Barcelona track has lost its character
London : The Barcelona track resurfacing has robbed the Spanish Grand Prix venue of its “character”, according to reigning Formula 1 champion Lewis Hamilton.
Resurfacing works at the Catalunya circuit took place in January at the behest of MotoGP, as riders had complained of dangerously low grip levels on the old track surface that dated back to 2007.
F1 drivers had their first taste of the new asphalt during this week’s first pre-season test, when poor weather prevented the existing outright lap record from being lowered despite the improved track condition.
Mercedes driver Hamilton, who ended with the quickest time of the week, expressed his dismay at the work done over the winter, comparing the new Barcelona surface to a new house that lacks character.
“I’m not quite sure why they do resurface [certain tracks], I think it’s a waste of money in general,” he said.
“The older the surface, the more character there is in a surface.”
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