2017 Spanish Grandprix - Barcelona

[Nitrodaze]

Formally the Circuit de Catalunya, now called Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. A complete lap of this track is 4.655 kilometer and a full race is 66 laps in the baking Catalunyan sun, covering a race distance of 307 kilometers. The track has 16 corners, seven of which are tight torturing chicanes and about 6 fast swooping corners. There is one major long straight which may benefit cars with good engine grunt like Mercedes and Ferrari.

Kimi Raikonen holds the race lap record of 1:21.670 with the Ferrari F2008 in 2008. The Ferrari 056 engine in the F2008 was a 2398cc V8 (90°) naturally aspirated engine. It would be interesting to see if the modern hybrid engine can match or break this lap record this weekend. The fastest lap ever done on this track was by Rubens Barrichello at 1:19.954 in Q2 of the 2009 season. Have a look at the video below at a fast Ferrari lap on this circuit.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QS2jgU7TXC8


Circuit de Catalunya was the scene of much controversy in 2016 when the two Mercedes of Rosberg and Hamilton took each other out.


Within the Mercedes camp, loyaties were divided, senior Mercedes officials were quoted in some tabloid saying Hamilton was stupid and caused the crash. For many, it was the deciding point for the outcome of the 2016 driver championship and remains controversial todate. Compared to 2016, the current 2017 season so far, is sort of an anti-climax to the 2016 season where we experienced a monumental rivalry not seen since the Prost-Senna rivalry.

The 2017 Spanish GP promises to be a resumption of the head to head between Hamilton and Vettel that we all want to see.