F1 Spanish Grand Prix: detailed weather report
Formula 1 makes a stopover in Catalonia this weekend for the Spanish Grand Prix, the final act of the European triple-header. A familiar circuit for the teams, Barcelona is a classic on this demanding and representative track. As the second third of the season gets underway, let's take a look at the weather conditions that await the drivers over the next three days.
General situation
Barcelona enjoys a Mediterranean climate, which means that the first decade of June is generally dry. Although occasional showers may occur from the sea or, more rarely, from a front coming from the west, the period is usually sunny. The average maximum temperatures for early June range between 15°C and 24°C.
For the next few days, the Barcelona region will be under the direct influence of an anticyclone centered over the southwest of Europe, ensuring stable summer weather. However, watch out for a small change on Sunday: a barometric trough (1012 hPa) will form over Portugal.
Friday, May 30: Free Practice 1 (1:30 PM) and Free Practice 2 (5:00 PM)
Friday afternoon will unfold under clear skies. The wind, coming from the southeast, will blow between 10 and 20 km/h, with some gusts reaching up to 30 km/h in the middle of the afternoon. It will be hot when the cars are on the track, with air temperatures oscillating between 29°C and 30°C. On the tarmac, the thermometer will rise between 40°C and 49°C, increasing the strain on the tires.
These hot conditions, combined with the particularly abrasive asphalt of the Barcelona circuit (unlike Monaco), will complicate tire management. Aware of these challenges, Pirelli has brought the hardest compounds in its range, namely the C1, C2, and C3. A choice dictated by the mechanical demands imposed by turns 3 and 9, two long and fast curves, particularly testing for the tires.
Saturday, May 31: Free Practice 3 (12:30 PM) and Qualifying (4:00 PM)
The sky will be a bit more cloudy on Saturday afternoon but still with no threat of rain. The wind, mainly coming from the southeast, will blow weakly around 10 km/h.
On the temperature front, stability will be the order of the day: the mercury will reach around 28°C during the third practice session, then slightly rise to 29°C for the qualifiers. On the track, heat will remain a determining factor, with asphalt temperatures fluctuating from 47°C in the early afternoon to around 38°C at the end of the qualification session.
Sunday, June 1st: The race (3 PM)
It is under resolutely summer-like weather that the Spanish Grand Prix will kick off, with the start scheduled for 3 PM. The sky will be cloudy, but sunshine will dominate with a UV index of 7. Temperatures will be high during the 66 laps of the race, with the air flirting around 30°C and the track at 48°C. Humidity will remain stable around 40%.
The wind, moderate, will blow from the south at a speed ranging between 10 and 20 km/h, with gusts reaching up to 30 km/h. Little change during the race but the clouds will become increasingly present at the end of the day.
