The Predictors: 2013 Spanish GP

A three week gap was excruciating once again! Call me selfish, but I love nothing more than when there are two races in a row. So, Barcelona! The first real test. As the teams boasted their testing-spec cars in the four fly-aways, not bringing many upgrades due to logistical and economical expenses, the European Season will see the big upgrade packages, and honing of the cars.

Now, we decided to turn the Predictions into a point-scoring game. The first 4 fly-aways were a sort of practice. Now, we'll have European, Americas, and Asian stints and an overall championship too. Here's how the points will work:

Correct position: 5 Pts
One place out: 2 Pts
Correct Winner: 5Pts
Correct Podium, in order: 15 Pts
Correct top 10, not in order: 20 Pts
Correct top 10, in order: 30 Pts

If you would like to take part in the Prediction league, talk to me on Twitter @EpsilonEustice, or send me an email, at charlie.eustice@yahoo.co.uk.

'COR WITH THE SCORE' By Cory Wood
 At long last, the European season arrives! It is going to be hard to predict this one as all the teams will be bringing big upgrades in the pursuit of perfection. I can see Ferrari and Lotus being strong and Red Bull will also be up there, but i think Mercedes may struggle this weekend. Mclaren are looking to get back in the title hunt with a positive result with a big aerodynamic upgrade. Whether this will translate into actual performance is another question. Should be an interesting race.





'PARKIN'S POINTS' By Kyran Parkin
Well I'll give you a much better one after friday practices but I think we won't have a new winner, the McLarens will kickstart their season and the Mercedes will again have tyre issues costing them in the race. Add in the Force India team and a certain Frenchman and you've got a good race.
I saw the state of the tyres on Vettel's car at the end of FP2, and they looked like they had been savaged by a pair of scissors.

I said before practice that McLaren would kickstart thier championship... they can kiss the championship goodbye. They have no chance now.
As for 'Finger Boy'... he can come last for all I care.

'WHO'S QUICK, by MICK' By Michael Ingleton
Something tells me that Lewis Hamilton will get knocked out in Q1, and the Safety Car will pay a visit.









'OVERJAKING MANOUVRES' By Jake Bayes

I would like to point out that in last race's predictions I was the only "pundit" to call the winner or 9 of the top 10 finishers. #shearerofF1
That is all.






As for me? Well, I can't see an awful lot changing really. I think the three teams in with a shout of the title are Ferrari, Lotus and Red Bull, with McLaren, Mercedes and Force India battling it out somewhere in the middle, Toro Rosso, Sauber and Williams scrapping for the last scraps of the points, and Caterham and Marussia tagging on to the back of that group. These are likely to become more established.

Mark Webber has won here before and the heat of Spain looks likely to favour the Red Bulls and Lotuses. Let us not discount the Ferraris, home hero Fernando Alonso is always strong here and barring the incident in Malaysia and the DRS breaking in Bahrain, could well be our championship leader. McLaren... will this season go right for them? If their upgrade package is successful we could see them fighting just behind the Ferraris, but I wouldn't expect too big an impact just yet.

Here are the five predictions. Points will be show in tomorrow's Race Report.