#F1 AWS #SpanishGP 2023 Preview.
2023 Spanish GP Preview – After Max Verstappen survived in the rain to win the Monaco GP and extend his Driver’s Championship lead, round eight of the of the 2023 FIA Formula One World Championship season returns to the Circuit De Barcelona-Catalunya, Barcelona, Montmelo, Catalonia, Spain for the Formula 1 AWS Gran Premio De Espana 2023. This will be the 33rd time that the Spanish Grand Prix will be held at the Montmelo circuit.
2023 Spanish GP Preview – A look at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya
The Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya is a permanent racing circuit in Barcelona, Montmelo, Catalonia, Spain.
The Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya was built in 1991 and began hosting the Spanish Grand Prix that same year and has been running there ever since. This year also marks the 50th running of the Spanish Grand Prix as part of the Formula One World Championship. The Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya is also used for the FIM MotoGP World Championship.
The Barcelona circuit is famed as a bellwether circuit as the cars that race well here are expected to race well in any and all conditions. The logic behind this is that the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya provides a well-rounded examination of every aspect of car design, requiring maximum downforce, stronger delivery of power, excellent traction and handling. The Spanish Grand Prix also traditionally is where teams bring their first major upgrades of the season and could see the potential for movement around the field.
The wind direction at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya can change at any-time during the day and can upset the balance of the car due to the major importance of aerodynamics that modern Formula One cars have. It is then a challenge to find a well-balanced setup since cars can suffer massive drag and understeer on one part of the track in the morning session but suffer oversteer at the same section in the afternoon. An allocated tyre compound can work well during testing, but not as well a few months later as changeable conditions can provide unexpected performances from some teams during the Grand Prix.
From this year’s Spanish Grand Prix, Formula 1 will use the layout used by MotoGP since 2021 removing the chicane in sector three of the lap that Formula One had used every year since it was introduced in 2007 reverting to the two double-sweeping fast right-hand corner configuration that Formula 1 last used back in 2006 campaign.
The circuit runs in a clockwise direction and is 4.657km (2.894mi) in length with 14 corners.
The race distance is 307.236km (190.907mi) with 66 laps in total.
Seven-time World Champion’s Michael Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton hold the most victories at the circuit with six each to their respective names.
Scuderia Ferrari is the most successful constructor winning the Spanish Grand Prix 12 times with eight coming from the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.
2023 Spanish GP Preview – The Last Five Winners
2022: Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing. 2021: Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes AMG F1. 2020: Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes AMG F1. 2019: Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes AMG F1. 2018: Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes AMG F1.
2023 Spanish GP Preview – Tyres
Pirelli will be bringing with them to Barcelona, the C1 white side-walled Hard compounds, the C2 yellow-marked Medium tyres and the C3 red-branded Soft rubber. F1’s sole tyre supplier will also take along the green-branded Intermediates and the blue-branded Wet tyres in case of rain.
All drivers will have eight sets of the C3 softs, three sets of the C2 mediums and two of the C1 hards.
2023 Spanish GP Preview – DRS Zones
There will be two DRS zones at this weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix. The first detection point is 86 metres before turn nine and with the activation point 40 metres after. The second detection point is at the safety car line with second activation zone 57 metres after turn 14.
2023 Spanish GP Preview – Pitlane Speed Limits
Pitlane speeds will be 80km/h during practice, qualifying and the race.
ICYMI: Verstappen cruises to dominant Monaco GP victory in mixed conditions
Reigning world champion Max Verstappen survived the rain to take a dominant 39th Grand Prix victory of his career at the Monaco GP and ahead of Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso who was second and Alpine’s Esteban Ocon who completed the top three.
The Dutchman converted his pole position successfully despite having to contend with the sudden downpour among the final third of the race, extending his initial stint on the C4 yellow side-walled mediums to cover the looming threat of rain.
When the 78-lap Monaco GP began, pole-sitter made a brilliant getaway into St. Devote, covering off the threat of Alonso who started on the hards as the order remained stable.
At the end of the opening tour, Verstappen held a 1.238 second gap to Alonso with Ocon third, Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz fourth, Mercedes’ Sir Lewis Hamilton fifth and Charles Leclerc sixth.
Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll reported damage and a potential puncture, with Haas F1 Team’s Nico Hulkenberg, Alfa Romeo’s Zhou Guanyu and Red Bull’s Sergio Perez all pitting with the latter putting on a set of hards to try and run until the end of the Grand Prix.
On lap five, Verstappen increased his gap to 2.254 seconds over Alonso with Ocon third, Sainz fourth, Hamilton fifth and Leclerc sixth.
Verstappen was minding his medium rubber, knowing that he needed to protect his tyres to run as long as possible with Alonso behind and ready to pounce on his harder compounds.
On lap ten, Verstappen increased his lead to 3.004 seconds ahead of Alonso with Ocon a further 11.792 seconds behind in third, Sainz fourth, Hamilton fifth and Leclerc sixth.
On the 11th tour in the battle for third, Sainz went too hot and hit the rear of Ocon’s A523 at the Nouvelle Chicane and sustained front wing damage.
