All eyes are now on what could happen at the front this weekend in Spain after a thrilling battle for the win at the Canadian Grand Prix. And since his triumph in Montreal wasn’t the easiest for him, Max Verstappen believes that going into Barcelona, there is a great sense of the “unknown.”
Max Verstappen is relishing the increasingly close competition among the top four teams, especially after Mercedes’ strong performance in Montreal. He finds the unpredictability of each weekend exciting, noting that it makes Formula 1 more thrilling. Despite the RB20 not being as dominant in Monaco and Canada, Verstappen is hopeful that the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya will help the car regain its top form. He pointed out that this track is more straightforward and familiar, allowing teams to have a good amount of data for preparation.
On the other side of the Red Bull garage, Sergio Perez is eager to bounce back from a series of disappointing weekends. After a Q1 elimination and a DNF in both recent races, Perez is confident about fighting back in Spain. He acknowledged that a three-place grid penalty from an infringement in Montreal will change his approach, but he is determined to minimize the impact.
Ferrari had a tough weekend in Canada, with both cars failing to finish. Carlos Sainz believes the team has learned from their mistakes and is ready to perform better in Barcelona, a track they know well. Charles Leclerc, who faced an engine issue in Montreal, echoed Sainz’s optimism. He said the team found a solution and is focusing on improving their performance, especially in qualifying.
McLaren has been performing well this season and aims to continue their strong run at high-speed circuits. Lando Norris is cautiously optimistic, noting that other teams have improved. He mentioned that McLaren has made several changes to the car and will see how it performs during practice. Oscar Piastri emphasized the need to maximize their current setup, considering no upgrades are planned for this weekend.
Mercedes had their best weekend of the year in Canada, with George Russell scoring the team’s first pole position and podium of 2024. Russell is excited about the upcoming race in Barcelona, viewing it as a true test of their recent upgrades. He admitted initial skepticism about the simulator results but was pleased to see them validated on the track. Lewis Hamilton, however, remains cautiously optimistic, noting the uncertainty of high-speed circuits and the need to wait and see how the car performs.
As the teams prepare for the Spanish Grand Prix, the anticipation is high. Each team is looking to build on their recent performances and face the challenges that the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya presents. The mix of confidence and caution sets the stage for an exciting and unpredictable weekend in Formula 1.
