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It’s a track that traditionally favours ; they have 11 wins in the history of the Spanish GP. However, the F2012 car isn’t a traditional Ferrari: still blighted with problems that the likes of Pat Fry and co will hope they are now on top of following testing in Mugello and feedback from the first four races.

However, look to the skies once again to see the Spanish fans hopes of salvation answered; rain is forecast for race day and we all know how well Alonso can perform in the wet. Don’t write off the Ferrari quite yet and remember the man from Oviedo in Spain is just ten points behind championship leader Sebastian Vettel.

Talking of Vettel, what a turnaround the team have made. They have worked tirelessly from the beginning of the season and are just about reaping the rewards with their first pole - and win - of the year in Bahrain. Adrian Newey – chief technical officer at Red Bull - has been pressing on with design changes to the RB8 and he always makes sure the team is never on the back foot for too long.

Teammate Mark Webber has a good track record at the Circuit de Catalunya having won in 2010 and claiming pole for the last two seasons. I wouldn’t put it past the man from Oz for qualifying top of the bunch again this season – so far he is Mr Consistent in 2012 having finished in 4th spot four times. He’s sitting in 3rd place, just five points off the championship lead.

As for McLaren, they must do better. The Woking-based team started the season so well, but I feel they may well perform better being the chaser rather than the chased. Red Bull have pushed their development forward, whereas it seems both Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton have become less pleased with the MP4-27. Balance and set-up just haven’t come together and it looks like the team will be running a new, higher nose in Barcelona. Let’s hope that sees the drivers able to convert consistently good qualifying into a winning race pace, and that they can also sort out the pit stop problems that have been prevalent for the last four races.

Everyone however will be watching very closely. After their 2nd and 3rd in Bahrain, about which both Romain Grosjean and Kimi Raikkonen were still disappointed, they are looking to go one better in Spain and get the win. Tactically the team is strong; they called the last race perfectly and if Kimi had ducked to the other side while trying to pass Vettel the chances are he could have taken the win. Don’t expect the Iceman to make the same mistake twice and if he finds himself in 2nd position this time out, he will get past.

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As for the weather will be key for them again. They have started to sacrifice their qualifying performance in order to improve their race pace but they admit the F1 WO3 is better in hotter weather. So will the sun shine on the Silver Arrow again this weekend? Well, expect them to be in the mix in Qualifying but as for the race – time will tell.

Michael Schumacher left Bahrain having spoken to me in no uncertain terms, complaining about the tyres. He doesn’t like the way they decide a race – the way a driver cannot drive to their full potential but rather has to drive to the potential of the tyres. For the seven-times World Champion to speak out when all the other drivers seem happy is a strong stand to take. With just two points from a possible 100 the German needs a good result in Spain, a circuit he admits does not play fully into the team’s hands. However, he has won this race six times, the last time in 2004, so expect both cars to be in contention.

will be pleased to leave behind the controversy of Bahrain and get their full focus back on the racing. After the fantastic result of Paul di Resta last time out confidence will be high. Everyone was predicting a massive upgrade package for this race from the Silverstone-based outfit, but they have been key to play down the progress they are expecting to make immediately. What is certain is the midfield is closer than ever this season and the likes of and will not want to let Force India have it all their own way.

In fact Sauber are making a real charge to finish above Mercedes in the Constructors Championship. They have a good upgrade to bring to Barcelona with a new aero package that both Kamui Kobayashi and Sergio Perez seem very happy with –the team believe they have made a real step forward; they are only six points behind their German rivals in the standings at the moment.

Lower down the field performance has been patchy. Daniel Ricciardo is still kicking himself from his poor performance in the Bahrain race, especially after his best ever qualifying. He says he is a stronger driver because of the setback and he will need to be this weekend. His teammate Jean Eric Vergne has been struggling to get to grips with the STR7, a very different beast from the GP2 car that he was in last season with which he won the championship. If they can nail the set up this weekend he can prove his potential - after all this is the man who finished 8th in only his second ever F1 race. He’s too young and too talented to be written off at this point in the season.

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seem confident that they have made significant developments. They had a poor result in Bahrain, but now they’ve had a chance to really look at the car and see the impact of developments they have made they’re in a strong position to challenge the °ä²¹³Ù±ð°ù³ó²¹³¾â€™s and increase their lead over the HRT’s.

took the brave decision not to go to Mugello and test. Instead they went back to their new HQ in Spain and took the cars apart for the first time since the start of the season to have a proper look at what they have. It means they come to their home Grand Prix feeling ready to race, possibly for the first time this season. Pedro de la Rosa has had a torrid start to his career with the Spanish team but in front of his home fans in the city where he was born he will do everything he can to put on a show although he has never had great luck at the Circuit de Catalunya.

The have also had bad luck so far this season but Bahrain was a turnaround with Heikki Kovalainen making it into Q2 – a real step forward. They will be hoping for more of the same this time out, but with a DNS and three retirements in the past 4 years the Fin has a lot to do.

So far this season we have had four different winners, from four different teams – will this weekend herald the fifth different driver to win and see one of the constructors take a tangible lead? Vettel, Webber, Button, Raikkonen, Alonso and Schumacher have all won at the track in the past, but Lewis Hamilton is bookies favourite to take the victory.

Let the fun and games begin and of course, get your comments, predictions and observations in to me on or on Twitter