During the initial phase of proceedings, Alonso was unable to match his fellow two-time world champion’s pace as worries over a puncture suggested that the AMR23 was not handling properly – although his Aston Martin team informed him everything was fine.
On the 17th tour, Verstappen was very close to having a full pit-stop gap over third-placed Ocon whilst Sainz was shown the black and white flag for causing a collision to the Frenchman.
On the 20th tour, race leader Verstappen increased his gap to 8.539 seconds over Alonso with Ocon third, Sainz fourth, Hamilton fifth and Leclerc sixth.
On the 23rd lap, Verstappen was a full pit-stop in-front of third-placed Ocon, meanwhile Mercedes’ George Russell was struggling with his brakes, with multiple warning coming up on his dashboard.
On the 25th tour, Verstappen held a 11.558 lead over second-placed Alonso with Ocon third, Sainz fourth, Hamilton fifth and Leclerc sixth. At this time, Verstappen was reeling in the backmarkers including Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez.
This allowed Alonso to cut the gap as Verstappen tried to charge his way through the tail-enders, despite Perez trying to make his team-mate’s race more easier.
The 28th tour saw Sainz asking about the possibility of rain and is told it will arrive in 45 minutes, whereas McLaren’s Lando Norris was told it could arrive as earlier as lap 35.
Sainz was also told to box by the team to attempt to overtake Ocon, but the Spaniard remained out.
On lap 30, Verstappen was up to 10.423 ahead of Alonso with Ocon third, Sainz fourth, Hamilton fifth and Leclerc sixth.
On the 32nd tour, whilst the majority were waiting on the rain. Mercedes opted to bring in Hamilton for a set of harder compounds whilst a lap later Ocon pitted from third also for a set of the C3 rubber.
On lap 34, Sainz also stopped from third, putting on a set of mediums and emerged behind Ocon in seventh.
Rain reports over the severity began to intensify, as Red Bull opted to leave Verstappen out longer to ensure he was well-placed to take advantage of a well-timed pit-stop.
Lap 42 saw Alonso told by his Aston Martin team to make sure he was a full pit-stop ahead of third-placed Leclerc.
Leclerc pitted from third on lap 45 for a fresh set of medium compounds and emerged behind Hamilton in eighth place.
On the 50th tour, the yet-to-pit Verstappen was 8.715 seconds in-front of Alonso with Russell third, Ocon fourth, Sainz fifth and Hamilton completing the top six.
On the 53rd tour, the light showers started getting heavier with Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll and Alfa Romeo’s Valtteri Bottas the first to put on a set of intermediates.
On lap 55, Alonso pitted for a fresh set of mediums despite it raining heavily meanwhile race-leader Verstappen hit the wall at Portier.
A tour later, Verstappen pitted for a set of inters, whilst Alonso stopped again this time for a set of the green-marked rubber.
Despite Alonso attempting to close the gap over the final 20 laps, the Spaniard brought it down to 17.8 seconds as one point as Verstappen could not switch on his intermediates as quick enough, the Dutchman grew in confidence and continued to build his lead.
Verstappen crossed the line to take a dominant Monaco GP by 27.921 seconds over Alonso with Ocon taking third and his third-career podium in Formula 1.
The two Silver Arrows of Hamilton and Russell completed the top five with the latter copping a five-second time penalty for an unsafe re-join at Mirabeau: having slid off, reversed and went into the path of Perez, who made contact with the F1 W14.
Ferrari’s Leclerc and Sainz finished in sixth and eighth respectively as Alpine’s Gasly split the pairing in seventh.
The McLaren duo of Norris and Oscar Piastri completed the top ten with both drivers making identical passes on AlphaTauri’s Yuki Tsunoda into St. Devote as the Japanese driver struggled with a braking issue.
Alfa’s Bottas and Zhou finished in 11th and 13th places respectively as AlphaTauri’s Nyck de Vries split the duo in 12th.
Williams Racing’s Alexander Albon ended the race 14th and ahead of AlphaTauri’s Tsunoda who took 15th and Perez who came a low-16th in the other Red Bull RB19 entry.
Haas F1 Team’s Nico Hulkenberg and Williams Racing’s Logan Sargeant brought up the rear.
Both Haas F1 Team’s Kevin Magnussen and Aston Martin’s Stroll were the only retirees of the Grand Prix.
The Situation
Formula 1 heads to the Circuit De Barcelona-Catalunya this weekend for the Spanish Grand Prix.
The circuit is arguably the most familiar to the drivers and teams, having regularly hosted pre-season testing over the years. Several teams will be running upgrades this weekend to their respective machinery, either for the first time or running them for the initial time in representative conditions.
Traditionally, Barcelona has not been the happiest of places for Red Bull. Having won at the Circuit De Barcelona-Catalunya four times – 2010, 2011, 2016 and 2022 – last year’s victory came after Charles Leclerc’s F1-75 racer suffered an engine failure whilst leading.
But so far in 2023, Red Bull are unbeaten and have yet to have a rival finish within 20 seconds of theirs when finishing a race in representative conditions.
