[E90SLAM]

Three weeks break is way too long!!!
This weekend we might see more mix-up in the grid with the six teams that did quite well in the first four races, McLaren, Red Bull, Ferrari, Sauber, Lotus-Renault, Mercedes. Usually this race as the first European continent race, teams will bring major upgrades from factory. After the Mugello mid-season test, the upgrades might be more effective this year.

As Catalunya was also a testing track pre-season. Teams know this place inside and out. We might see more testing rigs and sensors mounted on cars on Friday Practice sessions.

In addition to all the uncertainty in terms of performance. This is also the first race in the season Pirelli brings in tire compounds that are two steps variation. Hard and Soft will be featured this weekend, bigger performance difference and wear rate. Race strategy should play a even bigger role this weekend.

NOTE!!! Live Coverage from BBC Sports for this weekend's race!!!

Race Date: 13 May 2012
Circuit Name: Circuit de Catalunya
Number of Laps: 66
Circuit Length: 4.655 km
Race Distance: 307.104 km
Lap Record: 1:21.670 - K Raikkonen (2008)

Tire Compounds Provided:
Prime: Hard (Silver)
Option: Soft (Yellow)
Rain: Cinturato Intermediate (Green) / Cinturato Wet (Blue)

F1 TIMETABLE (Barcelona Local Time)
Fri 11 May 2012
Practice 1 10:00 - 11:30
Practice 2 14:00 - 15:30
Sat 12 May 2012
Practice 3 11:00 - 12:00
Qualifying 14:00
Sun 13 May 2012
Race 14:00

F1 TIMETABLE (Pacific Time)
Fri 11 May 2012
Practice 1 01:00 - 02:30
Practice 2 05:00 - 06:30
Sat 12 May 2012
Practice 3 02:00 - 03:00
Qualifying 05:00
Sun 13 May 2012
Race 05:00

F1 TIMETABLE (Eastern Time)
Fri 11 May 2012
Practice 1 04:00 - 05:30
Practice 2 08:00 - 09:30
Sat 12 May 2012
Practice 3 05:00 - 06:00
Qualifying 08:00
Sun 13 May 2012
Race 08:00

Unfortunately I will be out of town this weekend and will miss out the race. Also pictures won't be up from Thursday on. Feel free to post pics if anyone finds some.

[jonasaurus]

Back to 'normality', thank god!

[Nang Vann]

Woo Hoo here we go again

It's been too long, tis gonna be a great weekend!

[gary88]

Weekend won't be the same without the amazing pic dumps

[ChrisAW]

Originally Posted by gary88

Weekend won't be the same without the amazing pic dumps

I'll try to draw a F1 car with MS paint to hold us over... I can't draw...

[escobar929]

glad F1 is back, 3 weeks feels like an eternity

[VIPLINE]

Could someone please explain to me what is a stint? Does it mean pit stop?

[the///Mthree]

Originally Posted by VIPLINE

Could someone please explain to me what is a stint? Does it mean pit stop?

A stint is the time between pitstops.

or in the case of the first stint, the time before the first pitstop.

[E90SLAM]

Originally Posted by ChrisAW

I'll try to draw a F1 car with MS paint to hold us over... I can't draw...

That won't be too hard with current step nose Lego cars...

[EINSER M]

about time!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[UltimateBMW]

Finally.

[SukSqueezeBangBlo]

E90Slam your posts / pictures honestly give me something to look forward to during the days coming up to the race. I appreciate the time you take!

[VIPLINE]

Originally Posted by the///Mthree

A stint is the time between pitstops.

or in the case of the first stint, the time before the first pitstop.

Thank u sir!

[spoiler]

gogo SERGIO PEREZ!!!!

[BrokenVert]

Originally Posted by the///Mthree

A stint is the time between pitstops.
or in the case of the first stint, the time before the first pitstop.

I always thought a stint was the time between tire changes. In Le Mans Series you frequently hear of drivers doing 3-4 stints.

Like if you pull in for wing damage and you dont swap tires then youre still on the same stint you were on previously.

[the///Mthree]

Originally Posted by BrokenVert

I always thought a stint was the time between tire changes. In Le Mans Series you frequently hear of drivers doing 3-4 stints.

Like if you pull in for wing damage and you dont swap tires then youre still on the same stint you were on previously.

Well there are many different ways of wording it. It could be called a driver stint, stint, fuel stint ETC. At an endurance race like LeMan it would be called a fuel stint because they make pitstops on fuel strategy. In Formula 1 they never refuel and make pitstops around tire strategy.

I think you got confused somewhere, because what your saying is exactly the same as what I said

Originally Posted by the///Mthree

A stint is the time between pitstops.

So when you say a driver at LeMan does 3 stints, that means he is in the car for 3 fuel stops. Hence a stint being the time between pitstops.

[UltimateBMW]

Stint :
1. To restrict or limit, as in amount or number; be sparing with.
2. Archaic To cause to stop.

It can be applied to anything. However, in modern F1 it is assumed that any mention of stints is specifically for tires only because the only reason to pit in F1 right now is for tires.

[Nang Vann]

Can't wait, the weekend is almost here!

[007MCoupe]

Since this is only my second season following F1 so IDK how it was before, but I'm a fan of mid season testing. It'll be really exciting to see who made the right improvements for the next few races. Already looking forward to Monaco!

[007MCoupe]

Good read on McLaren's new nose and some info on pit crew changes.

http://www.jamesallenonf1.com/2012/0...ges-for-spain/

Better look at the nose. Interesting they changed some of the aero on the nose, not just made it higher.

[Mtxzptlk]

Loving the new nose. Go Mclaren!

Saturday and Sunday can't come soon enough!

[E90SLAM]

Sorry guys, no F1 cars yet, just a bunch of trucks and lorries...