The buzz around the FORMULA 1 ARAMCO GRAN PREMIO DE ESPAÑA 2024 was in full swing today, as Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya brought fans and drivers together during one of the event’s most popular activities: the traditional Pit Walk.
After a spectacular start with yesterday’s Road Show around the streets of Barcelona providing a tantalising taster of what is to come, today, fans had the chance to walk the pit lane and rub shoulders with some of the stars of the weekend who will be serving up all the action at the Catalan track over the next three days. Numbers for the activity were limited for the first time this year to ensure everyone’s safety, with the introduction of a special portal where visitors could download free tickets, which sold out on the same day, demonstrating the huge popularity of this event.
For two hours, attendees had the opportunity to get a close-up look at the preparations going on for the Grand Prix and see inside the garages of their idols. As expected, the spotlight was on Carlos Sainz (Scuderia Ferrari HP) and Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant Formula One Team), who took part in the official press conference alongside Daniel Ricciardo (Visa Cash App RB Formula One Team), Kevin Magnussen (Haas F1 Team) and Valtteri Bottas (Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber).
Among other things, they discussed their chances in the Barcelona race, the improvements they are bringing to the Circuit and the chances of rain on Sunday. Another recurring theme was their plans for the future, as, of the drivers present, Alonso is the only one whose seat for 2025 is definite.
Carlos Sainz, who maintained yesterday’s optimistic tone on stage at the Fan Village in Plaza Catalunya, made it clear that his sights are set firmly on the win: “I know Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya very well, every time I’ve raced here I’ve scored points, I know how to start and when to push. I think we’ll be more competitive than in the last race, so winning is possible. However, we’ll have to wait until tomorrow’s free practice to know what our real chances are. The crowd here is amazing, both Fernando and I get a lot of support, and that’s an extra motivation for me.”
As for the colours he will wear next season, the Spaniard has indicated that the decision is imminent: “I don’t want to wait any longer. I’ve been weighing up all the options for months now and I will know my future very soon.”
Fernando Alonso, meanwhile, said that a wet race could be to Aston Martin’s advantage and appreciated the warmth of the fans: “It’s great to have two Spanish drivers on the grid. The people of Barcelona cheer us on in good times and bad, which is why we always try to give one hundred per cent. This year it’ll be more difficult to get good results, but I hope to be in the points and, if it rains on Sunday, we will probably perform better than in the dry.”
Another of the protagonists of the press conference, Daniel Ricciardo, signalled who he expects his main rivals to be: “We are bringing improvements to this circuit, but normally all the teams do, so the smallest detail will make a difference. The aim is to challenge Aston Martin,” he explained. The Australian was also emphatic about his plans for next year: “I’m back in the Red Bull family and I don’t see myself out of it, I’d love to stay here, but I want to earn it, not be given it as a gift.”
Valtteri Bottas emphasised the difficulty of the Circuit: “This weekend we’re racing on a very difficult track, where everything will be decided by small differences. We should be a bit better than in previous GPs, but we can’t make any mistakes.”
Finally, Kevin Magnussen spoke about the strengths of his car: “The Haas is more competitive on circuits with long straights and low-speed corners because of the downforce we have, so we’ll be challenged at Catalunya. Our advantage is tyre management, which degrade a lot here, and we know how to conserve them very well.”
