Spanish Grand Prix F1 qualifying storylines: Mercedes’ day?

By way of 9 races, the 2024 Components 1 season has provided many twists and turns.

The newest curveball? George Russell pipping Max Verstappen for pole place on the Canadian Grand Prix. Each drivers completed with the identical time, however because of the Mercedes driver posting his time first, Russell secured the staff’s first pole place of the season. Whereas Verstappen claimed victory on Sunday, Russell completed on the rostrum in third, the primary time Mercedes tasted a podium end in a Grand Prix this season.

With teammate Lewis Hamilton ending simply behind him in fourth — and securing the bonus level for the quickest lap of the race — it was the staff’s greatest results of the complete season.

Now, on the cusp of qualifying on the Spanish Grand Prix, are they poised for an excellent higher day?

Friday’s practices noticed the Mercedes duo close to or on the high of the timing sheets in each periods. Russell completed P4 within the first session, with Hamilton shut behind in P7, and FP2 was even kinder to the Silver Arrows. Russell posted the eighth-fastest time, however Hamilton topped all of them, edging out Carlos Sainz Jr. and Lando Norris to high the sector.

Would possibly Mercedes be poised for one more robust qualifying session in Barcelona?

“FP1 wasn’t the perfect session for us however we nonetheless discovered rather a lot. FP2 was loads higher although and the automobile was feeling nice,” stated Hamilton within the staff’s post-practice report. “The monitor was very popular, so it was robust on the [tires], particularly on the long term. Total, although, it didn’t really feel like we have been too far off being proper within the combine on the entrance.”

Russell shared his teammate’s evaluation, even when he cautioned Mercedes supporters that it was solely Friday.

“We had day on monitor at this time. The automobile was performing rather well round this circuit. It was encouraging to see Lewis high of the timesheets and we have been constantly on the entrance,” started Russell.

”Our future tempo in FP1 was aggressive. In FP2, it appeared that our single lap tempo was barely stronger than our future velocity however general, the automobile is feeling robust. It is just Friday, nevertheless it has been some time since we’ve been constantly on the higher finish of the sector,” continued the Mercedes driver. “I’m feeling good and excited as that is what we’ve been chasing for some time. We gained’t get forward of ourselves although and can work diligently tonight and tomorrow to arrange as greatest as we are able to for Qualifying and Sunday’s Grand Prix.”

The robust Friday comes at an attention-grabbing time for the Brackley-based staff. Reviews surfaced this week of an nameless e-mail despatched to F1 journalists relating to the remedy of Hamilton by the staff. Whereas SB Nation has not reviewed the e-mail, a report from Reuters described the e-mail as “ … purporting to be from an insider” and that it “… accused the Components One staff of sabotaging their departing seven instances world champion Lewis Hamilton.”

Staff Principal Toto Wolff blasted the e-mail on the FIA Press Convention on Friday, even informing the media in Barcelona that the police have been introduced in relating to the matter.

By no means a boring second in F1.

… Alpine?

Picture by Clive Rose/Getty Pictures

Friday’s first apply session confirmed some promise for Alpine, as Esteban Ocon completed inside the highest ten and teammate Pierre Gasly was simply outdoors in P13.

FP2 was even higher for the staff.

When the checkered flag flew on the finish of Friday’s second apply session Ocon was inside the highest ten in P9, and it was Gasly who offered the true stunner, as he completed fourth within the session.

After a tumultuous begin to the season, is Alpine on the verge of an absolute shocker in Barcelona?

Even the staff appeared stunned at their robust efficiency.

“To finish the day with each automobiles within the top-10 is a bit of bit sudden from the place we thought we’d be getting into the weekend on this explicit monitor. Clearly, we have no idea what the others are doing however general, it’s a optimistic begin to the weekend,” stated Ocon within the staff’s post-practice report. “It was not the perfect lap on the C3 [tire] for me in Free Observe 2 with some visitors and there have been a couple of interruptions in each the lengthy and brief runs. There are positively enhancements we are able to make with a purpose to discover lap time, so we’ll preserve digging and attempt to make steps ahead for tomorrow’s Qualifying, which is essential round this monitor.”

Gasly surmised that the end result most likely “flatters” the staff.

“It’s been a optimistic Friday for us, particularly Free Observe 2. The tip end result, ending in fourth place, most likely flatters us and it was definitely a shock, however a pleasing shock, and one which brings a smile to my face! In Free Observe 1, we had some minor aerodynamic points on the automobile, which we needed to repair,” added Gasly. “As soon as we did that, the automobile felt good proper from the beginning of the second session. We have now a powerful baseline to work from and my push lap on the C3 was good however I’m not utterly comfy within the automobile. There are some issues we have to superb tune with the purpose of feeling even higher within the automobile tomorrow when it counts.”

If there’s a staff in want of some flattery, it’s definitely Alpine. Even their end in Montreal — their first double-points end of the season — was not with out some controversy, as Ocon appeared annoyed after the race at some staff orders that have been handed down within the closing levels of the Canadian Grand Prix.

Then there was the opposite bit of stories on Friday, the announcement that Alpine was bringing Flavio Briatore aboard in an government function:

Briatore is a long-time F1 determine and has what you may name a little bit of a checkered previous. He was convicted in Italy on fraud prices in the course of the Eighties, earlier than his F1 profession, and a long time later was compelled to resign from the ING Renault F1 staff as a result of his involvement within the “Crashgate” scandal surrounding the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix. Briatore was then banned indefinitely from any occasions sanctioned by the FIA, a ban that was later overturned by a French tribunal.

