FORMULA ONE have wielded the axe on one of its most iconic corners.
Spanish Grand Prix venue Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya has seen it’s final sector altered so it no longer includes the chicane at turns 14 and 15.
The Spanish Grand Prix will see its iconic chicane axed
Turns 14 and 15 in Sector 3 are being removed
They will be replaced by two high-speed corners
Lewis Hamilton has won the Spanish Grand Prix six times
For the first time since 2006, we'll be going flat-out through the final chicane in Spain this season!
#F1 pic.twitter.com/5m9PICDj7y
— Formula 1 (@F1) February 27, 2023
Instead, the circuit will now end with two high-speed corners, reverting back to the layout used before the chicane’s introduction in 2007.
And the change means former F1 race director Michael Masi, who engineered the controversial ending to Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen‘s title fight in 2021, will get his wish.
Masi pushed for changes to the layout back in 2021, saying at the time: “It’s something that we’ve been looking at for a little while.
“It’s obviously not an overnight change that can be done, and having a look at all of the implications and unintended consequences that may come about.
“Like all of our circuits and different corners and everything, we work together with the teams, the drivers and F1 in ensuring we’ve got the safest venue, but also something that promotes good racing.”
2022 saw changes pushed for even more before they were finally approved by current F1 race director and safety delegate Niels Wittich and the FIA’s head of circuit and rally safety Stuart Robertson.
The new layout will see the circuit length shortened to 4.657km from 4.675km, an 18metre reduction.
TECPRO barriers will be introduced in the new-look corners in a bid to maintain safety.
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Additionally, the run-off at Turn 1 has been extended to accommodate 70m more gravel and a five per cent increase in slope, while a brand new fence has also been introduced.
F1 fans appeared to be happy with the announcement.
One fan said: “Finally.”
A second declared: “Massive W, that last part of the race just didn’t feel right, it was just a bad copy of the Casio triangle from Suzuka (Japan).”
A third commented: “I USED TO PRAY FOR TIMES LIKE THIS.”
While a fourth added: “Lets go, the cars will be rockets now on the straight.”
The F1 season gets underway this weekend with the Bahrain Grand Prix, while Hamilton and Co are due to visit Spain on June 4.
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