After a relaxing 3 week break, Formula One finally returns to Europe at the wonderfully changeable Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona, Spain.
Circuit de Catalunya was introduced to F1 in 1991, the very same year it was built, and has hosted the Spanish Grand Prix ever since then. However since the circuit is used so frequently for testing, it has been discussed that races should move elsewhere in the near future as the mechanics and drivers are becoming "too used to the track". In 2013 it was meant to be that Catalunya would alternate with the Valencia Street Circuit each year, but this was not to be as Valencia pulled out due to financial problems, making Catalunya the sole host of the Spanish Grand Prix
Before 2007, Catalunya's long, sweeping final two turns used to set up some very interesting overtakes for both the pit straight and first corner - one of the most popular overtaking points. This was because cars could follow very closely to eachother through the turns and were therefore set up brilliantly to slipstream down the main straight and out break the car in front into the first corner. An excellent spectators spot. However in 2007 officials introduced a chicane between the two corners in an attempt to aid overtaking, but this has yet to show much effect. This chicane does not show up in Moto GP races held at the circuit, and they still use the pre-2007 layout.
Notable happenings at the track include Fernando Alonso becoming the first Spaniard to win the Spanish Grand Prix, who won the 2006 event from pole position. Michael Schumacher famously claimed a respectable 2nd place in the 1994 Grand Prix despite racing almost half the race in just 5th gear, which would have been much more affected after the chicane was introduced in 2007. He won the Grand Prix two years later to secure his first win for Ferrari. The year that led to the speculation of overtaking problems was the 1999 Catalunya Grand Prix, where only one overtaking move was recorded throughout the entire race. In 2008 Heikki Kovalainen had an 80mph collision with the tyre barrier after leaving the track at turn 9 going at 150mph. He was temporarily unconscious but managed to show some thumbs up to spectators as he was stretchered away. In 2012, known best to have the most exciting first half of a season this decade, Pastor Maldonado became the first Venezuelan to win a Grand Prix. He scored more points at that race than he did for the entirety of the rest of the season.
2014 Spanish Grand Prix
Pole: Lewis Hamilton - 1:25.232
Race Win: Lewis Hamilton - 1:41:05:155
Podium: 1st) Hamilton 2nd) Rosberg (merely 0.6s behind) 3rd) Ricciardo
Quote ( Abhishek Bhardwaj @ May 9th 2015,16:43:02 )
Never mind his qualifying...I am sure he has already reserved a Top 4 or 5 spot in the race.
depends on the start he gets off the line, if he gets away slowly he'l be up for a long day of blocking
By seeing his performance in the latest of the races, I don't think so.....
Let's give him a chance...
Though, I am going mad over Vijay Mallya. He is throwing money over the f**king Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL, but cannot afford to give money in Force India. :(
next time someone says maldonado is shit, i'm gonna show them the video in the OP and then the race result
Quote ( Abhishek Bhardwaj @ May 9th 2015,16:53:27 )
Though, I am going mad over Vijay Mallya. He is throwing money over the f**king Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL, but cannot afford to give money in Force India. :(
Stating "He's such a shit quali driver" when he's evidently not a shit quali driver is the main thing. Would you say Michael Schumacher is a shit quali driver after realising that Rosberg beat him in quali 41-17 while they were team mates at Mercedes?
E: Had you said "He's been such a shit quali driver this year" then I'd have agreed with you. Or even if you'd said since he moved to Ferrari.
Just had a proper look at qualifying results and interesting to see the cars up to 11th line up 2 by 2. I think that is a perfect representation to see how much the car effects you in modern F1.
It's mentioned in this article although Kimi has said it was his choice to remove the upgrades as he did not feel comfortable with the carl, although he ran them on friday practice
Quote ( Alex Nikodem-Wing @ May 10th 2015,13:29:20 )
Just had a proper look at qualifying results and interesting to see the cars up to 11th line up 2 by 2. I think that is a perfect representation to see how much the car effects you in modern F1.
Using only half the data as it fits your point great work :)
Also you would notice Nasr matched his q1 time in q2 he would of actually started ahead of the Mclarens
Don't you love our Max. Speaks German, English & Italian without accent. Actually just drives fast and not crashes to be noticed. AND, let everybody forget about Jos along the way. And all that while not even holding a civilian drivers license.
Using only half the data as it fits your point great work :)Also you would notice Nasr matched his q1 time in q2 he would of actually started ahead of the Mclarens
Didn't watch qualifying and just looked at results not times so didn't realise that,