Dave Robson, Head of Car Efficiency: Barcelona is a well-known observe for all of the groups and drivers and though there are some adjustments to the observe structure for 2023, these are solely reverting to a earlier structure, which all groups have numerous expertise of. The reintroduction of two high-speed corners to finish the lap is sort of a departure from the earlier structure with the low-speed chicane; this may require some adjustments to the automotive setup and can place completely different calls for on the tyres.
Following a string of road circuits, it’s helpful to be returning to a reference racetrack. The necessities for Barcelona will not essentially go well with the FW45, nevertheless it stays a helpful place for us to benchmark the efficiency towards our opponents’ 2023 automobiles in a variety of corners.
In distinction to the very delicate tyre compounds in Monaco, Pirelli deliver a few of their hardest compounds to Barcelona in a mix that we beforehand raced in Bahrain. The compounds go well with the structure of Barcelona effectively, however the actual behaviour will rely on the observe temperature and the automotive stability within the high-speed corners.
Every driver receives two extra units of tyres this weekend, that are a preview of the brand new carcass building that every one groups will use from the British Grand Prix onwards. Testing these extra tyres imply that we now have numerous work to get by within the brief Friday classes, and we might want to rigorously select which of our different check objects we weave into the programme.
The climate forecast is for sometimes heat early-June circumstances however with a threat of showers through the weekend. We should always get all of the testing finished within the dry however then the rain might begin to dictate the programme from Saturday afternoon onwards.
Alex Albon: I am trying ahead to Barcelona this week, as we head to a racetrack after a bunch of road circuits. It is a observe the place all of the groups and drivers have finished one million laps, so we’re fairly skilled round right here. It is a good observe to study what the automotive is like with a mixture of low pace/excessive pace, nevertheless extra excessive pace as a result of observe adjustments, so that can fascinating. I feel it is going to make the circuit extra enjoyable and extra raceable, so let’s examine the place it goes. It should not be a observe that usually fits us or at the least it hasn’t been beforehand, nevertheless by eradicating among the corners on the finish of the lap, I feel it is going to assist us be a bit extra aggressive.
Logan Sargeant: I am excited and prepared for Barcelona this weekend. A observe I’ve numerous good recollections at from the previous and luxuriate in driving on. It must be fairly difficult with circumstances and usually being a excessive degradation observe, however we’re ready for the weekend.
