Formula 1 Circuit Details

Circuit de Catalunya
Barcelona, ESP

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Circuit Info

Circuit Length: 4,66 km
Turns: 16
Laps: 66
Race Distance: 307,23 km

First Race: 22 September 1991
Last Race: 2 May 2010

Lap Record: Kimi Räikkönen
28 April 2008
81.670 s
Coordinates: 41°34'12"N 2°15'39"E
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Website: www.circuitcat.com

Circuit's Last Podiums

Year	Winner	Second	Third	Pole	Fastest Lap
2013	F. Alonso Ferrari	K. Räikkönen Lotus F1 Team	F. Massa Ferrari	N. Rosberg Mercedes	E. Gutiérrez Sauber
2012	P. Maldonado Williams	F. Alonso Ferrari	K. Räikkönen Lotus F1 Team	P. Maldonado Williams	R. Grosjean Lotus F1 Team
2011	S. Vettel Red Bull Racing	L. Hamilton McLaren	J. Button McLaren	M. Webber Red Bull Racing	L. Hamilton McLaren
2010	M. Webber Red Bull Racing	F. Alonso Ferrari	S. Vettel Red Bull Racing	M. Webber Red Bull Racing	L. Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes
2009	J. Button Brawn-Mercedes	R. Barrichello Brawn-Mercedes	M. Webber Red Bull Racing	J. Button Brawn-Mercedes	R. Barrichello Brawn-Mercedes
2008	K. Räikkönen Ferrari	F. Massa Ferrari	L. Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes	K. Räikkönen Ferrari	K. Räikkönen Ferrari
2007	F. Massa Ferrari	L. Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes	F. Alonso McLaren-Mercedes	F. Massa Ferrari	F. Massa Ferrari
2006	F. Alonso Renault	M. Schumacher Ferrari	G. Fisichella Renault	F. Alonso Renault	M. Schumacher Ferrari
2005	K. Räikkönen McLaren-Mercedes	F. Alonso Renault	J. Trulli Toyota	K. Räikkönen McLaren-Mercedes	G. Fisichella Renault
2004	M. Schumacher Ferrari	R. Barrichello Ferrari	J. Trulli Renault	M. Schumacher Ferrari	M. Schumacher Ferrari
2003	M. Schumacher Ferrari	F. Alonso Renault	R. Barrichello Ferrari	M. Schumacher Ferrari	R. Barrichello Ferrari
2002	M. Schumacher Ferrari	J. Montoya Williams-BMW	D. Coulthard McLaren-Mercedes	M. Schumacher Ferrari	M. Schumacher Ferrari
2001	M. Schumacher Ferrari	J. Montoya Williams-BMW	J. Villeneuve BAR-Honda	M. Schumacher Ferrari	D. Coulthard McLaren-Mercedes
2000	M. Hakkinen McLaren-Mercedes	D. Coulthard McLaren-Mercedes	R. Barrichello Ferrari	M. Schumacher Ferrari	M. Hakkinen McLaren-Mercedes
1999	M. Hakkinen McLaren-Mercedes	D. Coulthard McLaren-Mercedes	M. Schumacher Ferrari	M. Hakkinen McLaren-Mercedes	M. Schumacher Ferrari
1998	M. Hakkinen McLaren-Mercedes	D. Coulthard McLaren-Mercedes	M. Schumacher Ferrari	M. Hakkinen McLaren-Mercedes	M. Hakkinen McLaren-Mercedes
1997	J. Villeneuve Williams-Renault	O. Panis Prost-Mugen-Honda	J. Alesi Benetton-Renault	J. Villeneuve Williams-Renault	G. Fisichella Jordan-Peugeot
1996	M. Schumacher Ferrari	J. Alesi Benetton-Renault	J. Villeneuve Williams-Renault	D. Hill Williams-Renault	M. Schumacher Ferrari
1995	M. Schumacher Benetton-Renault	J. Herbert Benetton-Renault	G. Berger Ferrari	M. Schumacher Benetton-Renault	D. Hill Williams-Renault
1994	D. Hill Williams-Renault	M. Schumacher Benetton-Ford	M. Blundell Tyrrell-Yamaha	M. Schumacher Benetton-Ford	M. Schumacher Benetton-Ford
1993	A. Prost Williams-Renault	A. Senna McLaren-Ford	M. Schumacher Benetton-Ford	A. Prost Williams-Renault	M. Schumacher Benetton-Ford
1992	N. Mansell Williams-Renault	M. Schumacher Benetton-Ford	J. Alesi Ferrari	N. Mansell Williams-Renault	N. Mansell Williams-Renault
1991	N. Mansell Williams-Renault	A. Prost Ferrari	R. Patrese Williams-Renault	G. Berger McLaren-Honda	N. Mansell Williams-Renault

