2010 Formula One Spanish Grand Prix

[Peter]

3 weeks have passed, and thanks to a volcano, it wasn't easy for the teams to get back home. But anways, here we are for the Spanish Grand Prix.

2010 Formula One Gran Premio de Espana Telefonica​

@ Circuit de Catalunya​

[YOUTUBEHD]-u6jqD2lNhw[/YOUTUBEHD]

Race Date: 09 May 2010
Circuit Name: Circuit de Catalunya
Number of Laps: 66
Circuit Length: 4.655 km
Race Distance: 307.104 km
Lap Record: 1:21.670 - K Raikkonen (2008)

2009 Results:
1st. Jenson Button(Brawn-Mercedes)
2nd. Rubens Barrichello(Brawn-Mercedes)
3rd. Mark Webber(Red Bull-Renault)​

Ahh, Catalunya, the most boring track on the calendar. Not much overtaking happens here at all. What i'm looking forward to is seeing how all the teams do with all of the major upgrades. Force India will definitely make a step forward, possibly surpassing Renault and maybe giving the bigger boys like Mercedes a run for their money. And, furthr down the grid, HRT, is also expected to make a boost. I think, or at least hope that they can beat Virgin and Lotus. And Bruno will out qualify Chankok again.

 

[astrosdude91]

This one's going to be at 6:30 am local time for me. At least I'll be able to get some sleep before hand. It seems like it's been forever since the last race. I'm hoping for a better performance for Red Bull Racing.

 

[yeti]

And Bruno will out qualify Chankok again.

A bit unfair - it's 3-1 at the moment... and you can hardly count the first race either.

Also to mention - it's 2-1 to Chandok in terms or results (First race neither finished)

C.

PS "Chandok"

 

[Fastas]

Finally, a decent race broadcast time . I'm at a loss as to who is adding what to their car and how it will affect comparable performance. The whole volcano incident, albeit unfortunate, will mean some of the teams are going to stagger the introduction of their modifications and so this race could provide a fairly unique outcome. Ferrari are playing up their chances, as usual, and some teams have remained very quiet, perhaps confidently so.

Really difficult call this weekend, I'm going to go for a McLaren 1 - 2

Dan.

 

[Clark]

My prediction, Red Bull 1-2 with the McLarens struggling. Massa will sort his game out and beat Alonso. Rosberg and Kubica in the top five.

 

[orimarc]

Ahh, Catalunya, the most boring track on the calendar. Not much overtaking happens here at all.

Hey, it's not our fault that aero grip plus (usually) sunny weather equals no overtaking. I'm sure the home boys will get a morale boost (specially Alonso).

Oh...and there's predicted rain for all the weekend. Yeah. Another GP with rain.

 

[Stevisiov]

Hey, it's not our fault that aero grip plus (usually) sunny weather equals no overtaking. I'm sure the home boys will get a morale boost (specially Alonso).

Oh...and there's predicted rain for all the weekend. Yeah. Another GP with rain.

Agreed. People direct a lot of hate at the track, which IMO is one of the best racetracks in Europe (not for f1 though). The tracks narrow technical and has plenty of elevation change, it just doesn't suit f1 racing cars, which is a shame.

 

[Ardius]

Ahh, Catalunya, the most boring track on the calendar. Not much overtaking happens here at all. What i'm looking forward to is seeing how all the teams do with all of the major upgrades. Force India will definitely make a step forward, possibly surpassing Renault and maybe giving the bigger boys like Mercedes a run for their money. And, furthr down the grid, HRT, is also expected to make a boost. I think, or at least hope that they can beat Virgin and Lotus. And Bruno will out qualify Chankok again.

No, Valencia is the most boring track on the calendar.
I doubt Force India will surpass Renault - Renault have a good history of development skill over a season. They will keep up though, its really a question of where this puts Mercedes or any of the slower drivers of the top 4 teams. Kubica has already been at their heels, with a step forward they may be level with Mercedes, but its all relative - Mercedes could make a step forward too.

The only team not updating their car much is Williams - who are apparently waiting till Turkey with their updates.

HRT are not going to be catching Lotus or Virgin any time soon. While HRT are just now putting F1-spec pieces on their car, the other two newbies are bringing significant aero updates, though both have been limited too by their own cars. Lotus are finally bringing J-dampers and a proper aero package rather than their box-shaped one. Virgin are only bringing one car with a bigger fuel tank.

