After a rain-hampered race in Canada, we’re ready for some Spanish sun.

The Grand Prix in Montréal was among the most exciting of the season, so we’re certainly not complaining, but at the same time, having only just dried off, some nice weather wouldn’t go amiss.

Thankfully, that’s what we typically get in Barcelona. But other than the sun, what else can you expect from this weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix? We’ve asked Lando, Oscar and Team Principal Andrea Stella for their thoughts. We’ve also provided you with a guide to the circuit, another F1 translation, and some tips on what to wear.

“It’s great to be back in Europe after a successful Canadian GP for us. We were close to another win, but I’m happy to get another podium and important points for the team. It’s a great place to be in, fighting for wins, and it makes me really excited for the rest of the season. We know we’ve got a little bit of work to do to ensure we’re winning more regularly, but we’re moving in the right direction.

“Last week I was back at the MTC to see the team and prepare for Barcelona. I always enjoy going to Spain, there’s always a great atmosphere from the fans and it’s an amazing city. The track has its challenges with a real mix of slow and high-speed corners, but I think we’re in a good position to maximise our performance and get the most out of the car. We’ve got our eyes on the prize, let’s go!”

“Canada was another strong weekend for the team and I was pleased to continue a productive run of results from Imola and Monaco. It’s a nice feeling to be consistently fighting at the front and being in the mix for the big prizes.

“I’ve had some decent performances in Barcelona in the junior categories and the car feels in a good place thanks to all the hard work put in by the whole team. I’m looking forward to touching down in Spain.”

“We now head to Barcelona for the Spanish Grand Prix. It’s the start of a busy European season with a triple header. It’s a lot of work for the drivers and the entire team to keep up the momentum for three races in a row, but we are energised by our recent performance and results.

“While we’re confident that the MCL38 can perform on merit at different types of tracks, the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya will still offer a unique challenge. More teams are bringing upgrades, so it’s important for us to keep our focus and make every weekend count.”

Track insights

We’re used to going to Spain in the early stages of the season – it hosted Round 5 from 2010 to 2019 – or on the back of several street circuits, but with the re-jigging of the Formula 1 calendar for 2024, we head to Spain in Round 10, having already raced on plenty of traditional circuits.

Spain is known as a good testing track, and in previous years, this race has acted as a barometer for teams and fans to see where they’re at early into the season, but in 2024, we’ve already deployed our first upgrade of the season and have a relatively good idea of where we sit in the pecking order, with nine Grands Prix already completed.

That’s not to say it won’t be of any benefit, though. We currently lead on laps raced as the only team to have completed 100% of GP laps in 2024, but the team are always desperate for more track time and will relish the chance to test the MCL38 around Spain’s varied circuit.

The 14-turn track has a little bit of everything, from high-speed corners to low-speed turns and plenty of elevation changes. There’s also a lengthy 1050m straight where drivers can put their foot down.

Overtaking isn’t the easiest around Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, mostly due to its aerodynamic characteristics, but the removal of the final chicane ahead of last season’s race allowed drivers to build up more speed ahead of the straight, where they can line up a move.

The season so far

Lando looked to be on course for his second win of the season after overtaking Max Verstappen and George Russell in the Canadian Grand Prix, before an ill-timed Safety Car period saw him fall from first to third. Despite this frustration, Lando still managed a brilliant second in Montréal, securing his fifth podium of the season and the team’s fifth in a row.

On the other side of the garage, Oscar was impressing in third place but dropped to fifth behind Russell and Lewis Hamilton, who were both running on fresher tyres. Lando and Oscar’s efforts in Canada mean that we have now scored points in every single race for an entire year.

As things stand, we are third in the Constructors’ Championship with 212 points, 88 ahead of fourth place and 40 off second.

F1 translations: Marbling

F1 is full of specialist slang and complicated jargon that can stump even the most avid of fans, which is why we’ll be explaining common F1 terminology ahead of each grand prix this season. This week, it’s marbling… 

If you look closely enough at an F1 track towards the end of the race, you’ll spot a bunch of black balls spread across the tarmac. These are pieces of rubber that are worn off the tyres and left on the track during the race.

This is similar to graining – which we explained in our Saudi Arabian Grand Prix preview – but differs in that with graining, the rubber is immediately picked back up by the tyres, causing an uneven surface and impacting grip.

Marbles are the pieces of rubber that are not picked up by the tyres and are instead left behind on the track. The grid compares driving on these pieces of rubber to how it would feel to drive on marbles, hence the name. Imagine trying to drive – or run – on marbles, and you can see how that would impact a driver’s grip and control.

F1 icebreaker

Stuck for conversation with your F1-loving friends? Spark up a discussion with our F1 icebreaker…

Construction of the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya coincided with the 1992 Olympics, and the circuit acted as the start and finish line for the road team time trial cycling event.

The fit: Junior fits

You’re never too young to be a Formula 1 fan, and that’s why our junior range exists. Whether your little one is a Lando fan or an Oscar supporter, they can get behind their favourite driver by wearing the same team kit as them.