By Telema Davies
The fifth round of the 2014 FIA Formula One World Championships resumes this weekend in Spain after two weeks hiatus. A return of Formula 1 to Europe is a welcome refresher for the racing teams given the opening flyaway leg. The latest in the car racing series makes a stop at Barcelona, the Formula 1 Gran Premio da Espana Pirelli. Ahead of this weekend’s event, the competition looks set to heat up the season as teams converge on Catalunya Circuit.
Mercedes will have lead drivers, Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton, keen to extend their point on the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. Having triumphed at three of the four series since the year started, Lewis, and Nico can make it four wins. The series, though early, has taken an interesting turn as the gap among the teams continues to narrow down thinly. Leading figures , particularly the drivers, have been discussing on their teams’ prospects ahead of the event for the weekend.
Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull), who will have a new chassis in his car this weekend, is excited about his outlook. “Formula One returns to Europe with the Spanish GP. A nice side aspect of that is that we are back in the energy station, which provides a lot of space for us and the team – it will become a little bit like home over the next few weeks.” He further stated, “the Circuit de Catalunya is varied with 180 degree bends, fast, sweeping corners and elevation changes.”
“It’s been good to have a bit of a break between races,” Lewis Hamilton said on formula1.com. “After three great weekends in Malaysia, Bahrain and China I’m obviously keen to get on to the next one and continue that positive momentum into the next leg of the season. Hamilton declared, “Barcelona is a great place to have the first European round on the calendar. It’s a circuit we all know very well – although this is the first time in my F1 career that I have raced there without testing the circuit.”
Nico Rosberg on his part said, ”the Spanish Grand Prix is the first race of the season on European soil after four exciting races at various circuits overseas. This is where the next phase of the season begins and there is probably no other track in the world that I know as well as the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. I also have some good memories of race weekends in Barcelona. So it will certainly be an interesting weekend and hopefully an exciting one for the fans too.”
A director of Pirelli motorsport, Paul Hembery, also spoke of his company’s expectations going into event. “It’s often said that Barcelona provides the most accurate representation of the form a season will take, because a car that performs well in Barcelona should perform well everywhere.” The representative for Pirelli, suppliers of tyres to the Formula One teams, said the Spanish circuit is one of the most demanding circuits raced on all year in the Grand Prix.