2023 Formula 1 Spanish Grand Prix highlights

Scuderia AlphaTauri’s Yuki Tsunoda drove a strong race from 14th on the grid and had the pace to score points, but a five-second penalty handed down after making contact with Alfa Romeo driver Zhou Guanyu in the first turn left the Japanese driver 12th at the finish, while team-mate Nyck de Vries came home two places behind in 14th.

Nyck de Vries

Obviously, as a team, we wanted more. Although I had a good start, I was in the wrong place at the wrong time and got stuck on the inside, so we lost too many places and then got stuck behind other cars. We tried to undercut, but I was struggling to get past, which cost me a lot of time. Certain moments of the race were good and the last 25 laps on the medium compound were very competitive, so I think we just need to try and put it together better. This weekend has been competitive from the start, so I definitely think we are making progress with the car. Canada will be a different type of track, but I’m confident we can build on our improvements and capitalise on every opportunity.

Yuki Tsunoda

I’m super disappointed and frustrated. I think the penalty I was given for forcing another driver off the track was very harsh but it’s something I have to accept. There was little space, but still, I thought it was enough. On the positive side, the team did a fantastic job to improve the brake issues we’ve been having and to put me in the fight for points the last two race weekends. It shows that the car is improving and the hard work is paying off. The weekend is done now and I’m looking ahead to the next race in Canada.

GUILLAUME DEZOTEUX – Head of Vehicle Performance

Until the very last moments on the grid, we monitored the weather closely as it was raining a few kilometres away. Surprisingly, it never arrived and we ended with a two-stop race, close to our predictions.

“Yuki drove fantastically. He was able to stay with Ocon for most of the race, which is encouraging regarding our race pace. Unfortunately, while defending Zhou in Turn 1, he didn’t leave enough space at the apex and received a five-second penalty for this, ending up P12. Nyck had a strong start, although he lost a couple of positions in the opening laps and ended up in a train of cars for most of the first and second stints. Nyck’s third stint on the medium tyre looked strong and he was able to close on Piastri towards the end of the race finishing P14.

This weekend feels a bit like a missed opportunity, as we believe we had a package strong enough for points and being closer to the midfield in qualifying. Nevertheless, we have learned a lot about our car in a wide range of conditions and this will give us valuable data for the developments coming in the future.

Scuderia AlphaTauri Team best pictures:

BARCELONA, SPAIN – JUNE 03: 14th placed qualifier Nyck de Vries of Netherlands and Scuderia AlphaTauri talks to the media in the Paddock during qualifying ahead of the 2023 Formula 1 Spanish Grand Prix at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya on June 03, 2023 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Peter Fox/Getty Images)

MONTMELO, SPAIN – JUNE 03: Yuki Tsunoda of Scuderia AlphaTauri and Japan during qualifying ahead of the 2023 Formula 1 Spanish Grand Prix at Circuit de Catalunya on June 03, 2023 in Montmelo, Spain. (Photo by Peter Fox/Getty Images)

MONTMELO, SPAIN – JUNE 04: NBA Basketball players Kaspars Vecvagars of Latvia (l) with Yuki Tsunoda of Scuderia AlphaTauri and Japan and Nyck de Vries of Scuderia AlphaTauri and The Netherlands and Davis Bertans (R) Of Latvia during the 2023 Formula 1 Spanish Grand Prix at Circuit de Catalunya on June 04, 2023 in Montmelo, Spain. (Photo by Peter Fox/Getty Images)

BARCELONA, SPAIN – JUNE 04: Yuki Tsunoda of Japan and Scuderia AlphaTauri prepares to drive on the grid during the 2023 Formula 1 Spanish Grand Prix at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya on June 04, 2023 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Peter Fox/Getty Images)

BARCELONA, SPAIN – JUNE 04: Trent Alexander-Arnold pose for a photo with the car of Yuki Tsunoda of Japan and Scuderia AlphaTauri on the grid prior to the 2023 Formula 1 Spanish Grand Prix at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya on June 04, 2023 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Peter Fox/Getty Images)

BARCELONA, SPAIN – JUNE 04: Nyck de Vries of Netherlands driving the (21) Scuderia AlphaTauri AT04 prepares to drive on the grid prior to the 2023 Formula 1 Spanish Grand Prix at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya on June 04, 2023 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Peter Fox/Getty Images)

1. Previous
2. 1
3. 2
4. 3
5. 4
6. 5
7. 6
8. 7
9. 8
10. 9
11. 10
12. 11
13. Next