Spanish GP Thread - Contains Spoilers of Race/Qualifying

[Fernando]

First topic message reminder :

F1 returns to its spiritual home of Europe this weekend, with the now traditional opener of this phase of the season at the Circuit de Catalunya in Spain.

Following four flyaway races, this race is poised to be the first time any major upgrade packages are brought to the new-for-2014 cars due to the proximity to the teams' bases.

The 2014 Spanish GP in a nutshell

Track: Circuit de Catalunya. Permanent circuit.

Race start time: 1pm UK time Sunday (2pm local).

Laps: 66.

Track length: 4.655 km.

Tyre allocation: Hard (orange) and Medium (white).

DRS Zones: Two with separate detection points (Pit Straight and between Turns 9 and 10).

Driver steward: Danny Sullivan.

Lap record: Kimi Raikkonen - 1:21.670 (Ferrari; 2008).

2013 pole: Nico Rosberg - 1:20.718 (Mercedes).

Form guide

Fernando Alonso took his second win on home soil last year meaning he and Kimi Raikkonen (two) are the only multiple winners currently on the grid. Both though are a long way behind six-time victor Michael Schumacher in the overall victory tallies. Of the other current F1 drivers, Jenson Button, Felipe Massa, Sebastian Vettel and Pastor Maldonado have all stood atop the podium in Spain.

2013 result: 1. Fernando Alonso (Ferrari); 2. Kimi Raikkonen (Lotus); 3. Felipe Massa (Ferrari); 4. Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull); 5. Mark Webber (Red Bull); 6. Nico Rosberg (Mercedes); 7. Paul Di Resta (Force India); 8. Jenson Button (McLaren); 9. Sergio Perez (McLaren); 10. Daniel Ricciardo (Toro Rosso).

Last five winners in Spain: 2013: Fernando Alonso (Ferrari); 2012: Pastor Maldonado (Williams); 2011: Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull); 2010: Mark Webber (Red Bull); 2009: Jenson Button (Brawn).

Tyre allocation

For the second time this season, after Malaysia, Pirelli are bringing the hardest two tyres in their range to the Spanish GP. The orange-marked hard tyre will serve as the weekend's 'prime' rubber and the white-marked medium the 'option' choice.

'The Montmelo circuit is well known for putting high-energy loads through the tyres, while ambient temperatures can also be notable at the Spanish Grand Prix,' Pirelli explained. 'Tarmac roughness is quite high, and the tyres on the left-hand side are particularly stressed.'

Sky Bet odds

After the first victory hat-trick of his F1 career, Lewis Hamilton unsurprisingly remains the overwhelming favourite to make it four in a row at Barcelona. Sky Bet are offering odds of 4/7 that the Briton does so, with his Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg more enticingly priced at 9/4 to end Hamilton's winning run.

Fernando Alonso is 14/1 third favourite to win on home soil again, but Red Bull at priced shorter than Ferrari (9/1 v 12/1) to become the first non-Mercedes victors of 2014.

Source:SkySports.com

[GSC]

Seems he has more issues this morning

[GSC]

Hamiltons very quick when he puts it all together. I merely dislike the hypocrisy aimed at putting Vettel down.

[mystiroakey]

It's as if you haven't watched racing gsc. You haven't seen the over takes and grid place pick ups from Lh. It's all in the watching not results. Lh and alonso are real racers from the back or middle. And have  proved it countless times.

[mystiroakey]

No gsc you are taking it personally. I have not put Vettel down. You are being over sensitive.

[GSC]

Each to their own. I don't see either slowing down when ahead to have a battle with 2nd place. This is professional sport. They live to win.

[mystiroakey]

Well Vettel starts in 15th


Perfect time to step up and see if he can take top 5

[GSC]

I think the only team I haven't been accused of hate/putting down etc on this site is Forest

[mystiroakey]

Really??

[GSC]

Might as well complete the set.

Forest are poop.

Oh yeah, United in particular. Kinda proved right on that one this year

[mystiroakey]

You loved moyes though didn't you?

[GSC]

Yeah but I thought he'd struggle this season without significant investment. Their squad really isn't very good, the PL just sucked last year

[mystiroakey]

True. Moyes had an impossible job
 Still hasn't got what it takes to manage at the top though

[GSC]

Maybe. Conjecture at this point though

[Bull]

Boring.

[Guest]

That's Barcelona for you.

All tactical now for Mercedes, what tyres at what time. Maldonado providing the usual crash action.

[GSC]

Nice to see Grosjean take the car by the scruff of the neck

Thought he might be a wildcard for McLaren next season

[Guest]

Vergne is plagued, its incredible. Unlucky on the track, lucky off the track.....if you've seen his other half   

Grosjeans struggling now. Looks like Rosberg might end up edging this, better package today. C`mon Lewis!

[GSC]

Not sure about this changing the balance of the car. Park ferme rules apply no?

[Born Slippy]

Give this years Merc to any driver and they could win the WDC.

