FIA "looking at" Spanish GP track changes to boost excitement

Verstappen, Bottas, Spain, 2020 — Photo: © LAT Images

Formula 1

FIA "looking at" Spanish GP track changes to boost excitement

There have been calls for a return to the high-speed final sector to return in Barcelona

Ian Parkes & Ewan Gale

Wednesday 12 May 2021 17:02

Race director Michael Masi has revealed the FIA has "been looking at" reverting back to the old-style final sector at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.

In 2007, the flowing pair of downhill, right-hand corners were broken up by a low-speed chicane due to growing safety concerns over the lack of runoff.

Ahead of the Spanish Grand Prix, when asked if he would like to return to the high-speed layout, Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz said: "I don't think it would change [racing] massively but if it wouldn't change massively then I would prefer the high-speed double-corner.

"Why? Because it is the old school version of the track, it is what I grew up watching.

"Since the chicane was introduced, I don't think overtaking has improved so I would just go for the more fun version for the driver and probably also for the fans."

Article continues under video

In recent years, the safety of F1 cars has improved drastically with the halo just one obvious example of this.

Asked if these improvements were sufficient to consider switching back to the previous configuration, Masi revealed: “It is something that we have been looking at for a little while.

"It’s obviously not an overnight change that can be done and having a look at all of the implications and unintended consequences that may come about.

“So like all of our circuits and different corners and everything, we work together with the teams, the drivers and F1 in ensuring we have got the safest venue, but also something that promotes good racing.”

Races in Spain are typically uneventful and although there was a safety car period and two separate investigations - one for Pierre Gasly lining up outside his grid box and another for a skirmish between Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll - last weekend continued the trend.

Masi countered: "I think every race is eventful for different reasons.

"Certainly, there was a bit less that happened during this race but that doesn’t mean that you’re not on your toes for the entire duration of a grand prix because you can’t sit back and relax so to speak.”