McLaren at the 2012 Formula 1 Spanish Grand Prix

McLaren at the 2012 Formula 1 Spanish Grand Prix

The Circuit de Catalunya near Barcelona, home of the Formula 1 Spanish Grand Prix, is a track that all the teams know intimately and one where track conditions can change significantly throughout the event.

The latest forecast predicts warm conditions for today, but with a slight chance of rain that could possible mar the race.

The top temperature at race time is predicted to be a comfortable 77 degrees F (25 degrees C).

The wind direction is expected to be a southerly, which should remain light. However, as we’ve seen in previous years, changing wind direction is a common occurrence at the Circuit de Catalunya and often catches drivers by surprise.

The track layout, with its high average speed and long corners, is particularly severe on the tires so proper management will be paramount during race time. Pirelli has brought both hard and soft tires to Barcelona, which is the first time this season that this particular combination has been used.

Going into today’s race, Red Bull Racing’s Sebastian Vettel leads the points table with a total of 53 points. Not far behind is McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton on 49 points and Vettel’s Red Bull Racing team mate Mark Webber on 48 points.

Red Bull Racing is also at the top of the constructor's ranks, with 101 points to McLaren's 92. In third is Lotus F1, which commands 57 pounds and is currently ahead of Ferrari (45) and Mercedes (37).

We hope you enjoy today’s 2012 Formula 1 Spanish Grand Prix and remember to tune in on Monday for our full results report.