Formula 1 - 2017

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Sauber boss backs 'franchise' system for F1

Sauber team boss Monisha Kaltenborn says a franchise system would "make sense" for Formula 1, and would help midfield teams shore up a long-term future in the sport.

Kaltenborn opened up on the struggles of the F1 midfield in the latest issue of GP Gazette, outlining her plan for the sport to help ensure smaller teams can survive.

Part of that was a shift to a franchise system, as used in major US sports, which she says would take a lot of the 'fear' away from the midfield teams not flushed with manufacturer money.

"I think it makes sense to have that kind of a system," she said.

"For me the most important thing is that the value of the sport and the value of each team is improved. Because we do ideally want to be in a world where it takes a lot to come in, but then, when you are in, you have a certain income and a certain existence, maybe not guaranteed – that is too strong a word – but given.

"You don't have to fear that you won't be able to exist at this level, because the sport is giving you enough income to have a business that works.

"You don't need to have a huge profit, but one that allows you to be competitive in the sport. Maybe not for the Top 3, but, if you are among 10, in the midfield.

"So that's, I think, the idea behind this and that's something very good for the sport.

"And if we do that kind of a franchise system, I think it's important that the brands which are in the sport are preserved. Because that again adds value to your franchise.

"It's definitely something which will also appeal to people who are thinking about coming into the sport, because they know that what they are getting has a value and their future is in a way safe.

"Because if you fall out of the group, where do you go? There's no league under F1 where you can go and where you can say: 'you are now in the lower league, you can try and come up again.'

"That's not how our sport works.

"So for anybody who wants to invest in the sport, you have to give the comfort that, yes, you can survive in here."

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MARKO: I WANT TO SEE IT ON THE STOPWATCH IN BARCELONA

While Red Bull are hoping that the Spanish Grand Prix will see them among the pace setting Mercedes and Ferrari teams, Helmut Marko is not convinced that Renault will provide them with a power unit capable of running at the front once again.

After a decidedly low key Russian Grand Prix where Max Verstappen finished a distant fifth and Daniel Ricciardo retired with brakes on fire after five laps, Barcelona cannot come fast enough for the energy drinks outfit.

But according to Auto Motor und Sport, Marko is playing down expectations, “The braking defect is caused by the fact that we have drive to the limit of the car to heat up the rear tyres beyond the temperature of the rim.”

Regarding the failure during the early stage of the race at Sochi, he said, “After the restart, a temperature sensor in Ricciardo’s car failed. The brakes were getting too hot without it becoming evident on the data we had. Otherwise we would have told him immediately to shift the brake balance forward, just as we did with Max.”

“It was too late for Ricciardo so we could not warn him. It was, in principle, the same defect as we had in Bahrain,” added Marko which contradicts the opinion of team principal Christian Horner who told reporters in Russia that the failures were unrelated. 

Much is riding on the Renault upgrades expected in Barcelona, but Marko is wary, “I knew the numbers before the season started. Now I want to see it on the stopwatch in Barcelona.”

“As long as Renault does not have reliability under control, there is no further development. This inhibits us,” added the Austrian cryptically.

Word in the paddock is that Renault are focusing their efforts on the works car of Nico Hulkenberg and that the fuel used by Red Bull is not optimal for the TAG Heuer badged Renault engines powering the RB13.

But Marko does not believe this is the case, “We’re using a different gasoline, but Renault assures us there are no differences. The hardware is certainly the same. It would be impossible to build two different engines.”

“This impression emerges only in the qualifying, where Hülkenberg is close to us. In the race , he is about a second and a half slower per lap. One factor for sure is that Hülkenberg is an incredibly good driver in qualifying,” added Marko.

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HORNER: WE HAVE GIVEN OURSELVES A LOT TO DO

Red Bull have dropped down to third in the Formula 1 pecking order, the problem is that gap between them and the pace setting Mercedes and Ferrari teams is larger than they expected which team chief Christian Horner acknowledges is a problem.

Max Verstappen finished fifth at the recent Russian Grand Prix, but it was a lonely drive for the teenager, way behind the pace setters and never in with a shot at a podium chance.

Daniel Ricciardo’s afternoon lasted a mere five laps before the team retired him after the brakes on his car burst into flames.

Speaking to media in Sochi after the race, Horner said, “We have given ourselves a lot to do, but the whole team is focused on that. Hopefully from the next race we can start making progress.”

“I think that was actually our best result here in Sochi since we’ve been coming here since 2014. It’s a very power-sensitive circuit and hopefully with what we’ve got coming for the next grand prix will help move our competitiveness forward.”

The team are depending heavily on Renault updates for the forthcoming Spanish Grand Prix, while looking to design guru Adrian Newey to work his magic to turn the very ordinary RB13 into a potential race winner. But it is certain that their two main rivals have not been sitting still and will also unleash a raft of upgrades for Spain and beyond.

Of Ricciardo’s unusual brake failure, Horner explained, “Obviously we’ve got a bunch of bits at the moment, so there needs to be a full investigation as to what caused the issue. Was it a touch at the second turn? Was it something else? Because obviously after the restart immediately the components failed.”

Verstappen also suffered brake failure during the Bahrain Grand Prix, but Horner does not believe the two mishaps are connected, “Everything before that seemed under control so it was an absolute sudden failure. It looks like a different failure. Obviously the outcome is similar but it looks like a different failure. We’re obviously having to investigate exactly what happened.”

Formula 1 welcomed a new winner in Russia, with Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas winning a grand prix for the first time.

Horner applauded the achievement, “It is great for Formula 1. That race came alive at the end there, great to see a new winner in Valtteri Bottas so congratulations to him. And an exciting finish to the grand prix.”

“Out of the four races so far, there’s been action and not a guaranteed winner in all four of them. Three winners in four races is a good ratio,” added Horner who will no doubt be hoping his drivers will also be slugging it out at the front in the very near future.

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LAUDA: ALONSO HAS MADE MANY MISTAKES

Many believe that Fernando Alonso in a Mercedes would be winning races on a regular basis, but the prospect of that happening is highly unlikely according to Niki Lauda.

Lauda was asked by Movistar if there was a chance that the Spaniard would find himself in a Silver Arrow or in a top team any time in the future.

Mercedes F1 chairman replied, “I do not think Ferrari wants to have him again. He left with a contract. The same thing happened with [McLaren-Mercedes].

“We have drivers who do their job, so if we win with [Lewis] Hamilton and [Valtteri] Bottas, we don’t need a replacement.”

But Lauda also acknowledged Alonso’s talent, “He is fast, aggressive, in this way he is the best. But unfortunately, drivers sometimes cannot prove they are the best by the decisions they make, and Alonso has made many mistakes.”

“He left Ferrari very early and decided to go to McLaren, but the problem with Honda’s engine development was already known. Now he’s disappointed, but going to McLaren was his decision.”

Alonso’s career in Formula 1 has gone backwards, the ambitious McLaren-Honda project which promised so much has been a disaster, rendering him to the unfamiliar role of backmarker for the past three seasons.

This year things have become even worse as reliability and power is sorely lacking from Honda’s woeful power unit. Alonso’s frustration and anger evident to all.

Thus McLaren chief Zak Brown has engineered an Indy 500 foray to keep his star driver happy despite it meaning that the double F1 World Champion will not drive at Formula 1’s crown jewel event – the Monaco Grand Prix.

Lauda commented, “He’s bored and he needs a challenge. As a driver I understand, but for McLaren to let him go in the most important race of the year and where they can have their best result is a tough decision to make.”

“It’s a good decision for Alonso because he can enjoy things there that he cannot do here, and I’m curious to see what he can do at Indy,” added Lauda.

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30 New venues have contacted FOM to host a grand prix

Clearly the new owners of Formula 1 are taking their asset seriously and are undoubtedly looking to grow their asset in the future.

Now F1’s new commercial director Sean Bratches has told media that he is looking to target new city-based circuit events and also develop the current race calendar in a more fan/team personal friendly manor.

Bratches went on to say that since he had started work at Formula One Management, he had been contacted by nearly 30 potential venues, each wanting their own grand prix.

