F1 returns to its spiritual home of Europe this weekend, with the now traditional opener of this phase of the season at the Circuit de Catalunya in Spain.
Form guide
Fernando Alonso took his second win on home soil last year meaning he and Kimi Raikkonen (two) are the only multiple winners currently on the grid. Both though are a long way behind six-time victor Michael Schumacher in the overall victory tallies. Of the other current F1 drivers, Jenson Button, Felipe Massa, Sebastian Vettel and Pastor Maldonado have all stood atop the podium in Spain.
2013 result: 1. Fernando Alonso (Ferrari); 2. Kimi Raikkonen (Lotus); 3. Felipe Massa (Ferrari); 4. Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull); 5. Mark Webber (Red Bull); 6. Nico Rosberg (Mercedes); 7. Paul Di Resta (Force India); 8. Jenson Button (McLaren); 9. Sergio Perez (McLaren); 10. Daniel Ricciardo (Toro Rosso).
Last five winners in Spain: 2013: Fernando Alonso (Ferrari); 2012: Pastor Maldonado (Williams); 2011: Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull); 2010: Mark Webber (Red Bull); 2009: Jenson Button (Brawn).
Tyre allocation
For the second time this season, after Malaysia, Pirelli are bringing the hardest two tyres in their range to the Spanish GP. The orange-marked hard tyre will serve as the weekend's 'prime' rubber and the white-marked medium the 'option' choice.
'The Montmelo circuit is well known for putting high-energy loads through the tyres, while ambient temperatures can also be notable at the Spanish Grand Prix,' Pirelli explained. 'Tarmac roughness is quite high, and the tyres on the left-hand side are particularly stressed.'
Sky Bet odds
After the first victory hat-trick of his F1 career, Lewis Hamilton unsurprisingly remains the overwhelming favourite to make it four in a row at Barcelona. Sky Bet are offering odds of 4/7 that the Briton does so, with his Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg more enticingly priced at 9/4 to end Hamilton's winning run.
Fernando Alonso is 14/1 third favourite to win on home soil again, but Red Bull at priced shorter than Ferrari (9/1 v 12/1) to become the first non-Mercedes victors of 2014.
Check out the full range of Spanish GP odds here.
