F1 - race #5: SPAIN, 1. European race ! - FORMULA 1 EMIRATES GRAN PREMIO DE ESPAÑA 2019, 10.-12.5.2019 - place to be - - NAANII GLOBAL Luxury/Quality Family Lifestyle MAGAZINE 'en Vogue' - NAANII GLOBAL Quality & Luxury Family Lifestyle - MAGAZINE 'en Vogue'-

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The European season kicks off next weekend at Spain’s Circuit de Barcelona, and as F1 returns to its traditional proving ground, will Scuderia Ferrari repeat its amazing winter test perfomance in Spain, .. or will change be in the air?

It was here, in winter testing, that SCUDERIA FERRARI put on a show of blistering pre-season pace that left rivals quaking in their race boots.
However - over the first four races  F1 season 2019, it’s been the Mercedes Team that have profited most and after a stunning sequence of 1-2 finishes the Silver Arrows return to Europe with a 74-point cushion over the Scuderia.
BUT: should Sebastian Vettel, Scudería Ferrari find himself out in front at any stage during Sunday’s race it will the 100th grand prix the German has led !

Years ago Chris Amon scored the first of five career F1 pole positions at the 1968 Spanish Grand Prix, Jarama Circuit - MADRID, driving for Ferrari.
The New Zealander’s maiden pole was scored at the Jarama Circuit, Madrid during its first hosting of Spain’s race since the 1954 edition at Barcelona’s Pedralbes Circuit.
The Madrid F1 race track 'Jarama' would host the race eight more times between then and 1981. Amon scored four more pole positions, two more in 1968 with Ferrari, in Belgium and the Netherlands, and two with Matra, at the 1971 Italian Grand Prix and at the 1972 French Grand Prix.

So, as F1 makes its way back to SPAIN, will Ferrari find its pre-season form again or is winter coming for Mercedes once again? And behind them, in the midfield, how will the traditional Barcelona upgrades alter the pecking order in what has become a thrilling battle? A fascinating weekend beckons…

Change is definitely in the air elsewhere, though, and following today’s announcement that FIA Formula 2 is to next year be an early adopter of the 18-inch wheels Formula 1 will move to in 2021, F1’s Chief Technical Officer - Motorsport, Pat Symonds, look at how the change will benefit both F2 and Formula 1 and why rookies graduating from the feeder series at the end of next year might have a distinct advantage over their more experienced rivals.

Daniel Ricchiardo, Renault F1 Team: Sixth place in Sunday’s race will see Daniel Ricciardo take his 1000th Formula 1 World Championship point ! The Australian sits on 992 career F1 points but with just one top 10 finish so far this season (P7 in China) an eight-point haul at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya might be big ask, but if anyone can make the most of any opportunity that may arise, it’s the Honey Badger.

Lewis Hamilton, Merrcedes AMG Petronas: Lewis Hamilton has the most Barcelona wins of any current F1 driver, with three !
All of the five-time champion’s wins (2014, 2017 and last year) were scored with Mercedes. If Hamilton wins on Sunday he will move ahead of Mika Häkkinen and become the outright second-most successful driver at this track behind Michael Schumacher who won six times in Barcelona. Only three other drivers on the current grid have also won here: Kimi Räikkönen (2005, 2008), Sebastian Vettel (2011) and Max Verstappen (2016).

Fotos: Copyright Scudería Ferrari, all rights reserved