“From a broader sense, I think we'd like to create a balance between Europe, the Americas and Asia,” Bratches said. “In a perfect world we'd like to have all the races take place in a region and then move to the next region and then the next. Obviously, [the advantages are] efficiencies from a team standpoint in terms of moving this circus around the world, but also from navigating fans.

“So telling fans 'for the next two-and-a-half months, you're going to have to get up early to watch the grands prix, and then the next two-and-a-half are going to be at midday, and the next will be at night'. We think that's really important.”

The new marketing boss went on to say that he believed carefully targeted city-based races will stimulate interest in the sport once again, with a potential race in New York once again being linked to a second race in the USA.

“We want to play a bit more offence going forward and identify cities around the world where we can have more city circuits as opposed to traditional tracks,” he added. “We still want a balance. We want city centres that have massive fan audiences to drive interest in the tracks and attendance in the tracks.

"We want promoters that understand the art of promotion - which is an art in terms of elevating the story and putting the fans in seats and creating experiences that are unique. We're going to partner with them on that so I'm optimistic about that side of our business.”

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Tech Bite: Renault battles to improve cornering balance

Having shown stunning qualifying pace through Nico Hulkenburg in the opening rounds, Renault worked extensively on race pace during the post-race Bahrain test session.

The R.S.17 is imbalanced on corner entry, which is masked by fresh tyres and a light fuel load. Over the course of a race distance the car’s balance becomes more of a problem as it dents the driver’s confidence which translates into slower laptimes.

During the post-Bahrain test a revised front-wing (below) was successfully trialled and made it onto the car for the Russian Grand Prix.

The wing’s core concept and features remain, with the upper flaps divided into three elements to improve airflow consistency. It is hoped that these changes will make the car more predictable on turn-in and thus aid the driveability over a longer stint.

Further changes around the front of the car were also present for Sochi. Renault’s lack of investment in recent times has meant that they have been behind the curve in some key areas of the car’s design, including the under-chassis turning vanes that hang below the front bulkhead and nose.

A more advanced twin-element arrangement has replaced the basic pair of vanes for Russia which, in combination with a larger S-duct inlet directly ahead, aim to clean up and manipulate airflow underneath the car.

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Watch: Fernando Alonso's first IndyCar test

Watch two-time Formula 1 champion Fernando Alonso complete his first IndyCar test at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway ahead of his maiden Indy 500 later this month.

The Spaniard will skip the Monaco Grand Prix to make his debut at the Indy 500 and on Wednesday will put in his first laps behind the wheel of an IndyCar machine.

Tune into IndyCar's livestream below:

 

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Fernando Alonso hits 222mph in maiden IndyCar test

Fernando Alonso has completed his maiden IndyCar test at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, hitting a personal best of 222mph around the iconic 2.5-mile oval.

The double Formula 1 world champion sent the motorsport world into a frenzy by deciding to miss the Monaco Grand Prix and instead compete in the 101st Indianapolis 500 with McLaren, with the Woking-based outfit joining up with engine supplier Honda and full-time IndyCar outfit Andretti Autosport.

Because Alonso had never completed a lap on an oval, the Spaniard was allowed to complete the rookie orientation programme in a private test. 

This particular programme, designed to prepare drivers for month of May at the Indianapolis 500, requires a driver to complete three phases of track running. 

The first phase is ten laps between 205-210 mph, before moving up to 15 laps at 210-215mph.

The third and final phase requires the driver to run 15 laps at over 215mph, but not above 220mph.

Before Alonso jumped into his No. 29 McLaren Andretti Autosport machine, team-mate and full-time IndyCar racer Marco Andretti completed several shakedown laps.

Shortly afterwards the motorsport world watched on as Alonso climbed into his orange car and left the pit-lane to complete his first laps in an Indy car and around an oval course.

The Spaniard was immediately up to speed and produced a lap at 208.569mph, before briefly returning to the pits.

Alonso quickly progressed through the phases, producing a personal best lap speed of 219.654mph in the third and final phase.

With the third phase complete Alonso was officially eligible to compete in the Indianapolis 500, however the track action did not stop there.

After returning to the pits for more fuel and tyres, the team began to look toward pushing even harder as they removed the aerodynamic wickers from the car as focused switched to “trimming out” the car.

With the rookie orientation programme now complete Alonso was officially able to push the car over 220mph and begin properly preparing for more serious running later in the month. 

Soon Alonso had produced a lap speed of 221.721mph, showing that he had taken to IndyCar racing like a duck to water. 

After returning to the pits to completely remove the rear wicker and change his tyres, Alonso produced his personal best speed of 222.548mph.

“So far it has been a good experience, but now I think the real deal starts,” explained Alonso after completing his first 88 laps.

“The circuit looks so narrow when you are at that speed, when you watch on television or when you are in the simulator it seems bigger and easier,” continued Alonso when asked how comfortable he felt during his first few laps.

“When you are in the real car it’s very narrow so I was trying different lines, something like that. 

“I was really not as comfortable as I probably will be in a couple of weeks time.”

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Hulkenberg's pace should encourage Palmer - Renault

Renault Sport F1 boss Cyril Abiteboul says that Jolyon Palmer should draw encouragement from the strong form of teammate Nico Hulkenberg, rather than be frustrated by his own recent struggles.

Palmer's difficult season continued in Russia, where he crashed in Q1 and was then eliminated by a first-lap collision with Romain Grosjean.

Meanwhile, Hulkenberg has been a regular top 10 qualifier, and has scored points in the past two events.

Thus far Palmer has not bettered a 13th place on race day.

Abiteboul stressed that the team remains fully committed to the Englishman.

"He needs to see the positives in the fact that Nico is doing so well," Abiteboul told Motorsport.com.

"He needs to feel that he's in a team that has the capacity to deliver this type of performance. And this performance is not just for Nico, we are not a one-man band, and he has to be part of it.

"Fifty per cent of the effort we are putting in is for each driver, so fifty per cent is for Jo. We need Jo to score points, so there is absolutely no doubt in our commitment to him."

Abiteboul says that Palmer's Sochi weekend was spoiled only by his crash in Q1, which came as he tried to make up for time lost with few laps in FP3. 

  

"If you look at his whole weekend he did one mistake, which was his mistake in Q1. He would have been easily in Q2, we could see that in terms of sector times.

"If he had been in Q2 he wouldn't have been in the sort of position where there is always something happening, and something happened in Turn 2.

"Looking at the data it was obvious there was nothing he could have done to avoid that incident. So we left with a lot of frustration for Jo from one single mistake in a very difficult environment for him."

Abiteboul is also keen to motivate Palmer's crew, who had a busy weekend in Russia.

"We feel extremely sorry for the other side of the garage. I should make a special mention for Jo's team.

"We had a number of issues to do on the car, changing chassis, changing engine, the shunt in qualifying. I feel sorry for Jo and the group of people behind him who did a remarkable job over the weekend.

"When you change chassis and change engine you have all the reasons in the world to have problems, but we did not have a single operational problem, so I want to give a huge credit to the guys."

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Wow, Alonso did 88 laps in a Honda without breaking down. 

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WEBBER: IS JENSON TAKING HIS MONACO DRIVE SERIOUSLY?

Much hype surrounds the return of Jenson Button to Formula 1 at the forthcoming Monaco Grand Prix, but Mark Webber is not buying into it and believes that the 2009 World Champion is not taking it seriously.

Speaking to Speedweek, straight talking Webber said, “When I heard that [Button] did not want to do the Bahrain test, I wondered if he was taking it seriously enough.”

“For me, if he’s doing a triathlon in America rather than a test in Bahrain, I think first practice in Monaco will be a wake-up call for him. I just get the impression that he doesn’t really care about it.”

McLaren’s 2017 campaign is in a sorry state as Honda have delivered a dud of a power unit and relegated the sport’s second most successful team to backmarker status for a third consecutive year.

With no end in sight to the crisis, the team’s new chief Zak Brown engineered an Indianapolis 500 foray for their start driver Fernando Alonso, whose frustration with the team, Honda in particular, is well documented.

With the Indy 500 clashing with the Monaco Grand Prix weekend, McLaren reached out to Button who is still connected to the team as an ambassador.

