F1 Spanish GP: practice, qualifying, race start time, predictions, betting odds, TV guide

The Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya will host the 2019 F1 Spanish Grand Prix on Sunday 12 May

(Image credit: Paul Gilham/Getty Images)

By The Week Staff

last updated 9 May 2019

2019 Formula 1 Spanish Grand Prix

What: race No.5 of the F1 2019 season
When: 10-12 May
Where: Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, Spain
Date of race: Sunday 12 May
Race start time: 2.10pm (UK time)
TV channels: live on Sky Sports F1 and highlights on Channel 4

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“As we return to Europe, we always see a big development race up and down the grid. We’ve got some updates coming and it’s going to be interesting to see how we compare to the teams around us this weekend. It’s been a few months since we were in Barcelona for winter testing, so it’s a good chance to see how much progress we have made with the car – even though track conditions will be very different in May.”

“The early-season fly-away races are exciting, but it is nice to be back in Europe getting ready for some of the more traditional races. Of course, Barcelona is a track where we’ve already done so much testing and I don’t think there are any more secrets to discover from the track. Even after two weeks of winter testing in Barcelona, finding the right set-up for the race weekend remains a challenge.”

“The Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya is a track that everybody knows very well, not only from Formula 1 testing, but also from previous categories. Since winter testing in Barcelona, a lot has changed, with the main difference being the weather and track conditions. I think everybody is looking forward to returning to Spain - it is the first typical European race and event where upgrades are brought. Let’s see what we can achieve.”

“It just doesn’t feel like Ferrari are in this championship at the moment, and having won here three times before, Hamilton must fancy his chances of securing a third straight win in Barcelona. The 34-year-old won’t be too pleased that he’s trailing Valtteri Bottas in the championship, even if it is by just a point, and he can get back ahead with a third race win of the season. Expect a strong challenge from Max Verstappen and Red Bull, given that they won here back in 2016 and have demonstrated good pace with their new Honda engine.”

“I hope that a brilliant performance by the four-time world champion will show Mercedes and the world that the Italian outfit is not out of it yet, and can still put up a challenge this season, for the sake of F1 fans worldwide more than anything. This prediction is really just one of hope. I hope that Ferrari can put a race together without putting themselves down. I hope that Ferrari can do so from a bad starting point to show some fighting spirit. And I hope that this year’s drivers and constructors race can have some spice to it, and a good start to that would be a huge comeback drive from Sebastian Vettel.”

“At a track where Mercedes have been the class of the field for quite a while, it is difficult to look beyond them. So far we have had four fairly different and unrepresentative tracks, so this one will tell us the most about how a car is performing overall. Ferrari haven’t had a clean weekend so far and desperately need one. Still, they have lost ground to Mercedes in the first four races and it will be difficult to claw that back in one go. The familiarity of the conditions and the track should help them. Still, it looks like another Mercedes 1-2. Podium prediction: 1st Hamilton 2nd Bottas 3rd Leclerc.”

“On paper, Ferrari should win in Spain, having impressed so much here in winter testing, but Mercedes have led with such dominance and have made a record-breaking start to the season. In terms of prediction, it is hard to escape that Lewis Hamilton won the 2018 Spanish Grand Prix in convincing fashion. Given Mercedes’ operational excellence, better strategic calls, new updates and the fact they are probably sandbagging in the practice sessions and talking themselves down, it seems most likely to be yet another day in the sun in Spain for Lewis Hamilton.”