Feature: Spanish GP - Our Post-Race Quote

Amy Hawk, F1Insider78 - "I think the race was quite entertaining and first I'd just like to say congratulations to Lewis Hamilton on his 4th consecutive win. That's a huge accomplishment. Force India had a strong performance and the team got another double-points finish, so I'm very happy with that. It's a shame, really that Sauber is struggling at the moment. Both drivers, (Esteban & Sutil), really do have a lot of potential and motivation to get some points. I really hope things get better for the team.

I heard Maldonado now has a total of 4 penalty points after his contact early on in the race with Marcus Ericsson. I'm not sure how long the stewards are going to put up with the way Maldonado has been acting in the car. It's very distracting to the other drivers. Other than that, another good race. In-Season testing starts Tuesday and then we have a week and a half before Monaco. It's always a huge event, so I'm excited for it. I'd love to see Perez and Hulkenberg finish in the top 5 at Monte Carlo. It'd be great."

Article Written By: Amy Hawk.
No copyright infringement intended.
Quote belongs to F1Insider78 and it's reporter, available for use with permission.

Spanish GP: Race - Re-Cap & Results

Another race down and now 2 weeks until one of the biggest races on the F1 Calendar: Monaco! - I hope you all enjoyed yesterday's Spanish GP. It was a good one, despite it being a bit slow with not many people able to pass.

Hamilton drove to the top, taking his 4th consecutive win this season. His team-mate, Nico Rosberg once again came in Second and Daniel Ricciardo rounded up the podium in 3rd, finally getting his first real podium after a fuel flow limit breech had him disqualified from his 2nd place Finish in Australia.

McLaren struggled again, unable to find a pace to take them into the points, Jenson just missing out, as he finished in 11th, while Magnussen finished right behind him in 12th. Sauber was also having problems with the cars, even after improvements they made over the week.

Vergne retired early on with an exhaust problem and Kobayashi experienced brake failure, causing him to retire as well. Someone who nearly had a retirement was Marcus Ericsson when Pastor Maldonado cut him off and nearly slammed into the Caterham. Pastor recieved his 4th penalty point after the race and he was given a 5-Second-Drive-Through-Penalty during the race.

Overall, it was a good race for Force India, who finished with double points again and also for Romain Grosjean who finished the race without an accident and got points as well.

Now, on to the results!

RESULTS:

1. Lewis Hamilton / Mercedes / Great Britain / + 25 Points

2. Nico Rosberg / Mercedes / Germany / + 18 Points

3. Daniel Ricciardo / Redbull / Australia / + 15 Points

4. Sebastian Vettel / Redbull / Germany / + 12 Points

5. Valtteri Bottas / Williams / Finland / + 10 Points

6. Fernando Alonso / Ferrari / Spain / + 8 Points

7. Kimi Raikkonen / Ferrari / Finland / + 6 Points

8. Romain Grosjean / Lotus / France / + 4 Points

9. Sergio Perez / Force India / Mexico / + 2 Points

10. Nico Hulkenberg / Force India / Germany / + 1 Point

11. Jenson Button / McLaren / Great Britain / + 0 Points

12. Kevin Magnussen / McLaren / Denmark / + 0 Points

13. Felipe Massa / Williams / Brazil / + 0 Points 

14. Daniil Kvyat / Toro Rosso / Russia / + 0 Points 

15. Pastor Maldonado / Lotus / Venezuela / + 0 Points 

16. Esteban Gutierrez / Sauber / Mexico / + 0 Points

17. Adrian Sutil / Sauber / Germany / + 0 Points

18. Jules Bianchi / Marussia / France / + 0 Points

19. Max Chilton / Marussia / Great Britain / + 0 Points

20. Marcus Ericsson / Caterham / Sweden / + 0 Points

21. Kamui Kobayashi / Caterham / Japan / RETIRED - Brake Failure / + 0 Points

22. Jean-Eric Vergne / Toro Rosso / France / RETIRED - Exhaust / + 0 Points

Article Written By: Amy Hawk.