But Webber is skeptical, “It’s a non-story. He’ll drive, have problems with the fuel system, qualify 16th, retire after 12 laps or whatever. What’s the point? Jenson is a F1 world champion and he has won at Monaco.”

“It would be a story if he could fight for victory, but to get a point if he’s lucky, that really doesn’t interest anyone,” added Webber who quit Formula 1 at the end of 2013 after a career which spanned 215 grand prix starts.

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MALLYA GUILTY OF CONTEMPT OF COURT IN INDIA

Indian tycoon and Force India chief Vijay Mallya, once dubbed the “King of Good Times”, was found guilty of contempt by the country’s top court after he was found to have sent his children millions of dollars.

The indebted liquor baron, who co-owns a Formula One team and a cricket side, fled India in 2016 owing more than $1.3 billion in loans to more than a dozen banks.

His creditors have been trying to retrieve the unpaid debts, which Mallya stands accused of misusing, but the 61-year-old has refused to return from Britain to face multiple charges.

The Supreme Court ruled Tuesday in favour of a consortium of banks and creditors who argued Mallya had violated court orders by transferring $40 million to his three children.

Vipin Kumar Jai, one of the lawyers representing the banks, said that Mallya had deliberately concealed his assets and withheld information from the court, leading to the contempt charge.

“The court held him guilty for contempt and asked him to personally appear before it on July 10,” Jai told AFP. The court is expected to hand down its verdict on July 10, he added.

The court was told Mallya sent his children the money after receiving a payout from British spirits firm Diageo, despite strict orders he not distribute the cash.

Despite his continuously mounting legal woes, reports suggest that his Formula 1 team is not affected by the turmoil, however it is known that the team is up for sale should a buyer be interested.

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FERRARI USE FILMING DAY AT MUGELLO FOR PRACTICE STARTS

Ferrari conducted ‘film day’ at Mugello last week as they prepare to take the fight to Mercedes at the forthcoming Spanish Grand Prix.

Speedweek report that the outing was more akin to a test than a promotional filming day with both Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen in attendance.

Formula 1 rules allow teams to conduct two film days per season, in which cars cannot cover more than 100 km and must use hard tyres with little resemblance to the rubber on offer currently from Pirelli.

Typically it is a time when teams shoot footage and take photos of their cars and drivers for promotional purposes.

But Ferrari are said to be working overtime to address their tardy starts, a factor that may have cost them the race at the Russian Grand Prix.

Despite qualifying one-two for the race at Sochi, a first Ferrari front row since 2008, both Vettel and Raikkonen were slow off the line while Mercedes driver Valterri Bottas out-dragged them into Turn 2 and went on to win the race.

Stung buy this it appears that the Maranello outfit have used the filming day at Mugello to allow their drivers to practice starts.

Vettel hinted at the teams concerns when he spoke to media after the race in Sochi, “Now it’s going to Europe, I see ourselves on top with Mercedes. Everything is going according to plan. Barcelona was good for us in testing, since then the car has become better. Unfortunately we have a long drag to the first corner there…”

Ferrari head to Spain one point adrift of Mercedes in the constructors’ championship standings, while Vettel heads up the drivers’ points table.

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F1 planning new fan initiatives from Spanish GP

Formula 1 CEO Chase Carey says that the relaxation of social media rules for drivers and teams has been a success – and that new initiatives to “engage fans” will be launched over the Spanish Grand Prix weekend.

The sport’s key players have been allowed to post video content from the F1 paddock on social media since the Barcelona pre-season tests.

Although there are still strict rules on timing, so that there is no overlap when the cars are on track, the move has been well received by the public.

“We unleashed our drivers, teams, promoters and more on social media, which resulted in a three to four fold growth in areas like video engagement on social media," said Carey.

“We’ve also begun to work with the FIA and the teams to take steps to ensure that our competition on the track delivers the best fan experience possible. We are addressing the engine, the costs, the rules and other key issues all with the goal of making the sport the best it can be.

“As part of the process we are also reviewing the broader race weekend in areas like support races to enhance and improve the experience for fans.

“We have a lot to do, and we’re off to a good start with four races under our belt, attendance up and strong results in TV viewership and digital engagement.

"We move into the European portion of our season in Barcelona this weekend, where we’ll launch a few more things to engage fans. It should be fun.”

Carey revealed that F1 is focussing on getting a better understanding of exactly who makes up its fanbase.

He said: “We’re also building tools that did not previously exist, like research, databases, digital platforms, and marketing capabilities to provide the necessary insights and information to grow and deepen our fanbase around the world.”

Carey also stressed that he wants to see more overtaking, but without compromising the faster and more spectacular cars that the 2017 rules have produced.

“I think action on the track is incredibly important, so having the ability to pass is something that we are looking to increase," he added. "The speed, having the drivers fight the car has gotten very positive responses, but I think we want to try and have all things.

“We want to create that speed, want to create that power, we want the drivers fighting the cars, but we want as much action as we can get on the track, and we are certainly pursuing initiatives to try and enhance that activity.”

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Renault to bring updated rear wing to Spain

Renault will bring an updated rear wing and new bargeboards for its Formula 1 car to this weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix.

All teams are expected to bring upgrades for the first European race of the season at Barcelona, with Mercedes non-executive chairman Niki Lauda suggesting the F1 title battle faces a total reset as a result.

Renault’s latest package comes after it introduced an upgrade, which included a new front wing, last time out in Russia in a bid to cure its race pace problems.

Nico Hulkenberg scored points with eighth and declared the team had made “a good step” with its performance in races, even if there remained work to do.

Renault plans to bring updates to the chassis consistently throughout the season, with the rear wing and bargeboards the latest new additions to the car.

“We’ve been qualifying well so far this season, then Sochi showed a useful improvement to our race pace,” said Renault technical chief Nick Chester.

“We’ve still got a few more upgrades on the aerodynamic package for Spain, so we’re reasonably positive. We have new barge boards and an updated rear wing.

“The upgrades we used in Sochi worked as expected so we made a useful step in our race pace whilst maintaining qualifying pace. There’s still more to do in this area, but we’re heading in the right direction.

“We’re in the midfield fight where we expected to be, but it’s a very close battle here so we need to ensure we seize every advantage possible from the car and how we use it.”

Reserve Sergey Sirotkin will take part in first practice for the second successive race weekend, taking over Jolyon Palmer’s car.

The Russian failed to set a lap time in FP1 in Sochi because of a gearbox problem.

“Sergey’s issue in Sochi was related to a gearbox shift valve and it was a big shame for him to get so little running,” said Chester.

“He’s in Jo’s car for FP1 and we expect he’ll do a good job.”

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RENAULT PREVIEW THE SPANISH GRAND PRIX

Renault preview the Spanish Grand Prix, Round 5 of the 2017 Formula World Championship, at Circuit de Catalunya-Barcelona.

Cyril Abiteboul: “We head to Spain for the first European race of the season with the target of continuing to score points. Barcelona is an event where we often see many upgrades to the cars and we have some new parts ourselves. We’ve had a solid run of points in the past two races and we want to continue that.”

“Spain is a strong market for Formula 1 and for Renault. We produce very many cars, engines and gearboxes in Spain so we have a good amount of local support, as well as the team having a Spanish sponsor in MAPFRE. We also have the exciting young driver talent of Marta García who comes from nearby Valencia and is one of our six of our Renault Sport Academy drivers in 2017.”

“At Barcelona, we will see Sergey Sirotkin in the car again for FP1, although this time we are hoping he gets far more laps under his belt, following an unfortunate gearbox issue for him in Sochi. We are always looking to the future with our young drivers and will also see RSA member Jack Aitken start his GP3 Series season this weekend.”

“Russia saw a good race for Nico where he was able to maximise our race strategy and showcase that our latest updates brought a step forward in race pace.”

“For Jolyon, it’s been a tough start to the season; if there’s been an issue affecting the car, you can almost guarantee it happens his side of the garage. This is something we are responding to by ensuring each and every reliability issue that impacts upon performance is addressed and so much work occurs in this regard away from the track at Enstone and Viry. We know that Jolyon has deep reserves and can bounce back well. We saw last year how he came on strong in the second half of the season so we’re working hard to give him the car in which he can deliver.”

