An opportunity to double less? Drivers judge new turn 10

Already renowned for offering little spectacle on the track, has the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya lost one of the rare areas where overtaking could still be achieved by rethinking the curvature of its turn 10? 

Modified in 2004 to make it a hairpin-style hard braking zone, the turn has regained its original look by becoming a left-hand curve negotiated more quickly and which extends naturally into turn 11. 

Charles Leclerc thinks that the changes made will not make it easier for drivers to overtake.

« I am convinced that there will be several possible trajectories and that it will therefore be simpler to follow each other, commented the pilot Ferrari. But I also have the feeling that turn 10 represented an opportunity to overtake so I'm not sure what to make of the situation. I imagine there will be fewer attempts in the zone but perhaps this will allow us to follow each other better to attack the first corner. In that case, that would be great. ». 

His friend Pierre Gasly shares his analysis of the variety of trajectories and also hopes that the new profile will offer more action ultimately. " Maybe we can put more pressure on the car in front when braking or try a different corner exit to overtake, underlines the pilot Alpha Tauri. The bend is in any case more open and will be negotiated more quickly ». 

Many of their colleagues believe that the changes will not change the face of the world.

« I don't expect a significant impact on lap times, settings, and overtaking chances., commented Fernando Alonso, winner on home soil in 2006 and 2013. The change will be transparent to spectators ».  

Valtteri Bottas, for his part, is delighted with the transformation, but for very personal reasons. “ This has never been one of my favorite turns, reacted the Finn. So the novelty doesn't bother me, quite the contrary. I hope this will make me worry less ». 

Sebastian Vettel is not unhappy either to break away from the usual routine but the quadruple world champion, who this week will have access to the new aerodynamic features introduced on theAston Martin de Lance stroll in Portugal, hopes that the F1 will one day return to the original route in the last sector by removing the chicane introduced in 2007. 

A proposition that validates Carlos Sainz, the other regional of the stage. 

« Since the introduction of the chicane, I don't feel like I've seen more overtaking, underlined the Ferrari driver, who also regretted the absence of fans in Catalonia for the 2nd year in a row. I would be in favor of going back to the old version. It would probably be more fun for the fans and the drivers alike. ». 

While waiting for this possible return to the future, see you on Friday during Free Practice 1 and 2 to get a first verdict on this redesigned turn 10.