The unequal duel at the Spanish GP: Fans convinced: Green Alonso makes red Sainz look old

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In the media, the matter has been clear for days: Alonso, the man of the people from Oviedo, fills the pages, Sainz, the gentleman from Madrid, the side columns. And even more surprising: the young people are a lot more enthusiastic about the two-time world champion than about the son of two-time rally champion Carlos senior.

Roughneck vs mama’s boy

On the one hand, the rise of the scratch talent, accompanied by the GP start in 2002 by the badass manager Flavio Briatore. The highlight was the 2008 crashgate scandal in Singapore, when Piquet junior deliberately drove into the wall to secure Alonso’s yellow-flag victory.

On the other hand, the always-protected child of a superstar. Far away from disagreements and gossip stories. But just one win (Silverstone 2022) in 168 races is not a record for the history books. And all too often he delivered scrap with Ferrari from 2021.

First Verstappen win of 2016

Sainz has just as little chance with the Reds against Leclerc as Pérez with Red Bull-Honda against Verstappen. The Dutchman is aiming for his 40th victory on the circuit – after his first here in Barcelona in 2016, when Rosberg and Hamilton’s twin Mercedes collided right at the start.

But now the last chicane before the start/finish straight has disappeared and the track is 17 meters shorter (new 4,657 km). Max laughs: “After two rounds of training, nobody gets lost anymore!”

Masterminds decide

After 17 years, Red Bull will lose its acclaimed chief engineer Bob Marshall (55) to McLaren from January 2024. Since then, Ferrari and Mercedes have probably slept. Or offered too little.

You don’t just know it since Aston Martin’s prodigious rise last winter – it’s the masterminds in the factories that make the difference.

hp At Alfa-Sauber, CEO Andreas Seidl (47) and Peter Sauber (79) should appear in the paddock on Friday.

Source : Blick