True test of Merc’s upgrades 

After unveiling their substantial upgrade package in Monaco, this weekend’s Spanish💃 Grand Prix will be a true test of whether it truly works.

The initial impressions from Monaco hav✅e been positive but given that the iconic street circuit is an outlier in terms ofꦫ characteristics - bumpy track surface, low-speed corners and having to run maximum downforce - it’s too early to say whether Mercedes are on the right path to challenge Red Bull again.

"Barcelona is like the best test bench circuit for us, so I think it'd be really difficult here to really know. The car feels really stiff, there’s lots of bumps, it's tricky," 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Lewis Hamilton told Sky after Monaco.

The team have heavily focused on the sidepod profile and front suspension as they slowly look to changꦯe their car concept. 

Spain will give Mercedes more answers.

Firstly, whether the c🧜ar has improved in terms of lap time.

Secondly, the general handling of the car🐽 - Toto Wolff has described the W14’s rear-end as “a bit nasty”.

Spain was one of Mercedes’ strongest circuits last year with 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:George Russell running up at the front, while Hamilton s൩howed outstanding pace from the back of the grid following his collision with Kevin Magn✅ussen.

It’s another big weekend for Mercedes.

Under pressure Perez and Stroll

168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Sergio Perez and 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Lance Stroll endured torrid Monaco weekends.

Starting with Perez, his title drea𒆙m is hanging by a thread after he was 🐠lapped twice by teammate Verstappen.

His weekend was completely undone in Q1 with a needless cras෴h at Sainte Devote.

Given Red Bull’s general pace advantage, he was under no pressure to get out of Q1 nor did he have to take any unnecessary risks🌼.

The pressure would have inevitably been on Per🌌ez given his track record in Monaco and street circuits in general - he is the ‘King of the Streets’ - supposedly anyway.

He’s now 39 points off Verstapp𒀰en as F1 heads to more traditional tracks such as Barcelona, Red Bull Ring, Silverstone and the Hungaroring.

Any talk of a title bid from Perez was always premature but it seems that it’s ended 🍨sooner than many expected♕.

At Aston Martin, ♍Strol🔜l continues to underperform in the second-best car on the grid.

His stutte�✃�ring form means Aston sit just one point ahead of Mercedes in the constructors’ championship.

He is the son of Aston Martin billionai🌼re owner Lawrence Stroll, so his future with the team is never in serious doubt.

But if Aston Mart꧑in are serious about winning then upgrading Stroll is a💖 necessity. 

Stroll is capable on his day, part🌠icularly in changeable conditions, but those days are few and f♏ar between.

New (old) Barcelona layout 

For this year’s race, the Circuit de Barcelona-✤Catalunya has reverted back to his original layoutﷺ.

It means drivers will no longer have to tackle the “Mickey Moᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚuse” chicane in the🦂 final sector.

Instead they will stay to the left of the track and take the final couple of corners effectively fl꧋at-out.

T🎃his layout (aside from the other modifications made to the old Turn 10) was last 🥃used back in 2006.

So on the current F1 2023 grid, only Alonso has driven on it.

Historically, Barce🀅lona rarely springs a great race, with drivers unable to follow through the aforementioned chicane.

Perhaps this change will result in more overtaking and a better spectacꦇle overall.

More rain in the air?

Remarkably, the Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona hasn’t been affected by rain since 1996, when 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Michael Schumacher took o🐷ne of the 𒀰greatest victories of his illustrious career.

At the time of writing, rain is forecꦯast for Sunday afternoon.

As seen in Monaco, which like Barcelona iꦿs traditionally a dull event, could throw up some additional chaos if the new layout doesn’t.

The forecast will no doubt change as we get closer to the race weekend so it’s one to 🐽keep an e🦄ye on.