No Copyright Infringement Intended.

F1Insider Featured Article: My Preview Quote

Amy Hawk, F1Insider78 - "Spain is a great circuit, lots of turns, beautiful atmosphere. The crowd is really full of Ferrari flags and banners and I think Alonso is the favourite here. With Hamilton starting on pole though, I'm thinking this could be a win for him here. The McLaren's also look strong this weekend, while Sauber is also improving. I'm sure we'll also see Force India up in front. I'm really excited by their pace. But still, my prediction is that Lewis takes 1st place today. It's gonna' be a great race no matter what though. Definitely looking forward to it."

Article Written By: Amy Hawk.

No copyright infringement intended.

Quote belongs to Amy Hawk and F1Insider78, available for use with permission.

Spanish GP: Qualifying - Re-Cap & Results

Welcome to the re-cap and results of the Qualifying for the Spanish GP Weekend! Race starts in a little under 6 hours.

For those who don't know how Qualifying works, it's devided into 3 rounds.

Round 1, 18 minutes on the clock, all the cars go around and compete to get fastest lap times. 6 slowest are knocked out and the slowest cars in round 1 were: Max Chilton, Jules Bianchi, Marcus Ericsson, Kamui Kobayashi, Adrian Sutil and Pastor Maldonado, who actually did not get to set a time after he crashed. He then had to get permission from stewards to race later today. Maldonado will start from the back of the grid.

Round 2, 15 minutes on the clock, the rest of the cars go out and the next 6 slowest are: Esteban Gutierrez, Kevin Magnussen, Sergio Perez, Jean-Eric Vergne, Nico Hulkenberg and Daniil Kvyat. During this round, Kevin Magnussen was unable to improve due to power unit problems.

Round 3 gives the last 10 drivers 12 minutes to see who can go fastest and get Pole Position, also known as the very front spot on the grid. Vettel's car stopped after he lost second gear and afterwards recieved a penalty for having to change his gearbox, moving him from 10th to 15th on the grid. Lewis Hamilton claimed Pole Position.

Here is how the final grid looks after penalties were put into place for Vettel, Maldonado and Vergne.

1. (Pole Position) - Lewis Hamilton / Mercedes / Great Britain

2. Nico Rosberg / Mercedes / Germany

3. Daniel Ricciardo / Redbull / Australia

4. Valtteri Bottas / Williams / Finland

5. Romain Grosjean / Lotus / France

6. Kimi Raikkonen / Ferrari / Finland

7. Fernando Alonso / Ferrari / Spain

8. Jenson Button / McLaren / Great Britain

9. Felipe Massa / Williams / Brazil

10. Nico Hulkenberg / Force India / Germany ^

11. Sergio Perez / Force India / Mexico ^

12. Daniil Kvyat / Toro Rosso / Russia ^

13. Esteban Gutierrez / Sauber / Mexico ^

14. Kevin Magnussen / McLaren / Denmark  ^ 

15. Sebastian Vettel / Redbull / Germany v

16. Adrian Sutil / Sauber / Germany

17. Max Chilton / Marussia / Great Britain

18. Jules Bianchi / Marussia / France

19. Marcus Ericsson / Caterham / Sweden

20. Kamui Kobayashi / Caterham / Japan

21. Jean-Eric Vergne / Toro Rosso / France  v

22. Pastor Maldonado / Lotus / Venezuela v

^ = Promotion of 1 space due to Vettel's Grid Penalty.

 v = The driver was demoted a certain number of spaces due to the according penalty. 

Article Written By: Amy Hawk.

No copyright infringement intended. 

Spanish GP: Free Practice 3 - Re-Cap & Results

Time for a quick re-cap of Free Practice 3 before Qualifying starts later!

In this session, Vettel was able to get his Redbull out on track and even set a time. Rosberg was fastest in this session, while the McLarens and Lotuses performed strongly. Max Chilton had a gravel moment bad enough to where his car had to be removed at the end of the session.

