Formula 1 drivers have lauded the change made to the layout of the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya after the opening day of running for the Spanish Grand Prix.
The final section of the lap has been restored to its pre-2007 layout, with the awkward chicane axed, re-creating a high-speed right-hander while increasing speeds through the final corner.
World Champion Max Verstappen set a new track record during the second practice session, a 1:13.907s, almost six seconds faster than the comparable session last year.
“I think firstly it was fun to drive around this new version of the Barcelona circuit,” said Mercedes’ George Russell.
“It’s gone from one of the worst corners in Formula 1 to one of the best corners in Formula 1. So that’s really enjoyable
“I think it will probably help overtaking a little bit because the old layout was such a slow speed corner that you could only get so close and then the guy puts his foot down and disappears.”
Verstappen described the last two corners as “better and more fun to drive – F1 cars feel much better at high speed. I tried to follow a few cars through there as well and it seemed okay, I’m positively surprised by the overtaking opportunities.”
Lewis Hamilton described the new layout as “awesome – it’s very fast” and outlined that he “definitely prefers it to the small chicane that we had it in the past.”
Home representative, Carlos Sainz, agreed that the new layout is “a lot better, a lot more exciting, and it’s more demanding physically and mentally with the last two corners the way they are.”
Alfa Romeo driver Valtteri Bottas was another buoyed by the revision.
“I like the changes they made to the track, I think it’s good fun,” said Bottas. “I prefer this layout without the final chicane, I think it adds more flow to the lap, which is nice.”
