adminFormula 1 returns to Europe for the Spanish Grand Prix this week after Mercedes continued their dominant early-season form in Asia and the Middle East with Lewis Hamilton’s victory in China. Nico Rosberg still leads the championship, but Hamilton’s Shanghai success means he is just four points behind his team-mate.
Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso, though, will be hoping home advantage can spur him on to a first win of the season. Hamilton goes for a fourth successive win, Rosberg aims to hold on to the championship lead and last year’s Spanish GP winner Alonso hopes to build on a first podium of the season in China.
Red Bull will try to ensure Sebastian Vettel fully understands team orders while McLaren will want to pick up points for the first time since Malaysia in March.
Felipe Massa, meanwhile, will simply hope his mechanics manage to avoid fitting a wheel on the wrong side of his Williams after his botched pit stop in China.
Some welcome news for Vettel is the circuit has often been kind to reigning world champions; the driver with the number one on his car has won 11 of the 22 grands prix held here. Plus, the winning driver in Spain has gone on to take the title that season 14 times.
With this the first race of the year in Europe, Barcelona is seen as the first big milestone for upgrades from the teams, meaning Red Bull are likely to bring a package they hope can help them pose a greater challenge at the front. — BBC Sport
Online Reporter