Spanish F1 Grand Prix 2018: Start Time, Drivers, TV Schedule and More
Sebastian Vettel will continue his battle with Mercedes pair Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas when the 2018 Formula One Spanish Grand Prix gets under way at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya in Montmelo on Sunday.
Hamilton got Mercedes' first win of the season in Azerbaijan last time out. It was a significant psychological fillip for Mercedes since Vettel and Ferrari have looked particularly impressive early on.
Here are the schedule and viewing details:
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Date: Sunday, May 13
Time: 2:10 p.m. BST. 9:10 a.m. ET
TV Info: Sky Sports F1, ESPN2
Qualifying takes place on Saturday, May 12 from 2 p.m. BST, with live coverage on Sky Sports F1.
Hamilton has an outstanding record in Barcelona, with the Formula 1 official website noting how the 33-year-old "hasn't been off the front row here since his final year for McLaren in 2012, when he took top spot in qualifying only to be excluded for having insufficient fuel."
The same source detailed how Vettel has never had pole position for this race. Of course, not being on pole didn't stop the German from winning in Barcelona back in 2011.
Vettel has been good enough to win in Bahrain and Australia already this season.
Vettel and Ferrari team-mate Kimi Raikkonen are driving vehicles showing significant signs of improvement already this season. However, the first signs of trouble became apparent during the second practice session on Friday.
BBC Sport's Andrew Benson noted some engine concerns for the Scuderia after Raikkonen needed to return to the pits.
Any issues for Ferrari could see Red Bull Racing's Daniel Ricciardo and Max Verstappen profit. Only Hamilton finished faster than the pair during the second practice session on Friday.
However, Ricciardo experienced a crash in FP1, and he will surely be mindful of avoiding further calamity. Yet he's still a contender to take seriously after winning the Chinese Grand Prix back in April.
Hamilton is at least wary of Red Bull's threat, per Sky Sports F1:
Either of Red Bull's top drivers has the talent to win in Barcelona, but it's going to be hard to look past Mercedes. Aside from Hamilton's fine display in FP2, Bottas set the fastest time in the first practice on Friday, proving this team still owns the cars to beat.
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