Will the new layout make for better racing?
After years of fans asking, Formula 1 has decided to ditch the final chicane at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya in order to try and make the racing more entertaining. I definitely think they’ll be more chances to overtake now as they’ll come into the final corner with more speed, but I’m still not convinced it’s going to make the race too much more entertaining. However, it surely can’t get any worse!
Lance Stroll needs to find some pace
After a pretty positive start to the season, Lance Stroll has had a couple of terrible races which have seen him score 0 points (Miami and Monaco). Lance really needs to step up the pace and find some performance not only because he’s being destroyed by Fernando Alonso, but also because it’s starting to cost Aston Martin in the Constructors’ Championship. Aston Martin head into the weekend only 1 point ahead of Mercedes in second place and that’s mainly down to the fact that Stroll is 66 points behind his teammate in the Drivers’ Standings.
Can Alpine keep up their good momentum?
Alpine currently find themselves 5th in the Constructors’ Championship with 35 points to their name. Unfortunately for Alpine, they don’t have much chance of finishing any higher in the standings, but that doesn’t mean they can’t get themselves in the fight for the higher points-paying positions. Alpine looked quick in Miami as they came home 8th and 9th (6 points) whilst Esteban Ocon took home a brilliant podium in Monaco whilst Pierre Gasly finished in a solid 7th (21 points). If you take into consideration that Alpine could’ve/should’ve scored big points in Australia, it’s only Baku where they’ve looked weak. The French outfit will be hoping for another double-points finish this weekend and I expect them to do it.
Can Nyck de Vries build from a positive Monaco Grand Prix?
It’s definitely fair to say that Nyck de Vries had his strongest weekend as an Alpha Tauri driver last time out in Monaco. De Vries qualified 12th on the Saturday before he brought the car home in the same position in pretty tricky conditions. Perhaps the more impressive thing for Nyck was the fact that he managed to beat his teammate who started in front of him. Whilst he didn’t score points, Nyck de Vries will be hoping that Monaco was the turning point in his season and he’s coming to a track that he knows well. De Vries previously won around Catalunya in Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 (which was impressive given the drivers in the race) and this was also the first race he won on his way to the 2019 FIA Formula 2 Championship.
Will we see a Spanish driver on the Podium?
Both Fernando Alonso and Carlos Sainz come into their home races looking for at least a Podium. The last time a Spanish crowd got to see a home driver on the Podium in a Formula 1 race was all the way back in 2013 which funnily enough was Fernando Alonso’s last win in F1. Aston Martin will certainly hope their car suits this track whilst Carlos Sainz will definitely be aiming for his first podium of the season. I certainly think one of them can finish on the Podium come Sunday.
My Predictions for Spain Qualifying:
Max Verstappen
Sergio Perez
Fernando Alonso
Lewis Hamilton
George Russell
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