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Spanish Grand Prix Preview
The Formula 1 circus rolls into Spain for the start of the European season. The first four races very much followed the pre-season form book; a four way battle between McLaren, Ferrari, Red Bull and Mercedes.
In many respects, McLaren have surprised. I doubt many expected them to lead both championships. Ferrari have underperformed slightly, particularly in the reliability department. Red Bull have suffered similar woes, but unlike Ferrari, their issues are less fundamental and appear to have been ironed out. Mercedes are an interesting case - is Rosberg a pleasant surprise or Schumacher a let down?
All eyes will be on the re-built Mercedes chassis in Barcelona. All teams are bringing upgrades to Spain, but none as wholesale as the Anglo-German outfit. The changes are designed to make the car more driveable for Schumacher, whilst not comprimising Rosberg's early pace. However, this is based on the assumption that the source of Schumacher's struggles is the weight distribution of the 2010 Mercedes car, rather than a fundamental loss of pace during his three year haitus.
The Barcelona circuit should favour the Red Bull squad. A track where overtaking has always been at a premium, qualifying pace will be rewarded, and it's not out of the question that the top 10 on the grid could finish up in that order. Many teams may well push the single lap set up to the absolute limit to push themselves slightly higher up the grid. Could this comprimise some of them in the early stages of the race?
In the mid-field, Williams need to have a strong race. Hulkenburg hasn't taken to the circus with the same ease as some of his fellow rookies, but for the first time, will be racing on a circuit he is highly familiar with. Williams must be tromendously concerned with their inability to crack the top 10 on a regular basis, and the mixed weather of recent rounds doesn't seem to have done them any favours.
Sauber must be hoping to just finish the races, while Renault and Force India will be looking to claim some big scalps and get their cars well into the points. Toro Rosso believe they can pick up some solid points, but it will be hard unless there are some changable conditions and major retirements.
In the battle of the newbies, Virgin will be hoping that their radically redesigned chassis, which should now see them finish, assert themselves as the top of the new teams. Lotus, so far, have been generally most successful of the new outfits, while HRT will be hoping that the addition of Sakon Yamamoto to their Friday test team will give them an element of experience they were lacking in previous rounds.
Prediction - Vettel, Hamilton, Webber. Wild card - Rosberg
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