F1 qualifying: 4 key questions earlier than qualifying on the F1 Spanish Grand Prix

Two hours of apply are within the books on the Components 1 Spanish Grand Prix.

Nevertheless, can the ten groups put the information gained over these two hours to good use, and unlock extra efficiency in as we speak’s essential qualifying session?

That’s the foremost query heading into qualifying, however listed here are 4 others that may inform the last word story of qualifying on the Spanish Grand Prix.

Can anybody catch McLaren?

After weeks of hypothesis relating to the influence of the brand new Technical Directive relating to entrance wings that went into impact this week, and the way these strict exams might influence the grid, McLaren seemed as robust as ever in Friday’s two apply classes.

Lando Norris topped the timing sheets in FP1, and it was Oscar Piastri main the way in which in FP2. Not solely was Piastri the quickest general, however the McLaren driver posted the quickest time in every of the three sectors throughout his pace-setting lap.

Nevertheless, a number of of McLaren’s rivals might spoil the papaya celebration on Saturday.

Mercedes targeted on lengthy runs throughout FP1, as each Kimi Antonelli and George Russell accomplished packages targeted on the C2 medium tire, and the C1 laborious compound. When FP2 rolled round, nonetheless, each drivers bolted on the C3 tender tires, and Russell completed in P2, with Antonelli in P6. “Our qualifying runs seemed first rate within the second apply session, and it was good to be nearer to the place we hope to be efficiency clever,” mentioned Russell after the session.

Then there may be Max Verstappen. Qualifying simulations from the official F1 channel even have the Purple Bull driver degree with McLaren:

Verstappen sounded reasonably upbeat on Friday after the session, which has not all the time been the case this yr.

“It’s all the time good to be right here – the observe is all the time very pleasant to drive,” Verstappen famous Friday. “It’s fairly sizzling on the market as nicely, particularly for the tires. However I believe it was an okay Friday – we’ve had worse Fridays!

“I felt a bit happier with the automobile, we’re nonetheless not the place we wish to be however it was undoubtedly a bit extra constructive.”

This state of affairs has performed itself out earlier than this season — McLaren wanting strongest in the course of the week, and Verstappen taking pole on Saturday — and it might not be a shock if that occurred once more in Barcelona.

Are we in for an additional VCARB shock?

Final week forward of the Monaco Grand Prix we predicted that Visa Money App Racing Bulls might need one thing up their sleeves for qualifying. That’s precisely what occurred, as each Isack Hadjar and Liam Lawson stormed into Q3, setting the stage for a double-points outcome for the workforce within the Grand Prix itself.

Are we about to see each younger drivers in Q3 once more for the second straight week?

Hadjar completed eighth in FP1 and ninth in FP2, whereas Lawson completed the primary session in P6 and the second session in P10. As well as, the F1 qualifying simulation information as famous above has VCARB because the sixth-fastest workforce, simply behind Aston Martin.

These apply outcomes, in addition to the simulation information, put Hadjar and Lawson each in putting distance of Q3.

“Heading into the weekend, I nonetheless really feel assured within the automobile. We had some work to do as we speak, and while we’re not completely proud of the steadiness but, it’s all the time tough round this circuit with excessive observe temperatures,” mentioned Hadjar within the workforce’s post-practice report. “We’re optimistic that we will make the required modifications and be aggressive tomorrow. It’s going to be tight with the opposite midfield groups, however every thing’s nonetheless to play for in Qualifying.”

Can Williams salvage one thing?

Heading into the weekend the phrase from Williams was that the circuit in Barcelona wouldn’t swimsuit the FW47.

Friday’s outcomes did little to boost expectations. Carlos Sainz Jr. completed fifteenth in FP1 and 14th in FP2, and after sitting out FP1 in favor of younger driver Victor Martins (who completed P19 within the first session) Alex Albon climbed again into the automobile to complete fifteenth in FP2.

“It was powerful on the market as we speak, however we anticipated it. The kind of corners right here are usually not one of the best for our automobile and proper from the beginning of FP1, I felt how tough it was,” mentioned Sainz after the session within the workforce’s post-practice media report. “We tried to do some setup modifications, they usually appeared to go in the appropriate route, however we nonetheless can’t discover sufficient lap time to be additional up. We’ll attempt to take one other step for tomorrow, as there may be tons to grasp and work on however we’ll hold pushing all weekend!”

Williams put each Sainz and Albon within the factors in every of the final 4 Grands Prix, however they may want one thing particular to maintain that streak alive as qualifying looms.

Can Ferrari discover just a little extra tempo for Saturday?

F1’s race simulation information places Ferrari because the third workforce within the pecking order for the Spanish Grand Prix, behind McLaren and Purple Bull:

However as now we have seen not too long ago from the Scuderia, Saturday stays a query mark. The qualifying simulation information places Ferrari behind Mercedes, and under no circumstances makes Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton a lock.

Crew Principal Frederic Vasseur downplayed among the harsher radio messages of the day which got here from Hamilton, who at one level known as the SF-25 “undriveable.”

”The feedback had been a bit excessive on the radio as we speak however [Hamilton] did additionally a robust final stint with the tender [tire], within the lap time of the primary two,” mentioned Vasseur to Sky Sports activities F1.

“It implies that maybe the automobile was not as horrible as he mentioned on the radio.

“However once more, for me, the feedback that they’re making within the automobile are usually not a drama, so long as they’re again and now we have a constructive debriefing.”

Talking after the session Hamilton outlined that he hoped for higher on Friday.

“Actually, I assumed the automobile was going to be good as we speak,” Hamilton mentioned after FP2. “It wasn’t too unhealthy in P1, however P2 was a lot worse. Naturally, that’s irritating for everybody, however we had some issues, which meant we had been shedding some downforce. Hopefully, with that mounted for tomorrow, we’ll be in a greater place.”

His teammate sounded a bit extra optimistic.

“It was a bit extra constructive than what we anticipated coming right here, so that’s good,” mentioned Leclerc.

“There may be extra efficiency within the automobile, which I hope we’ll unlock tomorrow, come Qualifying.”