Most teams did performance/set-up runs to make sure everythingis ready for Qualifying. Someone who isn't too excited is surely Jean-Eric Vergne who now jas a 10-Place-Grid-Penalty after his tyre flew off in Free Practice 3.

On to the times, now!

TIMES: 

1. Nico Rosberg - 1:25.887 / Mercedes

2. Lewis Hamilton - 1:26.757 / Mercedes

3. Fernando Alonso - 1:27.188 / Ferrari

4. Felipe Massa - 1:27.223 / Williams

5. Romain Grosjean - 1:27.682 / Lotus

6. Kevin Magnussen - 1:27.806 / McLaren

7. Daniel Ricciardo - 1:27.808 / Redbull

8. Jenson Button - 1:28.006 / McLaren

9. Pastor Maldonado - 1:28.076 / Lotus

10. Sebastian Vettel - 1:28.085 / Redbull

11. Valtteri Bottas - 1:28.101 / Williams

12. Jean-Eric Vergne - 1:28.242 / Toro Rosso

13. Daniil Kvyat - 1:28.298 / Toro Rosso

14. Kimi Raikkonen - 1:28.419 / Ferrari

15. Sergio Perez - 1:28.571 / Force India

16. Nico Hulkenberg - 1:28.668 / Force India

17. Adrian Sutil - 1:28.715 / Sauber

18. Esteban Gutierrez - 1:28.865 / Sauber

19. Max Chilton - 1:30.169 / Marussia

20. Jules Bianchi - 1:30.670 / Marussia

21. Kamui Kobayashi - 1:30.712 / Caterham

22. Marcus Ericsson - 1:31.559 / Caterham

Check back for a Re-Cap of Qualifying later today!

Article Written By: Amy Hawk.

No copyright infringement intended. 

Spanish GP: Free Practice 2 - Re-Cap & Results

Time for a quick re-cap of Free Practice 2 and then the times!

Vettel had to sit out of this session after a huge wire issue caused him to only be able to complete 4 laps during Free Practice 1. Meanwhile, Esteban Gutierrez and Valtteri Bottas returned to their cars after sitting out of FP1. 

Hamilton lead this session as well, and at the end, Jean-Eric Vergne's tyre came loose and flew off, bouncing along the track. He's been handed a 10-Place-Grid-Penalty for Qualifying because of this and the team has also been fined for the incident.

McLaren continued to keep their cars in the top 10 times and things look good for them for FP3 and Qualifying. Sauber also improving after the team shaved weight off the cars over the week. Adrian Sutil admitted earlier this weekend that he didn't eat for 2 days to lose weight, admitting he is heavier than team-mate, Gutierrez.

Now, on to the times!

TIMES: 

1. Lewis Hamilton - 1:25.524 / Mercedes

2. Nico Rosberg - 1:25.973 / Mercedes

3. Daniel Ricciardo - 1:26.509 / Redbull

4. Fernando Alonso - 1:27.121 / Ferrari

5. Kimi Raikkonen - 1:27.296 / Ferrari

6. Kevin Magnussen - 1:27.788 / McLaren

7. Jenson Button - 1:27.811 / McLaren

8. Felipe Massa - 1:27.824 / Williams 

9. Pastor Maldonado - 1:27.866 / Lotus

10. Daniil Kvyat - 1:28.049 / Toro Rosso

11. Nico Hulkenberg - 1:28.074 / Force India

12. Jean-Eric Vergne - 1:28.246 / Toro Rosso

13. Adrian Sutil - 1:28.284 / Sauber

14. Valtteri Bottas - 1:28.698 / Williams

15. Esteban Gutierrez - 1:29.105 / Sauber

16. Sergio Perez - 1:29.129 / Force India

17. Romain Grosjean - 1:29.493 / Lotus

18. Jules Bianchi - 1:29.991 / Marussia

19. Max Chilton - 1:31.148 / Marussia

20. Kamui Kobayashi - 1:31.338 / Caterham 

21. Marcus Ericsson - 1:31.586 / Caterham

22. Sebastian Vettel - No Time Set - Redbull 

Article Written By: Amy Hawk.

