Only one week left before the next race, the Spanish Grand Prix outside Barcelona. After the teams finished testing there this week many drivers concluded that the changes made to the track should encourage more overtaking. A chicane has been placed between the last two corners and this should allow cars to get closer to the car in front of them to hopefully overtake on the main straight.
"I think the new chicane can offer us a little opportunity to overtake on the main straight but I think also that the last corner of the circuit was extremely nice from the drivers' point of view, very challenging for driving," said Fernando Alonso. "Now we have lost that corner, but hopefully we see a lot of overtaking here in the race."
It's not as if we have not had enough passing this year! On the other hand, if you happen to attend the race but are not seated near the main straight, keep in mind that this year you can rent Kangaroo TV's hand held device to watch the race while you're in the grand stands.
Comments
Barcelona gave us a great race, with Hamilton another outstanding podium place. Hamilton, I think has had it quite easy on what I call normal race circuits, I can’t recall seeing him doing any great passing manoeuvre’s, mainly because he hasn’t needed to do them. However, Monaco, our next circuit, is one of a kind. It kinda sorts out the men from the boys so to speak. I wish Hamilton the best of luck, he sure will need all the expertise he has to claim a podium postion this time. Monaco should show Hamilton fans how good he really is, but then we have to remember he is still a rookie!.
I think that’s a good analysis, Rita. The only thing is that Hamilton did pass Kimi at the start in Barcelona, and it was very well done and clean. But that was about the same as his other starts of the season – which, incidentally, is interesting, since last year in GP2 he had a number of bad starts.
Yes, at Monaco he’s going to have to improve his qualifying a little if he wants to win. And I agree with you about that track. It really does show who the best drivers are. This year will be exceptionally interesting. The aerodynamics are now the most important part of the car – since all engines are similar and all tires are the same – yet aerodynamics are not very important in Monaco. So it will really come down to the driver and team, and a few mechanical things….
I’m looking forward to it, all of it!