Ferrari motivated by extraordinary omen as F1 records to set to be broken - Spanish GP stats and facts

The Spanish Grand Prix returns this weekend as F1's European season properly gets underway.

Charles Leclerc remains in the championship lead despite Max Verstappen winning last time out in Miami.

But ahead of a weekend where teams will be hoping upgrades change their fortunes, GPFans brings you all the stats and facts ahead of the Barcelona event.

Track action better than criticism suggests?

The Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya has received criticism in recent years for the lack of overtaking at the venue.

With the previous generation of F1 cars between 2017 and 2021, the circuit saw an average of just over 22 passes per race, almost on par with the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve [Canada] and higher than the Yas Marina circuit [Abu Dhabi] and the Hungaroring [Hungary] have witnessed in the same period.

Pole the key to victory

Since the track debuted in 1991, 23 of the 31 pole-sitters here have gone on to win the Grand Prix. That's a pole-to-win conversion rate of 74 per cent, the highest amongst circuits on the current calendar.

Of the 31 races at this venue, only three have been won from outside the front row.

Michael Schumacher has the most poles here [seven] and shares the race wins record with Lewis Hamilton [six each].

Mercedes domination to end?

Mercedes has taken pole position at every Spanish GP since 2013.

Since moving to Mercedes in 2013, Hamilton has started every Spanish GP from the front row.

Hamilton has won the last 5 races in Barcelona. Before that, there were 10 different race winners between 2007 and 2016.

The Briton is tied with Ayrton Senna for the all-time record for most consecutive wins at one circuit. Senna won at Monaco for five successive seasons between 1989 and 1993.

Mercedes clash the only blot in the copybook

Mercedes have won 7 of the last 8 Spanish GPs, barring the infamous 2016 race where Hamilton and Nico Rosberg crashed out on the opening lap handing Max Verstappen his maiden triumph in F1.

That was the Dutchman’s first outing with Red Bull and the win also earned him the title of F1’s youngest ever race winner.

The 2016 race was also Hamilton's most recent opening-lap DNF in F1.

F1's usual suspects

Only three drivers have featured repeatedly on the Barcelona podium in the last 4 Spanish GPs - Lewis Hamilton, Valtteri Bottas and Max Verstappen.

Verstappen and Perez hoping to add to Spanish joy

Verstappen has never failed to make it to the top-6 during qualifying at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.

Sergio Perez has scored in 8 of his 11 outings in Barcelona.

Red Bull has stood on the Barcelona podium in each of the last 6 races here.

Red Bull's most recent pole position in Spain came at the 2012 European GP in Valencia but their last pole at Barcelona came courtesy of Mark Webber in 2011.

Home hero's last F1 win

Spain will welcome back two heroes this weekend - Fernando Alonso and Carlos Sainz.

Alonso's opening lap blast when starting from 5th helped secure victory at the 2013 Spanish GP and is the furthest back from which the Spanish GP has been won in Barcelona. It is also Alonso's last race victory in F1 to date.

The two-time champion has recorded points just once in the last 5 Spanish GPs.

Ferrari to capitalise on extraordinary omen?

Ferrari are the most successful constructor here with eight victories and are seeking their first win on Spanish soil in nine years.

If Sainz can claim the top step on Sunday, apart from it being his maiden race win in the sport, he’ll also become the fourth driver to win their home race in the hybrid era after Lewis Hamilton, Nico Rosberg and Max Verstappen.

Charles Leclerc has an unenviable record on home soil, but for Carlos Sainz, it’s quite the opposite. The latter has a 100% points-scoring rate in Spain.

Sainz has had to suffer a few retirements this year but his last 4 race finishes have all produced podiums.

Ferrari have taken pole position at this circuit on 7 occasions, the last of which came in 2008. Each time they’ve done that, they've won the Constructors' title that year.

Ricciardo to break record

Daniel Ricciardo is poised to become the most experienced Australian driver in F1 history, eclipsing Mark Webber's tally of 215 race starts.

A special anniversary for Williams

Williams will celebrate the 10th anniversary of the team's last F1 win this weekend, although a week later than the race was actually held.

Pastor Maldonado sensationally won the 2012 running of the Spanish Grand Prix and the team will hope to end a four-race pointless streak here this weekend. With Sundaram Ramaswami -Twitter/Instagram - @f1statsguru

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