Spanish Grand Prix — 2018. Pre-Race Insights
Circuit de Barcelona — Catalunya, has always been an interesting track with the very first turn out of the sixteen throughout being one of the most crucial overtaking points. Straights are another overwhelming factor on the track which means drivers cannot flinch at breaking points if they want to stay on track. To get the best out of the car, drivers will be looking to take the fastest line possible which means going over the apexes and using as much kerbs as possible; which can be tricky and upset the dynamics of the car and it’s quite possible that some of the drivers lose control in these sections.The circuit however is a pristine track where a number of Formula One tests have been held before the start of each season.
The track has been recently resurfaced so we expect less abrasion levels compared to previous years. Pirelli have also reduced the tread depth on the current tires which will have an interesting effect on tire wear and finding the optimum operating temperature window throughout the weekend.
The Spanish GP tradition of the teams’ first updates on their cars for the year means we motorsport enthusiasts are usually eager to see how the cars perform on the track with them. However this season has seen a fair share of minor updates early on, so some of the teams rolled their cars out on the track with little or no changes as compared to the previous race, for example Toro Rosso.
We expected the Mclaren to introduce massive upgrades for Barcelona and the hope is that they can challenge the front three and make it a four horse race for the championship. The Mclaren car features numerous updates although the one which stands out the most is the updated nose with three “nostrils” which is somewhat similar to what Sauber and Mercedes use.
Mercedes and Redbull have been introducing tiny upgrades every race so their car will not look radically different for the weekend, but we expect them to be rolling out minor changes to optimize certain areas of the car.Ferrari are trying out a new mirror design attached to the halo as opposed to the body of the car, the update looks to address visibility and ofcourse improve aerodynamics.
Force India will be looking to address the issue they have been dealing with in the past couple of races which is; the CFD simulations and wind tunnel testing of the aerodynamic package has been in agreement with each other but strangely enough, the numbers on the track are telling a different story. They are bringing in a new floor which includes the under body and barge boards in an attempt to rectify this issue and tie up the overall performance of the car.
It’s going to be an exciting race and we can expect to see a lot of incidents right from the first lap. 20 Formula 1 cars with over 100 kilos of fuel onboard and cold tires heading into the first corner. Expect fireworks.
We hope this pre-race insight has helped you learn more about the teams and where they stand and what to expect going into Sunday.
Head over to our Post-Race article once you have enjoyed the race. Keep tuning in to The Automotive Anecdotes for your weekly dose on all things four wheels.
