This race preview will be different than usual. One reason is, 2008 European GP will be held on brand new track in Valencia. The second reason is, I am on sort of working holiday at the moment.

This Valencia track has no F1 history, but that is not the case of European GP. You can the check the European GP minihistory series of posts on this blog to refresh the memories of modern time European GP F1 races.

Track technical info (ING Renault data):

Situated in the marina area of Valencia, this brand new street course promises to be one of the most exciting additions to the Formula 1 calendar in recent years. Hemmed in by concrete walls (hm, I smell safety car here ), the 25-turn circuit combines a mix of high and low-speed sections and is wide enough in places to offer genuine overtaking opportunities. Good straight-line speed and stability under braking are therefore paramount, as is good mechanical grip through the mix of low and medium-speed corners.

Aerodynamics

The track layout means that the teams will run with relatively low levels of downforce, similar to those used in Montreal for the Canadian Grand Prix. This is possible as there are no high-speed corners and good straight-line speed is important down the long back straight. However, it won’t be until free practice begins on Friday that the teams will be able to finalise aero levels, which can depend on the grip offered by the tarmac.

Brakes

The circuit is expected to be particularly demanding on the brakes and on a par with somewhere like Bahrain. There are frequent large stops from over 300kph, such as turns 12 and 17, leading into tight second gear corners which will put high energy through the braking systems. Brake cooling will also need special attention with teams likely to use reasonably large cooling ducts.

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F1Wolf

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Formula 1 summer break is almost over and European GP is around the corner. We have last 7 races to go. If you wonder why I am posting this post earlier than usual, the reason is simple - I am travelling and I have no idea when I will be online again

As I promised 3 weeks ago, here is the extra motivation to play even for those who missed out few rounds or joined later. There will be one more bottle of MUMM to be won at the end of the season. And it will go to a person with the highest average score per round. However to be eligible for this prize you must take part in at least 12 rounds of the game. At the end of the season I will take the best 12 scores of each player and do the average. The highest number gets one MUMM. So keep on playing !

Also, European GP is the race number 12, that makes it the last race of the second third of the season. The winner of the second third (top score between races 7 and 12) will get a prize. What it will be I do not know yet, but something that I will get in Valencia coming weekend.

The results of round 12 will be posted later that usual, I expect perhaps next Tuesday or Wednesday. I will in Valencia for the whole race weekend, the results will have to wait till I return back :-).

And watch out - to keep more people still in the game there will be a chance to win 1 MUMM bottle for almost anybody who is now in the game. How ? That I will announce ahead of European GP. For now, keep on playing, do not miss out !

So place your predictions as usual in the comments below this post:
- Top eight finishers in the race
- Pole position
- Fastest lap

The summary of the rules and current standings - click here
Round 10 results - click here.

Do not forget - the predictions must be placed before the qualifying starts. Better do not leave it to the very last moment !

F1Wolf

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2006 European GP

This is the final part 7 of the European Grand Prix mini history series - years 2006 - 2007.

The 2006 season was all about the title fight between Fernando Alonso and Michael Schumacher and the European GP was not too different. This was by no means a classic and in line with the usual practice the race win was decided in the pitlane. Fernando Alonso claimed the pole position ahead of Ferrari duo Michael Schumacher and Felipe Massa. Alonso had better start and kept the lead. Behind them a little Liuzzi (Toro Rosso), Ralf (Toyota) and Coulthard (Red Bull) get together resulted in Safety Car. After the restart Alonso and Schumacher pulled away and from then on it was all between these two. Kimi Raikkonen (McLaren) lead the race too for a while during the pit stop times but that was about it. After the first round of pit stops Alonso still had the lead. Then Alonso made his second stop on lap 38, Schumacher stayed out until lap 41. Those few flat out laps made all the difference and Schumacher rejoined the race in the lead. He went on to win what was to be his last F1 race at Nurburgring. Alonso finished second, Massa third, Raikkonen 4th.

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F1Wolf

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Alonso and Sato, 2004 European GP

This is part 6 of the European Grand Prix mini history series - years 2004 - 2005.

