Spanish Grand Prix: The Editorial Team’s Highlights and Lowlights

This Spanish Grand Prix did not ignite passions. Once again on this track, we experienced a race with little engagement and suspense. Nevertheless, at the MotorsInside editorial team, we had a debate regarding the FLOP3. Indeed, there are quite a few negative points to remember. Let’s start with these, focusing on just three.

FLOP:

1/ The Barcelona track, a test track nightmare?

This layout of the Spanish Grand Prix located in Montmelo, Catalonia is not conducive to eventful races. Surprisingly, despite its long straight line of more than a kilometer, suspense remains absent on this Spanish track. The teams know the track by heart as it is the site of the pre-season tests. They have been able to acquire an impressive amount of technical data there. And the races held there have become monotonous. In fact, in 2007, the end of the track was modified by creating a chicane, but in vain. The show remains just as dull. But is it solely due to the track? Or also due to the technical regulations of modern F1? Or even the quality of the Pirelli tires?

2/ Pirelli Tires: Pirelli, Who?

Once again, the show was not up to expectations. Yet, it is supposedly for this reason that Pirelli was renewed as the sole tire manufacturer in Formula 1. In the race, the cars cannot use their full potential. We all have the impression that these F1 cars are “easy” to drive. Indeed, drivers either have to save their tires if they are too soft or have to skip certain categories of compounds because their optimal operating temperature cannot be reached. Year after year, we remain at an impasse on this front, and the races are losing credibility. The end of the British Grand Prix did create some suspense, of course. But does this have to come at the cost of endangering the drivers?

3/ HAAS, a team still adrift:

Certainly, the team is new to the world of Formula 1. Certainly, the team is powered by what was the least efficient engine in 2020. But despite the years passing since 2016, the American team is not making progress. Worse, it is regressing. After an interesting fifth fastest time in free practice session 2, Romain Grosjean claimed he did not understand his car. In such circumstances, it is indeed difficult to replicate such a performance. Thus, at the end of a race where the French driver was only noticed during an incident with Kimi Räikkönen and a nice slide on a curb, he finished dead last.

On his side, his Danish teammate will finish in an anonymous fifteenth place. Who is to blame? The drivers: one generally too aggressive and the other who doesn’t bring the expected expertise? The car that is poorly designed year after year? The engineers who do not understand the workings of their creation? The American team that hasn’t grasped the essence of motorsport born in Europe at the beginning of the last century? Whatever happens, the future looks increasingly bleak for all stakeholders of this racing team.

TOP:

Max Verstappen, still in warrior mode

The Dutch driver is truly impressive. While his overall behavior is relatively polarizing, on track he leaves nothing to chance. You would have to be blind not to realize that Max Verstappen has managed to evolve into a top-tier driver. His speed was never in doubt. He now succeeds in combining it with race intelligence, patience, and opportunism. After a superb start, he managed to make the most of his package. Even Valtteri Bottas, driving the best car of 2020, had to once again yield and concede more than 20 seconds! Another noteworthy point is that he once again outperforms his teammate Alex Albon (8th). Albon narrowly avoids the FLOP, thanks to his actions on track.

A German driver chasing another, is Sebastian Vettel back in business?

Elected driver of the race, Sebastian Vettel has regained his form for this sixth round of 2020. Despite not having a leading single-seater, he managed to extract the best performance to finish in an astonishing seventh place overall. His victory was built on a one-stop strategy, all about management. Like Kimi Räikkönen, the second driver in the Scuderia Ferrari in his time, the German was able to be content with a supporting role today. This supporting role has brought him back to the forefront, much like Nico Hülkenberg the previous weekend. Let’s hope he regains his determination by the Belgian Grand Prix at the end of August.

Lance Stroll, a daddy’s boy who has to fight to keep his seat?

Just before this Spanish round, Lance Stroll stated that he would understand if he had to give up his seat to Sebastian Vettel next year if his father made that decision. However, even though he arrived in F1 thanks to his father’s money, it must be admitted that the Canadian driver is constantly improving. And even though he still has room for improvement in qualifying, he is becoming a formidable competitor in races. As fast as he is consistent, he does not allow himself to be intimidated when it comes to defending or gaining positions. He finishes this Spanish Grand Prix ahead of his well-regarded teammate Sergio Perez and, more than just widening his lead in the championship over the latter, he scores significant points to maintain a seat in F1 next year.