Doesn't lessen the achievement any, by the same vein it doesn't lessen Vettels. Likewise Hamilton had the best car for his WDC. Only Alonso has really competed with a lesser car in the Ferrari.

Ferrari had the best car in the year Hamilton won his title - Ferrari probably also had the best car in 2007 as well.

[GSC]

McLaren cost themselves with the Hamilton/Alonso infighting that season

[beninho]

Going to be a close few laps. Good drive by vetell.

[Guest]

Rosberg needs to win this, Hamiltons got issues, dodgy pits & turns of the wing he didn't want. Psychologically huge this for Nico.

[Guest]

YES!!!

Rosberg simply not good enough.

[mystiroakey]

Vettel did what i said he needed to and well played- drive of the day.

LH wasnt getting the luck there- lost 3 odd secs in pitting but again comes in with the win. Great performance.

[mystiroakey]

vettels speed was huge as well- if they can do something with the engine - it isnt a complete wash out for competition. good 3 and 4 for them

[Bull]

Good race for Merc etc. But spectator wise? Boring. 2/10. Worst race I've seen in awhile personally.

[lorus59]

If Alonso and Hamilton are considered the top 2 by a distance, then how come Rosberg is getting so close? Maybe Rosberg is better than people think. I think Vettel did a brilliant job today. Not bad for a third rate driver.

[mystiroakey]

well he did get a lot of help lorus , 3.5 secs up in pits, and hamilton had wing issues all race.

still couldn't get past him-

look fact is- he hasn't beaten him once- but rosberg is a good driver that is for certain- allways has been- he is only 3 pts down in the championship which seems ridiculous considering LH;s basic perfection this season.

lets say h , alonso and vettel are the best drivers out there- they now at last all have good no.2's

in the past that has never been the case. Raikenham and alonso's duel was great today- massa would never have given him that sort of race

[dyrewolfe]

Well, the first 40 or so laps were largely a snore-fest (in fact I did actually doze off for a bit) but it really came alive in the last 15-20.

My driver of the day is Vettel. Drove superbly on a damage-limitation / points-saving strategy and pulled off some very nice overtakes, to finish 4th behind his team mate, having started well down the grid. Another great drive by Ricciardo for his first official podium.

Another flawless drive by Hamilton who was only really troubled when the team put him and Rosberg on different tyre strategies. Some fantastic defensive driving to keep Nico behind him towards the end and a well-deserved victory. Credit to Mercedes for doing everything to give Rosberg a shot at the win and Nico gave it everything, but had to settle for yet another 2nd place in the end.

Great drive by Bottas for a very creditable 5th place.

Another disappointing result for Ferrari, but at least both cars finished in the points and Fernando and Kimi provided some great entertainment with their duel towards the end.

Decent result for Grosjean to get his Lotus in the top 10 and another race where both Force Indias finish and earn points.

On a side note, I don't recall Lewis ever being so chatty on the radio, constantly asking about where he lost time, the gap to Nico etc. (even questioning his front wing setting at one point).

[beninho]

Do people think vetell is 3rd rate? He is very good and when in the best car was unstoppable. And now merc have the best car, with Lewis also being very good it makes him nigh on unstoppable. Its great to see two good drivers in the best car fighting it out. It's what was missed when Sebastian dominated. But nico is Vetter then Webber.

[mystiroakey]

Do people think vetell is 3rd rate? He is very good and when in the best car was unstoppable. And now merc have the best car, with Lewis also being very good it makes him nigh on unstoppable. Its great to see two good drivers in the best car fighting it out. It's what was missed when Sebastian dominated. But nico is Vetter then Webber.

there are a lot of sensitive posters in regards to question marking vettel- He did what i said he should do today and for me it was the drive of the day. But he hasn't been in this position enough to show his actually racing and overtaking credentials.. Todays race shows us a lot more about him than any one of his wins last year.

Many people see vettel as the best driver- that is hog wash- but not one person has called him 3rd rate either which is also hogwash- He is maybe slightly below alonso and LH, at best we can call all 3 equal best

[Guest]

If Alonso and Hamilton are considered the top 2 by a distance, then how come Rosberg is getting so close? Maybe Rosberg is better than people think.

Rosberg in a dominant car, therefore he's always going to be competitive and either win or be second. The car is making him appear closer than what his actual ability is. Fact is, without Hamiltons DNF it would be Hamilton 5 wins, Rosberg 0. Is that close? Hamilton had issues in Bahrain & wasn't the quickest but won. He had issues in Spain, dodgy pit stops, poor communication with his engineers about wing changes & the slower tyre & still won. Rosberg is average n that's how it playing out.

[bogbrush]

If he's average, like Webber, that must mean the Mercedes is more dominant than the RB was last year.

Will the boards be full of folk running Hamilton down for proving nothing this year? Hopefully not.