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Circuit Description

History

The Circuit de Catalunya was built in 1991 and began hosting the Spanish Grand Prix that same year. Construction also coincided with the Olympic Games scheduled to take place in Barcelona,[1] the next year, where the circuit acted as the start and finish line for the road team time trial cycling event. The Circuit de Catalunya should not be confused with the Montjuïc circuit, which hosted the Spanish Grand Prix four times between 1969 and 1975 and, unlike the Circuit de Catalunya, is actually located within the city of Barcelona.

Because so much testing is done at this circuit, Formula One drivers and mechanics are extremely familiar with it. This has led to criticism that drivers and mechanics are too familiar with Catalunya, reducing the amount of on-track action.

When first used, overtaking was frequent as cars could follow closely through the last two corners and slipstream down the long straight. As aerodynamic balance became more critical, this overtaking method drastically decreased as the cars were unable to follow each other through the fast final corner due to turbulence created by the leading car.[1] This made it much more difficult for a car to get close enough to the car in front of it to attempt a pass at the first turn, which is perhaps the best—and most popular—of very few natural overtaking points on the circuit.[citation needed] The 2007 season saw the first of the two final sweepers replaced with a slow chicane in an effort to improve overtaking.

However, the redesign did not noticeably increase the amount of overtaking. The Circuit de Catalunya also plays host to many other racing series, including Moto GP. The chicane which was put in the penultimate turn for Formula 1 does not play a part in the track layout for Moto GP, and there are at least five points on the track (turns 1,2,4,10,14) where riders are known to overtake. As in Formula 1, turn one is arguably the most popular place for overtaking. The circuit is not known to produce copious amounts of overtaking, despite the long straights.

Layout

The wind direction at the circuit can change drastically during the day, a significant factor given the importance of aerodynamics to modern Formula One cars. It is then hard to find a good setup since cars can have massive aerodynamic drag and understeer on one part of the circuit in the morning, but suffer oversteer at the same part of the circuit in the afternoon. A given tyre compound can work well when tested, but not so well a couple of months later. These changeable conditions can make for an unexpected performances from some teams during the race.

Racing History

The circuit has been the site of some memorable moments. In 1991, Ayrton Senna and Nigel Mansell went down the entire front straight side-by-side while duelling for second place, with Mansell eventually taking the position and ultimately the race itself.[1] In 1994, Michael Schumacher managed to finish in second place despite driving over half the race with only fifth gear. In 1996, Schumacher took his first win as a Ferrari driver, after a dominant performance during a torrential rainstorm. The 1999 race was notable as there was only one reported overtaking move during the race. In 2001, Mika Häkkinen suffered a clutch failure while leading the race on the last lap, handing the win to Schumacher. At the 2006 event, Fernando Alonso became the first Spanish Formula One driver to win at his home country's track.

In 2008, Heikki Kovalainen left the track at 240 km/h (149 mph) after a wheel rim failure at turn 9. He managed to decelerate to 130 km/h (81 mph) when he hit the tyre barrier. He was temporarily unconscious and suffered minor concussion, but a few minutes later, spectators were relieved when he gave a thumbs up.

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F1 Standings

Drivers

Teams

1	Sebastian Vettel	89
2	Kimi Räikkönen	85
3	Fernando Alonso	72

1	Red Bull Racing	131
2	Ferrari	117
3	Lotus F1 Team	111

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