Modifications to the Circuit De Barcelona-Catalunya appear to be in favour of the RB19. The slow chicane will not feature this weekend at the track reverts to its original final two corners, and the high-speed right-hand turns will help the Red Bull shoot onto the long main-straight where it’s superior straight-line speed can be maximised.
The reigning World Constructor’s Champions are also set to be bringing upgrades with them this weekend to Spain, with Team Advisor Helmut Marko telling Austrian news outlet oe24, the Milton Keynes based-outfit “will try something new”.
Onto the Silver Arrows, the big question heading to Barcelona is how Mercedes’ upgrades to their F1 W14 are expected to perform?
Initially scheduled for the cancelled Emilia Romagna GP, Mercedes ran their new bodywork, floor and front suspension last time out in Monaco. Sir Lewis Hamilton and George Russell came home in fourth and fifth places respectively, although the uniqueness of the tight, twisty-streets of Monte Carlo meant it was difficult to measure their true performance.
However, Hamilton, Russell and Team Principal Toto Wolff believe there were positive signs from the updated F1 W14 and are seeking to confirm it’s true potential this weekend.
“We were in the mix with Aston Martin and with Ferrari. On a positive note, that may be encouraging because we have never been really good here,” explained Wolff after the Monaco GP.
“But we really need to be careful, we have to go to Barcelona and collect more data, it’s a new baseline. I don’t expect us to be clearing Aston Martin and Ferrari there either. It is more about understanding, okay, what does this car do now, and how do we need to set it up.” Wolff concluded. Credit to Sky Sports F1 for the quote.
The Silver Arrows find themselves only one point behind Aston Martin in the Constructors Standings despite appearing to have the fourth-fastest car on the grid on pure pace so far this season.
Looking at Aston Martin, the Silverstone based-outfit have had the second-quickest car on the grid so far this campaign and only Verstappen’s brilliance and some bad luck due to the rain intensity cost them a pole position and a potential race victory in Monaco.
Fernando Alonso returns to his home Grand Prix – the venue of his most recent win back in 2013 for Ferrari – has five podiums in six races for 2023’s surprise team. Aston Martin will be introducing the second part of their upgrade this weekend in Barcelona that was initially due in Imola.
The question is whether these updates will offset the advances championship leaders Red Bull, Mercedes and Ferrari have made and see them move closer to the Milton Keynes based-squad or be fighting to get on the podium.
Next, we look at Ferrari, the Maranello-marque will be introducing a big upgrade to their inconsistent SF-23 racers, having had to delay its introduction due to the cancelled Emilia Romagna GP.
Whilst Leclerc has managed to battle for and claim a pole position in qualifying sessions, the Monegasque driver and Carlos Sainz have struggled to find confidence in the car and been critical of the “knife-edge” they find themselves in on race days.
The Prancing Horse have already brought a new diffuser and floor to their car and this weekend’s upgrade will feature new bodywork.
“This week we will have a better view of the race pace,” explained Team Principal Fred Vasseur said. “Barcelona is more relevant and we will have a better view of the situation. I hope that we will do a step forward in Barcelona, but it won’t be the end of the development for the car.” Vasseur concluded. Credit to Sky Sports F1 for the quote.
The mood around BWT Alpine F1 Team has changed in the last month. At the Miami Grand Prix, CEO Laurent Rossi labelled its performances “unacceptable” and “amateurish”, threatening rapid changes if things did not turn around.
But the Enstone based-outfit’s upgrades have seen an upturn in form with the team scoring a double-points finish in the US before Esteban Ocon claimed a podium last time out and Pierre Gasly took a season-best seventh-place.
The French team are hopeful about getting amongst the fight for the final podium places behind championship leaders Red Bull.
This will be the first weekend since the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix that Formula 1 has raced at what could be called a “normal” circuit.
The 2023 campaign has been loaded with Grands Prix on street circuits – Jeddah, Melbourne, Baku, Miami and Monaco.
But now the drivers and teams have a traditional Formula One weekend to look forward to; three practice sessions on a predictably evolving track, on which to get their setups right for qualifying and race day.
The old saying is that if your car works well at the Circuit De Barcelona-Catalunya, it will work everywhere. If this trend continues, this weekend will for sure give us a potential glimpse of how the rest of the season will unfold.
Max Verstappen returns to Spain sitting on top of the World Driver’s Championship with 144 points and a 39-point lead over Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez who is second on 105 points whilst Fernando Alonso is a further 51 points behind the Dutchman in third place on 93 points.
Oracle Red Bull Racing heads to Barcelona leading the World Constructor’s Championship with 249 points and a 129-point buffer over nearest rivals Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant F1 Team who are second on 120 points whilst Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula One Team is third and a further 130 points behind the Milton Keynes based-outfit on 119 points.
The Formula 1 AWS Gran Premio De Espana 2023 weekend begins Friday June 2 with Free Practice 1 and 2, followed by Free Practice 3 and Qualifying Saturday June 3 along with the 66 lap Race Sunday June 4.
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