“On both the chassis and power unit side, we have shown a good step forward in performance so we need to ensure we can harness this reliably at every opportunity. On the chassis side, we are free to introduce any upgrades at every race; on the power unit side we have work to the regulation constraints however the power unit performance will continue to improve through the season.”

“The 2017 season has certainly captured the imagination of the public and we are right in a very exciting midfield fight with some very determined opponents. This gives us all good motivation to take the fight to these rivals and we can’t wait to hit the track in Spain.”

Familiar Challenges

With four races in the bag, the R.S.17 returns to the scene of its track debut, the test mecca that is the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, venue for the Spanish Grand Prix. Chassis Technical Director Nick Chester gives his insight.

What’s the outlook for the Spanish Grand Prix?
The outlook is pretty good. We’ve been qualifying well so far this season, then Sochi showed a useful improvement to our race pace. We’ve still got a few more upgrades on the aerodynamic package for Spain, so we’re reasonably positive.

What’s the challenge of the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya?
Even though we know it really well from all the testing we do there, it is quite a tough circuit. It’s very much a downforce track with a lot of high and medium speed corners where you need the aero package really working for you.

It’s also a location that’s hard on tyres because the corners are so quick with their loadings. It’s tough for both the front and rear, meaning that keeping tyre temperatures under control is a challenge, especially in the last part of the lap where the rear tyres can overheat.

How different is the practice programme when it’s a venue so well known to teams?
We know the track well with these cars having tested there in the pre-season so basic set-up, ride height and those elements are more finalised when you head out for FP1. We still have all the tyre and aero assessments we want to run, so we certainly will be busy enough.

Will Sergey get a proper run in the car this time?
That’s most certainly the plan. Sergey’s issue in Sochi was related to a gearbox shift valve and it was a big shame for him to get so little running. He’s in Jo’s car for FP1, and we expect he’ll do a good job.

What was the content of the post-Russian Grand Prix debrief?
The upgrades we used in Sochi worked as expected so we made a useful step in our race pace whilst maintaining qualifying pace. There’s still more to do in this area, but we’re heading in the right direction. We’re in the midfield fight where we expected to be, but it’s a very close battle here so we need to ensure we seize every advantage possible from the car and how we use it.

Any new bits for the car?
We have new barge boards and an updated rear wing. We need to keep adding performance to the car as that’s what everyone else is fighting to do. We’ve started the season on a positive note so we need to maintain and improve this.

Points haul

Despite having pounded in countless laps of the Circuit de Barcelona Catalunya the Spanish Grand Prix venue hasn’t been too kind to Nico Hülkenberg in the past, with tenth place finishes in 2012 and 2014 the best in his back catalogue. Time to do better….

What’s the mood headed to Spain?
I’m feeling good. The car is improving at every race and we can deliver. I spent two days at Enstone last week and even some occasional British rain wasn’t an issue.

What do you think of the event?
Barcelona and the surrounding area is great. There’s a great Spanish vibe, it’s right by the sea with lots of good restaurants with nice food and paella. I always enjoy visiting there. There’s always a decent turnout of fans, which means I have to leave for the track a little earlier in the morning to avoid the traffic, but it’s great to see that enthusiasm.

What are your thoughts of the track when you’re behind the wheel?
It’s a track we all know really well after testing there so much so all the engineers have a lot of data and knowledge about it. I personally like the layout, especially the first sector with turns 1-2-3, which have added value thanks to the fastest cars this season. It’s a physical circuit with all the high speed right handers so you need a strong neck; you’ll really know about it by the end of the race.

What’s notable over the 4.7km?
The first turns are almost like one corner as turns 1-2-3 seem linked as if you get 1-2 wrong you’ll be in a bad place for turn 3 which is high speed and quite a challenge. Sector three is very technical, twisty and slow, especially through the last chicane, but it’s the key to a quick lap time so you need to master it.

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SAUBER PREVIEW THE SPANISH GRAND PRIX

The Spanish Grand Prix traditionally kicks off the European Formula 1 season near Barcelona. That being said, the Formula 1 team trucks will again hit the road to adorn the paddock with the team’s hospitalities during the European race weekends.

The fifth round of the the FIA Formula One World Championship will take place from the 12th to 14th May on the Circuit de Catalunya. There, the Sauber F1 Team will introduce some modifications of an aerodynamic upgrade on both Sauber C36-Ferrari. It will then be complemented at the Monaco Grand Prix and the following race weekends.

Marcus Ericsson: “The Spanish Grand Prix is the traditional race weekend to start the European season of Formula 1. We all know the Circuit de Catalunya very well, as lots of testing has been done there. At this time of the year, it will be different to winter testing as the temperatures are much higher. It will surely be an interesting race weekend for the fans and also for us, because all teams introduce their car updates there. We will also bring first modifications to the car, which we will then enhance and further develop within the next GPs. I am looking forward to this weekend being confident that we make another step in the right direction.”

Pascal Wehrlein: “It is always nice to start the European season of Formula 1 at the Spanish Grand Prix. I like the track; it is a demanding circuit for us drivers, but also from a car perspective. The the layout is quite diverse with all kinds of different corners – from low, medium to high speed. Considering the race weekend, it will be important for us to introduce some new aerodynamic parts on the car. I am positive that we can further develop the car in order to make progress, and thus improve the performance on track.”

Track facts:
The track in Barcelona is one of the most complete for defining the car, as it features a mix of all kinds of corners. The first two sectors are biased towards medium and high-speed corners, whereas the third sector is dominated by a technical sequence of lower speed corners, hence the set-up is always a compromise. Downforce, a well-balanced car, as well as traction, are main facts for a good lap time.

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WILLIAMS PREVIEW THE SPANISH GRAND PRIX

The Catalunya circuit on the outskirts of Barcelona is well known to the drivers and teams, following two pre-season tests where we got an early glimpse of the performance of this year’s cars.

A staple on the calendars of not just Formula One but many other motorsport series, the layout combines long sweeping corners with twisty technical sections – a key reason why Formula One chooses this circuit to give its cars a thorough workout before the season starts. Williams has managed to secure six wins at the Spanish Grand Prix, including a memorable victory in 2012.

For Spain, Pirelli has made available the soft, medium and hard tyres.

Paddy Lowe: “We come to the first European race of the season. After the Russian Grand Prix this is the first time that we have seen all the cars and freight come back to the factory since everything headed out to Australia in early March. It marks a new phase in the calendar as we return to the familiar surrounds of the race trucks and motorhomes in the paddock. It’s also normally the time we see the first major upgrades brought to the cars, which is even more significant this year given the new aerodynamic regulations. The circuit itself is one we are well acquainted with, having completed all of our pre-season testing there. This circuit provides a very challenging test of the car’s performance, particularly the aerodynamics through Turns Three and Nine and the suspension through the third sector. We didn’t get all the points we wanted in Russia but we can see the potential in the car and therefore our aim is to bring home two cars with points finishes in Spain.”

Felipe Massa: “Barcelona is a track that most of the drivers know pretty well. It’s a little bit like a home Grand Prix for everybody because we’re always testing there! You need good downforce for the high-speed sections, and you also need very good traction in the last sector. We had a good pre-season test there this year, but this is where it counts. I really hope we can have a good weekend without any unlucky incidents like we had in Sochi.”

Lance Stroll: “While I know Barcelona well from testing there in series like Formula Renault and Formula 3 and obviously the Formula One tests before the start of the season, I have never actually raced on the track. It is a track I love and there are particular parts of it I really like. For instance I enjoy the first sector, which is high speed for corners one, two and three and even into four and five. This part is really flowing. Then the last sector becomes tight, twisty and technical. Having said that, it is still a tricky one. On top of that I really like the city of Barcelona and look forward to staying there. It has a lot of atmosphere and some amazing areas.”

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FORCE INDIA PREVIEW THE SPANISH GRAND PRIX

Force India preview the Spanish Grand Prix, Round 5 of the 2017 Formula World Championship, at Circuit de Catalunya-Barcelona.

