Grand Prix of Spain F1 2011: analysis of the Circuit

  We arrived at the Grand Prix of Spain 2011, the first test 100% European after the Grand Prize of Turkey a couple of weeks ago, and we are facing a weekend uncertain, at least for me, in which the uncomfortable position of the FIA of "now to remove this" and then "good"", maybe not" seems to leave the expectations as we had them just three days ago. This is a circuit that all pilots known as ring finger, a circuit in which it has rodad in the past a lot of time between races and pre-season training, and to which all the drivers and teams arrive with tons of data, and tons of sensations. It is so perhaps that is one of the Grand Prix calendar with more ballots to be boring.
That and the own status of circuit technical with few places to come, but we have already seen that the DRS help and how. At Istanbul Park overtaking were notorious, but have to say all the truth and remember that beautiful struggles we saw in the circuit. The Grand Prix moved most of the season, which comes just before the Grand Prix more doubts as to the show I can generate. See more details of the track.

The technical of the Circuit the can go see through each sector. In the first sector the maximum difficulty is that it comprises the line of meta, one of the longest in the world, and gets full in the Elf curve, which is followed by a linked to the left before arriving at the spectacular Renault curve. The line calls for maximum speed and stability of braking pump test, while later, the section curves but above all the Renault curve requires maximize the passage by curve while maintaining a high speed. It is a curve which is taken to 230 - 240 km/h to reach approximately 290 to the braking of the Repsol km/h. Hence ends the first sector which, as I say, already requires a compromise between maximum speed on the main line and stability in the Renault curve.
The second sector is perhaps which I like best with the fall after negotiating Repsol in direction to SEAT. Such sequence of curves to the right which starts at Repsol, gives way to a straight short and a sudden braking to deal with the SEAT to left-wing, is a major point of the circuit. After SEAT comes the magnificent drop in pursuit of the S curves 7 and 8. That S in particular involves a curve as the 7, in which one pulls to the vertex to escape immediately right, taking the maximum of possible piano at turn 8 and move forward at full speed to the Campsa curve. Correctly entering the curve 7 ensures (almost) the best top speed before brake slightly Campsa (who is blind and very exciting). Guess what cars have more ballots to have maximum grip at turn 7.

The Campsa blind curve is key also for dealing with the contrarrecta of the Circuit, another point of pure speed. If all has gone well in the first part of the sector we reach the braking curve of la Caixa Fort under the best conditions to get fully into the third sector. The more complicated and slow from my point of view. Here the keys are to have maximum traction out of La Caixa, much tact to negotiate Banc Sabadell and much finesse to Europcar. This area is critical as for traction, and what comes after Europcar, the chicane which has existed since 2007, is proof of this. The piano here, on all the of the curve 15, do not allow many jokes and it is better to not interested much in take full the latter to keep all four wheels in to the asphalt and prepare for the last curve of the circuitkey to take it to the maximum extent possible to meet the main straight with the maximum speed.
The good part of the Circuit is that all pilots know him well. Teams have many data and he has shot much both live and in the Simulator. That is at once the bad side, who are all prepared. It should not be forgotten the abrasive asphalt and the presence of the wind, which also complicates the implementation to point. The circuit as a whole is complex, highly technical, they help the good hands of the driver but implementation is nearing critical so that the whole is balanced. We must commit the maximum speed possible in the main straight in order to meet the rest of the circuit in conditions.
Here, who has advantage? In principle the two Red Bull. How does not. The fast corners are not problem for them, and also its strength almost called into question is the ability to blow the diffuser although it is not accelerating, so it seems that this weekend could see great performanceagain, by the blue cars. However, we must be aware of the improvements that will bring McLaren, of what can be improved Ferrari, Mercedes GP and also Renault. At the moment, for me, unknown in a very interesting to drive, circuit but historically something bland to enjoy the race. We'll see on Sunday!