European Grand Prix 2011, Valencia Street Circuit - Race 8/19
- Thread starter Glaucus
- Start date
Practice One - Webber quickest for Red Bull in Valencia
Mark Webber struck a blow against the hopes of rivals that the revised engine mapping rules might hurt Red Bull this weekend by setting the fastest time in Friday morning's opening practice session by 0.824s.
Highlights - Mark Webber sets European GP first practice pace
Watch highlights from the first free practice session for the European Grand Prix as Mark Webber sets the pace on the streets of Valencia.
The European Grand Prix - Practice One
Coverage of the first practice session of the European Grand Prix from the Valencia Street Circuit, Spain.
Practice Two - Alonso fights back for Ferrari
Just when it seemed that Red Bull had a sizeable grasp on things on Friday afternoon in Valencia, the times tightened up considerably as drivers switched from Pirelli’s medium prime tyre to the softer option, and that saw the first seven of them covered by just over half a second.
Highlights - European GP second practice
Watch highlights from the second free practice session for the European Grand Prix as Ferrari's Fernando Alonso edges out Lewis Hamilton in a competitive session in Valencia.
The European Grand Prix - Practice Two
Coverage of the second practice session of the European Grand Prix from the Valencia Street Circuit, Spain.
Soldato
Here we go..2 more hours of F1 
Final practice - Vettel moves ahead in Valencia
Sebastian Vettel ended up where his rivals feared he would in Valencia’s final practice session on Saturday morning, almost half a second clear of the field.
I think the difference here though is that those sorts of developments, like we saw with Ferrari trying a new rear wing that was ruled out, are clear cut. The engine maps and other bits are bending the rules and gradually get sneaked in until they become taking the ****. Which is why I think the FIA will nip them in the bud (and is also a cheap thing for them to stop for the teams).
FIA Thursday press conference - Europe
Drivers - Jaime Alguersuari (Toro Rosso), Fernando Alonso (Ferrari), Kamui Kobayashi (Sauber), Vitantonio Liuzzi (HRT), Mark Webber (Red Bull).
Friday practice - selected team and driver quotes
It may have been business as usual on Friday morning in Valencia, with Red Bull’s Mark Webber leading the pack, but by the afternoon session the advantage had shifted to Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso. The drivers and senior team personnel report on the opening day of the European round…
Drivers - Jaime Alguersuari (Toro Rosso), Fernando Alonso (Ferrari), Kamui Kobayashi (Sauber), Vitantonio Liuzzi (HRT), Mark Webber (Red Bull).
Friday practice - selected team and driver quotes
It may have been business as usual on Friday morning in Valencia, with Red Bull’s Mark Webber leading the pack, but by the afternoon session the advantage had shifted to Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso. The drivers and senior team personnel report on the opening day of the European round…
I personally wouldn't have any objections to a reverse grid, first race based on previous years championship and then subsequent races based on the race previous to it. It would certainly sort the racers from the time triallers.
Keep 'qualifying' but instead of grid positions, do it for extra points of some style, possibly even introduce 'closest competitor' shootouts where you can get a couple of points for outpacing your nearest championship points rival or something.
Here we go..2 more hours of F1
And nurburgring 24 hour race at 3pm, although I need to find a German proxy to get a live stream.
And pike peak hill climb tomorrow, but haven't found a live stream for that yet.
coulthard just made a very good point
why is there overtaking when quali puts the fastest car at the front and the slowest at the back.
would a reverse grid be going to far?
This is the point I have been making for years. F1 uses cars designed to go fastest in clean air, and lines them up in speed order on the grid. On paper, there should be absolutely no overtaking in F1 at all.
Soldato
The new regs will probably allow the cars to make more overtakes tomorrow, than they have in 2 years.
I'm loving the new rules/regs. Who needs sprinklers or rain?
I'm also looking to see how Di Riesta does. If manages to out qualify his team-mate again (after missing out on set up time earlier), Ferrari should seriously consider getting him signed up for next year (if Button doesnt move to Ferrari).
Di Riesta can learn a lot of Alonso over the next few years and when Alonso does leave, they could well have one of the best drivers in F1, going from No.2 to No.1, Di Riesta.
Perhaps people are no realising that Di Riesta is new to F1 and is basically making Sutil (who is a very good driver), look ordinary. If Ferrari get him for 2012, they will stand a good chance of mounting a title challenge for both championships.
Unfortunately for Massa, Alonso's arrival has basically finished him off. When Alonso gets penalties, takes extra pit stops or starts from the back of the grid and then cruises up behind Massa - this cannot be good for Massa's mental state.
Soldato
Soldato
Don't forget the assen gp.
How often does a team run a no 1 and no 2 and then have the number 1 leave and behind have a top line driver to take the team forward?
Surely that cannot happen if Di resta was beaten by Alonso he would no longer be considered worthy to take the team forward would he?
They promised Irvine, Rubens and Massa there time would come as a no 1. It never did.
I'd like him to go to Mercedes or somewhere he would get equalish billing to then take him to the next level. No2 whipping boy to Alonso isn't somewhere anyone hoping to progress should go.
I'm really hoping from good things for him, seems a top guy