What to expect in Spain: Have Ferrari closed the gap? Can Lewis Hamilton disrupt Nico Rosberg?

ByEurosport

Published 11/05/2016 at 17:15 GMT

The 2016 Formula One world championship moves into its second phase this weekend as the teams and drivers begin the 'European season' in Spain.

Scuderia Ferrari's Finnish driver Kimi Raikkonen takes a pit stop during the Formula One Russian Grand Prix at the Sochi Autodrom circuit on May 1, 2016

Image credit: AFP

Having brought their cars back to base from the opening four 'flyaway' rounds, this grand prix is traditionally an opportunity for the teams to introduce significant performance upgrades.

This year's race is especially important for Ferrari who must deliver on the potential it has hinted at in the opening races. Have they really closed the gap to Mercedes?

And can Lewis Hamilton disrupt team mate Nico Rosberg's perfect start to the season? Keith Collantine, editor of blog F1 Fanatic, names the teams and drivers to watch.

Bahrain Grand Prix

Hamilton describes shock Ferrari move as 'hardest decision I've ever had to make'

23/02/2024 at 15:35

Winner Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team's German driver Nico Rosberg (C) celebrates on the podium next to second placed Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team's British driver Lewis Hamilton (L) and third placed Scuderia Ferrari's Finnish driver Kimi Raikkonen (R)

Image credit: AFP

Team to watch: Ferrari

There is nowhere for the Scuderia to hide this weekend. The Circuit de Catalunya is a litmus test for the rest of the season: if you're quick here you should be quick anywhere.
The SF16-H is a major departure from its predecessors aerodynamically and mechanically, and the teams should reap the gains from those changes at this track.
What would constitute progress for Ferrari? Last year they finished three-quarters of a minute behind the Mercedes - a gap they must expect to slash on Sunday.
The Ferrari has been getting off the beautifully and this could be their key to wrecking Mercedes' weekend. If red leads silver at the start Mercedes will have to get creative with their strategies.
While Mercedes have dominated the opening four races, technical problems for both their cars during the Russian Grand Prix gives Ferrari cause to be optimistic.

Also on the radar: Max Verstappen

Red Bull have sent Daniil Kvyat back to Toro Rosso after his blundering start to the last race which spoiled the weekend for three of their four cars. Kvyat has traded places with Max Verstappen.
The newly-promoted 18-year old has handled everything which has been thrown at him since making his debut last year. With Red Bull enjoying a better-than-expected start to 2016, Verstappen has moved up at just the right time. Expect a podium sooner rather than later.
Verstappen was criticised by some for his vehement complaints on the team radio during the Australian Grand Prix. But what really matters is his results - and but for a power unit failure in Sochi he'd have started and finished every race this year inside the top ten.

Max Verstappen walks by the paddock during a testing session

Image credit: Reuters

Force India

If any team is due a change of luck it is surely the Silverstone-based outfit, which saw both its cars hit by rivals at the first corner in Sochi. This was just the latest in a series of misfortunes.
The team has said the VJM09 will look noticeably different this weekend as they debut a substantial aerodynamic upgrade. This should put them on a more competitive footing at a track where they struggled last year: neither driver was quick enough to progress beyond the first phase of qualifying.