Vijay Mallya, Team Principal

“Ahead of the European leg of the season, we can look back on the start of the year feeling pretty happy. We continued our 100% points-scoring record by adding another 14 points in Sochi to consolidate our fourth place in the championship. I’m proud of the team and how we are performing. We’re taking our chances and racing intelligently. Sergio’s remarkable consistency continued with a fourteenth straight points finish, while Esteban secured his best ever result in Formula One with a seventh place. To have scored points with both cars in every race gives me confidence for the rest of the year. We want to hold on to fourth place. Our planned development programme will continue in Barcelona where hopefully we can take another step forward with the VJM10.”

Sergio Perez

“Barcelona is a track that really tests a Formula One car. There are some quick corners that feel very special, such as turns three and nine, where you can appreciate the aero performance of these 2017 cars. It’s always a difficult track for overtaking and so there is extra emphasis on qualifying well.

“When you get to Europe, you feel that the season is in full flow. It’s race five – a quarter of the way through the season – and the year is flying by really quickly. I’m very proud of the team and what we have achieved so far. To be fourth in the championship as we arrive in Barcelona shows that we’ve done a really good job in the races so far. Russia was another example of a weekend where we maximised all the opportunities.

“It’s hard to know what to expect this weekend. I think all the teams will bring new things for their cars and it’s the same for us. We have planned updates, which will hopefully give us a bit more performance.”

Esteban Ocon

“I’m feeling positive after our performance in Sochi. It shows the results we can achieve when everything goes to plan because we improved the car during each session. The team did an awesome job because I felt comfortable in the car and could really push. It’s a good sign for the races to come and I feel we have lots more potential to find with the VJM10.

“Coming back to Barcelona is an opportunity to see how much we have improved the car since winter testing. It’s a track that shows your strengths and weaknesses because there is nowhere to hide. It’s all about aero performance and having confidence.

“I’m quite pleased to be back in Europe. It’s closer to home and it just feels a bit more familiar because I’ve raced at Barcelona so many times when I was younger. I really enjoy the flow of the lap and there are corners, such as one and two, where you can’t afford to make a mistake because it hurts your speed all the way through turn three. The final sector is also very technical and you need to be very precise with how you position the car to ensure you don’t lose any time.”

Sahara Force India’s Technical Director, Andrew Green, shares his views about the Circuit de Catalunya and its challenges.

“The Circuit de Catalunya is a track we know very well because of pre-season testing, but it’s very interesting to see the development in the car that took place since we were last here. Mid-May is also very different from February: the increased temperatures make it a very different track from the one we tackled back then. Compared to Russia, it’s a much harder test for the tyres and we expect wear and degradation to be much higher. It is one of the reasons we are using the three hardest compounds in the range – soft, medium and hard. As a circuit, it is a challenge from turn one to the final corner. Driver, car and tyres do not get much rest, although it is fairly easy on the brakes. You have medium- and high-speed corners making up most of the first two sectors, while the final one is mostly low-speed, meaning you have to find the right compromises when setting the car up. Overtaking is very difficult, so qualifying position is crucial: the Saturday afternoon session will be a very interesting fight.”

Key Points:

• Combination of low, medium and high-speed corners making it an all-around test for the car
• High deg means we will see the harder compounds make an appearance
• Many teams bringing upgrades for the start of the European season so watch out for surprises

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MCLAREN PREVIEW THE SPANISH GRAND PRIX

The Spanish Grand Prix has been a Formula 1 staple for almost as long as the world championship itself. The race has been on the calendar since 1951 and it has kicked off the European leg of the season since 1993.

The Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya is also a popular testing venue, due to its eclectic mix of slow, medium and high-speed corners. Only three of the circuit’s 16 turns are taken at less than 100km/h (62mph) and the result is an average speed of 200km/h (124mph).

Fernando Alonso

“I’m really excited about returning to Barcelona for the Spanish Grand Prix. It’s my home race, I’ve had some great times there, and the atmosphere is always crazy. We spend a lot of time there in pre-season testing, but there’s nothing quite like the emotion of racing there in front of your home fans. It’s a very special feeling.

“After a run of difficult races for us, I’m not sure what we can expect from this weekend. We’re expecting some various new parts – which we bring to every race – but we can’t really focus too much on performance until we have solved our reliability issues. That’s always our focus.

“I know the team is working extremely hard to get to the bottom of our recent problems, and I am hopeful we can have a smooth race and a weekend with very few issues. For me, qualifying has been an exciting session in the past few races and I hope we can repeat that in Barcelona, but the most important thing will be to maximise whatever grid slot we achieve on Saturday, on race day.”

Stoffel Vandoorne

“Although we weren’t proud of our performance at the Russian Grand Prix, we could still take some positives from the weekend and I’m pleased I was able to finish the race, after a few tough weekends. It was important for me to get some more mileage under my belt, and we managed to gather a lot of valuable information, which is helping to shape the development of both the chassis and the power unit as we continue through the season.

“I’m looking forward to starting the European season at the Spanish Grand Prix. I know the circuit well from previous races I’ve done there and of course from pre-season testing, and we have a lot of useful data about the track and the way the car behaves there. Hopefully this will mean we can start the weekend on a positive note and have a smooth weekend.

“The Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya is a fun track to drive, and pretty fast, so it’s quite demanding for both the car and the driver. It’s very tricky to overtake there, and, as it’s a quick track, average speed is quite high, so it’ll be a challenging one for us. It’s traditionally a circuit that’s tough on tyres, but I’m interested to see how the new compounds will change how the race unfolds. As always, though, I’m ready for the challenge and excited to go racing again.”

Eric Boullier, McLaren-Honda Racing Director

“While the start of the year and the first round of fly-away races have not been easy for McLaren-Honda, we’re looking forward to returning to the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya for the Spanish Grand Prix, marking the start of the European leg of the season.

“We don’t anticipate a huge change of fortunes at this race, but getting Stoffel to the end of the grand prix in Sochi was a small reward for all the hard work being put in behind the scenes to address our reliability issues, and hopefully a sign of more positive things to come for the team.

“Like the majority of teams, we’ll be taking this opportunity to introduce some new elements to the car, and, with the enthusiasm of the Spanish fans behind us, I hope we’ll be able to complete some solid running and see an improvement in our reliability. It would be good to kick off the European races with some positive momentum, and what better place than in Spain with the full support of the passionate Spanish crowd.”

Yusuke Hasegawa, Honda R&D Co. Ltd Head Of F1 Project & Executive Chief Engineer

“After wrapping up the first of this seasons fly-away races, we’re now heading to Spain to kick off the European rounds of the championship.

“The first few races have been challenging for us, with a number of reliability issues plaguing our running. We’re continuing to work hard as a team to improve both the reliability and the performance of our power unit moving forward.

“The Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya is a technical circuit with a mixture of various types of corners. Its character is different to that of the first four races, which were typically power circuits and it’ll be less strenuous on the power unit. The most important focus for us in Spain will be the total balance of the car, therefore we’ll aim to maximise our time in each practice session to work out the best balance of the car with McLaren.

“We’re hoping to have a good race here and build some momentum for the coming races. It’s also Fernando’s home race, so we want to give him the best package possible in front of his home crowd.”

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RED BULL DRIVERS PREVIEW THE SPANISH GRAND PRIX

Red Bull drivers preview the Spanish Grand Prix, Round 5 of the 2017 Formula World Championship, at Circuit de Catalunya-Barcelona.

Daniel Ricciardo

“Barcelona is one of the better circuits on the calendar and it’s got a bit of everything. Turns 1, 2 and 3 are really good flowing corners and the last section is very technical. The end of the lap is quite slow and that’s where your tyres start to drop off which is why it’s really hard to finish the lap clean.

“We’ll have the Energy Station back in Barcelona so that’s nice and it’ll be an easier environment to prepare in. We’ve got it now for a few months and that means that we can actually put some things in our room that we can come back to. Little things that give us privacy and that home feeling like favourite snacks, training equipment or our own shower.

“I hope the upgrade will give us a chance to really fight with Mercedes and Ferrari or at least get us closer.

The reason why it comes in Barcelona is that we put everything back in the factory were very busy so now I hope that it’s a quicker improvement. It means that the people who do the work behind the scenes get their reward as well. It’s a good feeling for everyone when these upgrades work.

