Preview of the 2022 Spanish Formula 1 Grand Prix: modernization planned
The sixth round of the 2022 F1 World Championship will be held this weekend at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya in Spain.
The Spanish Grand Prix is one of the classic races on the F1 calendar, and as has been the case in previous years, several teams will introduce upgrades for this year's race based on the results of the previous race.
The Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya has been on the calendar since 1991, so it is a circuit that teams and drivers know well, and is the first stop for winter testing. The 2.9-mile track, which underwent minor changes last year, is a mix of fast, medium, and slow corners, direction changes, undulations, and a long straight from start to finish. It is an ideal course for testing.There are two DRS zones, one on the main straight leading to the first chicane and the other on the back straight leading to turn 10 after turn 9. As always on this circuit, drivers must deal with the changing wind direction. The wind direction has a significant impact on the balance of the car, which is why medium to high downforce levels are employed here. Looking at the weather conditions, both Saturday's qualifying and Sunday's race should be good. Pirelli has named the hardest compounds: white hard for C1, yellow medium for C2, and red soft for C3.
It will be interesting to see how the redesigned 2022 cars fare in Spain. The Barcelona-Catalunya circuit is not an easy place to successfully overtake, but the changes are intended to provide closer racing and more opportunities for overtaking. [Charles Leclerc of Ferrari leads the 2022 drivers' championship with 104 points. Red Bull Racing's Max Verstappen is second with 85 points and Sergio Perez, also of Red Bull, is third with 66 points. In the constructors' championship, Ferrari leads with 157 points to Red Bull's 151 and Mercedes-Benz AMG's 95. Last year's winner was Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes.
