Formula 1 AWS Gran Premio de España 2023Formula 1

[Jimlaad43]

Formula 1 returns to its first "proper" race track since the first round of the season (after the Cancellation of China and Emilia-Romagna) at the Spanish Grand Prix. The circuit is often the scene of pre-season testing, so plenty of laps will have been done meaning teams often turn up knowing exactly what the car can do. However, for the second time in a few years, Formula 1 didn't test here at the start of the season and it once again coincides with a layout change. The much-hated final sector chicane has been removed and the drivers will instead tackle to two high-speed corners that it began with in 1991-2006. Amazing, the circuit made two major changes in 2004 and 2007 to improve racing, and in the last three years has basically reverted them as failed experiments. Fernando Alonso won his last Grand Prix at this circuit in 2013, he would absolutely love to get that front-running Aston Martin its first win of the season here again at the SPANISH GRAND PRIX!

First Grand Prix
1991​

Number of Laps
66​

Circuit Length
4.657km​

Race Distance
307.236 km​

Lap Record
Rubens Barrichello (1:20.143)* (Turn 10 was kinda different though so pinch of salt)​

 

[Liquid]

It must surely be extremely rare in the safety watershed era that a Grand Prix circuit has reverted to a previous configuration.

The hope of an Alonso win remains high but I'm fairly certain that Verstappen will win by +40s unless something goes badly wrong for him.

 

[Jimlaad43]

Bahrain 2012

That's it

 

[Jezza819]

European Le Mans series ran a race here a few weeks ago. It was great seeing cars taking that last curve at speed and not using the chicane.

 

[Dennisch]

Super Ultimate Red Bull DRS overpowering the entire field.

 

[Veinz]

I had really high hopes that they would be kind of slow in Monaco, but yeah. I think this will go down as the most dominant season from a team.

 

[Roo]

Williams are asking fans to vote for the Gulf livery they'll run towards the end of the season in knockout-style rounds.

 

[rsh]

I believe they added the chicane after the 1994 season.
They added a chicane with tires (!) at the chicane at the backstraight.

The hairpin at the backstraight could have been a overtaking opportunity, but isn’t now anymore.

Therefor I expect overtakes mainly at the main straight with DRS.
Last year Max proved it was difficult to overtake Russel when DRS didn’t work on his RedBull.

RedBull 1-2. Max ahead of Checo.
Curious if Mercedes can attack Aston Martin or not.

 

[Liquid]

I believe they added the chicane after the 1994 season.
View attachment 1261596

They removed the Nissan chicane and modified the back straight after 1994 but the horrendous final sector chicane was added in 2007.

 

[Mr Grumpy]

Looking forward to this race, maybe the FIA should look at removing a few more chicanes at various tracks, especially now the cars are HUGE compared to what they were.

I'd start with the chicane at Monaco as you come out the tunnel.

 

[Dennisch]

Looking forward to this race, maybe the FIA should look at removing a few tracks, especially now the cars are HUGE compared to what they were.

I'd start with Monaco.

Totally agreed.

 

[Veinz]

Just make them smaller, the wheel base is way too long. These cars are boats, relatively speaking.

 

[Roo]

especially now the cars are HUGE compared to what they were.

A case for reviving the Grand Prix of Cleveland if ever I saw one.

 

[-Fred-]

A case for reviving the Grand Prix of Cleveland if ever I saw one.

Always produced great racing despite being so simple.

 

[MagpieRacer]

Dramatic sidepod upgrade for Ferrari. So long bathtub.

 

[Veinz]

Too bad they couldn’t make it work, I liked the variety in sidepods last year.

 

[AshenGraey]

Leclerc with the old spec is still faster than Sainz.

 

[Liquid]

 

[Dennisch]

93 vs 27 points.

 

[McLaren]

Dramatic sidepod upgrade for Ferrari. So long bathtub.

Bit of a shame. Last year's Ferrari was a really good looking car, imo. Thought it gave off a bit of early 90's Ferrari F1 vibes from certain angles.

 

[MagpieRacer]

Logan Sargeant off into the wall at the final turn in FP3. In fairness to him, he was looking to push the final turn and kept it pinned but the Williams just doesn't have the downforce to take it flat.

 

[IforceV8]

go there and watch it then or dont. Top speed is the answer.

 

[Veinz]

Oh no, the fia got their feelings hurt.

Frustrated Steiner calls for professional F1 stewards

Haas team principal Guenther Steiner says it is time for Formula 1 to employ permanent stewards after being frustrated by a penalty for Nico Hulkenberg in Monaco. Hulkenberg (pictured at right, abo…

racer.com

 

[Famine]

Oh no, the fia got their feelings hurt.

Frustrated Steiner calls for professional F1 stewards

Haas team principal Guenther Steiner says it is time for Formula 1 to employ permanent stewards after being frustrated by a penalty for Nico Hulkenberg in Monaco. Hulkenberg (pictured at right, abo…

racer.com

Interestingly, one of the stewards has recused himself from this particular discussion as he was also a steward at the Monaco Grand Prix - which involved a stewarding decision with Nico Hulkenberg (and Hulkenberg failed to serve his penalty correctly, compounding the issue) - and he feels it's a conflict of interest.

Meanwhile another regular steward is godfather to the partner of one of the drivers.

Well done, Felix Holter, for showing there is some integrity in the sport.

 

[ROAD_DOGG33J]

Logan Sargeant off into the wall at the final turn in FP3. In fairness to him, he was looking to push the final turn and kept it pinned but the Williams just doesn't have the downforce to take it flat.

He got on the inside curb, which disrupted the balance.

 

[PaMu1337]

That seemed like a completely unnecessary red flag

 

[MSZ]

Leclerc is out in Q1!

 

[PaMu1337]

Leclerc is out in Q1!

And Perez only barely in

 

[Veinz]

What a shocker from Leclerc

McLaren looks decent, wtf.

 

[TumeK5]

McLaren looks decent, wtf.

I think they'll want to keep that livery for the rest of the season!

What a chaotic qualifying for a dry one.