No program data available
RACER & autosport.com's avatar
Rate this article:
  • 0/5 Stars
SPEEDtv.com Store
Victory by Design: Jaquar DVD
This brand new show will give the Jaguar enthusiast a real chance to appreciate the beauty and power of the Jaguar heritage.
Our Price: $24.95
Visit Button
Buy Button
"Hot Rod Pinups II"
A Sequel to his 2005 bestseller Hot Rod Pin-ups, ace photographer David Perry offers an all-new collection of images.
Our Price: $35.00
Visit Button
Buy Button
Speed Addicts: Grand Prix Racing
Speed Addicts is the complete and definitive illustrated book of grand prix motor racing, told in the form of a human story.
Our Price: $34.99 ON SALE!
Visit Button
Buy Button
F1: European Season Set to Begin in Spain
Written by: RACER & autosport.com
RACER Magazine   http://www.racer.com/speedtv
Barcelona, Spain
 
Spanish fans are already building their enthusiasm for this weekend's Spanish GP. (LAT photo) ยป More Photos

After a three-week break following the Bahrain Grand Prix, the Formula 1 World Championship resumes this weekend with the Spanish Grand Prix at Barcelona’s Circuit de Catalunya. In contrast with the opening races, the Spanish circuit is a primary winter testing venue so is well known to all the teams, although after taking the championship lead in Bahrain, Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen goes into the Spanish event as a firm favorite. Nevertheless, the reigning World Champion says he is taking nothing for granted.

The Finn currently leads the championship standings by three points over BMW Sauber’s Nick Heidfeld and five over McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton, but is conscious that fortunes can turn around quickly, having retired from the Barcelona event a year ago with an electrical failure.

"It is nice but the season is only a few races old," Raikkonen noted. "There is a long way to go, it doesn’t matter if you are leading now if you cannot keep it up. So far it has been OK.

"For sure the start of the season could
have been better but we are leading the points so we have to be happy. Last year we didn’t finish (here), and only did nine laps in the race. I cannot remember all the things that happened here, not usually good results. It can turn around -- this year we can be strong and lead the race."

Hamilton, meanwhile, says he has no plans to change his approach in light of his disappointing race in Bahrain, where he lost the championship lead after finishing out of the points. The British driver added he remains confident that McLaren-Mercedes can reverse Ferrari’s recent momentum.

"It’s always difficult to predict these things as all the teams are continuously progressing. Winter testing there was positive and this week we have covered a good amount of laps,” he noted. “I feel we have a competitive package at the track; the car seems to work quite well. We have a range of new components coming on board for this race which we tested this week and had some positive results -- but we are not alone in doing this!”
Page 1 of 2
1 2 >
View All Comments