“We’re going for the harder tyres for the first time this year in Barcelona. I’m not sure if it’ll help us or not but I just don’t think it’s going to be good for anyone. The tyres are already hard enough so the harder compounds are just way too hard. Hopefully for Barcelona’s sake it’s hot and therefore these harder tyres work, but if it’s cold then it’s going to be a struggle for everyone.”

“We’re finally back in Europe for the Spanish Grand Prix which is exciting, especially so for me this year. It means familiar food and more of a normal, comforting driver room with the Energy Station there. You get to chill out and prepare in your own room which is worth a lot if you’re travelling as much as we do.

Max Verstappen

“Around this time last year I got the call to join Red Bull Racing, which was a great feeling, and then when it got announced everything happened really fast. I spent a lot of time in the factory getting prepared in the simulator in order to get used to the car. A lot of media attention, but I wasn’t really nervous, just happy that I was finally driving for a top team.

“Last year was such a special race to me and in the end we managed to pull it off. It was an incredible feeling once I passed the finish line, especially in your first race with a new team.

“Going back to Spain will always mean a lot to me. Track wise I really like Turn 3 as it’s flat and quite a long corner so that’s good neck training.

“We have to wait and see what the updates will bring. I hope we can be a bit closer to the top teams or that we can at least follow them. That would already be a good step forward.”

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HAAS PREVIEW THE SPANISH GRAND PRIX

Formula One’s mountain of competitiveness is incredibly steep, and ascending it is both arduous and exhilarating. For Haas F1 Team, which is in its sophomore season contesting the FIA Formula One World Championship, Circuit de Barcelona – Catalunya has served as its base camp.

The 4.655-kilometer (2.892-mile), 16-turn circuit is the home of winter testing for all Formula One teams, where for two weeks in late February and early March, organizations unveil their new racecars in the flesh and then run as many laps as possible in the pursuit of aerodynamic balance, mechanical grip and speed.

As the most recent Formula One team and the first American outfit since 1986, Haas F1 Team has only two winter tests at Barcelona. They have proven incredibly valuable, with the team shaking down its very first racecar last year – the Haas VF-16 – and then another drastically new racecar this year in the Haas VF-17, which was built under a new set of technical regulations that included a wider front wing, larger barge boards, a lower and wider rear wing and a diffuser that expanded 50 millimeters (two inches) in height and width. Wider tires from Pirelli supplemented these changes, with 60-millimeter tires up front and 80 millimeter tires in the rear, a 25-percent increase from 2016.

Haas F1 Team logged 715 laps in this year’s winter test at Barcelona with drivers Romain Grosjean and Kevin Magnussen collectively accumulating 3,328.325 kilometers (2,068.125 miles). The mileage total was a clear indication of Haas F1 Team’s growth since its inaugural season in 2016, as it shattered the mark set a year prior by 241 laps or 1,121.855 kilometers (697.088 miles).

“You could really see a difference from last year when we had our first winter test,” Grosjean said. “The team was much more ready. Everyone knew what they had to do. And the car has a lot of potential, which we haven’t unlocked yet. It’s a good baseline.”

The potential Grosjean refers to was seen in his sixth-place qualifying effort in the season-opening Australian Grand Prix and points-scoring finishes by Magnussen in China and Grosjean in Bahrain.

But after four races at four drastically different racetracks in four exceptionally different environments, it’s time for potential to turn into reality. That comes May 14 in the Spanish Grand Prix, where teams return to Barcelona for the fifth race of the Formula One season.

If finding success in Formula One is akin to climbing Mount Everest, then the Spanish Grand Prix serves as one’s acclimatization climb. A 66-lap race on Sunday preceded by two 90-minute practice sessions on Friday and a final hour-long practice on Saturday before knockout qualifying that afternoon allows teams to gauge its performance to fellow squads and also itself.

What kinds of improvements have been made since those cool, crisp days of late winter? And what updates will you unveil to ensure your car remains competitive for 16 more races? Those are the questions teams try to answer in the Spanish Grand Prix, where the competitive arms race of technological bits and pieces are debuted by teams up and down the pit lane.

Haas F1 Team is no different, bringing a significant upgrade to its VF-17, the details of which are being kept close to its vest. But Grosjean and Magnussen are fully aware of these upgrades and how the data says it should help unlock the potential both drivers feel is innately built into the car while simultaneously advancing its overall competitiveness.

Its performance, as well as the exploits of the nine other teams around them, will be on full display in the Spanish Grand Prix.

Guenther Steiner, Team Pricipal

With four races in the books, where does Haas F1 Team stand in relation to its midfield counterparts?
“It’s difficult to say. One weekend you’re on top of it, then another weekend – like in Sochi – you’re at the bottom of it. It’s so tight the midfield. Hopefully, it stays tight all year and we can go back to being on top of the midfield.”

Your frustration after the Russian Grand Prix was evident. Is that due in large part to the potential your cars have this year, and when that potential isn’t realized, it’s an opportunity lost?
“Absolutely. Every chance not realized is a lost opportunity. You always have chances. We had one in Australia, we lost it. In Sochi, our qualifying was not fantastic, but again, Kevin made a good start, but then we got the penalty because he drove the wrong way back onto the track and we ended up 13th. At Sochi, there is very little overtaking taking place. It’s difficult to move forward.”

Much was made about the new cars for this season as they are demonstrably faster with more downforce and much wider tires. Despite the amount of change introduced this year, is there a feeling of normalcy with these cars after four races?
“It’s like we don’t even remember the old car. It’s a strange thing, but time moves so fast in F1. We’re four races in and we’ve forgotten about what we did last year. Technology moves so fast. It’s quite amazing.”

Brakes remain a topic for Haas F1 Team. Explain the swap back-and-forth between Brembo and Carbon Industri (CI) at Russia and what the plan is for Barcelona.
“We started off with CI brakes in Sochi. We weren’t getting enough cooling for them, and if you don’t cool them enough, you overheat the brake itself and the pedal gets long. Also, the wear is very high. We looked into it to see if we could survive a race, but we realized we could not. Therefore, the decision was taken to go back onto the Brembo. As it stands now, we will race Brembo in Barcelona.

“To figure out how we can fix the problem will take a bit, but we will get there. It isn’t an easy problem to solve. We will take our time. We know what we’ve got after our Bahrain test with CI brakes, and after Sochi in FP1 and FP2. We know what we need to do and what needs to get done, but it will take a little bit of time.”

When it comes to the different brake packages from Brembo and Carbon Industri, what are the drivers saying about the feel of each package?
“Romain was pretty happy with the latest iteration of Brembo. He said he’s ok with it. Kevin liked the CI better because the bite is better. He just has a better feeling with the CI brakes. Now we need to get the CI working and see where we stand before coming to the absolute conclusion. I’ll be happy when we can check this off of our list.

“Everybody needs to understand that this is a very sophisticated brake system. It is not easy to fix. The obvious question, and rightly people ask, is that it cannot be this difficult to fix a brake. It actually is. It isn’t easy. This is because they’re highly complicated technologies, they’re highly advanced. When you change from one to the other, you encounter issues you’re not aware of until you try it properly. Without testing during the season, you need to do it in FP1 and FP2. You always have to wait two weeks to do something. So you can never go and do a proper test and do modifications. You always have to fit it in somehow. It compromises your testing, and that’s why it takes so long. It’s not that we’re not working hard. Our people are very competent and can do this, it just takes time.”

Last year, finding the proper working range of the tires proved difficult. After racing at four very different venues in four very different environments, how is it to find the proper working range of this year’s tires?
“It’s the same. It’s just a wider tire, but you still need to get it to work. I think our biggest problem, as we experienced in Sochi along with a few other teams, we just couldn’t get grip. Sochi’s surface is very slippery, very smooth, so we were a little out. Kevin could deal with it, but Romain struggled with it and we couldn’t find a window for him where the tire worked. We weren’t on our own, other people had the same issue. But outside of Sochi, I think we’ve made a good step since last year to get in the window.”

You racked up a lot of laps at Barcelona earlier this year during winter testing. Do you have a higher level of comfortability with the car at Barcelona because you know what to expect?
“It’s the same and everyone’s done the same level of testing, and a lot of people have done the same mileage. I think we know what we can do, but we don’t know what the other teams will bring to Barcelona. As we said before, the midfield is very tight and you could be anywhere. You could be from eighth to 16th, anywhere in there.”

