Will the tires hold on the Mercedes this time? And what happens in the first few meters? Even if Formula 1 races in Spain are not a complete guarantee of tension - it will be hot on the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.
Barcelona (dpa) - Overtaking is not exactly easy on the 4.655 kilometers of the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.
Therefore, there will be two main factors, either to defend the starting position or to improve at the Spanish Grand Prix this Sunday (3:10 p.m. / Sky and RTL).
Lewis Hamilton will start from pole, so the six-time Formula 1 world champion has the best chance of winning the sixth race of the season. But the start has to go well and the tires have to hold up.
BATTLE FOR PLACE ONE AFTER CURVE ONE: Hamilton knows just as well as Valtteri Bottas, who had pole a year ago but lost in the race against Hamilton. No mistakes in the first few meters, extreme care when the red lights go out. Bottas from position two, Max Verstappen lurks in the Red Bull, whose car was practically on a par with the Silver Arrows, which were still painted black, in the racing simulations during training. Everyone starts on the softest tire compound. The fastest, but also the least durable.
FIGHTING THE BEST STRATEGY: A stop or two, that is the question. The more tire changes, the more the field could be mixed up. For the fun of the excitement, however, no team will bring their drivers into the pits, it depends on how the tires hold up this time.
FIGHT WITH THE RUBBER: At the last two races at Silverstone, Mercedes had major problems with the Pirelli tires. Once in the front, once in the back. Verstappen, however, got through without difficulty. Blisters like the last ones did not form on the tires of the Mercedes racing cars either during training or during qualification in Spain. So the all-clear? A week ago the problems only appeared in the race.
FIGHT WITH THE FERRARI: Starting position eleven. Sebastian Vettel doesn't have it easy. Despite a new chassis, the Ferrari has not made a dramatic leap in performance. Vettel also has no hope of miracles in the race. In the midfield, he will have to watch anyway, to get through the initial phase without damage.
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 200815-99-181944 / 2
News on Formula 1 homepage
Schedule on Homape Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya
Verstappen profile on team homepage
News on Max Verstappen homepage
Formula 1 driver field
Racing calendar
Team Mercedes
Team Ferrari
Verstappen statements before the race on the Formula 1 website
Analysis of Friday's training data on the Formula 1 website