After encountering difficulties in Monaco, Sergio Perez, Carlos Sainz, and Lance Stroll will be aiming for a better performance at the upcoming Spanish Grand Prix. Each driver faced challenges during the Monaco race, leaving them eager to bounce back in Barcelona.
Carlos Sainz had a challenging Sunday in Monaco, starting with early contact with Esteban Ocon and later being frustrated by Ferrari’s strategic decision to pit him in response to Lewis Hamilton’s undercut attempts. Sergio Perez, on the other hand, experienced a heavy crash during qualifying, relegating him to the back of the grid. With limited overtaking opportunities in Monaco, Perez struggled to make progress and was eventually lapped twice by his teammate Max Verstappen. Lance Stroll also faced a difficult weekend, with an early retirement due to contact after attempting to gain positions in the opening lap.
Richard Bradley, the 2015 24 Hours of Le Mans winner in LMP2, commented on the challenges faced by the three drivers in the Monaco Grand Prix. He will be closely observing their performance in Barcelona, particularly noting the new layout featuring two high-speed right-handers at the end of the lap, not seen in Formula 1 since 2006. Bradley also highlighted the significance of the Spanish Grand Prix as a race where teams can showcase their true performance, given the extensive testing conducted at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.
While Red Bull is expected to maintain their dominance, Bradley acknowledged the passionate support that Fernando Alonso and Carlos Sainz receive at their home race. However, he believes it will be challenging for them to beat the favorite, Max Verstappen, who has a comfortable lead in the Drivers’ Championship.
The Spanish Grand Prix will provide an opportunity for Ferrari and Mercedes to establish themselves as the best of the rest behind Red Bull. Mercedes will be gathering valuable data on the performance of their upgraded W14 around a more conventional circuit. Alpine’s strong showing in Monaco suggests they could also be contenders in the midfield battle. McLaren will be focusing on addressing their straight-line speed issues, while AlphaTauri aims for a stronger performance following Yuki Tsunoda’s disappointing race in Monaco.
Haas, Alfa Romeo, and Williams will be looking for improvements after challenging outings in Monaco, as they strive to secure points and move up the grid.
As the drivers and teams prepare for the Spanish Grand Prix, all eyes will be on Red Bull’s continued dominance and how the rest of the field adapts to the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya’s characteristics.
