Formula One returns at the Spanish Grand Prix at the Circuit de Catalunya, with the race being part of NBCSN’s 13 hours of motorsport coverage this weekend. With on-track rivalries set to resume, the MST team re-kindles its own prediction battle. Who are our hot picks for the race on Sunday?
Tony DiZinno (@tonydizinno)
Race winner: Sebastian Vettel. It seems hard to imagine the Spanish GP has had seven different winners in the last seven years, but right now, it’s hard to pick against the driver who’s riding the hot hand.
Surprising finish: Kimi Raikkonen. Yes, Raikkonen has the chance to win this race for a third different team (McLaren and Ferrari before). But with Lotus technical director James Allison leaving the team just before the race, it is likely to have a negative impact both on Raikkonen and Romain Grosjean at least in the short term.
Most to prove: Pastor Maldonado. Williams plans to improve this race based on some new upgrades. And for defending Spanish Grand Prix winner Pastor Maldonado, improvement will be merely scoring both his and the team’s first points of the season.
Christopher Estrada (@estradawriting)
Race winner: Sebastian Vettel. Barcelona is a proper all-around test for a car’s performance, and that plays right into the three-time defending World Champion’s hands (not to mention teammate Mark Webber’s). One also wonders if Pirelli’s decision to tweak its hard compound tire will benefit the Red Bulls as well…
Surprising finish: Charles Pic. Gonna go toward the back of the grid on this one. Pic was able to get the better of Marussia rival Jules Bianchi in Bahrain, and this weekend, he’ll get more updates on his CT-03. Could bigger gains be on tap for him and Caterham?
Most to prove: Fernando Alonso. After his DRS disaster in Bahrain, Alonso is 30 points back of Vettel in the driver’s championship as he heads to home ground. His countrymen will be counting on him for a big result that can start him toward closing that gap.
Luke Smith (@LukeSmithF1)
Race winner: Mark Webber. Multi-21 aside, Webber will certainly be in the running for some big points in Spain. The Aussie will be keen on answering his critics, and having won in 2010, he is one to watch at the Circuit de Catalunya.
Surprising finish: Nico Hulkenberg. A quiet start to the season for Sauber, but Hulkenberg has shown signs of brilliance (e.g. leading in China). Relying the upgrades come, he could produce another good performance to finish in the top six or so.
Most to prove: Jenson Button. After being given a reality check by his teammate in Bahrain, JB needs to respond fast. McLaren’s upgrades are crucial to him responding well, and he appears to be in a good frame of mind, although the importance of this weekend will not be lost on him.
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
Race winner: Fernando Alonso. Always dangerous on home ground, he’s bound to qualify inside the top four and from there I reckon he’ll make another of his trademarks fast starts to take the lead and control the race.
Surprising finish: Daniel Ricciardo. He’ll prove Bahrain was a blip and get another solid points finish.
Most to prove: McLaren. If they’ve going to have any chance of competing for the titles this year they’ve got to do what Ferrari did at this race last year: Halve the performance deficit to their rivals.
