2007 SPANISH GRAND PRIX PREVIEW
The Spanish Grand Prix at Barcelona next weekend, fourth
round of the 2007 Formula 1 World Championship, is the home
Grand Prix for Vodafone McLaren Mercedes driver Fernando Alonso,
who leads the Drivers' ranking with 22 points. His team mate
Lewis Hamilton is level on points and third overall. Kimi
Raikkonen is second, also with 22 points. Prior to the start
of the European season, Vodafone McLaren Mercedes leads the
Constructors' table with 44 points ahead of Ferrari with 39
points.
THREE FAST FACTS
How has the track been modified prior to the race
this year?
The main change to the layout of the Circuit de Catalunya
is to the final two corners at the end of the lap. The two
very quick bends have been replaced with a chicane that flicks
left then right. Primarily for safety purposes, the modification
is designed to encourage more overtaking at the event with
drivers being able to follow the car ahead more closely as
they sweep onto the long, fast straight. This should allow
for better slipstreaming and therefore overtaking opportunities
into the first corner.
What are the key differences for the team to race
in Europe rather than fly-away destinations?
The proximity of races in Europe to the McLaren Technology
Centre and Mercedes-Benz HighPerformanceEngines allows the
Vodafone McLaren Mercedes team to depart for the Grands Prix
later than for flyaway races. This allows for the unrelenting
development process that takes place within the team to continue
to have an impact in the days directly leading into a race
weekend. It also means that team personnel depart for the
event closer to the weekend, which is welcome following the
recent spell of over five weeks away from home. In addition,
at the European races the team also operates from its bespoke
trackside facilities, both from a technical and hospitality
perspective. The Vodafone McLaren Mercedes team takes its
racing equipment to each Grand Prix in 15 Mercedes-Benz Actros
race transporters, including seven for the Vodafone McLaren
Mercedes Communications Centre, with three of the vehicles
remaining in the paddock as office space and support facilities.
The equipment comprises 30 tons including the three race cars.
Vodafone McLaren Mercedes travels to the European Grands Prix
with 135 team members. This is 40 people more than at flyaway
races.
How does wind affect the performance of Formula 1
cars at the Circuit de Catalunya?
The Circuit de Catalunya is famed for having a changeable
nature. This can lead to a challenge with the set-up of the
cars. A configuration that proved to be quick during the morning
will not necessarily work to the same level that afternoon.
This can range from the wind along the main straight affecting
the aero efficiency or the temperature changing having a significant
impact on grip levels.
TEAM QUOTES
Fernando Alonso
"As my home race, the Spanish Grand Prix is massively
important to me. The support I receive from the crowd all
weekend is immense and it really does give me extra motivation
to have a great race for them. However, there is no more pressure
on me or more focus from me, when I am in the car it is the
same as any track, but it is my home and it is only natural
to want to win. The race in Bahrain was not great for me,
but I have arrived in Spain leading the World Championship
and that is a good position to be in going into the European
season. We had a strong test at this track earlier this week
and we got to understand more about how the car performs at
the Circuit de Catalunya and the changes to the layout. Although
I have always really enjoyed the final two corners and their
speed, the new chicane at the end of the track will hopefully
lead to more overtaking during the race, which is great for
the spectators."
Lewis Hamilton
"It seems to have been a very long time since we last
raced, and I cannot wait to get back in my car and back to
the action. There has not been any relaxing on our part though,
when I returned to the UK I had a couple of days before returning
to the McLaren Technology Centre to work with the team on
the development programme. This break has also given us the
opportunity to get some serious physical training in. During
the races, it is more about maintaining fitness levels, when
we have a couple of weeks we can really focus on improvements
in performance. The Barcelona track is great to race on, it
will be interesting to see how the new chicane affects this.
I enjoyed the GP2 weekend last year, where I achieved a second
and fourth place, and am looking forward to fighting for more
points for myself and the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes team."
Martin Whitmarsh, CEO Formula 1, Vodafone McLaren
Mercedes
"Our target going into every race is to win, and we have
been working at a feverish pace across the Vodafone McLaren
Mercedes team since the Bahrain race to develop the MP4-22
to enable us to meet this target. It has been a busy period
on and off track and we do feel that we have taken a step
forward. We have to wait until we get to race day to fully
understand the size of the step, as we are by no means alone
in pushing performance. The Circuit de Catalunya is very demanding
on race cars and is a good indicator of genuine performance.
It is therefore an interesting race from a development perspective
and a good track to be competing on following this four week
break, which by its nature will see the greatest step forward.
Whilst the results at each race are equally important, the
Spanish Grand Prix as an event has extra significance for
Vodafone McLaren Mercedes. As Fernando’s home race it
will be a busy weekend for us all and we hope that as a team
we can put on a performance befitting the support we will
receive."
Norbert Haug, Vice President, Mercedes-Benz Motorsport
"For all Formula 1 teams, the Circuit de Catalunya is
the best test track, pure and simple. It’s a rule that
those who can win here are capable to do so at all the other
Grand Prix circuits. This rule of thumb came true for the
team most recently in 2005, when we won 10 out of the remaining
14 Grands Prix of the season, having taken our first victory
of the year at Barcelona. Since then the competition in Formula
1 has become even more challenging and the teams make even
bigger development steps during the course of the season.
Nevertheless, the preparation of all teams for the circuit
near Barcelona is more extensive than anywhere else, none
of the teams have more understanding of any other circuit
on the current Grand Prix calendar. Since February, we have
covered more than 3700 test kilometres with the MP4-22 at
the Circuit de Catalunya. The track is not only demanding
on the aerodynamic efficiency of a Formula 1 car, but also
the stress on the engines is high. About 70 percent of a lap
will be run under full throttle. Once the cars have gone through
the new chicane and onto the start and finish straight, about
13 seconds will be run under full throttle. We had a comprehensive
test the week before the Spanish Grand Prix with good results
and are fully focused to continue our trend from the flyaway
races in Fernando’s home race. Fernando and Lewis will
naturally be under a special focus at this Grand Prix and
with everything that is expected from them outside the car,
we will help them to find the focus to do the job that counts
in the best possible way."
CIRCUIT DE CATALUNYA INFORMATION
Circuit length 4.627 km / 2.875 miles
Race distance 305.256 km / 189.677 miles
Laps 66
Number of corners 16
Inaugural Spanish GP 1951
VODAFONE McLAREN MERCEDES STATISTICS
Fernando Lewis Vodafone McLaren Mercedes
Race Starts 91 3 617
Race Wins 16 n/a 149
Pole Positions 15 n/a 125
Points 403 22 3193.5
Podiums 39 3 398
Fastest Laps 8 1 131
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