After the season's three opening 'flyaway' races, a definite pattern is emerging, but nothing to suggest how the world championship is going to work out.
Three races, three different winners, and the one remaining frontrunner without a victory to his name share a three-way lead in the championship.
Kimi Raikkonen,
Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa have all topped the podium, leaving
Lewis Hamilton to complete the quartet, and the Briton's performances so far suggest that it won't be long. Surprisingly, Hamilton did not test in Spain in the run-up to the opening grand prix of the European season, but that does not mean he will not be a factor this weekend.
The Circuit de Catalunya is well-known to all who will race there this week, having been a vital part of
Formula One's testing schedule for many a year. As a result, there could be less time spent on track in practice, a pretty predictable qualifying line-up, and teams putting both their cars in close proximity on the grid. However, the battle for supremacy between
McLaren and
Ferrari will enliven the scrap for pole, while the closely-fought midfield will be out to prove just who came up with the best developments since Bahrain.
FIA F1 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP NEWS:
Four weeks between races – unprecedented in ‘modern Formula One' – has allowed for the news and rumour mills to work overtime on several fronts.
Lewis Hamilton kicked things off back in Bahrain, with his third podium in as many starts extending his reputation as a record breaker. The Briton claimed his second straight runners-up spot, this time behind
Felipe Massa, to take a share of the championship lead heading back to Europe