Overall I don't think we will see anyone make a significant improvement over their rivals, only perhaps Lotus and Mercedes have anything big to gain. The real change will be from the different tracks we are going to over the next few weeks. Who comes out on top here may not be on top at Monaco.

Hey, it's not our fault that aero grip plus (usually) sunny weather equals no overtaking. I'm sure the home boys will get a morale boost (specially Alonso).

Oh...and there's predicted rain for all the weekend. Yeah. Another GP with rain.

Plus the terrible car designs at the moment. It would be nice if it was another 1996-esque race though!

My predictions:
Wet race: Have to say McLaren considering the past few races.
Dry race: Avoiding reliability issues and stupid strategy decisions, Red Bull.

I reckon Alonso will win though, he has the car and team to do it this year. Possibly watch out for Alguesuari now he has some confidence behind him and a track he knows.

 

[Fastas]

Valencia is a awful track, it just doesn't give much to F1, it's not Monte Carlo or Melbourne Park. Here's hoping the European GP goes to Brands or even Donnington some time soon.

As for Catalunya, I've always liked it. As an gaming track it is fantastic to drive. The mix of fast sweeping curves with elevational changes and the mega straight can break engines, the only down side to it that I can think of is that pathetic chicane that was added recently to ruin the last corner dramas.

 

[Clark]

Here's hoping the European GP goes to Brands or even Donnington some time soon.

That's about as likely as Glock winning the championship this year.

 

[ROAD_DOGG33J]

I doubt it will top Bahrain on the boring scale.

 

[Peter]

HRT are not going to be catching Lotus or Virgin any time soon. While HRT are just now putting F1-spec pieces on their car, the other two newbies are bringing significant aero updates, though both have been limited too by their own cars. Lotus are finally bringing J-dampers and a proper aero package rather than their box-shaped one. Virgin are only bringing one car with a bigger fuel tank.

According to F1 Pulse, HRT will have performance improving parts in Spain. They are going to have new aero kits on the car, like bodywork and wings will improve the car performance a lot, and some new lightweight parts on the car. Just give them a chance, they weren't far behind before, only a couple tenths off of Virgin and Lotus.

 

[BlacqueJacques]

Is Catalunya one of the F1 CE tracks?

 

[Seismica]

Is Catalunya one of the F1 CE tracks?

Yes. But the second to last turn is now a chicane rather than a quick right hander.

 

[BlacqueJacques]

Yes. But the second to last turn is now a chicane rather than a quick right hander.

Great, I always like to run some laps on the same circuit as the F1 are running that weekend.

Maybe one day I will devote more time to F1 CE and switch from easy difficulty level

Until F1 2010 becomes available in North America!

 

[Alex.]

God I hate Catalunya. Such a bland and soulless circuit.

 

[BlacqueJacques]

Will send West (wet) Coast of Canada rain to Spain for a more interesting race

 

[Stevisiov]

God I hate Catalunya. Such a bland and soulless circuit.

It's anything but bland and soulless. It just not a great on track spectacle in f1.

 

[Peter]

It's a high downforce track, so I tihnk the Red Bulls will dominate the weekend, followed by Ferrari, then McLaren, then Mercedes, of course.

 

[BlacqueJacques]

So as not to jinx Red Bull; I'll say McLaren wins!

 

[Ardius]

Valencia is a awful track, it just doesn't give much to F1, it's not Monte Carlo or Melbourne Park. Here's hoping the European GP goes to Brands or even Donnington some time soon.

As for Catalunya, I've always liked it. As an gaming track it is fantastic to drive. The mix of fast sweeping curves with elevational changes and the mega straight can break engines, the only down side to it that I can think of is that pathetic chicane that was added recently to ruin the last corner dramas.

Brands Hatch is too dangerous by today's standards, the GP loop in particular isn't really safe even for F3, BTCC and so on. Its impossible for them to widen the track there unfortunately, so its never going to happen.
Donington right now is fighting for survival, its still got a track to repair and is in dire need of a proper investor.
No other tracks are really suitable in the UK except maybe Rockingham. I reckon they should revive a Dutch Grand Prix or bring back a French GP. Or even better, we need San Marino back. We don't actually need a Euro GP, it was only good before because we got two great tracks rather than just one (Hockenheim and Nurburgring).

