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Everything you need to know about the Formula 1 Spanish Grand Prix

Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso will be cheered by a massive home crowd this weekend. (Reuters: Albert Gea)

The Red Bull machine is rolling almost seamlessly through 2023.

Only Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez have tasted victory through six races this season.

But the Spanish crowd will be willing Fernando Alonso to surge to the front and achieve his first Formula 1 victory in a decade.

Here is what you need to know about the Spanish Grand Prix.

Where is the race?

As the name suggests, the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya is in the famous Spanish city of Barcelona.

The track is situated in the north of the city, about 30km from the Plaça de Catalunya which is in the heart of Barcelona.

The city is nestled against the Balearic Sea to the east, and Madrid a seven-hour car ride south-west.

How can I watch the race in Australia?

The only place to watch all the action is via the Fox Sports stable of broadcasting channels.

It will be available on both Foxtel and Kayo Sports.

You can follow lap-by-lap updates on the ABC News website.

What do I need to know about the track?

The Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya has had a change compared to the race last year.

Illustration of the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. (F1)

Since the mid-2000s, there has been a chicane for the drivers to navigate before they head down the straight to complete a lap.

The chicane is no longer being used, with drivers instead going through a fast right-hand turn leading into the straight.

The track is narrow in parts and can prove problematic for overtaking.

Turn 1, at the end of the long straights, and turn 10 at the end of the circuit's other straight are the best overtaking opportunities.

The circuit is a tough challenge for drivers, with a mix of low and high-speed corners. Small mistakes can be punished quickly. 

What happened last year?

Max Verstappen overcame a faulty DRS and a spin to make a three-stop strategy work in Barcelona.

The Dutchman was helped by the car of Ferrari's Charles Leclerc giving out on him while he was leading.

Verstappen spun into the gravel and dropped from second to fourth at one stage, but recovered to take a win that seemed unlikely.

The win allowed Verstappen to take the lead in the drivers' championship, which he would not relinquish.

Fast facts

  • First grand prix — 1991
  • Number of laps — 66
  • Lap distance — 4,657 metres
  • Race distance — 307.236km
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