2013 Spanish GP: Race Preview

I was going to start with the exciting news that Ryanair are set to become the new sponsors of the Barcelona Grand Prix. In the belief the Circuit de Catalunya was, like numerous Ryanair airports, upwards of 50 miles away from the city it is supposed to be in, it seemed the perfect sponsorship fit.

Naturally, I was being facetious as there is little to get excited about at this circuit which has been accused of delivering a boring spectacle. That’s a little harsh. With the pole setter winning this race every year for a decade, a sequence broken only by Mark Webber in 2011 and resumed by Pastor Maldonado last year, tedious is a better description.

On the bright side, I’ve just learned Rodolfo Gonzalez will be at the wheel of a Marussia for the first free practice in Spain. That offers some relief as I’m looking forward to hearing quips about ‘Speedy Gonzalez’.

Talking of TV icons, it was also great to see the world’s richest man, Carlos Slim, in Bahrain. I confess, every time I heard his name I thought of cigars – of the slim panatella variety – and the classic 80′s television commercial featuring ‘Carlos Fandango wide wheels’. For those intrigued and under the age of 45, I will refer you to Youtube.

With the notable exceptions of McLaren and Williams, last year’s form has been an exceptional insight into this year’s results. Yes, the Ferrari looks more competitive than at this stage last season and Lotus slightly better, but, all in all, cars are performing pretty much as they did at individual circuits 12 months previously.

Therein, when looking for form clues, I’m going to delve no deeper than the outset of the 2012 season. Nothing else should bear any relevance.

Strikingly, the Red Bull qualified seventh and eleventh in China last year and that form translated into a ninth and fourteenth qualifying in this year’s rendition of the very same race.

Alarmingly for Red Bull fans, they only qualified seventh and eleventh here in Barcelona last season and I’m confident that will equate to another disappointing showing this weekend.

Most are aware you need to start at the front of the grid to have any chance in Barcelona – it is the ideal prep for Monaco – and therein I am leaning towards a bold showing, potentially a race win, from Mercedes.

Before you offer me a straight choice between a breathalyser and our old friend the canvas cardigan, with those arms that tie behind the back, please stop to consider this.

Many were stunned when Nico Rosberg’s Mercedes claimed pole in Bahrain, but should it have been such a surprise? He had done the same twelve months previously and his teammate, Hamilton, took pole in China, the third race of the current season, a week beforehand.

This season’s qualifying figures are eye opening:

Team	Qualified	Average Qualifying
Mercedes	3-6-4-6-1-4-1-4	3.62
Ferrari	4-5-2-3-3-5-3-6	3.87
Red Bull	1-2-1-5-9-14-2-5	4.87
Lotus	7-8-7-11-2-6-9-11	7.62

And quite simply, a pole position here means a whole lot more than it has at any venue visited so far in 2013. Naturally, tyre wear is a huge concern but the softs will not be in use and the Mercedes has no other discernible shortcomings. Indeed, it has been good enough to give Lewis a trophy in both Malaysia and China.

The Safety Car is now overdue an appearance, and who knows, it could play into the hands of a car needing to preserve its rubber more than most. I concede, irksomely, it normally shows up only after an opening bend incident.

Strikingly, neither Lotus driver has claimed a pole position this season or last and amongst the current leading four teams, they are the qualifying backmarkers. At first glance, it makes them easy to oppose, but I’ve been hearing whispers.

Now, I normally take such whispers with a tub of Saxa, but I’m reliably informed that Lotus’ much touted Double DRS will be unveiled in Barcelona and there is talk of it delivering a half-a-second a lap improvement.

Another serious contender has to be Ferrari who, surprisingly, boast more front rows than any other team this season. The prospect of Fernando Alonso starting anywhere near the front of the long run to the opening corner here on home soil will rightfully see him start favourite.

Unrequited love, thwarted opportunities, barren bonds, dashed hopes and broken hearts is the steady diet Ferrari’s No. 2, Massa, continues to serve up. And so I see no more than three drivers who can realistically finish ahead of Lewis Hamilton who, let us not forget, was the fastest qualifier here last year, albeit with just enough fuel to fill my lawnmower.