No copyright infringement intended. 

Spanish GP: Free Practice 1 - Re-Cap & Results

The first two Free Practice sessions for the 5th round of the F1 2014 season took place yesterday and I'm here with a short re-cap of the first session and of course, also I will post the times.

Driver Changes For Session 1: Giedo Van Der Garde in for Esteban Gutierrez and Felipe Nasr in for Valtteri Bottas.

This session wasn't Vettel's favourite, as his car stopped after only 4 laps with a huge wiring issue which also kept him out of FP2. Giedo Van Der Garde suffered a brake failure during a lap and had to do everything he could to keep the Sauber from going head first into the wall. 

Perez also suffered an issue, when one of his mirrors came loose and he grabbed it, holding it in his car as he steered with one hand. The team told him to box when he radioed them to say he lost a mirror. 

It was Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton who stayed on top, and in Second was not Rosberg, but Jenson Button, with his team-mate, Magnussen, coming in 7th. McLaren is looking much stronger this weekend than in the previous GP's.

Now, on to the times!

TIMES: 

1. Lewis Hamilton - 1:27.023 / Mercedes

2. Jenson Button - 1:27.891 / McLaren

3. Daniel Ricciardo - 1:27.973 / Redbull

4. Fernando Alonso - 1:28.128 / Ferrari

5. Nico Rosberg - 1:28.169 / Mercedes

6. Kimi Raikkonen - 1:28.337 / Ferrari

7. Kevin Magnussen - 1:28.423 / McLaren

8. Pastor Maldonado - 1:28.744 / Lotus

9. Sergio Perez - 1:28.779 / Force India

10. Felipe Massa - 1:28.791 / Williams

11. Daniil Kvyat - 1:28.792 / Toro Rosso

12. Nico Hulkenberg - 1:28.828 / Force India

13. Jean-Eric Vergne - 1:28.859 / Toro Rosso

14. Felipe Nasr - 1:29.272 / Williams

15. Adrian Sutil - 1:29.688 / Sauber 

16. Jules Bianchi - 1:29.820 / Marussia

17. Romain Grosjean - 1:29.944 / Lotus

18. Giedo Van Der Garde - 1:30.440 / Sauber

19. Max Chilton - 1:30.942 / Marussia

20. Sebastian Vettel - 1:30.942 / Redbull

21. Kamui Kobayashi - 1:30.997 / Caterham

22. Marcus Ericsson - 1:31.421 / Caterham

FP2 Re-Cap will be up soon!

Article Written By: Amy Hawk.

No copyright infringement intended. 

Spanish GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Caterham

More quotes, these ones from Caterham! 

Kamui Kobayashi - "After a couple of weeks to recharge we're back to work in Barcelona at a track everyone knows extremely well, but, unusually for us in the recent F1 era, this will be our first visit there this year as we didn't test there in pre-season. It's a track I've always gone pretty well at, especially in 2012 when I finished fifth after really good fights with Button and Rosberg in the race. While I'd like to be racing both of them again this year we're realistic enough to know that's very unlikely, but we are still aiming to be able to fight at least two of the teams ahead, and new parts should help that. We're bringing updates to the front and rear wings and the floor and the key to optimising the performance gains from them is obviously maximum time on track, so strong reliability will again be crucial. It was good to see how much progress we and Renault made on that over the first four races and we'll obviously aim to carry that over to Barcelona and throughout the season as it is especially important in helping perfect set-ups over the weekend."

Marcus Ericsson - 

"I've had a very good two week break back at home in Sweden but now I want to get back on track and Spain's the perfect place to do so! This will be the first race of the year at a track I know well and, while it's only a small advantage, it's obviously good to have that knowledge as it makes the initial runs on Friday more useful, and it means I can attack a lap more efficiently right from the start of FP1. That's important at any race, but especially this weekend as we have some new parts coming and it will be critical to complete the run plans we have for those on Friday so we can really see where we can find maximum lap time. As we have had at all the races this year, in addition to the work on track we'll also have the simulator operational back at Leafield, and all the simulation software we have at our disposal to help generate even more data, so while the focus will be on Spain there will also be a lot of work going on back at the factory to help us even more. Obviously that's a big step up in terms of support from the last time I raced GP2 in Barcelona, but for me it's all part of my progression and I can't wait to start work again!"

