Valtteri Bottas believes it will be more crucial "than ever" that drivers ensure they have a flawless weekend at the Spanish Grand Prix, given that the Barcelona track "holds no secrets". F1 will return to the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya for the first time since March's three-day pre-season testing event, during which the teams ran their newborn cars in anger. Plenty has changed since then, with a true pecking order becoming clearer as Red Bull and Ferrari lead the way at the front. But as the sport again races at the 2.9-mile circuit, Bottas is expecting competition to be fierce, due to the various outfits and drivers holding years of experience – and plenty of data – on the venue.
Drivers must ensure their weekend is "flawless" in Barcelona
"It is crucial we have a flawless weekend, here more than ever," said Bottas, who is currently eighth in the World Championship standings. "Barcelona is a track that holds no secrets for any team, so there won't be any silver bullet to find to be ahead of the others. It will be about execution and doing our homework. "For sure, we arrive in Barcelona in a much happier state than when we left after winter testing, which is proof of how well this team has bounced back after the difficulties we encountered in February. "I want to repay all this great work with a good result."
Vasseur sets targets for Spanish GP
A double points-scoring finish would be considered a strong result for Alfa Romeo, according to team boss Fred Vasseur, amid an intense midfield fight in 2022. "I feel we are now in a situation in which our objectives will be similar for each round going forward, and not too different from what we have had so far this season – both cars in Q2, one in Q3 and points on Sunday," Vasseur explained. "This doesn't mean we are underestimating the challenge ahead of us in Catalonia, or anywhere else. "The midfield is going to be a close, intense and thrilling fight throughout the season, and it will be a fight decided by small margins in each race."
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