04/06/2023
NEWS STORY
Thanks to a number of factors, yesterday's qualifying session seemed a lifetime away from the days when the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya was widely known by the epithet Bore-celona.
Bore-celona came about because of the teams' familiarity with the track not only in terms of pre-season testing but the tests that would take place just days before the race - a common practice at a number of tracks back in the day.
Upgrades, uncertainty over the weather, a revised layout and various other factors have resulted in a grid which offers the prospect of some excitement, even if you know who is on pole and looking good to claim the win.
Starting beside him is Carlos Sainz in the Ferrari, with Britons Lando Norris and Lewis Hamilton right behind.
Then there's Stroll, Ocon, Hulkenberg, Alonso, Gasly and Piastri... before we get to Perez and Russell, and as if that wasn't enough we've got Leclerc starting from the pitlane.
That long, long run to Turn 1 has provided plenty of great moves over the years, but then again we've seen a number of first corner incidents that have ended in tears.
The rain that affected yesterday morning's session isn't expected to return so we can rule that out, however the wind could prove to be a factor... then again.
The removal of that ludicrous chicane has really opened the track up again, especially in setting drivers up for a move on the pit straight, though we've also seen a few drivers get carried away in terms of overdoing it and heading off into the gravel.
On Friday, Norris mentioned the P-word as porpoising returned, and a number of other drivers have noticed the return of the phenomenon which isn't helped by a bump at the entrance to the final corner.
The track is good for overtaking, so it's going to be interesting the progress of Messrs Perez, Russell and Leclerc, while Alonso - and to a certain extent countryman Sainz - will surely be buoyed by the support of the partisan crowd... after all, at Silverstone Nigel Mansell used to claim it was worth a second a lap.
Fingers crossed today we're going to put that Bore-celona epithet to bed once and for all, even if you know who goes on to win.
Assuming it remains dry, a two-stop strategy is fastest, running Soft/Hard/Hard, which also works best for those starting from the back end of the grid, but in the reverse order - Hard/Hard/Soft.
The window for the first tyre change is between laps 13 and 18, while for the second one it is between laps 37 and 43.
Another two-stop option is Soft/Hard/Soft, (first stop between laps 15 and 20, the second between 46 and 51). A three-stop strategy, chosen by almost everyone last year, could run as follows: Soft/Hard/Soft/Soft, the first stop coming between laps 10 and 15.
Obviously, those who have been able to save a set of new softs might prefer this strategy, which is definitely more aggressive than a two-stop.
As the pitlane opens, Verstappen is ready and waiting, the Dutchman clearly eager to get on with it.
Interestingly, there are dark clouds in the distance.
The race is 40 minutes away but Russell is already in the wars, the Briton running wide and into the gravel at Turn 5 after appearing to misjudge the braking point.
On the grid, there is a lot of work going on at the rear of Norris' car.
Ahead of the formation lap, the air temperature is 23 degrees C, while the track temperature is 36 degrees. Risk of rain is now 40%.
Hamilton asks for his mirrors to be wiped as they are "really dirty".
All are starting on softs except Verstappen (medium), Perez (medium) Leclerc (hards) and Sargeant (medium).
All the leading ten are on used tyres, while Verstappen's mediums are brand new, as are Perez'. Behind the Mexican the soft runners are all on fresh rubber.
They head off on the formation lap, all getting away cleanly.
The grid forms.
They're away! Verstappen and Sainz both get away well, while Norris attempts to hold off Hamilton and Stroll who are behind but on either side of the McLaren.
Into Turn 1 and Hamilton has the edge over Norris and as the McLaren driver seeks to reclaim the position as they enter Turn 2 they touch, the Mercedes driver having backed-off in order to avoid Sainz. The McLaren has clearly incurred front wing damage, but what of Hamilton?
Meanwhile, as he battled Piastri and Hulkenberg, having run out of track Russell has to take to the escape road at Turn 1.
At the end of Lap 1, it's Verstappen, Sainz, Stroll, Hamilton, Ocon, Alonso, Russell, Hulkenberg, Zhou, and Perez who has passes Piastri. Sargeant has passes Leclerc for 18th as Norris pits for a new front wing.
Russell has been noted for possibly leaving the track and gaining an advantage.
Bottas pits at the end of Lap 5, as Norris posts a new fastest lap (20.051).