Article Written By: Amy Hawk.

No copyright infringement intended.

Quotes made by Drivers. 

Spanish GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Marussia

Here are the next quotes, from Marussia!

Jules Bianchi -  "The first four circuits we have visited have all been quite different, and not so typical of the more traditional circuits we find on the European calendar, so it is always nice to get back to venues like Barcelona which we are a little more familiar with. This helps in terms of understanding the car a bit more. Having said that, this is not such a straightforward circuit; it's quite bumpy and quite challenging to find a good set-up. Generally though, if we can get the car working well here, it is a good sign, especially with our new developments. It has been nice to have a break and take some time to consider the opening races, but now I am excited to get my teeth into the next phase of the season."

Max Chilton - 

"After what will have been almost three weeks away from the car, I'm really looking forward to the Spanish Grand Prix this weekend. We have some interesting new developments and I can't wait to see what these will bring. I'm sure Friday will be a very busy day of evaluation during the two free practice sessions, and of course there will be the chance to look at things a bit more closely after the race during the two-day test, so all in all we should leave Spain next week with a very good understanding of where we are."

Article Written By: Amy Hawk.

No copyright infringent intended.

Quotes made by Drivers.

Spanish GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Williams

Next quotes are from the Williams F1 Team!

Felipe Massa - "I have won in Barcelona before which is important as it means I can enjoy the race a little more. I know what it takes to win at the circuit so I can have a little confidence when driving there. Downforce is really important in Spain so we have to make sure the aerodynamic set-up is correct. We have been working on developing the car in this area. Barcelona is historically a place where teams bring upgrades, but as every team does this it's a case of whose upgrades make the most difference. I am really looking forward to racing again in Europe."

Valtteri Bottas - 

"As a team we are looking forward to Spain, once we are in Europe it's easier to bring upgrades out over a race weekend. The time gap between China and Spain has been really important as we have had time to improve the car, although how much we have moved forward is hard to say until we drive it. We haven't driven in Spain with the current car, which is unusual as in previous years we completed a lot of laps in testing, so we all know the layout well, but will need to work on the set-up."

Article Written By: Amy Hawk.

No copyright infringement intended.

Quotes made by Drivers.

Spanish GP: Driver Preview Quotes - McLaren

More preview quotes and these ones are from McLaren!

Jenson Button - "Formula One's springtime return to Europe is always one of my favourite times of the year. The paddock is filled with familiar faces, the travel shortens, and the team motorhomes - where we'll live and work for much of the next five months - return to the scene. It always signals a bit of a fresh start to the season, and it'll be an important one for us. The Circuit de Catalunya is a demanding racetrack for any car - its combination of long, sweeping corners places the emphasis on aerodynamic performance, which is an area where we're lacking at the moment. It's always been a place where a competitive car will shine and a less-competitive one will struggle. For us, it's not simply about bringing new parts to the circuit: it's about understanding and unlocking the car's secrets, and using that understanding to take bigger steps with performance. We're still at the early stages with our car, and, for us, it's less about the components that we fit to it, and more about the bigger picture - finding a useful direction, gaining trust in our measurements and pushing ahead. We all know that this team has the capacity to develop a car through a season, so I hope and trust that we'll start to push forwards again soon."

Kevin Magnussen - "As a team, we've had a difficult couple of races, so I think we all head to Spain hopeful of better fortunes. I think the problems we encountered in China have definitely given us the data and the impetus we need to make some changes, so I'm keen to get back in the car on Friday and see if we've made a step forward. The Circuit de Catalunya is a great track, and a place I really enjoy - I won both races in the World Series there last October - and I'm looking forward to driving a Formula One car for the first time. I also think the post-race test will be useful - Barcelona is one of the most critical circuits on the calendar for aerodynamics, so we couldn't ask for a better venue at which to evaluate and refine our car."