The data Haas F1 Team had from last year is largely out of date because this year’s car is so different. But Barcelona allows you to have current data thanks to all the time you invested in testing. Granted, all of the other teams have 2017 data from testing too, but how valuable is it to arrive at a grand prix with pertinent data secured only two months ago compared to a year ago?
“The car will be updated since the Barcelona test. So you have a different car, different temperatures and the tires will work in a different window. We have more information on Barcelona than the other tracks, but that doesn’t make you comfortable.”

Barcelona marks the first European race on the Formula One schedule. Typically, many teams bring updates to their cars for the Spanish Grand Prix. Does Haas F1 Team have any updates for its cars and what are your expectations with these updates?
“We’re bringing our first extensive update kit to Barcelona, as all the other modifications we’ve done have been very small. We hope it works like everything else that has come out of the wind tunnel and is very reliable in terms of the correlation from wind tunnel to track. We hope to make a step forward. There are always unknowns with a new update kit, therefore we don’t want to disclose too much and be too hopeful. Some people might notice – it will be visible – but not straight away. It’s nothing big on the outside.”

Between the updates all the teams are expected to bring and the collective knowledge learned about the current car, how different is the Spanish Grand Prix weekend from when teams were in Barcelona two months ago for testing?
“Barcelona is the first European race of the season, so a lot of people are in attendance. We have got a lot of things to do. In the two 90-minute sessions on Friday, your test program needs to be in there. If you miss the time, you miss the testing. It always puts additional stress on people and on the drivers to not do anything wrong. If you do the smallest thing wrong, you don’t utilize the time that’s available. That’s no different than any other place, but compared to when we were at Barcelona for winter testing, there’s just a little bit more pressure.”

Romain Grosjean

You said you wanted to wait four races until you determined where Haas F1 Team was in relation to its midfield counterparts. With four races in the books, where does Haas F1 Team stand?
“Generally, if you look at the first three races, we’ve been really consistent, really good. Sochi was a peculiar one. We struggled a little bit with the car. I struggled with my driving. We can analyze a lot from it. I don’t think it’s down to inconsistency, as it was last year, so I would say that I’m pretty pleased with the way we’ve started the year. I’m pleased with where the car is. We’re usually on the border line for getting into Q3. Now the big question is what the updates are going to do? How much of an upgrade are we going to get compared to others? I believe we’re on a good path, but you never know what the others are doing. It’s going to be good to go to Barcelona and see the work we’ve done.”

Much was made about the new cars for this season as they are demonstrably faster with more downforce and much wider tires. Despite the amount of change introduced this year, how normal does the new car feel after four races?
“As we saw in winter testing, and then in Melbourne to begin the season, we got a big surprise with the speed we can carry through the corners with the car. After a few races, though, you forget that and move on to what we have now. There are a few circuits such as the non-permanent ones where it’ll be fast, but most of the other ones, the grip and speed feels normal.”

Last year, finding the proper working range of the tires proved difficult. After racing at four very different venues in four very different environments, how is it to find the proper working range of this year’s tires?
“I think this year’s tires are a bit easier to work. Clearly, the tires are a big key – Russia was a good example, where a driver could do more than 30-something laps on ultrasofts. That’s something we need to analyze and understand a bit better. Generally though, this year’s tires have been better than what they’ve been in the past. They’re easier to work.”

You racked up a lot of laps at Barcelona earlier this year during winter testing. Do you have a higher level of comfortability with the car at Barcelona because you know what to expect?
“Everyone knows Barcelona very well. It’s good to judge which changes we’ve made and how much we’ve developed from winter testing to the race. I think Barcelona is going to be key in the season because it’s the first big update for a lot of drivers and teams. That’s where we need to see what we’ve done, and if it’s good enough or if we want more.”

The data Haas F1 Team had from last year is largely out of date because this year’s car is so different. But Barcelona allows you to have current data thanks to all the time you invested in testing. Granted, all of the other teams have 2017 data from testing too, but how valuable is it to arrive at a grand prix with pertinent data secured only two months ago compared to a year ago?
“It’s going to be better and there are a few things we can compare with winter testing. Again, I think with the updates the cars are going to be so much faster than we were in testing. It’s going to be hard to compare. I’m not watching last year’s data. We’re too far ahead now and it’s too different. It makes it more fun.”

It’s been two months since you tested at Barcelona. How do you expect the track to change between then and now?
“It’s normally much warmer, so the tires work much better. The track itself doesn’t move a lot. We’ve been so many times to Barcelona – we’ve seen it from minus 10 to plus 30 degrees.”

Barcelona marks the first European race on the Formula One schedule. Typically, many teams bring updates to their cars for the Spanish Grand Prix. Does Haas F1 Team have any updates for its cars and what are your expectations with these updates?
“We’ve got some pretty big updates coming. It’s going to be the first big test for us in 2017. The year is going to be mainly driven by updates and the performance it brings to the car. I think the car that was on pole in Melbourne, if you bring it to Abu Dhabi at the end of the year, I’m not even sure you’d make it to Q2. I’m pretty sure you cannot. Updates this year are going to be big, so I’m looking forward to that.”

Between the updates all the teams are expected to bring and the collective knowledge learned about the current car, how different is the Spanish Grand Prix weekend from when teams were in Barcelona two months ago for testing?
“Every grand prix is the same thing. You start the weekend trying to get the basics right. You’re working on setup and, of course, if you’ve got an update, on the first day you’re looking to see if it’s working and doing what it’s meant to do. If that’s the case then great, if not, you have to try and understand why and fine tune it in a certain way.”

Do you have any milestones or moments from your junior career that you enjoyed at Barcelona?
“I’ve had my only fastest race lap in Formula One at Barcelona. Apart from that, in 2009 in GP2, I won the first race, and in 2011, I had some good overtaking there. It hasn’t always been a brilliant track for me.”

Grosjean’s fastest race lap in Formula One came at the 2012 Spanish Grand Prix (1:26.250 on lap 53). It was the first fastest lap for a French driver since Jean Alesi at the 1996 Monaco Grand Prix. – Ed.

What is your favorite part of the Barcelona circuit and why?
“I like turns one, two and three because they’re mid-to-high speed corners. It shows how the car is behaving and you really get the feel of the grip.”

With Barcelona’s mix of corners and abrasive surface, how physically demanding is the track in terms of what you have to do behind the wheel?
“It’s a very demanding track because you’ve got some high-speed corners, like the first sector, then you’ve got some very low-speed sections and corners, like the last sector of the track. It’s normally a good judge for the car, showing that you’re capable of having some good downforce at high speed and good mechanical grip in the low-speed turns.”

Describe a lap around Barcelona.
“Barcelona is probably the track you know best in the world. You can name every part of the layout. There’s a long straight, then the first two corners right and left. You carry quite a good speed into them, and then there’s the famous turn three, which you now take flat out. Turn four, there’s usually some front-locking. The hairpin into turn five, going down you don’t see the apex until late, so it’s a tricky corner. Turns seven and eight going up the hill lead to the very high-speed turn nine, which has a new curb on exit. Then you get to the hairpin at turn 10, which is very tricky under braking. Turns 11-15 are almost one corner – as a complex, it’s difficult to get a good flow around those corners. You need to get a good balance there. Turn 16 is the last corner and you want to try to stay as flat-out to prepare for the straight and get a good lap time.”

Kevin Magnussen

With four races in the books, where does Haas F1 Team stand in relation to its midfield counterparts?
“We’re in the mix of that midfield group, which is extremely tight. It will vary a little bit from race to race in terms of who’s in front of that group, but we’re certainly in the mix.”

You seem to have assimilated to the team quickly. How has the transition been to Haas F1 Team?
“It’s been very easy and enjoyable. It’s a really cool bunch of people and it’s been very easy to settle in.”

Much was made about the new cars for this season as they are demonstrably faster with more downforce and much wider tires. Despite the amount of change introduced this year, how normal does the new car feel after four races?
“We all get used to the cars very quickly. After testing they all felt very familiar and normal. You still notice how fast they are. You still feel extremely good when you push the car. It’s a lot more fun than before.”

