European Grand Prix 2010, Valencia Street Circuit - Race 9/19

[Glaucus]

TV times:
Valencia, 25-27 June

Friday 25 June
Practice one: 0855-1035, BBC Red Button/online
Practice two: 1255-1435, BBC Red Button/online

Saturday 26 June
Practice three: 0955-1105, BBC Red Button/online
Qualifying: 1210-1420, BBC One/online and BBC Radio 5 live sport extra/online

Sunday 27 June
Race: 1210-1515, BBC One/online and BBC Radio 5 live/online


Standings:

Track:

Red Bull Racing's Mark Webber takes us on a lap of the Formula One street circuit in Valencia, scene of the upcoming European Grand Prix.

Track Diagram

Circuit information
Length: 5.44km
Race distance: 57 laps / 310.08km

Full throttle: 59%
Top speed: 306kph
Longest flat-out section: 13s / 930m
Right/left-hand corner: 13/12

Tyre wear: medium
Brake wear: medium
Downforce level: high
Gearshifts per lap: 74

Strategy

2010 tyre compounds: medium and super-soft
2009 tyre compounds: soft and super-soft
2008 tyre compounds: soft and super-soft

Fuel use per lap: 2.536kg
Pit lane time loss: 12.7s (source: Williams)


Europe preview quotes - Lotus, Force India, Williams, HRT & more
After the streets of Montreal’s Ile Notre Dame, Formula One racing heads to the streets of Valencia. But in place of the Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve’s high-speed, low-downforce layout, come the Spanish track’s demanding twists and turns. There are a total of 25 corners (11 left and 14 right), which test the drivers to the maximum. They and senior team personnel look ahead to the forthcoming European Grand Prix…


Europe - Team Preview
Bridgestone
Cosworth

McLaren
Sauber
Mercedes
Ferrari Not uploaded yet
Red Bull Not uploaded yet
Williams
Renault Not uploaded yet
Force India
Toro Rosso Not uploaded yet
Lotus Not uploaded yet
HRT
Virgin Not uploaded yet


Classic F1
No classic f1 this week



Technical Changes - Canada Grand Prix

Weather Forecast

After rather dull races for the past two years, I'm sure many fans would crave for a spell of wet running to enliven the spectacle at Valencia's street circuit.

However, dry or mostly dry conditions are expected across each day for this year's event, with a generally low (<20%) chance of showers during the periods of track action. This potential for showers broadly increases towards Sunday with destabilization expanding eastwards into Mediterranean coastal districts, as a thermal low develops across inland Spain. It'll start to deliver some hefty showers and thunderstorms inland as the weekend progresses, but the precipitation signal from various model ensembles remains low for Valencia itself.

Some very warm / hot conditions will greet the teams each day as temperatures readily climb to the high 20's C; track temperatures doubtless up into 40'sC+. Winds will remain mostly light during the morning, but with moderate afternoon sea breezes developing.

In turn, these sea breezes are very likely to offer a convergence zone 'strip' inland where the towering cumulus clouds will tend to grow and offer an increased shower potential by evening. It's not impossible that some evening and overnight showers or thunderstorms could appear over Valencia, albeit a low point probability. Notably, the UK Met Office's MOGREPS-15 ensemble modelling offers around a 40% chance of precipitation at some stage across Valencia and environs during the weekend. All the NWP products agree on a shower potential further inland, especially later into the weekend; nonethless the likelihood of coastal showers during the day is small.



