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Barcelona Preview: Talking points ahead of Round 3

20 June 2024

Excitement is building as the European leg of the 2024 F1 ACADEMY season is about to commence with a trip to the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.

One of two returning tracks from the series’ inaugural season, the Spanish venue provides a valuable chance to assess the field’s progress, with the grid being well-versed around there thanks to pre-season testing back in February.

Keeping busy throughout the break, drivers and teams will be put to the test once again this weekend. Here’s a snapshot of some of the key storylines to watch out for as they get back down to business in Round 3.

CAN PIN BRIDGE THE GAP TO PULLING?

With two rounds under her belt, it’s advantage Abbi Pulling in the Drivers’ Standings. Three victories in four races have given the Alpine driver a 34-point lead over her nearest rival Doriane Pin, on 99 points to the Frenchwoman’s 65.

Struggling to quite have the car right underneath her in Miami, Pin was forced to settle for P2 and P3 finishes last time out rather than the wins she was targeting. The Mercedes driver’s title aspirations rest on clawing back any lost ground to Pulling sooner rather than later. Despite the deficit, nothing is off the table for Pin as she’ll look to cement her recovery from fractured ribs sustained last month.

As the midway point approaches, their battle is only going to continue to heat up as the season progresses, but who’ll be riding highest after Race 2 is anyone’s guess.

CAMPOS HUNTING FOR GLORY ON HOME TURF

Home races always provide an extra boost of optimism and Campos Racing will get a double dose of it in Barcelona, as both they and Tommy Hilfiger driver Nerea Martí will have an adoring Spanish crowd behind them.

There’s no better time than now for Campos — who are undoubtedly on the up this season. All three drivers have made inroads across the first two rounds. Sitting fourth in the Standings, Chloe Chambers is quickly carving out a place as one of the campaign’s standout overtakers. Turning seventh on the grid into her maiden podium in Miami Race 1, the Haas driver has the wind in her sails, but needs a touch more one-lap pace in Qualifying to really shine.

Although not entirely satisfied with her P9 finish in Race 2, Schreiner’s progression throughout the weekend showed she’s got what it takes to turn things around. Lastly, with one podium to her name so far in 2024, could a fairy tale win be on the cards for Martí? She’ll certainly try to make that happen.

MP MOTORSPORT LOOKING FOR RETURN TO FORM

It’s been a tough run of form for MP Motorsport. After the high of finishing runner-up in the Teams’ Standings last season, their second F1 ACADEMY campaign has fallen somewhat short of expectations.

Unable to fully pin down their Qualifying pace has put them on the backfoot and although Hamda Al Qubaisi secured two top-four starts in Miami, the Red Bull Racing driver couldn’t move forward into the battle for the podiums.

Yet their report book isn’t all bleak news, with Amna Al Qubaisi’s three climbs up into the points demonstrating the promise their race pace has. Also, Barcelona has seen seasons transformed before as Emely De Heus used her maiden single seater win there last year as a springboard for success, starting a run of seven consecutive points finish — a feat the Dutch driver will be raring to repeat.

PECKING ORDER TAKING SHAPE

PREMA Racing might be leading the Teams’ Standings, but they’ll be watching their backs closely as Rodin Motorsport look to continue their stellar performances. The reigning Champions’ 51-point haul in Miami was eclipsed by the New Zealand team’s 62, slicing PREMA’s gap out front from 13 to just two points.

However, neither team won in Barcelona last year, with the honours going to MP and ART Grand Prix. The Italian squad’s efforts to remain top of the table are aided by having two cars inside the top-five fight, with Maya Weug sitting third, 14 points adrift of her teammate Pin.

Nothing is set in stone and Chambers and Bianca Bustamante have a shot at unseating the Ferrari driver, with Chambers outscoring Weug by nine points courtesy of her Miami podium. One point behind the American racer in fifth, Bustamante had the pace for two top-three finishes in Round 2 but we’ll need to wait and see if she can make them a reality this time around at a track where podiums have previously eluded her.