Season 2004 saw some changes in the order. Williams begun their decline, McLaren suffered from reliability issues (especially in the early stages of the season). Their places were taken by BAR Honda and Renault. And Ferraris were running away with the championship from the very beginning. European GP was the race number 7 of the season. Michael Schumacher won the first 5 and was ready to get back to winning ways after crashing out of Monaco race. Schumacher claimed the pole position after running light in qualifying, quick Takuma Sato lined up next to him in P2. Jarno Trulli (Renault, the winner in Monaco) and Kimi Raikkonen (McLaren) occupied the second row. At the start Schumacher pulled away with the help of Kimi Raikkonen who jumped ahead of Sato (BAR Honda) and Trulli and held them back. Also at the start, Williams team mates Montoya and Ralf Schumacher touched their wheels and Ralf was out.

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F1Wolf

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2003 European GP Podium

This is part 5 of the European Grand Prix mini history series - years 2001 - 2003.

The 2001 European GP is best remembered for Schumi vs Schumi at the race start. The big brother Michael grabbed the pole from his little brother Ralf , Juan Pablo Montoya was on P3. At the race start Michael felt aseep a tiny bit and to defend his lead Michael Schumacher pushed his brother way too close to the wall. Ralf had only 2 options - either to hit the wall or lift his foot off the throttle. He chose the throttle action and as a result Michael Schumacher kept his lead, Ralf stayed in second.  Ferrari’s Bridgestones worked better early on and Michael pulled away. Soon however the advantage turned to Michelins. Ralf was pushing his brother hard and Montoya was closing on both of them.

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F1Wolf

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Ralf Schumacher European GP 1999

This is part 4 of the European Grand Prix mini history series - years 1999 and 2000.

After one year break European GP returned to calendar in 1999. It was back to Nurburgring and the European GP would stay at this circuit for nine years, till 2007, more as a second German GP thanks to increased interest in F1 in Germany during Schumacher’s era. In 1999 the European GP was the last European race of the calendar. With three races to go Mika Hakkinen (McLaren), Eddie Irvine (Ferrari), Heinz-Harald Frentzen (Jordan) and David Coulthard (McLaren) still had a shot at the title. Michael Schumacher was missing, nursing his broken leg.

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F1Wolf

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Nico Rosberg, Williams

Nico Rosberg has confirmed that he is staying with Williams in 2009:

“The future is here (at Williams). Well, for next year. Then we’ll see. I feel very comfortable at the team. Of course I feel good. I’ve been with the team a long time, I get on with everybody so it’s very nice. It’ s just the car isn’t fast enough.”

While this pretty much settles it for 2009 Rosberg’s words seem to indicate yet again, that he is ready to move on if an opportunity to drive better car presents itself … Well, who would not be.

You can follow the 2009 Driver Line up on this page

F1Wolf

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This is part 3 of the European Grand Prix mini history series - years 1996 and 1997.

In 1996 European Grand Prix returned to Nurburgring for the second year in a row. Yet again it turned out to be a significant race - the future champion won his first race here.

Williams were the team to beat those days and so it came as no suprise that Damon Hill and the new arrival from American racing Jacques Villeneuve booked themselves the front row on the grid. Behind them lined up Schumacher (Ferrari), Alesi (Benetton), Barrichello (Jordan) and Coulthard (McLaren). Confident Hill however made mess of his start and Villeneuve took the lead. Coulthard came out of nowhere in struggling McLaren and found himself 2nd challenging for the lead. Barrichello moved up to third ahead of Schumacher, Hill and Hakkinen.

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F1Wolf

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Most of the Formula 1 fans already know that the new 2009 F1 regulations especially those affecting cars’ aero will bring some radical changes to the look of the Formula 1 car. Many are asking how will the 2009 F1 cars look. So let’s summarize the most obvious and visible changes.

Rear wings:

This is how the wings look this year (the shapes and angles change from track to track):

And this is how it is likely to look in 2009 - higher and narrower, similar to the wings used in early 90s (picture shows Williams in 1993).

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F1Wolf

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David Coulthard

Two old F1 hands came up with their ideas to improve the F1 spectacle. Following the series of flash fires during the Hungarian GP David Coulthard believes refuelling ban is the way to go for F1. Not only the risk of fire during the pit stops would be largely eliminated but the refuelling ban in his opinion should also improve the racing (in his ITV column):

“From my point of view a bigger drawback of refuelling is that it detracts from the racing by turning the grand prix into a series of low-fuel sprints between pit stops. In the days (pre-1994) when you carried your entire race fuel load on board the car, there was a much bigger role for the driver in managing the tyres and brakes. These days, in dry conditions, you very rarely see anyone win from further back than the second row of the grid, because race pace largely mirrors qualifying pace - which is not surprising when the conditions are so similar.”

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F1Wolf

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