Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer in Barcelona

"Why were the Toro Rossos quicker than the Red Bulls in qualifying? The answer seems to be simply that, at the moment, on this weekend, it is a better car.

"Both Carlos Sainz Jr and Max Verstappen agreed that it was down to the Toro Rosso's strong aerodynamics. 'Every track we have been to we have been one of the fastest in the fast corners, sometimes very close to Mercedes,' Verstappen said.

"'We were always confident this track would be good for us, but this good we did not expect.' Daniil Kvyat, the quicker Red Bull driver for the first time this season, said: 'They are simply faster.'"

Image source, Getty Images

One final reminder of how they are lining up for today's race:

1) Nico Rosberg 2) Lewis Hamilton 3) Sebastian Vettel 4) Valtteri Bottas 5) Carlos Sainz 6) Max Verstappen 7) Kimi Raikkonen 8) Daniil Kvyat 9) Felipe Massa 10) Daniel Ricciardo

11) Romain Grosjean 12) Pastor Maldonado 13) Fernando Alonso 14) Jenson Button 15) Felipe Nasr 16) Marcus Ericsson 17) Nico Hulkenberg 18) Sergio Perez 19) Will Stevens 20) Roberto Merhi

With the pit lane open, the drivers have climbed into their cars and made their way on to the grid. A little under 20 minutes until the Spanish Grand Prix gets under way.

David Coulthard
BBC F1 co-commentator

"This is the proving ground for Formula 1. It has been on the calendar for 25 years, it is where most of the pre-season testing was done and it is an opportunity for people to really see how the teams have developed over those for grands prix."

Image source, Getty Images

One last moment from history before we focus on the present day. Here's BBC Radio 5 live commentator Allan McNish in his Toyota days preparing for the 2002 Spanish Grand Prix, which saw the increasingly familiar sight of Michael Schumacher taking victory.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

We spent a few happy hours discussing F1's greatest liveries on Friday and you can see the upshot of all that in this picture feature.

Rather unforgivably, the stunning Gold Leaf Lotus did not make the article, so it is presented above by way of an apology.

Bonus points available if anyone can name the man at the wheel.

Peter McAree: Typical Vettel undercut to get on to the higher step of the podium.

Mihail Nesterovich: Hamilton, Rosberg, Raikkonen! Lewis will pull another cracking overtake late in the race!

Joanna Harran: Would like Fernando to have a bit of luck for a change. Especially in front of his home crowd.

No chance of rain in Spain for today's race, with forecasts stating it will be staying dry and sunny throughout the day.

Image source, Getty Images

On one of the few occasions the Spanish Grand Prix was not won from pole, Michael Schumacher led for much of the 2000 race but two pit stop errors allowed Mika Hakkinen to eat into his advantage and eventually move into the lead, where he remained to the chequered flag to take his first win of the year.

Image source, Getty Images

F G Donegan: Hamilton first, Vettel second, Bottas third and Manor Marussia will score their first points of the season before McLaren.

Colin Bowett: If they get their strategy spot on, I can see Toro Rosso scraping a podium finish!

Jonathan Dixon: Hamilton will get a better start than Rosberg, lead into turn one and win. Vettel will pass Nico at the 2nd pit stop and keep him behind.

Manor's Will Stevens on Twitter:, external Nice track parade here! Really good atmosphere around and nice to see lots of British flags! #WS28 #SpanishGP

Image source, Will Stevens

Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer

"Strategy-wise, this is expected to be either a two- or three-stop race. Three stops is quicker by about 10 seconds or so but engineers expect the field to be split.

"Although overtaking is difficult here, that is not enough to play a big part in the decision because a car on new tyres will have a lot more grip than one on older ones out of sync on strategy, so should be able to get past relatively easily. One decisive factor, though, is how many new tyres a driver has.

"If one driver has two sets of new mediums - as Lotus drivers Romain Grosjean and Pastor Maldonado do, for example - and another has none - as, for example, is the case at Red Bull and Toro Rosso - that is is an advantage of 15 or 16 seconds."

Image source, Getty Images

If there is a man who knows how to win on the Circuit de Catalunya it is Nigel Mansell, having won the first two races held on this track.

The great man has spoken, tweeting:, external "Race fans I predict a exciting start of the race more so than usual, as its a good drag down the straight to first corner. No contact please.

"Ferrari will also be charging down into Turn 1, may be possible to have one of four drivers at front to lead this race."

Lewis Hamilton says he needs a "rocket start" to deny Nico Rosberg a first win of the season and how the two start the race could ultimately prove race defining.

At 730 metres, the run from the start line to the first corner at Barcelona is one of the longest in Formula 1 and if Hamilton gets past Rosberg, it could be difficult for the latter to get back in front.

The circuit is notoriously difficult to overtake on with, as I've mentioned earlier, eight of the last 10 pole sitters going on to take victory.

Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer in Barcelona

"The stars of qualifying were undoubtedly Toro Rosso, with Carlos Sainz Jr and Max Verstappen fifth and sixth and, even more impressively, half a second faster than both cars from senior team Red Bull.

"Sainz, clearly thrilled to have done so well at his first home race, said it 'felt like a pole position'. The Spaniard has handled the extra pressure of his home race remarkably well.

"'You have a lot more interviews, a lot more photos to take in the paddock, a lot more events and press conferences,' he said, 'but to be honest I did not realise I was in Spain until the Q3 in lap and suddenly I came out of my qualifying bubble and looked around and saw all the crowd cheering and I say, yeah, wow, this must be for me. And I was so happy.'"

Image source, Formula 1

Home favourite Fernando Alonso unsurprisingly got a huge cheer from the local fans in the stands during the drivers' parade, but it could be another young Spaniard who steal the show today.

Carlos Sainz qualified fifth for his first home grand prix, just ahead of team-mate Max Verstappen to complete a brilliant day of qualifying on Saturday for Toro Rosso.

Image source, Getty Images

Mika Hakkinen takes the chequered flag in his McLaren to win the 1998 Spanish Grand Prix. The Finn, who started on pole, won the race ahead of David Coulthard and Michael Schumacher.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

McLaren's Jenson Button has been speaking to the media following the drivers' parade and sounds upbeat.

"We'll do the best we can as a team and there might be some points today - we'll see," says Button. "From we were in winter testing [in Barcelona] … we weren't going round then. So this is a vast improvement."

Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer in Barcelona

"There was another step forward from McLaren this weekend, both cars getting into second qualifying for the first time this season.

"Fernando Alonso, who pipped Jenson Button for the first time this season in what is turning into a very tight qualifying battle between the two former champions, is hopeful of turning his 13th place into the team's first points, saying a top 10 finish was 'very possible' and that he was 'confident'.

"Button was sceptical. 'If you look at the times on Friday, the top 10 were very quick on their long runs,' he said. 'I want what Fernando had for breakfast this morning and maybe I'll be a bit more positive. We do have some gains on the power unit which will be a positive. I am happy with the progress we made this weekend. It's great we can be 13th and 14th. The last race Fernando was in 14th but a few of the cars had problems. Now, this is straightforward. Our pace has stepped forward which is good. Hopefully we can make the best out of what we have and other people won't.'"