Circuit de Barcelona: Mercedes will be looking to extend their stronghold over the race with Lewis Hamilton beginning in the first row
When the fourth round of the 2021 edition of the Formula 1 gets rolling this Sunday, the race looks set to make for intriguing viewing. Its not only down to the matchup between Mercedes and Red Bull but also the new changes enforced by the organisers.
Conventionally regraded as one of the more mundane tracks with the races contested here hardly making for the most enthralling, the Circuit de Barcelona is set to be faster this time around. The circuit’s tightest corner has been re-profiled with Turn 10 being extended with a wider radius.
The change will see it flow more gently into the long right Turn 12, skipping the little kink that used to split the two corners. The move was brought about with the objective of winding up the cars in Catalunya’s recognizable stadium section.
How long is The Spanish F1 Grand Prix
Circuit Name Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya
Track Length 4.655km (16 turns)
Race Distance 66 laps (307.104km)
Lap Record 1:18.183, Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes, 2020)
Who Are The Past Winners Of The Spanish F1
One of the oldest racing circuits in the world of F1, the Spanish Gran Prix has become a revered prize every season it features. Fernando Alonso is Spain’s only Formula 1 champion with him winning thrice at his bastion.
His triumphs twice came at the Spanish Grand Prix at the Circuit de Barcelona Catalunya in 2006 and 2013 and once at the Valencia Street Circuit in 2012.
Year Car Driver
2010 Red Bull Racing RB6 Renault Mark Webber
2011 Red Bull Racing RB7 Renault Sebastian Vettel
2012 Williams FW34 Renault Pastor Maldonado
2013 Ferrari F138 Fernando Alonso
2014 Mercedes-Benz W05 Lewis Hamilton
2015 Mercedes-Benz W06 Hybrid Nico Rosberg
2016 Red Bull Racing RB12 Tag-Heuer Max Verstappen
2017 Mercedes-Benz W08 EQ Power Lewis Hamilton
2018 Mercedes-Benz W09 EQ Power+ Lewis Hamilton
2019 Mercedes-Benz W10 EQ Power+ Lewis Hamilton
2020 Mercedes-Benz W11 EQ Performance Lewis Hamilton
