The Catalunya circuit, which hosts the F1 Spanish Grand Prix, plans to obtain an FIA Grade 1 licence, with the layout stripped of the chicane between Turns 13 and 16.
Since 2007, the F1 Spanish Grand Prix has been held at the Catalunya circuit. The circuit slows cars at the chicane before the track’s final right-hand corner.
However, this configuration would limit a driver’s overtaking opportunities on Barcelona’s main straight, effectively rendering F1’s DRS ineffective.
The promoter says it hopes to have a choice of available configurations for racing series, including F1, by obtaining FIA approval for a layout without the chicane.
A spokesperson for the Catalunya circuit told RacingNews365: “It is our intention to homologate the track without the chicane at the beginning of 2023. However, the track with the chicane will remain the same.”
“Once homologation is complete, all promoters will be able to choose the layout they want to compete on (with or without chicanes).”
In recent years, F1 drivers have asked Barcelona to tweak the circuit’s layout, arguing that removing the chicane might quickly improve racing.
In 2021 George Russell commented that “the circuit races pretty poorly and the races are always pretty boring”.
“Overall, I think if the circuit goes back to the last two corners it was 15 years ago, two fast corners, we can actually get a little closer into the straight. If it’s faster, all the way to Turn 1. slipstream effect is much greater.”
“For the fans, they can see the car going much faster, and for the drivers, they’re going around incredibly fast corners, which is exciting.”
“It’s a win-win, and it’s an easy fix to a rather poor circuit.”
Category: F1 / F1 Spanish Grand Prix
