Renault’s Carlos Sainz believes the combination of a newly resurfaced track and Pirelli’s softer Formula 1 tyres will make Barcelona’s Circuit de Catalunya around two seconds faster in 2018. The Spanish Grand Prix venue was resurfaced ahead of pre-season testing in a move criticised as a “waste of money” by Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton, who said the circuit had “lost its character” as a result.  Although running during the opening week of winter testing was disrupted by unusually cold temperatures and rain, the newly-laid tarmac, combined with Pirelli’s introduction of two new tyre compounds for the 2018 campaign, is expected to result in a significant drop in track lap...
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