The FORMULA 1 GRAN PREMIO DE ESPAÑA 2018, to be staged from 11 to 13 May, has launched its time schedule with some significant changes. The most relevant change is that the F1 World Championship race will start on Sunday at 15:10h. The remaining sessions, both the free and the qualifying practices, will start an hour later as well. Thus, the Spanish Grand Prix will be the first event to introduce the new European schedule this season.
The first free practices will be staged on Friday, from 11:00 to 12:30h and the second session from 15:00 to 16:30h. The cars will be back on the track on Saturday at noon, to get ready for the qualifying practices that are scheduled from 15:00 to 16:00h. The weekend will have its highlight on Sunday with the race at 15:10h.
Despite the novelties, the Grand Prix will include classics that cannot be missed. The expected Pit Lane Walkabout (16.00-18.30h) and the Autograph Session (16.00-18.00h) will take place on Thursday, only accessible for holders of a ticket for the Grand Prix, and Circuit Members and Officials. On that same day, at 18:00h many of the drivers will have the chance to go back in time, to their initial car driving experiences, during a karting exhibition. On Saturday, some F1 drivers will attend the Fan Forum (18.00-19.00h), and at 19.00h the leading role will be taken over by the runners, since they will be able to run in a unique surrounding on the racetrack.
The F1 support races will get onto the track on Friday to perform their free practices, starting with the GP3 Series at 9:30h and finishing with the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup at 18:45h, with the FIA Formula 2 series and the GP3 Series having their official practices at 16:55h and 17:50h respectively.
On Saturday, in addition to the qualifying practices of the premier class, there will be the ‘qualies’ of the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup at 13:30h and the first races of the single-seater series. The GP3 Series will be racing at 10:15h and the FIA Formula 2 at 16:40h.
The most expected moment of the weekend will be, with no doubt, the race of the F1 World Championship. But there will be three additional races of the support series as well, that will provide for thrill and battles starting from 09:00h in the morning. Sunday will include also the usual drivers’ parade (13:30h) and the opening of the track after the race finish.