The Ferrari F1 team is on the ropes after just four races after Mercedes’ early dominance to the 2019 Formula 1 season.
However, it’s in the midfield where the real interest lies ahead of the Spanish Grand Prix set for May 12.
Mercedes has been unbeatable so far this season, but mistakes from Ferrari have also helped the Silver Arrows to a perfect run of four 1-2 finishes.
Sporting the best start to a season by a team in the history of the sport, it is somewhat ironic that Mercedes has achieved this streak without arguably having the best car. In Bahrain and Azerbaijan, Ferrari had the fastest car, especially in the hands of Charles Leclerc, but a mechanical problem in Bahrain, an error from Leclerc in qualifying in Azerbaijan and a multitude of poor tactical calls cost the team.
In Spain, where Ferrari was quickest by far in preseason testing, even a win may not be enough to silence the critics.
The midfield battle so far has been extremely interesting. McLaren, Haas, Racing Point, Alfa Romeo and Toro Rosso have all traded blows across the early stages, with Renault lurking in the background with a car that has strong pace but poor reliability.
Despite their problems, Renault still find themselves right in the middle of the pack. McLaren sits fourth in the constructors' standings behind Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull with 18 points, followed by Racing Point with 17, Alfa Romeo with 13 and Renault with 12. Seventh in Australia for Nico Hulkenberg and an identical result for Daniel Ricciardo in China are Renault's only points scores. Haas sits in eighth place with just eight points.
Spanish Grand Prix
Key stats
Circuit: Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya
Laps: 66
Circuit length: 2.89 miles
Race distance: 190.1 miles
Fastest race lap: 1:18.441 (Daniel Ricciardo, 2018)
2018 pole: 1:16.173 (Lewis Hamilton)
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