formula 1
Curiosity and excitement: Barcelona becomes a Mercedes indicator
Wants to attack again in Barcelona: Lewis Hamilton. photo
© Hasan Bratic/dpa
The Formula 1 Mercedes has changed a lot. In Monaco he was, but the knowledge gained there was rather small. It will be completely different at the upcoming Grand Prix.
The German Formula 1 factory team Mercedes hopes to gain important insights into the heavily modified Silver Arrow from the Spanish Grand Prix this weekend.
The so-called upgrades had already been used at the classic in Monaco on the car, which was painted black again this year. However, due to the characteristics of the narrow and short street circuit, the data was not particularly meaningful.
“Barcelona is probably the best test track we could wish for to learn more about our package,” said record world champion Lewis Hamilton. The 38-year-old celebrated his last win to date on December 5, 2021 in Saudi Arabia, the next will be the 104th in the career of the seven-time world champions from Great Britain.
Long time test track
He is looking forward to seeing how the car reacts, he said before the first free practice session at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya this Friday. For many years, the circuit was also the number one test track in the premier class of motorsport. It will be the first real test, predicted Hamilton’s compatriot and teammate George Russell.
In Monaco, Hamilton had finished fourth behind defending champion Max Verstappen of Red Bull, Fernando Alonso of Aston Martin and Esteban Ocon of Alpine. Russell was fifth. The innovations on the car were actually supposed to be used a week earlier. Due to the cancellation of the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix, the new side boxes – up until then the car had practically driven without any – celebrated their premiere. The upgrades had already been worked on after the start in Bahrain.
The big package that they brought to Monaco worked well, explained team boss Toto Wolff, but at the same time pointed out that the course in the Principality was not representative. “Barcelona will give us a better idea of competitiveness,” he said.