Article Written By: Amy Hawk.

No copyright infringement intended.

Quotes made by Drivers. 

Spanish GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Lotus

Here are the quotes from the Lotus F1 Team drivers! 

Romain Grosjean - “Barcelona means the start of the European season. That also means we can travel less, which is good because I’ve now seen every single movie on the plane! But seriously it’s easier for the engineers to bring new parts to the track and it’s always nice to see European fans. I’m happy to be back in Barcelona. I have some good memories and it’s a track where I finished fourth back in 2012. It is a circuit everyone knows well, so as a team we go to Barcelona intent on getting much more performance from the car. We are concentrating on this goal. We just have to push as hard as we can and stay as positive as possible even when the going gets tough. As a team we have to stay united, it will make us stronger as a unit.”

Pastor Maldonado - 

 “The circuit has certainly been very good for me in the past, with the win in 2012 being the highlight. A top ten in qualifying will be our first focus and then it’ll be a very tough race in terms of tyre management, with a lot of pit stops and strategy. Last year most did four stops but Lotus F1 Team were able to make three stops to finish second. Overall Catalunya is tough for the cars, drivers and teams because everyone knows the track so well and you have to fight for every thousandth of a second. There are obviously races that are much closer to Venezuela in a geographic sense, but Barcelona is special for me because there is a huge community of Venezuelans close by and of course my mother tongue is Spanish. So I hope to see a lot of flags around the track and some great support as usual. It’s always good to race in front of your fans and I am determined to continue my good record there. I’m expecting to be more competitive. It will be very important to start scoring some points, but if everything goes well and we get some luck too then a top five is possible. It is going to be difficult - there are the two Mercedes and two Red Bulls and then others who have shown good pace in recent races like Force India - but if we get 100 percent from the car we can fight all of the other teams and come away with something good to build on. Clearly we expect the updates to be positive, but it’s difficult to say how big the relative improvement will be because everybody will bring updates and nothing stands still in Formula One. The bottom line is that we must keep improving and pushing.”

Article Written By: Amy Hawk.

No copyright infringement intended.

Quotes made by Drivers. 

Spanish GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Force India

Here are the preview quotes from Force India!

Nico Hulkenberg - “Even though we know the place inside out, it remains a tough, tricky circuit and one of those places where it’s especially important to optimise the car balance. If you don’t feel totally comfortable with the car it really hurts your lap time. Barcelona is the true test for downforce because of the quick corners in the first and second sectors. Traction is also important in the final part of the lap with the low-speed corners and we should be strong there.”

Sergio Perez - “I love coming back to Europe to race on some of the classic circuits. I enjoy Barcelona and for me it’s one of the best circuits on the whole calendar. It’s very complete with a mix of everything and some very long, quick corners. It’s tough physically, especially on the neck with so many right hand corners, but it’s a fun place to drive a Formula One car. It’s always a race where teams bring new updates so it’s going to be interesting to see how everyone will perform there.”

Article Written By: Amy Hawk.

No copyright infringement Intended.

Quotes made by drivers.

Spanish GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Toro Rosso

Next preview quotes are from Toro Rosso!

Jean-Eric Vergne - “This race marks the start of the European season and it’s very important from one point of view - no more jet lag and a lot less flying! It’s also a circuit that all the drivers know very well, having raced there many times in the junior categories and so usually the gaps between the teams are a bit smaller than at other tracks. I like it and have good memories from winning races there in the past. It’s the sort of track where the global picture of the car makes the difference, in terms of its balance and aero package, as it’s not particularly demanding on the brakes or engine. I like the city of Barcelona, it’s got a good vibe to it and, on top of that, it’s not so far from France, so quite a few fans make the trip for this first race in Europe.”

