Spanish Grand Prix Preview: Formula 1 Schedule, Weather Forecast, and Track History
The Formula 1 season is heading to Spain for the tenth round of the 2024 championship, with the Spanish Grand Prix taking place at the iconic Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya from June 21-23.
Formula 1 Schedule:
- Friday, June 21: FP1 – 12:30pm BST / 7:30am ET / 9:30pm AEST, FP2 – 4pm BST / 11am ET / 1am AEST
- Saturday, June 22: FP3 – 11:30am BST / 6:30am ET / 8:30pm AEST, Qualifying – 3pm BST / 8am ET / 12am AEST
- Sunday, June 23: Race – 2pm BST / 9am ET / 11pm AEST
Weather Forecast:
The Spanish Grand Prix is expected to be a warm and sunny weekend, with high temperatures of 25°C/77 Fahrenheit and lows of 17°C/62.6 Fahrenheit. There is a zero percent chance of rain across all three days.
Track History:
The Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya has hosted the Spanish Grand Prix since 1991 and has a rich history in Formula 1. The 2.894-mile track features a mix of high and low-speed corners, making it a perfect all-rounder. The track has seen two drivers take debut wins in Formula 1, Pastor Maldonado in 2012 and Max Verstappen in 2016. Verstappen holds both speed records for the circuit, setting the fastest time on the chicane track in 2021 with a time of 1:18.149 and two years later setting the record on the circuit without the penultimate chicane, setting a time of 1:16.330.
Pirelli Tyre Compounds:
Pirelli has announced that the tyre compounds available to the teams for the Spanish Grand Prix will be three of the hardest in their catalogue due to the hotter and more abrasive track. The chosen compounds are: Hard – C1, Medium – C2, and Soft – C3.
News Heading into the Spanish Grand Prix:
The 2023 Spanish Grand Prix was dominated by Max Verstappen in his Red Bull. The Dutchman qualified on pole position and led every lap of the grand prix, as well as claiming the point for the fastest lap. Mercedes brought an upgrade package to the previous race in Monaco and further upgrades saw an impressive performance from both drivers, with Lewis Hamilton and George Russell claiming second and third respectively.
History of the Spanish Grand Prix:
The race is one of the oldest on the calendar, with the first event being hosted in 1913. The grand prix started as a race for touring cars and although it did not follow the Grand Prix format of other events, it was considered a grand prix race. Michael Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton hold the joint record for most wins at the Spanish Grand Prix, with both taking six wins at the event. Hamilton equalled the German’s record in 2021, after taking five consecutive wins since 2017.
Stay tuned for more Formula 1 news and updates as the season unfolds.
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