I expect tyre management to be just as pivotal as it was in China. What is
interesting is that Raikkonen and a number of other drivers have come out
and said that the emphasis on tyres has always been present.
But it is more critical now. What is slightly frustrating is that back in the
day when we had refuelling, racing could be a lot more fulfilling, because
you did not have such a vast gap between qualifying pace and race pace.
Talking point
Red Bull still are the best marque, the team to beat, with those six world
championship titles in three years. But Ferrari are unquestionably looking
stronger than they have done for some time.
We should be a little cautious, though, about reading too much into Fernando
Alonso’s victory in China, because Nico Rosberg won for Mercedes by 20
seconds in Shanghai last year and then we never saw them for the rest of the
season. Much can still change, especially in the teams’ development race as
we head back to Europe.
Three crucial areas on the track:
1. I expect most of the action to be between Turns One and Four, where
there are the most overtaking possibilities. There is likely to be a real
concertina at the beginning of the race.
2. The back straight, as the drivers come off Turn 15 could prove the
crucial area for the drivers to gain an advantage using the DRS.
3. No one should write off Turn 10, because it is a tricky corner: over
a rise, downhill, off-camber, and people can lock up easily.
Where the DRS zones are located Both DRS zones have individual detection
points, with the first at Turn Nine and the second coming under braking for
the penultimate corner (note to desk: please link to official Formula 1
website).
Qualifying and race timings
- Saturday, 1pm BST – live on Sky Sports F1, highlights on BBC ONE at 5.30pm.
- Sunday, 1pm BST – live on Sky Sports F1, highlights on BBC ONE at 5pm.
Weather watch
33 degrees C, sunny.