Catalunya - the known devil

Teams test so often at this circuit that all drivers and engineers know this circuit better than the back of their hands. But all the data that they collect while testing is almost obsolete now, because of many reasons - reasons which make Catalunya more like a known devil.

Firstly, the track conditions have changed a lot since the winter testing conditions. The track has been recently relaid and while the surface is usually considered abrasive, the re-laying means that not a great deal of data is available.

Secondly, the wind conditions make evaluating any setup a difficult task. We already saw that last week at the 'Ring, when drivers complained of winds making braking difficult. With changing wind conditions, the challenge is to find a robust setup to achieve good aero efficiency.

Thirdly, the cars themselves have changed a lot since the winter testing, with most cars having atleast one upgrade, and the performance of these newer parts has never been tested.

Finally, the changing track and air temperatures mean that the grip levels also cannot be accurately estimated, and a robust setup is again crucial.

So, while all teams test here often, Friday practice is still very important (as in other races) to get the right setup and the right kind of tyres. This is considered a "Michelin" circuit, but with B-stones improving, and Michael driving a rejuvenated Ferrari, things could get interesting.