F1 | SPANISH GP GIAN CARLO MINARDI: “MERCEDES IS THE BENCHMARK BUT KEEP AN EYE ON RELIABILITY”

After the unique and particular round in Monte Carlo, Formula 1 moves to Barcelona for a Grand Prix that has always represented one of the most significant tests of the whole season.

The track in Catalonia is probably the one that the teams and drivers know best. For many years it has been the setting for the winter tests and offers a very comprehensive range of technical challenges: very fast bends, tighter sections, long straights and demanding braking points. For this very reason, it is a track that allows us to evaluate very precisely the true potential of a car.

Furthermore, barely six months ago Barcelona hosted the first private tests of the new generation of racing car. It was the first true opportunity to get to know these cars, and it represented an important moment for collecting data and understanding the strengths and weaknesses of the new designs. Today, going back to the same circuit will allow the teams to gauge the progress made during the season.

While Monte Carlo highlights the qualities of the driver and the precision of the car’s set up, Barcelona rewards the overall balance of the car. Aerodynamics, efficiency, management of the tyres and race pace will be decisive during the weekend.

We are coming to Spain at a moment when a Mercedes Team that is passing through a particularly positive time. Five consecutive wins by Andrea Kimi Antonelli was certainly not a fluke, but the result of a plan that has continued to improve race after race. Mercedes’ advantage lies not just in the power unit, but above all on the overall quality of the plan, as demonstrated by Antonelli’s 37 laps with the Medium tyres whilst maintaining extremely competitive times. This is an important sign in terms of both the chassis and the management of the tyres. However, keep an eye on reliability that continues to be a key variable throughout the season.

In addition to Antonelli’s results, we are experiencing a particularly positive moment for the whole of Italian motorsport. Andrea Kimi leads the Formula 1 World Championship, while Gabriele Mini goes to Barcelona at the head of the Formula 2 ladder. Added to this is the recent victory by Brando Badoer in Formula 2 in Monte Carlo, further confirming the quality of Italy’s young drivers. In addition, we must not forget Leonardo Fornaroli who in Spain will have the opportunity to take to the track during the first session of free practice at the wheel of the McLaren in place of Lando Norris. These are important signs that confirm the excellent work carried out in recent years by ACI Sport and the Federal School and they should be the source of pride for the whole movement.

I expect an important response from Ferrari. In Monaco the team showed encouraging signs, confirming that it is the second force of the championship despite Leclerc’s retirement. Now they need another step forward to close the gap from the two Mercedes and to reestablish themselves in the fight for victory.

Also keep an eye on McLaren and Red Bull. In this phase of the season all the teams are introducing updates and developments that could shift the balance of power we have seen so far. In fact, we are now entering  a crucial stage of the championship in which every detail can make the difference.

From the technical point of view, the management of the tyres will once again be one of the essential aspects of the weekend. The high temperatures of the asphalt and the many high-speed bends will put particular strain on the rear axis, making the work carried out during free practice even more important.

For this race Pirelli has chosen the C2, C3 and C4 compounds, as Hard, Medium and Soft respectively. This is a slightly more aggressive choice than in the past with the aim of widening the strategic options and encouraging a higher number of pitstops during the race. It will be interesting to see how the teams and drivers will respond to this choice during the weekend.

After the excitement of Monte Carlo, we now return to a track that represents one of the technical benchmarks of the World Championship. This is why I consider the Spanish Grand Prix essential for gauging the true values on the field and for determining whether the balance of power that came out in recent races will also hold true in the middle part of the season.

Gian Carlo Minardi