Daniil Kvyat - “Like all the drivers, I have spent a lot of time at this circuit, racing and testing. I’ve had some good results there, I particularly remember a Eurocup race in 2011, when I started from 20th and finished third. There were also some painful memories, when I lost the Eurocup there one year later, but overall, I have learned many valuable lessons at the Catalunya circuit. I’m looking forward to being back in Europe and having some shorter flights. It will all feel more familiar to me. Here at this track, you need to find the right compromise between the high speed and slow sections, so finding the right balance in the set-up is the key to a quick lap. I have no idea how the track will suit the STR9, except that so far this year, we have been okay in the high-speed corners. We won’t know until Friday.”

Article Written By: Amy Hawk.

No copyright infringement intended.

Quotes made by Drivers.

Spanish GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Mercedes

Next quotes from the Mercedes AMG Petronas drivers!

Nico Rosberg - "The Spanish Grand Prix is the first race of the season on European soil after four exciting races at various circuits overseas. This is where the next phase of the season begins and there is probably no other track in the world that I know as well as the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. I also have some good memories of race weekends in Barcelona. Last year, for example, I started from pole position so I'm looking forward to going back there again and maybe repeating that particular feat. It's also only now that we can slowly begin to get an idea of how the different cars stack up in terms of performance. Each team will have been pushing hard during the break since the last race to find some extra performance from new parts. So it will certainly be an interesting weekend and hopefully an exciting one for the fans too."

Lewis Hamilton - "It's been good to have a bit of a break between races: for us as drivers and also for the team who have been working flat out for so many weeks. But after three great weekends in Malaysia, Bahrain and China I'm obviously keen to get on to the next one and continue that positive momentum into the next leg of the season. Barcelona is a great place to have the first European round on the calendar. It's a circuit we all know very well, although this is the first time in my Formula One career that I have raced there without testing at the circuit during the winter, and the Spanish crowds are really passionate about their racing. It's great to see so many people in the grandstands over the weekend. I've never won in Barcelona but I'm in a good place right now and I'm hoping that this will be the year, although it's clear who the fans' favourite will be! The circuit is fantastic, our car has performed well so far and I'm really looking forward to a good race."

Article Written By: Amy Hawk.

No Copyright Infringement Intended.

Quotes made by Drivers.

Spanish GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Sauber

Next Quotes come from the Sauber F1 Team and there's also a quote from Giedo Van Der Garde, the current test and reserve for the team! He'll be driving in Free Practice #1 for the Spanish GP!

Adrian Sutil - "All of us drivers know the track in Barcelona quite well as everyone has tested there very often. The Circuit de Catalunya is a nice track with high aerodynamic demands on the car. There are some fast corners and only one long straight. The last sector is quite tight, therefore slower and not easy to drive. We have to find a compromise in terms of the car's aerodynamic set-up. With one setting the first and second sectors will be good, but the last sector will be a disadvantage, or vice versa. We will be travelling to Barcelona with some car updates, which I hope will help us to improve our performance. Obviously, I expect more than in the last races. After three retirements in a row, we need to finish this race. I am looking forward, and I think that our performance will be stronger than in the previous races."

Esteban Gutierrez - 

"The Spanish Grand Prix is the beginning of the European season, and where updates to the car will be introduced. For us it is an opportunity to improve our level of competitiveness. I have faith in my team, everyone is doing their best. We are positive and expect to make a step forward. Regarding the track, I really enjoy driving on the Circuit de Catalunya. In every category I have raced in, I have always enjoyed the atmosphere there. Last year was very positive for me because I did the fastest lap in the race. I am fully prepared to go for the maximum and to get the most out of the car."

Giedo Van Der Garde - "It is nice to come back to Europe and especially to Barcelona. The Circuit de Catalunya is a track that I like a lot. We will have some updates and our C33 will weigh less, so it will be interesting to see how the car behaves. I am positive, and I am keen to get back behind the wheel. After FP1 on Friday I will have a full day of testing on Tuesday, so I am looking forward to that."

Article Written By: Amy Hawk.

No copyright infringement intended.

Quotes made by Drivers.

Spanish GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Redbull

First preview quotes for the Spanish GP come from Redbull!

