2009 European Grand Prix

[prisonermonkeys]

After one month off (great song by Bloc Party, by the way) for the summer break, the second half of the season kicks off with a return to Valencia for Round Eleven of the 2009 FIA Formula One World Championship:

Telefónica Grand Prix of Europe
from the Valencia Street Circuit

One Lap of Valencia with Fernando Alonso

Lap Record - 1:38.708
(Felipe Massa, Scuderia Ferrari, 2008)

2008 Results
1st - Felipe Massa (Scuderia Ferrari)
2nd - Lewis Hamilton (McLaren-Mercedes)
3rd - Robert Kubica (BMW-Sauber)

2009 Standings After Ten Races:
Jenson Button (Brawn-Mercedes) - 70 points
Mark Webber (Red Bull-Renault) - 51.5 points
Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull-Renault) - 47 points
Rubens Barrichello (Brawn-Mercedes) - 44 points
Nico Rosberg (Williams-Toyota) - 25.5 points
Jarno Trulli (Toyota Racing) - 22.5 points
Felipe Massa (Scuderia Ferrari) - 22 points
Lewis Hamilton (McLaren-Mercedes) - 19 points
Kimi Raikkonen (Scuderia Ferrari) - 18 points
Timo Glock (Williams-Toyota) - 16 points

Between Schumacher's replacement of Felipe Massa and then subsequent withdrawal, the FIA lifting Renault's one-race suspension and the sudden return to form of Ferrari and McLaren, it's easy to forget that there's a championship battle to be waged. At the current rate, Mark Webber needs to take just three points off Jenson Button in order to take the lead in the drivers' standings. It's clear that Brawn's upgrades have not worked as planned, so will they continue with them or go back to their Australia setup in the hopes of having something that works? Either way, it's a gamble; with the midfield so close now, mistakes can and will be costly. In order to secure the championship, Button needs to score five second places and two fifths in the event that Webber wins every race from hereon in. But if the resurgence of Ferrari and McLaren is genuine, it means that the top four places could be taken by the scarlet and silver cars; in turn, Button and Webber will be scrapping over fifth place.

Ironically, the much-derided Valencia circuit is going to have its moment. Whereas everyone sorted themselves out in terms of speed before the first corner last year, the closeness of the field, the intensity of the championship battle and the sudden shuffling about of the racing order means that Valencia might just have the chance to produce one of the most exciting races of the season.​

 

[Peter]

You should start embedding videos, makes it easier to watch than to open up a new page just for the video.

Look out for the KERS cars this weekend. The KERS will be a lot of assistance coming out of those slow corners. I'm looking forward to 2 newbies in 1 race.

 

[LSX]

Other information pertaining to Valencia Street Circuit.

Valencia top speed– 306Kmh/190Mph

Lap Length – 5.44KM/3.38MI

Longest flat out section – 930M/0.57MI

% of lap spent at full throttle – 59%

The drivers will make 74 gear changes per lap, the second highest on the F1 schedule.

Valencia is also a high downforce track, producing medium tire and brake wear as compared with the other circuits on the schedule.

Data provided by BMW 2008, though not exactly in their words. Data on tire wear may differ this year due to the use of slick tires, as well as different rubber compounds.

 

[zed300]

Other information pertaining to Valencia Street Circuit.

Valencia top speed– 306Kmh/190Mph

Lap Length – 5.44KM/3.38MI

Longest flat out section – 930M/0.57MI

% of lap spent at full throttle – 59%

The drivers will make 74 gear changes per lap, the second highest on the F1 schedule.

Valencia is also a high downforce track, producing medium tire and brake wear as compared with the other circuits on the schedule.

Data provided by BMW 2008, though not exactly in their words. Data on tire wear may differ this year due to the use of slick tires, as well as different rubber compounds.

With these facts, without saying the obvious, a balanced, tyre saving car will be on the top of the time sheets. Being at the top will be paramount as passing is possibly the hardest here, than all but one -Monaco. BrawnGP have proved that they are the team that are the best at this, but Red Bull ,Ferrari, McLaren and Toyota to a lessor extent have been equal and better on certain tracks.

It looked like the changing of the guard had eventuated in the last 2-3 GP. Brawn need to reinstate their the best if they are to win both drivers and manufacturers championships this weekend. Another dominant performance from RedBull over BGP, could set the scene for the rest of the season.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

PJ-FFL, if it's really that big a deal that I don't embed videos, I think you have bigger problems that you need to resolve. Like I've said before: I don't know how, and I honestly don't care how to go about doing it.

Also, I don't think there has been one instance of drivers using KERS out of corners. They either use it to defend or on the straights for extra speed.

