Spanish Grand Prix Weekend Recap

Written By Katherine Bowe

pre weekend thought:

  • how do we already have another race omg

Track Specs:

  • 66 laps

  • circuit length: 4.657 km

  • 2 DRS Zones

  • 14 turns

Free Practice:

Nothing happened over the span of our 3 free practice sessions that caused me to really stop and say, “things have the potential to get weird in qualifying” I was hoping for that since we had a few of our teams come to Barcelona with upgrades to their cars but nothing stood out to me. It did solidify though that we are more than likely looking at a McLaren 1-2 for the start of Sundays grid but a Red Bull or Mercedes maybe coming in that 3rd spot. Barcelona is a weird one with the long distance before turn 1 so after tuning in, I have a strong feeling I will be holding my breath from lights out until the end of lap 1.

Qualifying:

live thoughts and reactions

  • This best of the rest for P3 is a jinx even though we are only in Q1, I have a feeling its a jinx

  • I know they keep mentioning the long corners but sitting and watching this quali its really sinking in how long they are

  • I want kimi to find his stride again this weekend watching him race is quickly becoming my fav

  • Alpine having an issue in the pit lane honestly shut the team down

  • I know williams is not supposed to be doing well because they are slow in the corners but seeing Carlos out in Q1 in a home GP hurts

Out in Q1:

  1. Nico Hulkenberg

  2. Esteban Ocon

  3. Carlos Sainz

  4. Frano Colapinto

  5. Yuki Tsunoda

  • Getting glimpses of Franco walking down the pit lane is so sad but I did giggle

  • Nico seriously is the funniest commentator in this sport because he simply doesn’t care if his fan tendencies come out

  • you know what end qualifying because Alex on pole with Ollie P2 would be fantastic

  • Bortoleto?? Where are you coming from???

  • Why would they even mention r***

  • George making a confident comment? Have you met George? please discuss something new.

  • Nico live reacting to Alexs commentary on the radio is so funny

Out in Q2:

  1. Alex Albon

  2. Gabriel Bortoleto

  3. Liam Lawson

  4. Lance Stroll

  5. Ollie Bearman

  • Them saying, “Unless Max can surprise with something”. Have you met Max? Like we are talking about Max Verstappen right? Sometimes I want to ask Crofty and the commentary team “are you dumb”

  • I hate how excited Crofty gets in Q3 even though we have 7 minutes left in the session but the way he just covered Landos lap makes me wish it was the final run and hes secured pole

  • Lance has been noted by race director for failing to follow weigh in instructions which is such a dumb thing to be noted for honestly

  • Fernando celebrating a P5 lap tells you all you need to know about the state of Aston Martin

  • Im sorry but why isnt charles in the car

  • Did Lando take the flag? Nico is right that he seemed to be over driving

  • I wanted Lewis P3 so badly but its FINE

  • Nico talking about how Max has traumatized the Mclaren drivers at the starts on Sundays is so funny yet so real to me

Top 10:

  1. Oscar Piastri

  2. Lando Norris

  3. Max Verstappen

  4. George Russell

  5. Lewis Hamilton

  6. Kimi Antonelli

  7. Charles Leclerc

  8. Pierre Gasly

  9. Isack Hadjar

  10. Fernando Alonso

Post Qualifying:

Something odd happened in the post on Saturday where you expect nothing major to be announced because we are all shifting focus to Sunday. Aston Martin announced that Lance Stroll will not be racing on Sunday due to wrist pain that will require surgery.

First of all, hopefully everything is fine and he recovers. But what is odd to me is that they said that he had been experiencing pain and discomfort for around 6 races. Why would they let him race through that period with obviously a discomfort so clear that he is now requiring surgery. Just an odd team move and to me shows that there isn’t a driver safety first energy happening which is concerning.

Now, you’re probably wondering, who is replacing Lance on the grid Sunday? The answer is: no one. Since Lance went through qualifying, Aston Martin is unable to replace him with their reserve driver Felipe Drugovich. So, moving into the race on Sunday we will only be running 19 cars.

Sunday Strategy:

Based on what we saw from the cars through free practice sessions the hard tyre is a struggle for the cars and drivers to handle. This is a track with high tyre degradation which means we are more than likely looking at a 2 stop race.

The best strategy we have for Sunday is to start on the soft tyres, pitting between lap 13 and 19, switching to the mediums, and then pitting again for the softs to end the race between laps 42 and 48. What everyone should keep in mind is whether people will be starting on used soft tyres or new soft tyres. This will obviously effect whether they are willing to push more to start or whether we see a pit stop sooner in that pit window.

Race:

live thoughts and reactions

  • That is too long of a run to turn one for me to function

  • Everyone is on soft tyres except Yuki who started on Mediums from the pit lane

  • Dream start for ferrari? okay say less.

  • George concerned with the moving under braking- man is traumatized from Monaco

  • Charles start is insane to see on the replay

  • So Ferrari this is nuts lets just make sure we have both cars on track until the end of the race

  • oh lewis is really struggling with the rear of the car

  • aaaannnnndddd there we go with team orders to swap positions

  • Something is healing about Nico Rosberg calling lewis the greatest

  • so many early pit stops in laps 9 & 10 these mediums and new softs are going to have to survive for so long

  • Isack Hadjar using the power of PSG to keep that car in P6

  • Sometimes Lewis just sounds so sad in the team radio

  • Justice for Williams because what the heck is wrong with their car this weekend

  • a 3 second stop??? excuse me?? get it together or Im showing up to Woking

  • i need someone to explain the mclaren strategy to me maybe its because im sick but I am not comprehending

  • Albon on his 2nd front wing??? in one race??? Im out

  • The fact that they handed Alex a 10 second penalty as they were trying to retire the car seems a bit mean

  • Max on the 3 stop….. ooof

  • giving Bernie Collins her roses for how wickedly cool and talented she is made my day

  • Liam is a human wrecking ball sir stop harming everyone

  • !OLLIE PRAISE!

  • Calling for a Liam penalty IKTR

  • I feel we are running this whole race on 1/2 speed

  • Hannah on Red Bull’s pitwall looks way too stressed she needs a vacation

  • omg ferrari what the heck with these pitstops

  • that was so funny on red bulls part not notifying yuki

  • max has been complaining about the car all day hes about to take matters into his own hands and no one on the pitwall will know whats going on

  • what is with the battles right before the blue flag today that is simply the funniest thing

  • Kimi what just happened ooooo now its chaos

  • how are we double stacking but having a 3.3 second stop on car 1

  • the hard tyre for max has confused both of us

  • kimi was getting to powerful as a rookie so the universe is humbling him

  • If ive said it once, Ive said it a million times… I hate safety car restarts

  • what the heck just happened with Oscar on the brakes

  • what what what what what what what

  • im stressed

  • charles has been biding his time all race this was madness

  • this is a nightmare race for Max

  • this post race is going to be nuts

Post weekend:

  • I need a nap

What a way to end a triple header! Clearly, we all need a weekend off before heading to Canada. As I am typing out this out, Max was handed a 10 second penalty for his collision with George.

Well, enjoy your week & have a relaxing rest of your Sunday. I think I am going to buy F1 legos now.

Talk soon.

Katherine Bowe
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Monaco Grand Prix Weekend Recap