Barcelona speedtrap: Who is the fastest of them all?

A glance at the speedtrap numbers from qualifying always reveal a few interesting facts.

Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel clocked in at 326.5 km/h which is hardly surprising given his P2 resulot in the session.

But one will note the relative deficit conceded by Mercedes to the Scuderia with both Hamilton and Bottas lingering in the middle section of top speeds sheet.

Perhaps the most noteworthy piece of data is the whopping 16 km/h which separates Fernando Alonso's Honda powered McLaren to Vettel's Ferrari.

The gap in itself is hardly a surprise, but put in the context of the Spanish drivers' seventh place qualifying position, it's a sure indication of the efficiency of both car and driver.

With adequate power, the McLaren MCL32 would be running with the best. At least with Fernando behind the wheel...

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.