Formula One is back in action this weekend, after another three week break, and it is to Spain that we go. The Circuit de Catalunya is a long-used testing track, and teams return to Barcelona with plenty of data to work with. Back in Europe after four flyaway races, the teams should also start bringing lots more updates to their cars.

Event schedule

In the previous four races, we have seen three different winners, with Sebastian Vettel the only double victor so far. Lotus have put up a great challenge and find themselves second in the championship, whilst McLaren are still trying to find their feet and move up the order. The Barcelona track will provide yet more excitement, with new tyres and a fresh start for all.

Support racing for this event includes GP2, GP3 and Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup.

The weather

There's sun and clouds to be had over the Circuit de Catalunya this weekend, with each and every day heralded to be partly cloudy. There is rain on the horizon for Monday, so if that moves forward, we may see the weather play a part come race day.

Circuit map

The Circuit de Catalunya is another track that has had a secondary DRS zone put in, to fall in line with the FIA's desire to boost DRS action as much as possible each weekend. Last year, the only zone was at the safety car line, with activation at the start of the home straight.

This year, the extra zone is sandwiched around turn 9, with activation down the only other straight that the Barcelona track has. This comes just before the second sector begins, with drivers having to slow abruptly for the tricky turn 10.

The circuit

A compact track, the Circuit de Catalunya takes up very little ground space. The one long straight at the top leads drivers towards the first 90 degree turn, which then guides them towards the first of many sweeping corners. The track keeps itself neat and tidy, with just one other straight to speak of as the second sector begins. That leads to the tight turn ten, before the third sector slowly winds its way back to the home straight.

The corners can be difficult and keeping traction through them is key to getting good performance over a lap. Despite some slow corners, a lap isn’t too hard on brakes, and aerodynamic efficiency becomes an important factor. The teams that have done extra hours in the wind tunnel may find they have an edge over the competition.

Tyre compounds

The hard and medium compounds are back in action at the Spanish Grand Prix, but they are not like the ones we have seen before. The hard compound has been altered, to be more like that of 2012. Pirelli have also said they will bring in an experimental compound for the practice sessions, to encourage teams to run more often.

We’d expect the medium tyre to still be significantly faster and this is the one that the teams are likely to qualify on, whereas the hard is likely to be the preferred race tyre. As permitted by the current regulations, we’ll be supplying an extra set of prototype hard compound tyres for free practice, which will hopefully ensure that all the cars run throughout these sessions.

- Paul Hembery

Press conference schedule

Official press conferences are organised by the FIA and happen four times during the weekend. The qualifying and post race press conferences will take place after the television unilateral interviews.

Race stewards

The FIA stewarding process was changed recently to include a former F1 driver to offer added insight. These are the stewards overseeing this weekend's action.