Perez passes Hulkenberg for tenth, while Leclerc is up to seventeenth and chasing Albon.
After 6 laps, Verstappen has a 3s lead, while Russell has passed Alonso for 6th. Moments later Hamilton passes the other Aston Martin.
Piastri passes Hulkenberg for 11th, as Perez hunts down Zhou. Moments later the Mexican goes around the outside of the Alfa Romeo to claim 8th.
No further investigation of Russell's first lap excursion.
"I think we need to box and do something else," says Hulkenberg, as Zhou and de Vries both pit. Indeed, the German subsequently pits.
Gasly passes Magnussen for 11th, as his teammate is under intense pressure from Russell. Indeed, the Mercedes passes the alpine with ease.
Tsunoda and Magnussen both pit at the end of Lap 10.
Hulkenberg, Tsunoda and Zhou battling for 14th.
"The dirty air is terrible," complains Norris.
"You need to pick up the pace," Sainz is told as Ferrari considers its strategies now that Hamilton is just 0.958s behind.
Ocon pits at the end of Lap 13, rejoining in 13th, just ahead of the Hulkenberg, Zhou, Tsunoda battle.
Stroll pits next time around, the Canadian rejoining in 12th ahead of Ocon.
Sainz pits at the end of Lap 15, the Spaniard rejoining in 8th as he asks his team: "Why?"
"Tyres still really good, mate" reports Hamilton as he maintains an 8s gap to race leader Verstappen.
Leclerc pits at the end of Lap 16, as does Albon. The Monegasque rejoins in 18th on fresh softs.
Check out our Sunday gallery from Barcelona here.
Piastri and Sargeant both pit at the end of Lap 18, leaving the leading group, Verstappen, Hamilton, Russell, Alonso, Perez and Gasly as the only drivers yet to stop.
"There's a lot more pace in the tyres," reports Russell, we need to look forward not behind."
Alonso pits at the end of Lap 19, as does Gasly. They rejoin in 10th and 15th.
Gasly is immediately passed by Leclerc.
"Is a one-stop possible," asks Russell, convinced that his tyres are up to it. "It is possible," he is told.
Alonso passes Zhou for 9th.
"Slowly going to oversteer," reports Hamilton.
Mercedes communications boss, Bradley Lord suggests that the cooler temperatures are a big part of the team's improved performance. "Degradation is lower than expected, so pushing on for the moment," he says, "we have all options open."
Gasly is on a charge, having re-passed Leclerc he makes short work of de Vries also, setting off after Magnussen.
Indeed, the Frenchman subsequently claims 13th.
Hamilton pits at the end of Lap 24, the Briton rejoining in 5th behind Sainz.
Next time around it is his teammate's turn, the Mercedes driver rejoining in 6th just ahead of Ocon.
Verstappen pits next time around, the world champion, now on hards, rejoining still 6.8s clear of the second-placed man, teammate Perez. Hulkenberg also stops.
After 26 laps, everyone bar Perez has pitted.
"Rain at Turn 5," reports Russell, as which point Perez pits... for hards.
Meanwhile, Hamilton has passed Sainz for second, making short work of the Spaniard on the run to Turn 1. Elsewhere, Russell passes Stroll for fourth.
Lap 28 sees Russell post a new fastest lap (18.264).
Perez sweeps by Alonso on the pit straight to claim 8th.
"Is anyone else reporting rain," asks Russell, "it might be sweat inside my helmet," he admits. He is told that it is most likely sweat as nobody else has reported rain.
Having passed Tsunoda, Perez sets about hunting down Ocon who is a mere 0.5s ahead. Indeed, the Mexican nails the Alpine in Turn 1.
Wow! Russell leaves Sainz for dead as he passes the Ferrari on the run to Turn 1 to claim third.
Meanwhile, at the end of Lap 34, Stroll and Tsunoda both pit.
Ocon makes his second stop at the end of Lap 35, rejoining in 14th.
"Solid work," Russell is told. "Just solid?" he replies. "Pretty good," interjects Toto Wolff.
Zhou and Sargeant both pit at the end of Lap 37.
"Find the best wat to beat Checo," urges Sainz, the Red Bull just 4.8s behind.
Verstappen has his time deleted for exceeding the track limits at Turn 5.
Piastri and Gasly both pit at the end fo Lap 39, rejoining in 13th and 14th as Bottas also stops.