The appointment was a spotlight in Friday’s FIA Press Convention when Alpine Staff Principal Bruno Famin was repeatedly questioned concerning the transfer.

“I already answered questions concerning the previous and I don’t actually thoughts concerning the previous. I’m at all times trying about future and attempting what we are able to get and to get our staff higher,” stated Famin in response to questions from David Croft of Sky Sports activities F1. “And that’s actually our aim. And what I see with having Flavio as an advisor of the staff is the chance to have his expertise and to assist us. He has a really high-level information of Components 1. He is aware of lots of people. And I’m certain he’ll assist us in growing the staff sooner and higher. That’s all.”

Because the saying goes, profitable cures all. Alpine may not be able to contend for wins simply but, however one other robust weekend would definitely be welcome.

Even when some flattery is a part of the story.

A “tough” day for VCARB

On the different finish of the spear, it was a “trickier” day for Visa Money App RB F1 Staff.

Friday’s first session noticed Daniel Ricciardo in P15, with Yuki Tsunoda in the back of the sector in P20. Issues didn’t enhance a lot in FP2, as Tsunoda crept as much as P15 and Ricciardo slid again to P16.

Each drivers, nevertheless, are hopeful that solutions might be discovered in a single day.

“As we speak was trickier than traditional. The tempo isn’t the place we’d’ve favored it to be, so we’ll look into what we’re lacking and hopefully, it’ll be higher tomorrow.,” stated Tsunoda within the staff’s post-practice report. “The improve is working the best way we have been anticipating however we’re not the place we wish to be and off the tempo we normally have, so we’ll evaluate all the info to search out what we have been lacking at this time.”

As for Ricciardo — who stated on Thursday he needs to “earn” his seat at VCARB for subsequent season — it was nonetheless enjoyable to get a crack on the reconfigured Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, even when the staff “struggled” Friday.

“We struggled a bit of bit at this time and missed a little bit of competitiveness, however driving is at all times enjoyable and earlier than at this time I hadn’t performed this monitor with this final sector. It was the previous one a very long time in the past, now the brand new one once more, and I’ve to say that I a lot choose it as a result of I feel that it positively brings the monitor to life a bit extra,” stated Ricciardo. “The principle improve we introduced right here is the ground, and with these automobiles, it’s such a giant a part of growth. There’s nonetheless some optimism and as soon as we dive into it tonight, we’ll discover the way it’s working and higher methods to arrange the automobile round it. We nonetheless have a bit to do however I hope we are able to enhance for tomorrow.”

As famous by each drivers, VCARB introduced a bunch of upgrades to Barcelona, together with a brand new ground for the RB01. Which will have put them on the again foot Friday, however hopefully for the staff they’ll unlock extra tempo and efficiency after diving into the info in a single day.

Checking in on the title fights

Returning to the entrance of the sector the groups and drivers combating for place on the high of their respective standings is likely to be in several frames of thoughts heading into Saturday.

McLaren noticed each Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri inside the highest ten of each periods, with Norris topping the sheets in FP1 after which ending third in FP2. “Total, no surprises. It seems to be fairly tight on the entrance of the sector, and we are able to see, like we’ve been seeing these days, that every one automobiles appear to have the ability to produce fast laps,” stated Staff Principal Andrea Stella. “We’ll have to remain centered and ship good laps, however the potential is encouraging, and we’ll attempt to maximise our efficiency to attain as many factors as potential this weekend.”

Ferrari, who’re hoping for a bounceback after a disastrous Canadian Grand Prix noticed each Carlos Sainz Jr. and Charles Leclerc end outdoors the factors, may view Friday as a little bit of a blended session. Outcomes-wise Sainz had a very robust day, ending third in FP1, and second in FP2. However each drivers described Friday’s twin apply periods as “tough” from their perspective.

“Fairly a tough Friday, as at all times right here in Barcelona when the solar is up and the monitor adjustments fairly shortly. We struggled a bit in each periods to get the best stability on the automobile, however I feel everybody had related points at this time. So general, I’m moderately proud of the automobile, however now we have work to do, particularly race pace-wise,” stated Sainz within the staff’s post-practice report. “What I actually loved at this time was the environment on the monitor. Thanks to all of the followers for his or her assist. I’m trying ahead to placing on present tomorrow!”

On the opposite facet of the storage Leclerc — who completed P11 in FP1 and P6 in FP2 — echoed his teammate’s ideas. “Total, a tough day on my facet. We struggled fairly a bit with the stability of the automobile, so set-up work can be our major focus forward of tomorrow,” stated Leclerc. “We ran a brand new package deal in FP2, however we nonetheless have a number of work to do as I’m not absolutely comfy but.”

As for Crimson Bull, they too are left in search of some solutions. Verstappen was inside the highest 5 in each periods however by no means appeared assured within the RB20. At one level in FP2 Verstappen reported that the automobile was moderately “free,” radioing into the staff that “[t]he automobile is free within the exits normally. Nonetheless simply bizarre understeer mid-corner, this automobile doesn’t chunk.”

Teammate Sergio Pérez positioned fifth within the first session, however was outdoors the highest ten within the second, posting the Thirteenth-fastest time.

Following the session Staff Principal Christian Horner indicated that it was going to be “tight” this weekend in Barcelona. “Clearly it’s going to be tight. It’s going to be shut,” stated Horner. “I feel we bought some excellent knowledge, so loads of work to do that night.

“It’s going to be a really tight race right here in Barcelona.”

Shaping as much as be a theme of the season.