The Formula One circuit heads to Spain, the scene of Pastor Maldonado’s remarkable win from pole in 2012. This is the last time a Williams Racing driver stood on the podium. Can they achieve that elusive podium this weekend in Spain, where every team brings major upgrades? It will be tough, but this season we have already seen some pretty remarkable results.
Spain is traditionally where the teams do the majority of their testing before a new season, usually alternating between the Jerez Circuit and the Circuit de Catalunya. The teams haven’t been to Catalunya yet, and it is the first particularly high downforce circuit on the calendar. So far, Williams seemed to struggle in conditions where having high downforce is vital. Depending on a number of factors, such as how many upgrades they’ve made compared to their rivals and whether they actually work or not will be important here. One thing Williams can be happy about is that no rain is expected this weekend. Usually the Spanish GP is dry, although there have been some races in the past affected by rain (when it was held towards the end of a season). Tyre wear will also be a massive issue. It is by far the toughest circuit on tyres, even the hardest compounds that Pirelli bring to Grand Prix weekends. Williams struggled with tyre wear in Malaysia and China, so perhaps their upgrades should focus on that as well as downforce.
No. 19 Felipe Massa (BRA) – 11th
Form: 7/R/7/7/15 (includes races from 2013)
2013 (Driving for Ferrari): Grid: P9, Race: P3
Massa is a former winner here; he won from pole in 2007. His most recent podium to date is here (last season). It seems to be a circuit that Massa goes pretty well at. It is a circuit which is tough to overtake on, which, should he get one of his trademark excellent starts, could upset some of the guys at the very front. It will be interesting to see how he bounces back after two no-scores in four races, while his teammate has scored in every race so far. He is beginning to slip back a bit in the standings and this is arguably costing Williams in the Constructors’ Championship.
No. 77 Valtteri Bottas (FIN) – 7th
Form: R/5/8/8/7 (includes races from 2013)
2013: Grid: P16, Race: P16
Bottas had a shocker here last year. Although he qualified well, he was the last classified runner that wasn’t a Marussia or a Caterham. Bottas is also a former winner here, although it was back in his Formula Renault days. So far this season he’s been arguably the second most consistent driver, behind Nico Hulkenberg. Those two, Fernando Alonso and Nico Rosberg are the only drivers to have scored in every race so far this season. If the car is good, he could well be on for another P7 or P8 here this weekend.
At this stage of the season, I’m expecting Red Bull, McLaren and Ferrari to gradually pull away from Williams and Force India, with Lotus and Toro Rosso catching up to those two teams. This means we could have a brilliant battle for second and for fifth in the Constructors’ Championship. Force India arguably has the strongest pair out of those four teams but Williams also have two very handy drivers. They both have the speed, the drivers and the team just have to cut out the silly mistakes. Force India is probably the reference point for where Williams should be, but they’re 18 points off of the Silverstone-based team at this stage. Williams are more than capable of catching them but it would help if they weren’t to slip behind the might of Ferrari, Red Bull and McLaren in the development race.
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