Sainz pits at the end of Lap 41, the Spaniard switching to hards as he rejoins in sixth. Teammate Leclerc also pits, rejoining in 14th on hards.
"I'm struggling a lot under braking," reports Verstappen, "the front is overheating." He is currently 16s clear of second-placed Hamilton.
"Tyres feel very good," says Russell, as Alonso pits for hards, the Spaniard rejoining in 10th.
As Magnussen (19th) goes quickest (18.069), and Russell pits, Verstappen exceeds the track limits at Turn 5 once again. Russell fits softs for the final (?) stint.
On the red-banded rubber, Russell posts a new fastest lap (18.057).
Alonso passes Zhou for ninth as Gasly passes Piastri for 11th.
Next up for Alonso is Tsunoda as the Spaniard claims 8th.
"Will we catch him (Perez) at this rate," asks Russell, who is assured that he will. At which point the Mexican pits, as does Hamilton, both switching to softs.
Very, very aggressive defending from Ocon, but to no avail as Alonso stands his ground to claim 7th from the Frenchman and former teammate.
Verstappen pits at the end of Lap 52, rejoining on softs, 17s clear of Hamilton.
Perez passes Sainz for 4th, posting a new fastest lap (16.666) in the process.
Next up for Alonso is his Aston Martin teammate.
Down in 19th, Norris goes quickest in S1 as he seeks to close the gap to Sargeant.
Leclerc is told that he is lapping faster than the cars ahead, but down in 12th this is little consolation for the youngster.
The Tsunoda/Zhou battle continues, albeit now for 9th. "He pushed me off, what the ****" cries the Chinese driver.
As Alonso closes to within 1.7s of his teammate, Perez is 5.1s down on Russell.
Lap 56 sees Verstappen's third violation of the track limits, this time at Turn 10. He is subsequently shown the black and white flag.
"You are 18 seconds ahead of Hamilton, no risks required," the world champion is advised.
Alonso tells his team that he will not seek to pass his teammate but simply wants to build a gap to the cars behind, just in case of rain or anything.
The stewards are looking at that Tsunoda/Zhou incident.
Magnussen and Norris are battling for 17th.
"All out now, all out," Perez is told, as Tsunoda is hit with a 5s time penalty for forcing another driver off track.
"Can you bring it home within the white lines," Verstappen is told as he posts a new fastest lap (16.330).
Russell and Perez are both being urged to raise their pace, the gap currently 4.5s.
"I'm giving everything," says Zhou as he tries to close the 1.6s gap to Tsunoda, though with that 5s penalty he's actually targeting Ocon.
Leclerc is trying to overhaul Gasly for 11th, but the Alpine driver appears to have it covered.
Check out our Sunday gallery from Barcelona here.
Verstappen starts his last lap, subsequently taking the flag to extend his championship lead.
Hamilton claims second and Russell third, a great result for Mercedes, while Perez settle for fourth, ahead of Sainz, Stroll, Alonso, Ocon, Zhou and Gasly.
Leclerc is eleventh, ahead of Tsunoda, Piastri, de Vries, Hulkenberg, Albon, Norris, Magnussen, Bottas and Sargeant.
"A little bit surprised," admits Russell, "kudos for the team for giving me a good car today.
"P12, all the way to P3, a sign of things to come," he adds. "I'm really pleased I'm on the podium."
"What an awesome crowd we have here," says Hamilton as he waves to the grandstands. "And what a result for our team, I just want to take my hat off to my team back at the factory, for continuing to push.
"The Bulls are still a bit ahead, but we'll keep chasing them down. They are still too quick at the moment, but one step at a time."
"It's a big pleasure to drive with a car like this," says Verstappen. "A win here, it's incredible. A strong weekend from myself, from the team. Hopefully we can keep this up."
Not the thrill a minute we were hoping for but not exactly Bore-celona either.
Yes, it was a stroll in the park for Max, but Mercedes has signalled that it is on the way back.
While Mercedes upgrade package appears to be producing results, this is clearly not the case at Ferrari, where even those overnight changes don't appear to have worked for Leclerc.
In many ways it was damage limitation mode for Aston Martin, which will have its major upgrade at the next race in Canada.
While it is all too easy to write this odd as another Verstappen - Red Bull walkover, which, of course, it was, there were lots of great scraps throughout the field.
Now on to Montreal which has never produced a race one might describe as boring.