And I totally disagree about it in video game form - I hate it with a passion. It has a very tricky rhythm to it and in F1CE the AI is really good at punting you off there. It can be enjoyable on a good day but just like in real life its very difficult to overtake other than on the straight after a good run on the last section. The last few corners are the only enjoyable part for me, overall the track is really un-rewarding, getting a corner right never feels rewarding and so the concentration needed to keep the flow going never changes from being frustrating.

I doubt it will top Bahrain on the boring scale.

Clearly you haven't watched many Spanish GPs....
Bahrain used to be ok and really this year wasn't particularly bad its just that there was a lot of expectation piled onto a new season. Its not a very good season opener, shame money talks because Australia and Brazil were fantastic openers.

It's anything but bland and soulless. It just not a great on track spectacle in f1.

Nor does it have particularly great corners anymore. Or any history like Monaco, Silverstone or Monza. It does at least have atmosphere from the fans, which you can sometimes hear above the engines just like Interlagos. But atmosphere alone doesn't make a circuit.

If you look back at the "classic" races at Catalunya, they have all been extraordinary circumstances - heavy rain in 1996, mass retirements in 1994 plus Schumacher's 5th gear awesomeness, a battle of times in 1997, most of the races have only been interesting for strategies.
The fact the teams all know the track like the back of their hand doesn't help either.

I've said this before but Spain really needs a purpose-built car racing circuit rather than all these bike circuits. Motorland Aragon seems a bit better, shame we can't have Montjuïc Park.

 

[Peter]

Why don't they go back to Jerez? Surely their ban has been lifted by now, or they can get the ban lifted.

 

[ROAD_DOGG33J]

Clearly you haven't watched many Spanish GPs....
Bahrain used to be ok and really this year wasn't particularly bad its just that there was a lot of expectation piled onto a new season. Its not a very good season opener, shame money talks because Australia and Brazil were fantastic opener

Nah...I'm just usually one of those people to complain about boring unless it's on a bland circuit like Valencia. Bahrain probably qualifies too after their little remodeling. I would rather watch a race at Catalunya than at Bahrain where they are out in the middle of the desert running 2 minute laps.

 

[Ardius]

Why don't they go back to Jerez? Surely their ban has been lifted by now, or they can get the ban lifted.

Jerez is boring too.

 

[Tired Tyres]

Jerez is not boring. It's a good track. It's just harder to overtaking there in F1 than at Barcelona.

 

[Ardius]

Jerez is not boring. It's a good track. It's just harder to overtaking there in F1 than at Barcelona.

Indeed, so boring.

Jerez has the exact same problems as Catalunya - little history, difficult to overtake, designed for bikes rather than cars, etc. It has a good layout, I prefer it to Catalunya, but its still a boring place to race for F1. And this is almost regardless of the aero on the cars, as previous races through the years have never been brilliant at Jerez either.

At least the Hungaroring usually provides surprise results, and it does have one overtaking spot.

 

[Peter]

What about Valencia? Surely the cars can overtake there more than Jerez or Barcelona.


On a different note, Christian Klien has joined HRT as second test and reserve driver. Hopefully now that they have a driver who knows how a F1 car should handle, they can do some more improving.

Linky: http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2010/5/10719.html

 

[Fastas]

What about Valencia?

Dude, go back to post eight.

 

[Ardius]

What about Valencia? Surely the cars can overtake there more than Jerez or Barcelona.

Whether you mean the circuit or the street course, neither are particularly good. The circuit is a test venue only for the principal reason that its quite narrrow.
Again, more bike racing designs rather than cars.
The street course is just plain terrible, its not even a proper street course really and doesn't carry any of the charateristics of one apart from the dust.

 

[Fastas]

Rightly or wrongly, I have always imagined that a 'floating' race is held every year to mark the achievements of a world champion or a high profile driver. I therefore consider races like Nurbergring to reflect Schumacher's achievements and Valencia similarly to drawing the Spanish crowds to honour Alonso and the South/North American events for the same reasons.

This explains my comments about the Euro GP returning to Britain. I think it would have done too if it were not for those pesky bankers.