BrawnGP have proved that they are the team that are the best at this, but Red Bull ,Ferrari, McLaren and Toyota to a lessor extent have been equal and better on certain tracks.

Yes, but their last few showings have resulted in poor tyre degradation, and Silverstone, the Nurburging and the Hungaroring are a pretty wide spread in terms of circuit characteristics. After all, the Hungaroring is closer to Monaco than any other circuit, and while Button and Brawn demolished the competition in the Principality, they were nowhere in Eastern Europe.

 

[Cap'n Jack]

Apart from the first lap, I can't even remember last years European Grand Prix. Hopefully it produces an exciting race this year, we deserve it after waiting patiently for 4 weeks!

My predictions:

1. Hamilton
2. Raikkönen
3. Webber
4. Button
5. Vettel
6. Rosberg
7. Barrichello
8. Glock
9. Badoer
10. Trulli

Don't even ask me my reasoning with this list, I'm just giving it a wild guess.

 

[zed300]

Yes, but their last few showings have resulted in poor tyre degradation, and Silverstone, the Nurburging and the Hungaroring are a pretty wide spread in terms of circuit characteristics. After all, the Hungaroring is closer to Monaco than any other circuit, and while Button and Brawn demolished the competition in the Principality, they were nowhere in Eastern Europe.

Hungaroring is only similar in downforce levels -high. Track temp and surface were not the same ,nor were the level of competeitors. The upgrades BGP have used, did not improve the car as much as the other teams have managed.

The field is so tight now, well last couple of races anyway, that 6 tenths is enough to put you out of the top 8 on the grid. Only good tyre management can get you points then, oh and a bit of luck never goes a stray

 

[prisonermonkeys]

Hungaroring is only similar in downforce levels -high. Track temp and surface were not the same ,nor were the level of competeitors. The upgrades BGP have used, did not improve the car as much as the other teams have managed.

Well, maybe ... but the thing is that Hungary was warmer than both Germany and Britain, and was being touted as a circuit where Brawn would return to form. While not as warm as Monaco and Bahrain, they still struggled almost as much as they had in the previous two rounds. I'm justwondering if it's not worth stripping all the developments off and running a similar package to Turkey. After all, they developed them for Britain, and that was where they troubles began. They should run the older package, and while it may not be as compratively good as it once was, it might offer a better result.

 

[Ardius]

With these facts, without saying the obvious, a balanced, tyre saving car will be on the top of the time sheets. Being at the top will be paramount as passing is possibly the hardest here, than all but one -Monaco. BrawnGP have proved that they are the team that are the best at this, but Red Bull ,Ferrari, McLaren and Toyota to a lessor extent have been equal and better on certain tracks.

I disagree that Monaco is harder to pass than here....I don't recall a single overtake last year at Valencia, but I recall many at Monaco - there are at least 1 or 2 passing places in Monaco if you are close enough, here there isn't any.

Wonder if Nakajima will take out Alonso again for some epic lulz.

Oh and go Luca Badoer!!

I hope to not see this:

and hopefully see this:

 

[prisonermonkeys]

I disagree that Monaco is harder to pass than here....I don't recall a single overtake last year at Valencia, but I recall many at Monaco - there are at least 1 or 2 passing places in Monaco if you are close enough, here there isn't any.

I think Valencia deserves another shot. Sometimes you just have a bad race. ast year, everyone sorted themselves out in terms of speed by the first corner, and after that, there wasn't much to it. But now the entire field is closer than it has been in decades, and the 2009 regulations have changed things. With so many cars now at the front end of the grid, this race could really show Valencia's worth.

 

[Ardius]

True, but the nature of the track doesn't lend itself to many overtaking opportunities - lots of stop and go tight corners with little room to jump down the inside. Even the "straights" where you could possibly slipstream are too narrow and curved.
Almost all the places where a driver would think he could jump down the inside, either the barriers on the inside block his attack, the corner is too tight to allow him to pass or he can't get enough speed from the previous corner.

 

[PeterJB]

Doesn't Vettel hold the Lap Record? Set it in Qualifying last year.

 

[Ardius]

Yes, unofficially, seeing as the lap records are based on race times, not qualy. So officially Massa holds the record.

 

[daan]

Doesn't Vettel hold the Lap Record? Set it in Qualifying last year.

Lap records must be set during a race. Times done at any other times do not count towards track records.

 

[GilesGuthrie]

Hopefully TV will have come up with some different camera angles for this year, because I thought that the coverage of last year's race was awful.

I think that the McLarens will show strong race pace, especially with KERS down the back stretch.