[banbrotam]

Could that vile racist Spanish crowd be more muted in their cheering of Hamilton. I continue to boycott the Spanish mainland for any of my holidsys

[GSC]

Tbh it's more the Hamilton vs Alonso, blackface family aside.

[banbrotam]

If he's average, like Webber, that must mean the Mercedes is more dominant than the RB was last year.

Will the boards be full of folk running Hamilton down for proving nothing this year? Hopefully not.

For me Rosberg's better than Webber and Hamilton plus Alonso have always been slightly better than Vettel

I think we forget what mental toughness is needed in racing a car that is clearly poorer than the best one. Vettel did well today and this season will arguably make him a better driver like Lewis in 2009

[banbrotam]

Tbh it's more the Hamilton vs Alonso, blackface family aside.

Which ended in 2008, when Fernando walked all the way from the top of the grid to the bottom to warmly congratulate Hamilton

Indeed Alonso, no doubt embarrassed by some of his ignorant countrymen couldn't have been more flattering about Lewis in the last few years, if he'd been his Dad  

[GSC]

Never underestimate the ability of sports fans to hold a grudge

[Born Slippy]

If he's average, like Webber, that must mean the Mercedes is more dominant than the RB was last year.

Will the boards be full of folk running Hamilton down for proving nothing this year? Hopefully not.

For me Rosberg's better than Webber and Hamilton plus Alonso have always been slightly better than Vettel

I think we forget what mental toughness is needed in racing a car that is clearly poorer than the best one. Vettel did well today and this season will arguably make him a better driver like Lewis in 2009

I think its hard to know who is best out of Alonso, Vettel or Hamilton. I would say they are clearly the three best drivers in F1. All I object to is the view that Vettel is far superior to the others.

[CaledonianCraig]

If he's average, like Webber, that must mean the Mercedes is more dominant than the RB was last year.

Will the boards be full of folk running Hamilton down for proving nothing this year? Hopefully not.

I'd put Rosberg above Webber. Rosberg as beaten Michael Schumacher (in the same Mercedes car for three years on the bounce) whilst Webber flirted with beating Vettel in the same car early doors but then fell away. Plus however you view it Vettel an Schumacher were the team No.1's with focus being on them for updates, latest technology, strategies etc. The secret is out about Webber he just wasn't all that great at all and by his own recent admittance his heart wasn't in the sport in the last year or two.

Is the Mercedes more dominant than last year? At the moment I'd say most definitely but lets remember Lewis has already proven himself as a world champion in different circumstances in a different car so he has nothing to prove. In these circumstances he can only beat the 'real' competition in front of him and that is Rosberg and he is doing that.

[GSC]

I'm not sure there's much merit in bringing up Merc Schumacher. Massively faded force

[CaledonianCraig]

I am not saying Rosberg is a world champion-esque driver of course but he is by no means a mug. For all we know he could emerge this year as a champion but I doubt it.

[GSC]

Hes not a mug, hes just closer to the Webber/Button/Massa tier than the top 3

[banbrotam]

Let's be honest Webber was very lucky to be in such a great team, given his limited abilities compared to the others

Not to say he wasn't a good driver, I just don't think he or the likes of Massa are that outstanding, I put them in the 'C' category - where Rosberg, who I think is a good as Button, go in the 'B' one

[CaledonianCraig]

Hes not a mug, hes just closer to the Webber/Button/Massa tier than the top 3

Webber and Massa yes but wouldn't put him in the Button class as he would be above that pair. I do agree that aside though.

[GSC]

Webber was more than decent before last year. Should've been WDC in 2010

[CaledonianCraig]

Webber was more than decent before last year. Should've been WDC in 2010

I would disagree. He got to a point of almost winning in 2010 but finished third in the title race even though the Red Bull was the fastest car on the grid. It was his best season though but still nothing earth shattering.

[liverbnz]

Webber beat every team mate he'd ever competed against before Vettel. In 2010, the championship came down to who was given the better strategy in Abu Dhabi, and that was Vettel.

Webber's last few years in F1 are not really representative of his full career. He was getting on and losing interest rapidly and his top class drives were becoming few and far between. At his best though, his skill is up there with Rosberg and Button - he was a better wheel to wheel racer than both of them for sure. Unfortunately, he seemed to lack the drive to be consistently good for an entire season.

[CaledonianCraig]

Webber was in the best F1 car for four years and never won the world title. Now people may argue that it was because Seb was too good for him and that may or may not have been the case. We are already seeing how a much less experienced driver and team-mate of Vettel is ruffling his feathers in Ricciardo and for all we know he may beat Seb in his first season at the team. How then does that make Webber look?

[liverbnz]

Webber was taking on Vettel at a very different stage of his career. But more to the point, we are only 5 races into a season and in case you haven't noticed Vettel is ahead of Ricciardo. For all we knew in 2009, Webber may have beaten Vettel - but he didn't and the rest is history. And if Ricciardo does beat Vettel, then I would much rather reflect on how good he is rather than how that makes Webber look.

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