Sebastian Vettel - “Formula One returns to Europe with the Spanish GP. A nice side aspect of that is that we are back in the Energy Station, which provides a lot of space for us and the team - it will become a little bit like home over the next few weeks! The Circuit de Catalunya is varied with 180 degree bends, fast, sweeping corners and elevation changes. There isn’t much opportunity to overtake, so getting a good start position in qualifying will be crucial. The long, fast curves of Montmelo mean that it will suit a car with highly efficient aerodynamics. The track is very challenging on the tyres because of the same very fast corners, so lots of pit stops are likely in the race.”

Daniel Ricciardo - “I’ve always enjoyed the Circuit de Catalunya and think it’s a great track. It’s a ‘bit of everything’ circuit - which is why it’s proved so popular as a testing venue. The first sector is really nice, with the corners all flowing together and the second sector, while a bit more technical, is also really interesting. The final sector is less good but you can understand why they changed it; I assume the old layout was more exciting. It’s a good track to defend on, but one that demands a lot of concentration and the right set-up. The trade-off is that you need fairly low downforce on the long main straight but that compromises the rest of your lap and makes the car difficult to control. Finding the right balance isn’t simple.”

Article Written By: Amy Hawk.

No copyright infrongement intended.

Quotes made by Drivers.

Spanish GP: Circuit Preview

(I do not own this image. Image belongs to: www.ticketsgpbarcelona.com)

Alright, time for the 2014 Circuit Preview of the Spanish GP!

What was once called the Circuit De Catalunya is now called the Circuit De Barcelona-Catalunya and is located in Montmeló, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. The circuit opened in 1991 and has 16 turns. This race has a total of 66 laps and the circuit runs Clockwise.

The circuit is 2.892 Miles in length and jas a capacity of around 140,700 - This is one of the circuits that has the most round shapes in the layout.

Now, let's go ahead and take a look back at the 2013 Spanish Grand Prix.

Things looked good for Nico Rosberg who snagged Pole Position for the Mercedes AMG Petronas team on Saturday, but unfortunately he wasn't even able to make the podium that following Sunday. Instead it was a double Ferrari Podium with Alonso winning the race and his then team-mate, Felipe Massa coming in 3rd. Kimi Raikkonen who was driving for Lotus-Renault, finished in Second.

Retirements during the race were: Jean-Eric Vergne with Collision Damage, Romain Grosjean with Suspension issues and Giedo Van Der Garde with wheel problems.

Fastest lap of the race went to rookie, Esteban Gutierrez in the Sauber.

This year will hopefully bring just as many fans to the circuit!

Article Written By: Amy Hawk.

No Copyright Infringement Intended.

Spanish GP: Schedule

Alright, we're heading into the 5th GP week of the 2014 F1 season and the next race will be held in Spain, so here is the schedule! Remember, the times are local times for Barcelona, Spain. If you'd like the times converted to your local location, just let me know!

SCHEDULE:

May 8th - Thursday

10:00 - 12:00 - Pit Lane Walk (For 3-Day Ticket Holders)
15:00 - Press Conference (Located In Press Room)
16:00 - 19:00 - Pit Lane Walk (For 3-Day Ticket Holders)

May 9th - Friday

08:45 - 09:45 - Paddock Club Pit Lane Walk
10:00 - 11:30 - Free Practice #1
12:50 - 13:45 - Paddock Club Pit Lane Walk
14:00 - 15:30 - Free Practice #2
16:00 - 17:00 - Press Conference (Located In Press Room)

May 10th - Saturday

08:30 - 09:15 - Team Pit Stop Practice
08:30 - 09:35 - Paddock Club Pit Lane Walk
11:00 - 12:00 - Free Practice #3
13:00 - 13:45 - Paddock Club Pit Lane Walk
14:00 - Qualifying

May 11th - Sunday

12:25 - 13:15 - Paddock Club Pit Lane Walk
12:30 - Drivers Track Parade
12:45 - 13:15 - Starting Grid Presentation
13:46 - National Anthem
14:00 - Race

Article Written By: Amy Hawk.
No Copyright Infringement Intended.