Spanish Grand Prix 2021: What time does the race start, what TV channel is it on and what are the odds?
Three races in six weeks to kick off the season is quite a sedate start by modern F1's standards but now the races come thick and fast. After the Portuguese Grand Prix last week, we have our first double header of the season with this weekend's Spanish Grand Prix.
When is it?
First and second practice run on Friday May 7, with final practice and qualifying on Saturday May 8. The Spanish Grand Prix itself is on Sunday May 9.
What time does it start?
First practice starts 10.30am BST on Friday, with second practice at 2pm. Final practice on Saturday is at 11am and qualifying begins at 2pm. The race begins at 2pm on Sunday.
What are the drivers championship standings after three rounds?
Drivers' top 10:
Constructors':
What TV channel is it on?
Sky Sports F1 have near-exclusive live coverage rights in the UK this year and indeed for the next few with their usual excellent team. Their qualifying coverage begins at 1pm BST on Saturday and their race coverage at 12.30pm on Sunday.
Channel 4 have highlights for this year with their equally excellent team. Their qualifying program starts at 6.30pm BST on Saturday and their race highlights are also at 6.30pm on Sunday.
You can also keep up to date throughout practice, qualifying and the race right here at Telegraph Sport.
What do we know about the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya?
Circuit length: 4.675km
First grand prix: 1991
Laps: 66
Race distance: 308.424km
Race lap record: N/A - Track has been slightly remodelled for 2021, with turn 10 becoming shallower.
2020 winner: Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes
Number of corners: 16
Overtaking chances: Not great, overall. At the end of two DRS zones into tight-ish corners are the best opportunities: at the end of the back straight and the pit straight respectively. That said, with the mega downforce, these cars have the corners are not the big braking zones they once were. Get a good exit from the quick, long right-hander at turn three through and putting one down the inside of turn four isn't impossible, though. The altered turn 10 looks less of a possibility this year, but we could be wrong.
What is our prediction?
Three races so far and three incredibly tight weekends. So tight, in fact, that is is impossible to say who has the better package overall. On reflection, Red Bull looks to have the quickest machine over one-lap but a few mistakes from their drivers have meant that it's 2-1 to Merecedes when it comes to pole positions. Mercedes' weaknesses seem less pronounced in the race, or that certainly was the case in Portugal last time out. But the harder tyres and slightly unusual conditions – very windy and with a very low-grip track – may have had something to do with it.
In Spain the conditions will be more familiar and "normal". Given the nature of the track (it has a bit of everything, a fairly long straight, long and short high-speed corners, long and short low-speed corners and some elevation changes) and how often the teams test here, we should get a good read on how the teams are really shaping up.
Red Bull will hope that they can edge out an advantage again and that they can take advantage of it, again. They did not do that in Bahrain. Second was a decent return in Portugal for Verstappen but you can definitely argue he should have been on pole position. All things considered, Red Bull should edge into this as marginal favourites. But it really is too tight to call and this is a track where Mercedes have bossed it in recent years with Hamilton winning every event here since 2017. If Red Bull can beat Mercedes, it will be a significant moment.
Down the field Alpine will be hoping to build on a much-improved weekend in Portugal and Aston Martin will want to have their first decent race of the year after a very poor start. McLaren and Ferrari look likely to lead the midfield as they have all season but do not count out AlphaTauri, either.
Podium prediction: 1st Verstappen 2nd Hamilton 3rd Pérez
What are the latest odds?
Lewis Hamilton 11/10
Max Verstappen 6/4
Valtteri Bottas 13/2
Sergio Pérez 9/1
Lando Norris 50/1
Charles Leclerc 50/1
Read More: Why Mick Schumacher's Portuguese GP 17th place will feel like a win
