2017 Spanish GP Pre-Race Stats

Just a few more days until the first proper European race of the season, the Spanish GP. Last season the race result was completely unexpected, Mercedes both out on the first lap and then Max Verstappen wins the race at just 18 years old.

An incredible 23 of the 26 (88.46%) previous races at Catalunya have been won from the front row of the grid, only Baku and COTA have more (both 100% from the front row), but as Baku has only been used once and COTA five times it’s not particularly comparable.

Each lap of the Spanish GP at Catalunya is 4.655km long with 16 corners, after 66 laps the total race distance is 307.230km. The race this weekend will be the 27^th race at Catalunya but the 47^th Spanish GP, having previously taken place at Jerez, Jarama, Montjuic and Pedralbes.

17 drivers have previously won in Catalunya, 28 drivers having won the Spanish GP over all five different host circuits. Of the 17 winners in Catalunya Michael Schumacher is the most successful with six wins to his name while Ferrari have the most wins as a team with eight.

So far throughout the 2017 season only the Chinese GP has been won from pole position, but as Catalunya has an above average win from pole percentage (17 races, 65.38%) it is fairly likely to increase. If either Bottas or Raikkonen take pole this weekend it will be the 50^th pole for a Finn in F1, or if either Hamilton or Palmer take pole it will be the 250^th British pole.

The Silly Stats

A bull could run a lap of Catalunya in 8:43.688, not the fastest pace, but it could probably do more laps than anything powered by Honda.

If the track were 5cm deep in water it could fill 12,700,000 cans, enough to tower up to a height of 1463km, almost the length that the Proclaimers would walk.