This week marks the return of the Spanish Grand Prix to the Formula One calendar, with Fernando Alonso and Carlos Sainz Jr. competing on their home soil. The upcoming race is scheduled to take place at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, which is located just outside of Barcelona. Notably, the drivers are most used to this track as it is one of the most well-known in Formula 1. For those who are unaware, pre-season testing has been held in Catalonia for quite a few years now. However, there was no track testing for the sport this year. Drivers and teams will thus start the race from the bottom up. At the moment, Red Bull is dominating the 2023 races so far, as the team has won all the events this season. Meanwhile, there is no doubt that the fan-following of the sport has grown very rapidly in India, and if you are one of them, you must be eager to find out what time the Spanish Grand Prix begins.
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F1 Spanish Grand Prix 2023: Official Schedule
Fri, June 02
Spanish GP FP1 - 05:00 pm
Spanish GP FP2 - 08:30 pm
Sat, June 03
Spanish GP FP3 - 4:00 pm
Spanish GP Qualify - 07:30 pm
Sun, June 04
Spanish GP Race - 06:30 pm
F1 Spanish Grand Prix 2023: Where to Watch in India
Several foreign networks are going to broadcast live coverage of the Formula 1 Spanish Grand Prix. Users in countries where F1TV Pro is available may watch the race from a range of camera angles, which include the on-board camera of their favourite driver, an analytical data screen, and a real-time course map.
Similar services are available to SkySports as well. For countries like the United Kingdom and India, online streaming appears to be the only choice after F1 revoked their TV streaming rights in multiple nations. By providing free real-time timing data, the Formula 1 app makes it simple for spectators to stay up to current on the action.
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F1 Spanish Grand Prix 2023: Fernando Alonso Aims for a Win at Home
The last time the Spanish Grand Prix sparked this much excitement was almost ten years ago. The last time Fernando Alonso, Spain's biggest racing star, led the Spanish F1's viewers to such high expectations was in 2013 when the two-time champion was competing for Ferrari. Alonso eventually took first place in that race in Barcelona, but even then, he hasn't been in a serious chance of repeating as champion at home. His last F1 victory came in the local race, and it was the last victory for a Spaniard overall. This weekend, a record number of people are expected at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya to support Alonso and fellow Spaniard Carlos Sainz Jr. Last year, the first few hours after they went on sale, more than 40,000 tickets had been purchased; early this year, additional tickets were made available. For the race on Sunday, more than 100,000 spectators are anticipated.
Aston Martin, one of the season's biggest surprises, has been running close to the front from the outset, and the team's 41-year-old Alonso returns with a fresh outlook. In his first six races, he has been on the podium five times. He recently finished second in Monaco, which is a season-best result. Alonso, who won his F1 championships with Renault in 2005–2006, is aiming for his 33rd series triumph. He had a lacklustre 2014 season with Ferrari after missing out on the title in 2013, and then struggled with McLaren from 2015 through 2018. He took a few seasons off from F1 before making a comeback with Alpine in 2021, the year he finished on the podium for the first time since leaving Ferrari at the Qatar Grand Prix.
Despite his strong start to the season, Alonso, who previously won in Barcelona in 2006, scaled down expectations for the Spanish Grand Prix, pointing out that Red Bull and the defending champion Max Verstappen will still be the heavy favourites. Verstappen is 51 points ahead of Alonso and has a 39-point advantage over teammate Sergio Pérez of Red Bull. Verstappen finished second behind Pérez in the other two of the first six races, winning four of them. He made his debut in 2016 and won his maiden race at the Spanish Grand Prix. Since building its facility at Silverstone, Aston Martin will compete in its maiden race in Barcelona.
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