Last year, finding the proper working range of the tires proved difficult. After racing at four very different venues in four very different environments, how is it to find the proper working range of this year’s tires?
“It’s easier than last year, but it’s still not straightforward. It’s something that we still need to focus on, but it’s not as difficult as last year.”

You racked up a lot of laps at Barcelona earlier this year during winter testing. Do you have a higher level of comfortability with the car at Barcelona because you know what to expect?
“I would say we’ll be a little bit more dialed in to the speeds that we can carry and the driving style we use in Barcelona. After a few days of testing, you’re always a little bit more comfortable. I’m looking forward to going back there.”

The data Haas F1 Team had from last year is largely out of date because this year’s car is so different. But Barcelona allows you to have current data thanks to all the time you invested in testing. Granted, all of the other teams have 2017 data from testing too, but how valuable is it to arrive at a grand prix with pertinent data secured only two months ago compared to a year ago?
“It’s an advantage, but it’s an advantage that everyone has. It’s not going to help us be more competitive, because everyone else has it as well.”

It’s been two months since you tested at Barcelona. How do you expect the track to change between then and now?
“Not at all, it’s the same.”

Barcelona marks the first European race on the Formula One schedule. Typically, many teams bring updates to their cars for the Spanish Grand Prix. Does Haas F1 Team have any updates for its cars and what are your expectations with these updates?
“Yes, we have some upgrades coming for Barcelona. It’s always interesting to see what they can bring. Hopefully, it will be positive.”

Between the updates all the teams are expected to bring and the collective knowledge learned about the current car, how different is the Spanish Grand Prix weekend from when teams were in Barcelona two months ago for testing?
“It depends on how big the effect of these upgrades are. Obviously, if it changes the behavior of the car, then we need to dial the balance back in and do a bit of work on the setup. Hopefully, it will be pretty transparent and straightforward, but we’ll have to wait and see.”

Do you have any milestones or moments from your junior career that you enjoyed at Barcelona?
“Yes, I won the World Series by Renault championship there. That’s always a good memory.”

Magnussen won the 2013 Formula Renault 3.5 Series championship in convincing fashion with DAMS, earning five wins and 13 podiums, the last of which came in the season finale at Barcelona. Magnussen cleared runner-up Stoffel Vandoorne for the championship by 60 points. – Ed.

What is your favorite part of the Barcelona circuit and why?
“The podium!”

With Barcelona’s mix of corners and abrasive surface, how physically demanding is the track in terms of what you have to do behind the wheel?
“It’s a pretty tough track. There are some fast corners there that pull on the neck, some good braking zones. It’s always a pretty physical track but I look forward to it.”

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WEBBER: ALONSO IS THE REAL BOSS OF MCLAREN

Mark Webber believes that Fernando Alonso’s decision to ditch Monaco and contest the Indianapolis 500 this year is clear indication of who is the real boss at McLaren.

Speaking to AS, Webber said, “The decision to skip Monaco and to race at the Indy 500 shows that it is Alonso who is currently running McLaren, he is the real boss of the team, his relationship with them is clearly at a critical point.”

“McLaren cannot afford to continue in this way. Honda will have to raise their level of performance and if not McLaren will have to conclude that their star driver will inevitably depart.”

“McLaren does not exist to run in fourteenth place. They have to find a solution very quickly because, otherwise, McLaren as a company may have its future threatened if they don’t find a solution soon,” concluded Webber who during his time in Formula 1 was close to Alonso.

Alonso will contest the Indy 500 in a team collaboration between Andretti Autosport and McLaren with Honda power.

His first test at the Brickyard, earlier this month, was a resounding success

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MARKO: VERSTAPPEN CANNOT SWITCH TO FERRARI

Max Verstappen is without doubt the fastest rising star in sport, let alone Formula 1, his youth and enormous talent are a massive asset that is ‘owned’ by Red Bull a fact that team consultant Helmut Marko was keen to point out amid suggestions that Ferrari are keen to sign the teenager.

Speaking ahead of the Spanish Grand Prix, where Verstappen scored a sensational victory in his debut for Red Bull, Marko told Motorsport- Total, “Contrary to all the rumours there is no performance clause in Verstappen’s contract.

“If we do not release him, he cannot switch to Ferrari,” insisted Marko.

Word in the paddock is that Verstappen’s father Jos is not impressed by Red Bull’s fall from competitiveness this season and that feelers have been put out regarding his son’s future, with Ferrari an obvious target.

The assumption is that there is a performance related clause, which supposedly allows Verstappen (junior) to depart the energy drinks team before his contract expires at the end of 2018.

Although unlikely that Verstappen will find himself in red next year, there is no doubt he will be high on the Ferrari shopping list for 2018 and beyond, but much will depend on the future of their current drivers Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen.

Well connected F1 journalist Leo Turrini reported this week:”During the pre-season test in Barcelona, Niki Lauda told friends confidentially that Vettel has a pre-agreement with the Germans [Mercedes] for next season.”

Since last year, when the deal is said to have been struck, things have changed drastically at Maranello. Their current car is a race winner and Maurizio Arrivabene must take credit in turning around a team in apparent turmoil into contenders once again.

Vettel’s pre-agreement might not matter much if Ferrari maintain their competitiveness, becuase he would no doubt stay for as long as he can win. 

But Kimi Raikkonen is approaching the end of his career and although he may survive beyond 2017, it is not very likely that he will be around after 2018. This is when Verstappen would be ripe to be plucked from Red Bull and that would be a free of charge move.

But should Ferrari continue to excel, Vettel would probably stay while Raikkonen may not and thus. in such a case, a bid for Verstappen would not be out the question, but as Marko hinted releasing the teenager would come with a hefty price tag if they would indulge it at all.

Ex-F1 driver Johnny Herbert told Sky Sport in Sochi, “I am sure that Max and his father Jos will look around if Red Bull does not improve.”

“They must show whether they have title potential or not, and it would surprise me if they do not have a performance clause in the contract, even if Red Bull generally pen very long contracts,” added Herbert.

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FRABONI: WE ARE THERE

Ferrari must be applauded for reeling in Mercedes over the winter and establishing themselves as title contenders this season, but Ferrari’s engine boss Luigi Fraboni (pictured above with Sebastian Vettel on the podium in Melbourne) reveals that closing the gap was no fluke and that development of the SF70-H and the power unit will be sustained throughout the season.

In the final qualifying of the 2016 season, at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton’s pole winning time was nearly a second faster than the best placed Ferrari of Kimi Raikkonen. The time was set in Q3 when everything is dialed up to the max. That was the gap that needed closing in the winter by the Reds.

At the recent Russian Grand Prix Sebastian Vettel claimed pole position with a time a tenth faster than Mercedes’ best. Mission accomplished.

The big question is: who quickest right now?

Fraboni shared his views ahead of the Spanish Grand Prix weekend, “Difficult to say who is better or who is slower. I think the pace of the cars is quite similar in the last races and of course the evaluation of the power depends on track that you have and the car. But from our understanding we are there.”

Last year there were reports of disharmony at Maranello among the workers who were said to be working in a environment of fear, coupled to well documented instances of tensions between team chief Maurizio Arrivabene and Vettel.

Whatever the case, big credit to Arrivabane for galvanising the team, setting goals, keeping focus and delivering a title contender from the moment the season started in Australia.

Fraboni recalled, “Of course, it was a very tough job over the winter because we know that the general approach is to try to do well, the maximum, but also we know that we had to close some gap. And I think we have worked on everything.”

In past years Ferrari could be accused of starting strongly but losing steam as the season progressed, while their rivals improved.

But this year Fraboni is confident things will be different, “You need to work on energy, you need to work on power, you need to work on reliability and we need to work on weight. So all these items are on our lists and we really did a lot and I’m very pleased that at the moment we have reached this result, which is not of course the result we would like to achieve at the end because you are still pushing and developing the engine.”

“As we said last year we are happy to take off the token [system] so we have the possibility to continuously develop the engine. So at the moment the program is to bring the maximum that we can to every race. And then about how we split the power unit, that depends on how is our development in-house.”

“I think it’s much more flexible on this side [without tokens], so we try to take the opportunity. We are trying a lot more stuff knowing we are more free during the season, so for sure it was a good step for us,” added Fraboni.