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Life Saab Itch
Original Poster
34,079 posts
57 months
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60 odd laps around the docks.
Although this, undoubtedly, will be one of the dullest races this season, it still counts towards the championships...unfortunately.
Anyway, for anyone that's never seen this race before, the pits are based in a fish market.
Mega last sector that should suit McLaren, but not a good circuit for racing. Ij fact I can only remember one genuine pass in the whole of last year's race, which was Button on Rosberg(?).
I suspect that it's the last time F1 will be going here, so maybe there is something to cheer about after all.
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smartypants
17,422 posts
38 months
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Please say it's on Sky so I can just give it a miss and not worry about wasting a "BBC ticket"?
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Some Gump
4,373 posts
55 months
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E30M3SE
6,675 posts
65 months
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^^ 
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Redlake27
1,708 posts
113 months
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I never understand why this race always turns out to be one of the worst of the year.
The circuit is similar to Montreal - which always produces one of the best races.
It has long straights, hard braking areas and close walls which should mean many safety cars. But it is always dull.
I don't get it...
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smartypants
17,422 posts
38 months
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Some Gump said: On BBC as far as I know. Oh well. I'll tune in to the practices at least and see what it has in store. New packages from any teams?
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Some Gump
4,373 posts
55 months
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smartypants said: Oh well. I'll tune in to the practices at least and see what it has in store. New packages from any teams? Yeah. Red bull ahve bought Davind Coultard an even tighter pair of white jeans. There is a rumour that Eddie Jordan will wear a shirt the cat has actually been sick on to remain competitive.
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Altrezia
6,829 posts
80 months
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Redlake27 said: I never understand why this race always turns out to be one of the worst of the year.
The circuit is similar to Montreal - which always produces one of the best races.
It has long straights, hard braking areas and close walls which should mean many safety cars. But it is always dull.
I don't get it... ZERO run-off compared to a 'bit' of runoff, and no flow compared to lots!
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jonnylayze
1,598 posts
95 months
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I'm going to go with an eighth winner in 8 races - just for the hell of it...
I'm going to say Grosjean for the win (so he'll probably crash out on the first lap again)
Alonso
Hamilton
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Otispunkmeyer
2,809 posts
24 months
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Redlake27 said: I never understand why this race always turns out to be one of the worst of the year.
The circuit is similar to Montreal - which always produces one of the best races.
It has long straights, hard braking areas and close walls which should mean many safety cars. But it is always dull.
I don't get it... Its literally a sea of grey for a start... like being sat in a VW. There's no scenery, just concrete.
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Crafty_
4,552 posts
69 months
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I think the problems are its a street circuit - Montreal isn't used very much but the circuit surface is pretty good. Valencia is public roads and I think there is a grip issue, they run quite a bit more downforce here than Montreal.
There is something about the entry to the corners that mean there is only one line, go off that and its very difficult to make a move stick.
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Mini1275
9,417 posts
51 months
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Paul Hembrey's tipped Schumacher to win: http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/100478Autosport said: Michael Schumacher should be considered as a serious candidate to become Formula 1's eighth winner in Valencia this weekend - judging by his performance on the streets of Monaco last month.
That is the view of Pirelli motorsport boss Paul Hembery, who thinks that the tight confines of the European GP venue which puts a premium on grid position should play to the same strengths that helped Schumacher set the fastest time in qualifying in Monte Carlo.
"I think you have to look at someone like, maybe Michael getting the pole position," Hembery told AUTOSPORT.
"He probably would have won Monaco if he hadn't been penalised, so why not there? Michael for Valencia, that's where the money needs to go."
F1 is looking for its eighth different winner of the season in Valencia, and Hembery believes that the nature of the circuit means starting from the front is essential - because overtaking is so hard.
"We know Valencia is a tough track to create an exciting race," he said. "It's hard to overtake and it's got elements of Monaco from that point of view.
"There will be some high temperatures, of course, and we're going there with the soft and medium tyre, so we should have less degradation.
"There will not be the challenge that we had in Canada, with the super soft being pushed to its limit, so that is why track position is going to be fundamental. You've got to really get a good qualifying in Valencia."
Hembery believes teams are getting a better understanding of what they need to do to extract performance from the tyres for that crucial single lap pace - but still reckons they face a challenge in actually achieving their targets
"The teams themselves have got a pretty good idea of what they're aiming for, but it doesn't mean they can obtain what they want," he said. ---- I'm going for: Quali: Alonso Hamilton Grosjean Vettel Rosberg Webber Schumacher Maldonado Button Raikkonen Race: Hamilton Alonso Vettel Grosjean Perez Webber Schumacher Button Rosberg Kobayashi
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davepoth
19,925 posts
68 months
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Crafty_ said: I think the problems are its a street circuit - Montreal isn't used very much but the circuit surface is pretty good. Valencia is public roads and I think there is a grip issue, they run quite a bit more downforce here than Montreal.
There is something about the entry to the corners that mean there is only one line, go off that and its very difficult to make a move stick. Street circuits aren't a problem - Singapore's good, Monaco's Monaco, and the new New Jersey track looks ace. The problem, looking at the map of the circuit, is that all of the fast bits have high speed corners on them.  That means that nobody can get close enough to try for a pass at the slow corners which Tilke put at the end of the "straights". Most of the circuits this year have had a reduced DRS effect; I expect they'll try and wedge more in for Valencia.
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eps
3,384 posts
138 months
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Surely it will be a win for the Ice(cream) man? 
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Bedazzled
4,079 posts
90 months
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Valencia is an appalling, drab, featureless circuit, a complete contrast to decent street circuits like Monaco and Australia. The appeal of Canada is watching the cars attack the kerbs, but they hardly go near them here; likewise the barriers, everything is 1-2m away from the racing line for safety. There are no elevation changes, and ffs it's a street circuit why is the tarmac so smooth? Where are the white lines, bumps, grids, off-camber corners and other hazards? Watching the in-car footage here the track is too open and the driver just isn't busy enough for a street circuit. I'll watch quali as always but I doubt I'll manage to sit through the race this week.
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Sir Bagalot
1,912 posts
50 months
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Life Saab Itch said: I suspect that it's the last time F1 will be going here, so maybe there is something to cheer about after all. I heard that from next year the Spanish GP will alternate between here and Catalunya
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dtrump
1,279 posts
60 months
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Otispunkmeyer said: Its literally a sea of grey for a start... like being sat in a VW. There's no scenery, just concrete. lots of grey
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Eric Mc
67,260 posts
134 months
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It is a dull venue. It lacks charm, charisma and a sense of occasion.
Perhaps the tyres may make this years a bit more interesting - but I'm not letting my expectations get too revved up.
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R500POP
5,923 posts
79 months
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Have to admit, after his qualiy performance in Monaco, I wouldn't bet agaist Schu for a win, assuming 1. He doesn't crash again. 2. He doesn't break down again!!!!
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Cyder
4,773 posts
89 months
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You could stick a HRT on Pole Position wearing Nankang's around Valencia and there still wouldn't be any overtaking. Utter dross of a circuit that is keeping out some far better ones. 
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