Introduction
The Spanish Grand Prix has had several homes over the years, including Barcelona’s Montjuic Park street track, which was abandoned after a serious accident in 1975 closed the venue. The Circuit de Catalunya was built at Montmelo and opened in 1991, just before the Spanish hosted the 1992 Olympic Games. Its unusually long straight immediately became one of its most recognisable features. The track has remained largely the same ever since, although some corners have been changed. The race’s popularity with local fans was given a huge boost when Fernando Alonso emerged as a frontrunner and since his popular win in 2006 there has always been a full house.
I’m really looking forward to this race because I probably know Barcelona better than any other track on the calendar. We did two tests there in the winter and I had four days in the car so I already feel quite well prepared. In fact, it’s a track that all the drivers know like at the back of their hand and the teams have so much data already. The first and second sectors are high-speed and you need to have the right aero balance. But the final part of the lap is quite slow and the mechanical set-up is more important. As always, you have to find a balance. 