Spanish GP: Can Ferrari Fight Back?
Updated: May 20, 2022
Formula 1 returns to Europe and to arguably the most familiar circuit of any, the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, in Spain.
Max Verstappen is chasing his second hattrick of victories, having achieved the feat in 2021 with wins in France and Austria, the Red Bull Ring host a double header where Verstappen won both races.
He does trail Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc by 19-points, but has built up significant momentum over the last two rounds, with the two Grand Prix victories following the Sprint win, where he overtook Leclerc to finish first.
Leclerc and Ferrari know they need to respond as their leads in both championships have been cut in the last two rounds.
Ferrari’s task could be complicated by Carlos Sainz, who will be hunting his maiden win on home soil.
The 27-year-old has been close to the pace on Saturday but has generally fallen away on race day, which the former McLaren driver will be itching to put right in Spain this weekend.
Verstappen enters as the favourite, considering momentum, but Ferrari will consider their chances strong given the car qualities the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya has historically rewarded.
Pole Position – Charles Leclerc
Leclerc had already shown he has the talent to deliver a single lap when required. Some of his performances in 2021 were nothing short of astonishing, in both positive and negative lights.
He is my tip for pole position, as I think Ferrari’s package will suit the layout with the long, high-speed corners.
The higher-downforce style of the F1-75 will help in the “mickey-mouse” final sector, providing better traction and speed through the final corner.
Race Win – Charles Leclerc
I’ll back Leclerc to convert pole position, something he did not do in Miami. He will need to look after the tyres much better, although that is probably more the car, than the driver.
I can see an all-Ferrari front-row and with a long run to turn 1, they will need to protect against Verstappen and Perez. An ideal situation has Verstappen P2, with Sainz able to slipstream Leclerc to the first corner.
If Ferrari can respond with victory, it will tell us much about their character as a team and how they are dealing with a title challenge, considering how previous title pushes have fallen apart and failed.
Leclerc will also want to have a strong championship lead, heading to Monaco, his home race, where he is apparently, cursed.
Podium
1st – Charles Leclerc
2nd – Carlos Sainz
3rd – Max Verstappen
A one-two for Ferrari would be a welcome return to winning form for the Scuderia, as they simply cannot afford to be beaten by their rivals at Red Bull for a third race in a row.
With the points difference in both championships shrinking with each passing race, the title battle is heating up nicely both on and off track.
Ferrari have made claims about Red Bull spending more on development of the RB18, which the Milton-Keynes team has refuted.
A to-and-fro title battle on the track, will only encourage the off-track contest to increase in tension.
Bold Predictions
- Lewis Hamilton beats George Russell, who retains his top five finishing record.
- Esteban Ocon finishes ahead of Fernando Alonso, but both Alpine’s are in the points.
- Kevin Magnussen scores points for Haas.
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