What's confusing long-run order at F1's Barcelona GP
The Race • • general
Key Points:
- McLaren showed strong pace in FP2 at the Barcelona Grand Prix, with Lando Norris leading the session, aided by the effective use of their new front wing and car setup better suited to the circuit's layout.
- Despite promising lap times, McLaren still faces challenges including vibrations and tyre grip issues, and their long-run pace trails behind rivals like Mercedes and Ferrari, suggesting room for improvement.
- Tyre degradation is a significant factor at Barcelona, with drivers and teams noting unusually low grip and rapid tyre wear, making tyre management a critical element for race strategy.
- Mercedes leads the long-run pace charts, particularly George Russell, indicating strong race pace potential, while Red Bull struggles with balance and grip, impacting their overall performance.
- Pirelli's softer tyre compounds for Barcelona aim to encourage more pit stops and strategic variation, with only Verstappen attempting a race run on the hard tyres, which showed competitive but not leading lap times.