Grand Prix 2011 European Grand Prix Practice, Qualifying & Race Discussion

Got your breath back yet?

After an exhilarating grand prix which lasted for record time, it seems as if there is renewed optimism that Sebastian Vettel can be caught after a last lap slip in the moist conditions in Canada allowing Jenson Button to take his first win for over a year despite a turbulent race which included crashes with Alonso and team-mate Hamilton, a puncture and a drive through.

However, a candidate for most improved driver since the season started is a certain Michael Schumacher. Ridiculed early on after a poor start, he seems to have found the groove again and if it hadn't have been for the last safety car, he arguably would have gotten his first podium since returning to the sport, indeed he was closing the gap to Vettel and could even have taken the win at one of his favourite circuits. Now that he has overtaken Rosberg in the standings, is it time for him to push on and show that he is worth the 7 world championships to his name?

Another name that has been bandied about the press recently is Lewis Hamilton, after a disappointing race in Monaco, he followed it with a worse showing at one of his most successful circuits. During the race he hit everything that moved, and seemed to take the blame for most if not all of the incidents, whether he deserves the current criticism is another thing entirely. He knows he needs a strong showing in Valencia where he has finished 2nd on every single visit so far to the Spanish circuit.

It is the second home race of the year for Fernando Alonso, but it looks like he is going to need more than home support to beat the Red Bulls here, however an improved showing in Canada was masked by a clumsy incident with Button which punted him out of the grand prix. Felipe Massa had an overall strong race and recovered form an impact in the wall to finish 6th after beating Kobayashi in a drag race to the line.

Williams claimed their first points of the year finally with Barrichello claiming a handful of points while Toro Rosso managed to get both drivers into the points which will go some way into relieving the pressure on the two embattled drivers who will no doubt be looking over his shoulder.

Looking ahead to Valencia, it is easy for people not to get their hopes up about any exciting racing as the European Grand Prix here hasn't been known for frantic racing, particularly as the 2009 race didn't have any overtaking whatsoever, yes, there were 0 overtakes. But with a combination of two long straights and the new dual DRS zones, we should be seeing tons of overtaking into the hairpin, remember Kobayashi's overtake on Alonso late on last year.

No doubt Mark Webber will want to eradicate last years memories where he found that Red Bull literally did give him wings when he flew 360 degrees in the air after tagging Kovalainens lotus at high speed, seeing as this happened in what will probably be a DRS zone this year, I sincerely hope we do not see a repeat, while Webber walked away unharmed, it is never nice to see that happen in any kind of motorsport.

For Galahads superb circuit write up, see here http://cliptheapex.com/pages/valencia-street-circuit/
 
Jarno Truli to win on one stop and massive train of drivers behind him!

maybe not

I believe he achieved that in his one and only win in Monaco! :snigger:

(no really that was a great drive by him back then, but I just find it funny how the only race he won is Monaco, and because he is the Trulli train, we can easily say that he won because of his train skills :D)
 
Considering the EBD ban is coming in at Silverstone, it will be interesting to see whether any teams decide to make the change now to get a one race head start on the others.

Probably not though, as it will put them at too much of a disadvantage over the weekend.
 
I need some feel good factor, so that said hoping, praying, doing whatever it takes for a good solid Ferrari display this weekend,.....sadly miracles are easier to come by.
 
Ok after looking at the DRS and tyre information for this one and went away and had a little think. This is going to be a style of race like Monoco and therefore if your a Schumi or a Rosberg or a Petrov or a Kobi you could pull off a dupe on the rest of the field here.

If I was one of these guys I'd spend my time in Free Practice setting up my car and figuiring out how to be the quickest through that section just before turn 8 (i.e The DRS detection point). Forget the rest of the track because as far as I can see with Valencia without the DRS there is no way past another car as long as they're aware of whats going on.

In the race go for a one stop and get that age old fave, track position, making sure you continue to ace it through the DRS detection point making sure whoever is behind you can't get it activated. Theoretically you should, like Vettel did in Monoco, be able to hold on even with worn tyres. You'd have the added advantage of the field queing up behind you which is more likely to leave to an accident which at Valencia is only going to result in a safety car - which is only going to play into your hands and might even inable you to have an extra pitstop.
 
Weather forecast:

Formula1.com Everyone Else:
FRI: FOG FRI: SUN
SAT: FOG SAT: SUN
SUN: FOG SUN: SUN (ha ha)

Confused????
 
Very true. Do you think that someone hacked into the formula1 website or something? Everything else says wall-to-wall sunshine
 
It's just a glitch in their application, don't worry about it.

I expect the weather will be the same as usual, hot and sunny.
 
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