News

• Tyre problems 'unlikely' in Valencia
  Bridgestone is not expecting teams to face the same acute tyre challenges that they struggled with in Canada when Formula 1 reconvenes in Valencia next weekend.
• McLaren's success could be key - Martin Whitmarsh
  McLaren's past success could give them the edge in this year's championship, team boss Martin Whitmarsh has said.
• Hamilton and Button to drive Prost’s McLaren
  Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button will drive a McLaren-TAG MP4-2C of the same type Alain Prost used to win the 1986 world championship next month.
• Button: McLaren move fully vindicated
  Jenson Button says his and McLaren’s impressive start to the 2010 campaign has vindicated his decision to move to the Woking-based squad.
• Hamilton ‘taking nothing for granted’
  Lewis Hamilton believes Formula 1 is more competitive than ever before this season, and says he is all too aware of how difficult it will be to stay at the top of the championship table.
• Alonso gets first Fiorano F1 run
  Fernando Alonso drove a Formula 1 car at Ferrari's legendary test track Fiorano for the first time on Friday.
• Ferrari bringing new exhausts to Valencia
  Ferrari will debut a new exhaust configuration in the European Grand Prix this weekend.
  It is likely the layout is influenced by Red Bull’s exhaust-driven diffuser configuration, which is credited with helping the RB6 achieve high levels of downforce.
• Ferrari hires McLaren man Pat Fry
  Ferrari has announced that it has signed former McLaren designer Pat Fry as its new assistant technical director.
• Team hits back at Schumi critics
  Mercedes GP's Nick Fry says he is puzzled by criticism of Michael Schumacher's performance in the Canadian Grand Prix and thinks the seven-time champion was simply unlucky.
• Brawn: Don't count Mercedes out yet
  Mercedes team boss Ross Brawn remains convinced that it is not too late for his squad to get back into the 2010 title fight.
• Liuzzi vows to maintain Canada form
  Tonio Liuzzi has promised that his sparkling form in Canada was not a one-off and has set the tone for a spectacular second half of his 2010 season
• Di Resta back on board for Valencia
  Rising Scottish star Paul di Resta is to return to the Force India line-up for Friday practice in Valencia this weekend.
• Renault keen to make up for Canada
  Robert Kubica is confident that Renault will make up for its slightly disappointing Canadian Grand Prix showing in Valencia this weekend.
• Petrov urged to qualify ahead of trouble
  Renault says it is important for Vitaly Petrov to improve his qualifying form so he can stay out of trouble in races and show his potential properly.
• Williams sets sights on top ten return
  Williams says its goal for this weekend's European Grand Prix in Valencia is to re-establish itself as a top ten force, and that Q3 starts and points will be a satisfactory outcome.
• Sauber eyes Valencia turnaround
  Sauber believes changes being introduced for Valencia next weekend could mark an important turning point in its troubled season.
• Special logo for Lotus’s 500th race
  Lotus will race with special logos on their car marking the team’s 500th Grand Prix start this weekend.
  Clive Chapman, son of team founder Colin, will be present at the European Grand Prix as part of the celebrations.
• Branson aims for £17m cash windfall for top-10 finish
  Virgin Racing owner Sir Richard Branson has set his sights on a top-10 finish - worth £17m - for his team in the 2010 world championship.
• Chandhok denies seat is in jeopardy
  Karun Chandhok has dismissed rumours that his drive with Hispania is in jeopardy.

The track and TV coverage starts

Technical changes Europe


Europe preview quotes - Virgin, Lotus, Force India, Williams & more
After the streets of Montreal’s Ile Notre Dame, Formula One racing heads to the streets of Valencia. But in place of the Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve’s high-speed, low-downforce layout, come the Spanish track’s demanding twists and turns. There are a total of 25 corners (11 left and 14 right), which test the drivers to the maximum. They and senior team personnel look ahead to the forthcoming European Grand Prix…

FIA Thursday press conference - Europe
Drivers: Jaime Alguersuari (Toro Rosso), Fernando Alonso (Ferrari), Pedro de la Rosa (BMW Sauber), Vitantonio Liuzzi (Force India) and Vitaly Petrov (Renault).

Practice 1

Highlights - European GP first practice
Nico Rosberg sets the pace in first practice for the European Grand Prix in Valencia ahead of the McLaren's of Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button.

Iplayer -
Formula 1 - 2010 - The European Grand Prix - Practice One
Live coverage of the first practice session from the European Grand Prix in Valencia as the McLaren- Mercedes and Red Bull-Renault teams battle it out for the top spot.

Practice One - Rosberg and Mercedes in front
Nico Rosberg pipped the two McLarens for the fastest time in Valencia on Friday morning, stopping the clocks for Mercedes GP with 1m 41.175s. That was 0.164s faster than Lewis Hamilton’s 1m 41.339s, and 0.208s better than Jenson Button’s 1m 41.383s.

Practice 2

Iplayer -
Formula 1 - 2010 - The European Grand Prix - Practice Two
Live coverage of the second practice session from the European Grand Prix in Valencia. Things are getting tense as the top three drivers battle it out for the top spot.

