Spanish Grand Prix

[Rollo]

No other leading driver has returned from a three year hiatus completely away from racing into a new era.

Niki Lauda.

I do believe that he retired in 1979, then returned in 1982... only to be World Champion in 1984.

[i_max2k2]

Niki Lauda.

I do believe that he retired in 1979, then returned in 1982... only to be World Champion in 1984.

Well your right on the point, he retired when he was 30, returned when he was 33, and I do think he must have had decent practice before his return. And most importantly he won the championship in his 3rd year. So we must give Schumacher more time, before judging him or scrutinizing him barbarically like what the media is doing. I'm glad he is very strong mentally to have said he is very motivated. But I must say even this comparison is not fair, we are talking about 2 totally different times, the cars then and now are very different, just like the personnel handling them.

[Retro Formula 1]

The double standard exists generally, where there is no complaint about Monte Carlo, yet there will be if there is no constant overtaking at Catalunya.

The constant moaning by ANYONE regarding overtaking or "boring races" in f1 should stop now.

Well, sorry to disappoint but the Weather promises to give us one of those horrible exciting races with unpredictability and overtaking.

You may want to sit this race out

[Sleeper]

I disagree completely. The mark of a truly great driver is the ability to drive around problems and Michael himself has shown himself more than capable of doing that, his early record at Ferrari is proof.

We're in a completely different era of highly secialised cars now that have to be driven at or near their limit for them to work anywhere near their potential. Small problems can still be driven around, but large ones definitely cant be side stepped.

Remember that this problem with having an understeery front end due to narrower front tyres is a situation that is new to everyone with the tyre size changes introduced from this season onwards. Nico et al have had as much experience as Michael himself with this kind of handling. Witness how Lewis has coped despite having a similar style to Michael with a preference for quick turn in and a flighty rear end. Whilst he is also trailing his teammate a lack of pace is not one of Lewis's problems. No other leading driver is having as much difficulty adjusting to the new 2010 cars even though some of them are not as talented as Michael. That is worrying.

The understeer problem is Mercedes specific as they seem to be the only team suffering chronic understeer. This is the complete antithesis of his driving style which requires a very pointy front end, possibly to a greater extent than any other driver in F1, and no one can adapt their style to the complete opposite of what they prefer and still expect to be fast, not in this day and age anyway. The hope is that the lengthened wheelbase will give better aero to the front end and help end this problem, then we'll see where Michel is.

Also the sheer size of the gap in pace is in itself a cause for alarm, even Kazuki Nakajima was closer to Nico's raw pace than Michael currently is. That in itself is rather damning. I hope Michael can close the gap for he would be a sight to see if he gets close to his prime.

In the first 3 races Michael was actually getting closer to Nico on pace, and was certainly closer than Nakajima ever got last year. But then came China and god knows what happened there. The two suggestions are that the car was either damaged from those first 3 races and/or the setup they tried didnt solve the understeer problem and just gave them far worse traction and oversteer.

Like I said, if the updates cure the understeer problem, this race could really show us where Shuey is.

[fandango]

Well, sorry to disappoint but the Weather promises to give us one of those horrible exciting races with unpredictability and overtaking.

You may want to sit this race out

It's been a sh**e week weather-wise here in Barcelona. Rain for two days, Monday and Tuesday, and then cloudy with the odd shower since then. Temperatures have really dropped, too.

Not that I'm expecting sympathy from anyone further North, of course

It's going to be a much cooler race this year than usual, which may play havoc with tyres temperatures. There is also the possibility of showers, but it's unlikely to be a repeat of the downpour of 1996.

[F1boat]

Well, sorry to disappoint but the Weather promises to give us one of those horrible exciting races with unpredictability and overtaking.

You may want to sit this race out

This may help Jenson, St. Devote will be happy

[Saint Devote]

Niki Lauda.

I do believe that he retired in 1979, then returned in 1982... only to be World Champion in 1984.

Without wanting to be pedantic - it was just over two years. But it was not at all a different era similar to the change in f1 seen since 2006.

Super Rat won his third race

[Saint Devote]

I'm tipping Lewis to beat Jenson this weekend, well I live in hope..

Jenson has always found Barcelona quite tough so with a car which is more evenly matched with its closest rivals, I think we're in for an exciting race.

Like when he drove the quickest third sector last year and quickly had the Vettel mechanics stopping smiling in their tracks as they were celebrating pole position!

Jenson does find Catalunya tough! Only pole position in 2009

[Saint Devote]

This may help Jenson, St. Devote will be happy

Its not so much an easy call straightforward wet race that Jenson excells at but when conditions are uncertain and the track is just plain slippery.

I have no specific desires for the weather because Jenson can win in any conditions

[Saint Devote]

Well, sorry to disappoint but the Weather promises to give us one of those horrible exciting races with unpredictability and overtaking.

You may want to sit this race out

Heaven forbid! I have NEVER done that. I always find something enjoyable in a grand prix