Back to Europe for one of the traditionally most boring races of the season where overtaking and excitement will be at a premium. Talking of premium, our 2024 Spanish F1 Grand Prix Preview will give you a bit of everything without promising anything ahead of the upcoming big weekend of F1 but of the highest quality we promise.
The Gurgler’s 2024 Spanish F1 Grand Prix Preview brings some thoughts on the race itself, a few bold predictions here and there, a more than a few barely interesting stats.
Essentially a quick summary of what a casual F1 fan needs in the shortest possible time for your convenience.
READ MORE: 2024 F1 Season Summary
The circuit looks like the worst attempt at drawing a person doing a sit-up or an abstract crab. It could be one of the last F1 races at the circuit too, with Madrid stealing the Grand Prix off Barcelona from 2026. So unless the track can come up with a new name for the race it might be all over. Although, it hasn’t stopped the races in Imola, Miami or Las Vegas.
It is as modern a venue as you can probably get, with a long straight, a few long sweeping corners and some technical parts in the middle. Our circuit map has the chicane towards the end, but thank goodness they have now reverted to the full pace corners to end the lap. If there’s little overtaking it may as well be fast.
2024 Canadian F1 Grand Prix Preview – Race Rating
The Gurgler does like to use some obscure drivers in our Race previews and report, so who better to use than Teo Fabi to determine a race rating system.
So before each race we give a rating out of ten for four key category that are loosely based on each letter of Teo Fabi’s surname. Don’t know who Teo Fabi is, you should.
FAST? 6/10 – It’s pretty fast in a lot of places and does provide some challenges for the driver. Mainly those in slower cars or Logan Sargeant.
ACTION? 2/10 – We truly can’t remember too many Spanish Grands Prix, so that’s not a good sign of action. Or maybe our memory is fading. Or maybe both. But aside from over-ambition at the first corners we can’t see much happening.
BIG HISTORY? – 6/10 – The Spanish Grand Prix has been around for a long time, going through a number of venues before landing in Barcelona since 1991. But despite the length of service there’s not many races folk will remember. One that does spring is mind is from the first race where Mansell and Senna drove millimetres apart down the main straight. There’s also key first wins for Max Verstappen and Michael Schumacher for Ferrari.
INCLEMENT WEATHER? – 2/10 The Weather Channel says a 40% chance of showers in the morning on Sunday. Better than nothing we suppose, but it could be good for the F2 and F3 races. Hopefully it doesn’t wash the track of the rubber laid down and make tyres last ten laps.
RACE RATING 40% – Usually a race to endure not enjoy.
2024 Spanish F1 Grand Prix Preview – Stats
Want to know if your favourite driver for this weekend is a master of the track or the track is a master of them? Here then are some barely interesting facts and stats.
These visuals go back to 2000 to cover the current drivers, thanks to Fernando Alonso. The all time history goes back to 1950.
- The Spanish GP has a DNF ratio of 18% since 2000, but that drops to 13% for the last ten seasons.
- The Spanish Grand Prix has the highest % of wins from poles for GPs with over two races.
- No one has won at Barcelona from lower than fifth. Ninth is the lowest grid slot for a podium.
- Only Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri have made it to Q3 on all visits to Barcelona.
- Carlos Sainz has finished every race at Barcelona in the points – nine races in a row.
- All the drivers who have made more than one start at Barcelona have scored points in at least one race.
- Of all the races at Barcelona, all but three of them have been won by a World Champion or eventual World Champion.
DRIVER GRID POSITION vs RACE RESULT – CURRENT DRIVERS
TEAM GRID POSITION vs RACE RESULT
HISTORIC DRIVER RESULTS
99 = a DNF. Grid position 20 is overstated as that was also used for cars starting in pitlane.
HISTORIC TEAM RESULTS
OVERALL GRID POSITION INTO RACE RESULT
99 = a DNF. Grid position 20 is overstated as that was also used for cars starting in pitlane. Results from 2000.
WIN FROM POLE RECORD
- Max Verstappen will take pole, win and set fastest lap on the final tour.
- Sergio Perez will qualify between 6th and 10th and finish second.
- Lando Norris will finish third.
- Carlos Sainz and George Russell will clash at the first corner.
- Logan Sargeant will spin off at the second last corner during the race.
- Fernando Alonso will qualify on the front row. Lance Stroll will be knocked out in Q1.
- You won’t see either Sauber during the race.
- Nico Hulkenberg will qualify and finish 14th.
ALL RACE RESULTS – SPANISH F1 GRAND PRIX @ BARCELONA
ALL TIME RESULTS