Practice Two - Alonso pips Vettel in Valencia
Fernando Alonso made best use of Ferrari’s new aero package to set the fastest lap in the second practice session in Valencia on Friday afternoon. The local hero’s 1m 39.283s best was 0.056s faster than Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel who recorded 1m 39.339s, and 0.144s ahead of the German’s team mate Mark Webber on 1m 39.427s.


Practice 3

Qaulifying

Race

Standings

 

[Flibster]

500th Grand Prix!

I have my special limited edition t-shirt all ready for this weekend. Hoping that the new chassis for Trulli will help him out and that the team close up a bit more on the other teams.

 

[PinkFloyd]

Liking the weather forecast! That should liven up the very bland piece of road that Valencia is!

Great post as always Acid

 

[Duke]

Yep we're going to need some rain there this weekend

 

[Baboonanza]

Love seeing the 2 GBs at the top of the championship table

Bring on the rain!

 

[Dutch Guy]

Will be interesting to see what team will have the best updates to their cars.

 

[Setroc]

Looks like Ferrari are bringing the big update here. Wouldn't be surprised to see them at the very front.

 

[Guerrilla]

Boo Valencia! Yay forecast rain!

 

[Malt_Vinegar]

I wonder if Mercedes plans to run the BGP 001 at Goodwood have been affected by the recent Button/Brawn scandal?

In the article, they mention that Button will not be driving it... Perhaps he can just bring his own one along

 

[Duke]

In the article, they mention that Button will not be driving it... Perhaps he can just bring his own one along

That would be so funny

 

[gord]

Cheers AcidHell.

Not looking forward as much to this one, going to miss live qualy for the village fête in the sun.

Still, I'll chance on that 20% rain!

 

[Glaucus]

I doubt there will be rain.

It is likely to be in the evening not at race time and even then it is only 30% chance.

Lewis and Button are so lucky getting to drive that car.

I think RBR are stuffed, I think over the next few races Mclaren and Ferrari will over take them on performance. They had to capitalise early which they have not and they still have reliability problems. Especially with Ferrari bringing RBR esq exhausts and other items this weekend and McLarens are due at the next race.

 

[xen_]

I think RBR are stuffed, I think over the next few races Mclaren and Ferrari will over take them on performance. They had to capitalise early which they have not and they still have reliability problems. Especially with Ferrari bring RBR esq exhausts and other items this weekend and McLaren are due at the next race.

Yeah I agree, it's a bit early to discout RBR but it looks like they've missed their big chance this year by wasting so many points that they could have had early on. It will be great for the championship if Ferrari pick things up a bit, and maybe have Renault and Mercedes in for a chance of a podium on some tracks.

 

[Duke]

Mclaren due to run their new exhaust system in Silverstone. So most likely just Ferrari with it this race weekend.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/84685

 

[TaKeN]

Kind of amusing realy, as I clearly remember Christian Horner on the BBC pre-race interview a fair few weeks ago saying how he wasn't concerned at one of the teams (Williams or Renault I believe) copying the RBR exhaust as it was 'one of the areas that gave the least performance'

 

[xen_]

If this exhaust thing makes a big difference then the Ferraris and especially McLarens should have quite a good advantage during qualifying.

 

[Duke]

Yup going to be great finding out how much difference it will make and what other bits RB will bring to try and keep them back.

cs||NuTs not been on for a few weeks, he ok?

 

[Memphis]

Kind of amusing realy, as I clearly remember Christian Horner on the BBC pre-race interview a fair few weeks ago saying how he wasn't concerned at one of the teams (Williams or Renault I believe) copying the RBR exhaust as it was 'one of the areas that gave the least performance'

Well he's hardly about to start praising them for copying their most ingenious design desicions now is he?

cs||NuTs not been on for a few weeks, he ok?

Disappeared around the Turkish Grand Prix didn't he? Just sayin'....

(I jest, I really do )

 

[Glaucus]

Disappeared around the Turkish Grand Prix didn't he? Just sayin'....

(I jest, I really do )

His last post was before the turkish GP, in the turkish thread, saying RBR had given them the week off.

 

[JRS]

His last post was before the turkish GP, in the turkish thread, saying RBR had given them the week off.

Remind me again, how many weeks since the Turkish GP? More than one, you say? Heavens.



May 29th he last posted according to my quick search. We're now 23 days into June at the time of this post. His silence is out of character, but not massively surprising if the Red Bull PR Office Of Spooky Doom™ is on a damage-limitation exercise....