2007 SPANISH GRAND PRIX PREVIEW
CHIPPING AWAY.
After a four-week hiatus, the longest break between races
in several years, the FIA Formula One World Championship returns
to action with the Spanish Grand Prix from 11 - 13 May. After
three 'flyaway' races it's the first European race of the
year, and an event teams know well from pre-season testing
programmes.
The Etihad Aldar Spyker Formula One Team now looks to carry
forward its momentum from the first three races. After difficult
races in Australia and Malaysia, the team achieved its first
double finish of the year in Bahrain and with new developments
honed in a three-day test at the Circuit de Catalunya earlier
this week, there's reason to hope the upward trend will continue.
'We're getting there,' commented Etihad Aldar Spyker Formula
One team principal and managing director Colin Kolles, 'Getting
two cars to the finish in Bahrain was good, but we've got
to do this at every race now. We've not as much at a disadvantage
this time round in Barcelona as we've tested there before,
so we should be able to close the gap to the back of the grid
just that little bit more.'
Team Q&A
Mike Gascoyne, chief technical officer
We're back in Europe after three challenging flyaway
races. Will the Spanish Grand Prix be a new start for the
team?
The start of the season was difficult for us as we only had
very limited pre-season testing, then we didn't do the two
tests in Malaysia and Bahrain. We also introduced updates
in Malaysia that were hard to do in the field, so it was always
going to be tough. Barcelona however will be a much more representative
demonstration of what we can do compared to the teams in front.
Is this because you've tested a lot more at Barcelona?
I think certainly for Barcelona the amount of testing we've
done will be an advantage. We did a pre-season test there
when other teams went to Bahrain, which we've now followed
up with a further three-day test this week. Although the running
was limited by the weather, we still got a couple of days
of decent running and had more time to work with the new parts
we introduced for Malaysia. Especially on the last day with
Christijan we made some progress with the set-up of the car
that I think that will translate into a far more competitive
weekend for us.
So would you say you are on the same level with the
other teams now in terms of testing?
Obviously other teams have more mileage than us, but specifically
for Barcelona, we're on a par with the others now. We're certainly
not at the disadvantage we were in the last two races where
the other teams had tested at the circuits and we hadn't.
The drivers also know the track, Adrian has now got some more
mileage under his belt - it's a definite advantage for him
going to a track he knows.
Adrian and Christijan have been pushing each other
hard - this must surely be good for the team.
I think it's always good to have two drivers who are pushing
each other as long as they respond positively and it doesn't
spill over into accidents on the track! It's good to have
two drivers who are close - it can only be good for the team.
Driver Q&A
Christijan Albers, (car no 21, F8-VII/02)
You've raced at Barcelona twice before in F1, in 2005 and
2006, plus have the experience from testing too - does this
help your confidence going into the race?
I drove here last year and the year before, but in F1 everyday
is different. Don't expect it to ever be the same, although
of course the experience helps when you get to the track at
first. You've just got to find a good base set-up and then
go from there to Qualifying. But we did some good work this
week at the test that I hope we can apply next week.
How much information were you able to gather from
the test that you can use in the race?
I tested for the final day. We started out quite well in the
morning where we worked on some race set ups. I was quite
happy as we improved the car's handling, I did a lot of laps
and over the longer runs the car's balance was better, but
unfortunately we weren't able to try it out with new tyres
as we had a problem at the beginning of the afternoon that
meant we had to stop running. I tried to push really hard
and got some information that I hope we can expand on for
next week.
We're now back in Europe after three difficult flyaway races,
do you view this as the chance to kick-start the season?
We should think like this. It's been a tough start, but it
has been quite hard for everybody in the pitlane, but we're
just doing as best as we can. Adrian, myself and the team
are all pushing really hard, but as you've seen, it's not
easy. We've had some bad luck, but now it's time to draw a
line under that and really look forward to the rest of the
year. I think we will grow through the season, we missed some
testing at the start and now we're getting closer and closer
everyday. One day we will be competitive with the other cars
and finally get that fighting spirit.
Adrian Sutil, (car no 20, F8-VII/03)
You tested at Barcelona this week, but unfortunately only
with a limited programme. Were you able to get any sort of
information for next week?
It was slightly frustrating as we didn't run until late and
then it was very, very wet so the team made the decision to
stop running. It was the right decision as conditions were
very bad and we couldn`t risk any problems. It was difficult
to get any sort of information when the track was that slippery,
but I did 11 laps and got a feeling from the car. I've driven
in the wet before in a Formula 1 car - last year in Suzuka
free practice - but it's always useful to get some more experience,
especially if we get more rain during the Grand Prix next
week.
The Spanish Grand Prix is the first event you'll go to with
prior experience of the circuit. How does that affect your
preparation and your confidence?
So far not knowing the tracks hasn't been a problem - if you
prepare well, then you will know the layout and then it's
just a case of fine-tuning. But it will be good to get to
a track and know its characteristics straight away. I put
in a lot of kilometres at the two tests in February, so hopefully
I can work on the set-ups from the first practice without
having that installation period.
What are the aims for this race?
It's got to be to have a clean first lap and get to the end
of the race without any major problems. At this stage, we've
just got to concentrate on getting as much experience as possible
and not make any mistakes.
Event Facts
Etihad Aldar Spyker Formula One Team chief engineer, Dominic
Harlow, discusses the challenges of the Bahrain International
Circuit
'The 4.655km Circuit de Catalunya on the outskirts of Barcelona
is typical of a high downforce F1 circuit and something of
a benchmark for performance. It features a mixture of corner
speeds and types, but has been neutered somewhat since the
last race in 2006 by the addition of a chicane. Now, where
we used to have turns 12 and 13, two of the fastest corners
on the calendar, there's a new complex that does slow the
rhythm of the lap.
Nevertheless, the chicane still presents its own challenge
with a blind entry and perhaps a better chance to overtake
on the following straight. As a result, the circuit is now
quite hard on brakes but remains tough on tyres. Bridgestone
will provide the hard and medium compounds for this event.
We test in Barcelona a great deal, Silverstone is probably
the only place we test at more. We have completed three tests
there so far this season, two before the start of the season
and one just the week before the Grand Prix.
Despite the torrential rain this week though, we would expect
the weather to be warm and a big crowd should make for a good
atmosphere - everyone will be raring to go come Friday morning.'
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