seen a guy turn left in the middle of so many right handers.
It will be very interesting to see if/how much Ferrari managed to get closer to the front. Seems they have brand-new updates for Barcelona. I can't wait.
Ferrari could be strong here especialy Alonso, who will be competing in his home circuit. I want to see what RBR will show here. Will they still be on the top or not, and Lotus is very interesting team. After the Mugello test sessions they seem to be strong. What they show? We will see
Lotus were strong in winter testing too so that make me belive they run a bit ligher in testing then the other top teams but would be nice to have kimi take the top step and keep the run of diffrent drivers and diffrent teams wining each race going . Ferrari are a unknow as they come to the race with a ton of major updates but Alonso is strong anywere lol but im not going to make any wild guess about them till i've seen them on track same gos for all the cars really , they can do a lot of work to them cars in 3 weeks
The guy has come from many an open wheel and racing experience, so should adapt quickly with over 19 laps
yer but he is in a HRT lol and only the 2nd time hes been in a F1 car + but the time he got to grips with the car no doute the tyres would of fell off and his fuel tank would of been full
anyway times can mainly be disgarded as all the tam were doing heavy testing
but thinks to note McClaren messing about with bits on the nose cone they think that next years cars will have higher nose to get rid of this step nose thing will have now persoanl i think Jean Todt is just takeing the mick out of Ron Dennis :D
Very good work from Bottas side. He once again won with Maldonado. He is the most talented driver in Williams team. Alonso - perfect. I expected his very good condition, and I am still waiting for next succeses. I'm waiting also what Lotus show, cause they havn't shown their performance yet
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