This weekend, the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya (Montmeló) hosts the 10th round of the championship of a total of 24 races. All teams want to take advantage of the characteristics of this track, an ideal circuit to understand how to improve and get the most out of the car with different types of load and in different types of corners. And therefore, it seems the perfect track to see the truest performance of the cars. We come from the last four rounds where the champion Max Verstappen, with his Red Bull, suffered more than expected and with McLaren, Ferrari and even Mercedes in Canada capable of fighting for everything in same level as from Milton Keynes. But perhaps the image is not entirely true.
The Red Bull suffers when you have to climb the curves more often and on bumpier circuits, such as Imola and Canada. He couldn’t capitalize on his good break in Miami because the tires barely stayed awake on that asphalt. And in Monaco, between the walls, they didn’t adapt well either. Barcelona is something else, a more ‘normal’ and representative circuit, and there you will see a more authentic image. And also, maybe some teams can try the long-awaited pizeas.
In that context, it seems like an important weekend for the two Spaniards. On the one hand, for Carlos Sainz and Ferrari, because they have to finish where they are with some improvements from Imola that do not represent the expected step forward. Will he be in the battle for the full Sainz? The asphalt will reveal it. And on the other hand is Fernando Alonso, with a car that should improve a lot because it started a few steps behind what it did last year compared to those at the top. The car has improved compared to last year, but less than Red Bull, McLaren, Ferrari or Mercedes.
He is fighting differently today and that is what Fernando Alonso said in the official press conference before the Spanish F1 GP held today at the Circuit. Barcelona is the so-called ‘laboratory circuit’ and the main setting for Fernando Alonso to continue working in the shadows in finding the right path in the settings of a car that has lost a corner’s speed compared to the beginning of the year, but above all it took away the confidence of its drivers to push the limit.
“Barcelona allows you to predict what will happen in 3 or 4 races but not over and Barcelona loses a little importance”Alonso commented on the matter, along with the Barcelona news where he hopes his car will make the step up.
“We have clear ideas where to improve but I won’t share them. Obviously, qualifying is one of our strengths and the race pace is a bit weak. The pace and straight line are good, as well DRS , but we are bringing a new package that leaves us, hopefully, in a good place,” he argued.
Fernando Alonso arrives at the Spanish Formula 1 GP aware that the Catalan track may not best suit the characteristics of his car, but with the same enthusiasm as ever to try to shine in front of the thousands of fans who will support him at a Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya where a packed house is expected despite the threat of rain ahead of Sunday’s race. Most of all, with the aim of developing the car with the arrival of new features.
The Spanish driver arrived at his home race with a car that needed to be improved after the introduction of the evolutions brought to Imola did not initially achieve the expected results. From there, Fernando had to work hard on the settings to give his engineers the necessary information to find the right path. In Canada, the car performed better but the track helped and there is still a lot of work to do. In Montreal the man from Oviedo is back in the points and will fight for it this weekend in Montmeló.
“WHAT WOULD YOU TELL ADRIAN NEWEY TO COME IN?…
All this, in a context full of rumors about the possible arrival of the great engineer, F1 guru, Adrian Newey on the green team. Regarding this, Alonso did not want to share much news and downplayed the rumours.
“I read the rumours, the news, but everything came from the same source and the same website. On that page I will advertise for Ferrari in Canada… so the rumors are rumours. What What should I say to Adrian? That this is between him and me.”he declared.
THE FACT THAT THERE ARE TWO SPANIARDS ON THE GRILL
“Nothing much has changed. It’s great to have two Spanish drivers. And next year is the tenth anniversary of the two Spanish drivers. The support has been incredible in good times and bad. And now with the two drivers there are two possibility, although this “I think we have only one year with Carlos. I don’t think I will be able to fight for great things, but I will do my best.”
ASTON MARTIN PERFORMANCE
“Competitive in Barcelona? Let’s see. Every race this year is a surprise, sometimes for the better and sometimes not. We have to wait and see. Canada is one of the best weekends for us after some bad ones in Imola and Monaco. But let’s say we’d rather have rain on Sunday because we’re not sure how well we’ll do in the dry season.”
CAR IMPROVEMENT IN CANADA: IS THIS THE BEGINNING OF A TREND CHANGE?
“I would love to say yes, but Canada was a particular track and we did well. We will have to wait two or three circuits to understand our package and its results. We have to wait. But I hope so.”
Source: La Verdad
I’m Rose Herman and I work as an author for Today Times Live. My expertise lies in writing about sports, a passion of mine that has been with me since childhood. As part of my job, I provide comprehensive coverage on everything from football to tennis to golf.
