GET UP TO SPEED WITH THESE FACTS AND STATS
Barcelona
NEED TO KNOW
FIRST
GRAND PRIX:
1951 (Pedralbes)
TRACK LENGTH:
4.657 km
LAP RECORD:
1:16.330
max verstappen (2023)
MOST BARCELONA WINS:
6
Lewis hamilton & Michael Schumacher
MOST BARCELONA
POLE POSITIONS:
7
Michael Schumacher
PIT STOP
TIME LOSS:
(including 2.5s stationary)
POLE RUN TO TURN 1
BRAKING POINT:
OVERTAKES COMPLETED
IN 2024:
SAFETY CAR
PROBABILITY:
VSC
PROBABILITY:
TRIVIA
Fernando Alonso’s most recent F1 win came at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya in 2013.
THE DRIVER'S VERDICT
Jolyon Palmer
Former Renault F1 driver
Barcelona is a nice circuit, but everyone knows it like the back of their hand, which kind of makes it feel like home, because it’s the one that we have historically spent a lot of time driving at.
It’s really flowing and tough on the neck and the body because of the long corners coming through Turns 3 to 4 and Turn 9. It’s also tough on the front-left tyre, with tyre wear generally high in Barcelona thanks to abrasive tarmac.
Overtaking can be tricky, with Turn 1 pretty much the only spot you can pass at – it’s also the trickiest corner. Turn 4 to 5 is a nasty, downhill braking zone, which again can sucker you into braking a little bit late, but because there’s a bit of camber on it, you can miss the apex slightly and not lose a heap of time.
The previous final sector was not a pleasure to drive. You had to balance your tyre performance in the first and final sector, it felt really slow, and you squirmed your way around the final chicane trying to compete the lap. But that’s all gone since 2023.
2024 WINNER
Max Verstappen (RED BULL)
2023 WINNER
Max Verstappen (RED BULL)
2022 WINNER
MAX VERSTAPPEN (RED BULL)
2021 WINNER
LEWIS HAMILTON (MERCEDES)
2020 WINNER
LEWIS HAMILTON (MERCEDES)
2024 POLE POSITION
LANDO NORRIS (MCLAREN)
2023 POLE POSITION
MAX VERSTAPPEN (RED BULL)
2022 POLE POSITION
CHARLES LECLERC (FERRARI)
2021 POLE POSITION
LEWIS HAMILTON (MERCEDES)
2020 POLE POSITION
LEWIS HAMILTON (MERCEDES)
CURRENT FORM
What can be expected going into the Grand Prix weekend?
McLaren were a commanding force last time out in Miami, with Oscar Piastri leading team mate Lando Norris in a 1-2 finish that saw Piastri cross the line a staggering 37.644s ahead of third-placed George Russell.
This result bolstered Piastri’s advantage at the top of the Drivers' Championship, where the Australian now holds a total of 131 points to sit 16 points clear of Norris in second while Max Verstappen is on 99 in third.
Last year’s Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix confirmed McLaren’s step forward as Norris took the fight to Verstappen right to the end – but with the team being the hunted rather than the hunter this time around, can they continue to hold off their rivals this weekend?
Speaking of Verstappen, the Dutchman has good form at Imola, having won three of F1’s four visits to the track since it returned to the calendar in 2020. And as his pole position in Miami outlined, the Red Bull driver can never be discounted.
Elsewhere, Mercedes bounced back from a slightly weaker outing in Saudi Arabia with Russell’s podium at the Miami International Autodrome. As rookie Kimi Antonelli prepares to race in front of his home crowd for the first time this weekend, can the Silver Arrows give the Italian fans something to cheer about?
And in terms of local supporters, this will also be Ferrari’s first race on home soil of the season – as well as marking Lewis Hamilton’s debut Italian event since switching to the Scuderia. What can the home favourites achieve at Imola?
Other headlines include the return of Franco Colapinto, who replaces Jack Doohan at Alpine for the next five rounds. Will the driver change have an impact in what remains a tight battle in the midfield?
ICONIC MOMENT
Catalunya’s first race
After switching from Jerez, the first Spanish Grand Prix at the now-named Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya brought plenty of drama thanks to a memorable scrap involving Nigel Mansell and Ayrton Senna.
Needing to win to boost his championship chances, Mansell fought his way past title rival Senna on the track, only for the Brazilian to move back into the lead during the pit stops.
There was another twist when Senna spun on the damp track, allowing Mansell back through, after which the Briton hunted down leader Gerhard Berger and secured an ultimately comfortable victory.