Now we're into the "put up or shut up" phase of the season, where you expect the development-led teams to really shine. This for me is Brawn's last chance, because if they have not made up at least three quarters of the gap to Red Bull, then they're going to have cars between them that are exacerbating the points loss. I think that McLaren are only going to get stronger, so it's up to Brawn & Red Bull to concentrate on their own championship chase. Whichever team can beat McLaren and their prime opponents will take the spoils at the end of the year, and currently that's really looking more like Red Bull than Brawn.

Don't forget that this unit of people accidentally designed a really fast car without really knowing why once before.

 

[yeti]

Does anybody reckon McLaren have a slim chance to win the title - if Lewis nails every race from here on in?

C.

 

[Cap'n Jack]

Does anybody reckon McLaren have a slim chance to win the title - if Lewis nails every race from here on in?

C.

Not at all. For that to happen, Button, Webber and Vettel would have to fail to finish the next 7 races.

 

[Ardius]

Does anybody reckon McLaren have a slim chance to win the title - if Lewis nails every race from here on in?

C.

Nope, not going to happen. Lets not get over our heads here, McLaren have improved, but they are not so far ahead of their rivals that they have those kinds of chances. Ferrari, Brawn, Red Bull even Williams and Toyota all have decent chances as well to take podiums and wins.
I'm sure we will see Hamilton win more races this year, but not the championship, what we have learned this year is that no team is consistently the top team at every race - teams are bringing developments to their car every race and its changing the grid all the time. Next race McLaren may fall back again among developments from Ferrari or Brawn. Hell, if Force India manage to pull in a few tenths, they could challenge for some strong points.

 

[Blake]

Also, I don't think there has been one instance of drivers using KERS out of corners. They either use it to defend or on the straights for extra speed.

Just a note, they always use it out of corners. That is how you get the extra speed on the straight.

There's no use pushing the putting when you're already going 280kph, the drag means a boost of power is almost useless. Even if it could boost your top speed significantly that's useless because you're only going faster for 50m before you brake. Use the boost as soon as you can and you'll carry the extra speed all the way down the straight.

 

[Famine]

There's no use pushing the putting when you're already going 280kph, the drag means a boost of power is almost useless.

Indeed.

If you need 850hp to push to 280km/h, 930hp will only get you to 288km/h.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

Just a note, they always use it out of corners. That is how you get the extra speed on the straight.

I meant they're not going to use it coming out of corners when there's only a short straight before the next bend. Like across the bridge. It'd be pointless to use it there, because by the time you've pressed it, you already have to be on the anchors to take the next corner.

 

[livemusic]

I won't be able to watch this one live, maybe I'll watch it online later. But it's ok, I wasn't very excited about it after Schumacher gave up coming back.

 

[L_Hamilton]

You should start embedding videos, makes it easier to watch than to open up a new page just for the video.

Look out for the KERS cars this weekend. The KERS will be a lot of assistance coming out of those slow corners. I'm looking forward to 2 newbies in 1 race.

I'm sorry but I didn't see any KERS ownage in Monaco. KERS won't be a big deal. It will just make it harder to set people up.

O and if you DO embed a video, make sure it's a good quality one. Not one with the audio of sync.


*palm lifting up to face*

 

[prisonermonkeys]

By the way, Luca isn't a newbie. Stop calling drivers that. Especially if they been in F1 longer than you have been alive.

I think he means Alguersuari and Grosjean. He might have one race under his belt, but Alguersuari is still a newcomer.

 

[L_Hamilton]

Ahh. Thanks for correcting me. ^.^👍

 

[yeti]

Luca isn't a newbie - but he's definitely a Noob!!!

C.

 

[Ardius]

Luca isn't a newbie - but he's definitely a Noob!!!

C.

Aren't those one and the same?

Badoer has an impressive amount of testing miles under his belt and has now driven the F60 for "promotional purposes" around Fiorano. He also has Schumacher advising him. If he could do everything possible to make up for his lack of recent motorsport experience - he has.

 

[Ian Poole]

I meant they're not going to use it coming out of corners when there's only a short straight before the next bend. Like across the bridge. It'd be pointless to use it there, because by the time you've pressed it, you already have to be on the anchors to take the next corner.

Would YOU not agree THOUGH that they could use it in the really fast section out of the hairpin at the bottom of the track to the last corner?

 

[prisonermonkeys]

Would u not agree tho that they could use it in the really fast section out of the hairpin at the bottom of the track to the last corner?

Did you even read my post? I clearly said the drivers aren't going to use it in places where the corners are close together because it would be a waste; by the time they've pressed the button, they'll have to dip the brakes again. How about you maybe put a little thought into what you're posting before you actually post it?

 

[ROAD_DOGG33J]

Would u not agree tho that they could use it in the really fast section out of the hairpin at the bottom of the track to the last corner?

They would have to use it a bit past the hairpin.