Former Minardi driver Luis Perez Sala advised on the layout of the track and it follows the principles of many modern circuits with a long straight and a number of high-speed corners, making the aerodynamic efficiency of cars particularly important. The nature of the track is such that it ‘loads' the left front corner of a car particularly heavily, causing understeer problems.
Changes made since the 2006 event, however, have removed two of the faster corners at the end of the lap, reducing speeds onto the main straight with the introduction of a tight left-right chicane. The tarmac in the revised section is reportedly slippery, and the new chicane has yet to receive the backing of the drivers, who feel it spoils the flow of the circuit. Elsewhere, the wall at turn three has been moved back to improve safety.
The Circuit de Catalunya hosts many pre-season tests so it is one of the most familiar venues on the
F1 calendar. However, its high-speed nature makes it a physically tough challenge for drivers, although by this stage of the season, they will have reached a good level of race fitness. For the huge amount of spectators who flock to the circuit on race day, it is a well laid-out circuit, with easy access and good viewing positions that give a stadium-style ambience.
THE WINNER?
Once again, current form makes it difficult to look beyond
McLaren and Ferrari when it comes to picking potential winners. Ferrari topped three of the four days in Barcelona testing last week – with
Red Bull claiming the other – suggesting Kimi Raikkonen or Felipe Massa may be favourite, but McLaren arrived at the test with a radical aero package – and with both its drivers topping the championship table. If ‘people power' comes into the equation, the Silver Arrows may move ahead in the favourite stakes, with Alonso able to call on the vocal Spanish crowd and
Lewis Hamilton carrying the backing of his new British fanbase as he chases a first F1 win. Beyond this quartet, the rest are chasing scraps from the podium.
LAST SEASON:
Fernando Alonso made a little bit of history as he continued his early season march by taking the first home win for a Spanish driver. Unable to live with the local favourite, Michael Schumacher settled for splitting the Renaults, with Felipe Massa following Giancarlo Fisichella home in fourth for formation finish.
Kimi Raikkonen, Nick Heidfeld and both Hondas scored - a situation the latter would like to repeat this season. There was no joy for
Juan Pablo Montoya, however, as the Colombian spun out early on...
1.
Fernando Alonso Spain
Renault-Renault 66 laps
1hr 26m 21.759s
2.
Michael Schumacher Germany
Ferrari-Ferrari +18.502
3.
Giancarlo Fisichella Italy
Renault-Renault +23.951
4.
Felipe Massa Brazil
Ferrari-Ferrari +29.859
5.
Kimi Raikkonen Finland
McLaren-Mercedes +56.875
6.
Jenson Button Britain
Honda-Honda +58.347
7.
Rubens Barrichello Brazil
Honda-Honda +1 lap
8.
Nick Heidfeld Germany
BMW Sauber +1 lap
