Circuit Data
Length of lap: 4.655 km
Total number of laps: 66
Total race distance: 307.104 km
Lap record: 1:18.183 (Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes-AMG, 2020)
Number of gear changes per lap: 45
Number of DRS zones: 2
The Spanish Grand Prix is raced at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. It was built in 1991 and the Spanish Grand Prix has been raced there ever since. It is typically raced in early May, however it is the most commonly used location for Winter testing in February.
There were four previous venues that have hosted the race. In 1951 and 1954 the race was hosted at Barcelona’s Pedralbes street circuit. The race was not brought back again until the late 60s in which it swapped between two venues: Madrid’s Circuito del Jarama in 1968, 70, 72 and 74, and Barcelona’s Montjuïc in 1969, 71, 73, and 75. From 1976-1979 and 1981, the race was held exclusively at the Circuito del Jarma. Finally, from 1986-1990 the race was held at the Circuito del Jerez.
The track is a good mix of fast-, medium-, and slow-speed corners with drivers at full throttle for 72% of the lap. It also has a good variety of shift changes in direction as well as a long start/finish staright.
The most successful driver at the Grand Prix is Michael Schumacher with six wins all scored at the Barcelona track . The most successful team at the Grad Prix is Ferrari with twelve wins, eight of which came from the Barcelona track.
The Spanish Grand Prix was used in 2020 for both a race and test track and it is set to return in the 2021 season as the fourth race on the calendar in early May.
For more information, or to watch a guided lap of the track, check out this website, and the YouTube clip:
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