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

Two hours of observe are within the books on the Method 1 Spanish Grand Prix.

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

That’s the foremost query heading into qualifying, however listed here are 4 others that can 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 assessments might influence the grid, McLaren seemed as sturdy as ever in Friday’s two observe 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 couple of of McLaren’s rivals might spoil the papaya social gathering 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 delicate tires, and Russell completed in P2, with Antonelli in P6. “Our qualifying runs seemed first rate within the second observe session, and it was good to be nearer to the place we hope to be efficiency smart,” mentioned Russell after the session.

Then there’s Max Verstappen. Qualifying simulations from the official F1 channel even have the Crimson Bull driver degree with McLaren:

Verstappen sounded moderately upbeat on Friday after the session, which has not at all times been the case this yr.

“It’s at all times good to be right here – the monitor is at all times very fulfilling to drive,” Verstappen famous Friday. “It’s fairly sizzling on the market as effectively, particularly for the tires. However I feel it was an okay Friday – we’ve had worse Fridays!

“I felt a bit happier with the automotive, we’re nonetheless not the place we wish to be but it surely was undoubtedly a bit extra optimistic.”

This situation has performed itself out earlier than this season — McLaren trying strongest through the week, and Verstappen taking pole on Saturday — and it could not be a shock if that occurred once more in Barcelona.

Are we in for one more VCARB shock?

Final week forward of the Monaco Grand Prix we predicted that Visa Money App Racing Bulls may 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 consequence for the staff 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 staff, simply behind Aston Martin.

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

“Heading into the weekend, I nonetheless really feel assured within the automotive. We had some work to do as we speak, and while we’re not totally pleased with the steadiness but, it’s at all times difficult round this circuit with excessive monitor temperatures,” mentioned Hadjar within the staff’s post-practice report. “We’re optimistic that we will make the mandatory adjustments and be aggressive tomorrow. It’s going to be tight with the opposite midfield groups, however all the things’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 go well with the FW47.

Friday’s outcomes did little to lift 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 automotive to complete fifteenth in FP2.

“It was robust on the market as we speak, however we anticipated it. The kind of corners right here usually are not the perfect for our automotive and proper from the beginning of FP1, I felt how difficult it was,” mentioned Sainz after the session within the staff’s post-practice media report. “We tried to do some setup adjustments, they usually appeared to go in the precise path, 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’s tons to know 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 staff within the pecking order for the Spanish Grand Prix, behind McLaren and Crimson Bull:

However as we have now 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.

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

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

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

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

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

“Truthfully, I believed the automotive was going to be good as we speak,” Hamilton mentioned after FP2. “It wasn’t too dangerous in P1, however P2 was a lot worse. Naturally, that’s irritating for everybody, however we had some issues, which meant we have 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 optimistic than what we anticipated coming right here, so that’s good,” mentioned Leclerc.

“There may be extra efficiency within the automotive, which I hope we are going to unlock tomorrow, come Qualifying.”