The European leg of back-to-back F1 races is coming to an end. The Spanish GP is the last of the triple-header and will serve as a prelude to the Canadian GP. Max Verstappen secured first place at the Imola GP, and Lando Norris won the historic race in Monaco, making the fight for the top spot in the Formula 1 rankings even tighter.
In this F1 Spanish GP Preview, we’ll take a look at some of the key stories ahead of the race in Catalunya.
McLaren and the Flexible Front Wings
Jos Verstappen was overjoyed when the FIA decided to ban McLaren’s flexible front wings for the remainder of the season. The former Formula 1 driver said it was better to get rid of them to make the sport more competitive and prevent races from being dominated by a single team, which makes them monotonous. Of course, when some aren’t benefiting, they start to complain.
The trend in recent F1 seasons has been total dominance by teams like Mercedes and Red Bull. But Verstappen Sr. has a point—when cars are more evenly matched, the sport becomes more exciting for fans and fairer for the drivers.
Weather Conditions
Barcelona is expected to be hot. That’s something both Formula 1 teams and drivers need to take into account. Car performance—especially tire wear—won’t be the same, with rubber degradation happening faster than usual. In addition, some clouds will show up over the circuit. There’s currently no sign of rain, but teams are getting ready just in case. Winds are also expected to pick up, especially from behind the cars heading into Turn 1.
Mercedes, the Team That Needs a Comeback
Mercedes had a rough outing in Monaco. Russell finished 11th after some track limits violations, while Antonelli ended up 18th. For the ninth race on the F1 schedule, Mercedes will need to get back on the path of solid results they were showing before Monaco.
At F1 Sprint News, we’ve got full coverage of the Spanish GP and the latest F1 news.