[F1Addict]

2011 European Grand Prix

Location: Valencia, Spain

BBC Coverage:
Friday 24 June:

• Practice one - 0900-1030
• Practice two - 1300-1430

Saturday 25 June:

• Practice three - 1000-1100
• Qualifying - 1300

Sunday 26 June:

• Race - 1300

(All times BST)



After a brilliant Canadian Grand Prix, the F1 circus arrives in Valencia for race 8 of 19 - the European Grand Prix. The semi-street circuit doesn't produce the most exciting of races, but this year, with the new Pirelli tyres and DRS, things could be very different.

With Vettel looking for yet another win, Button looking to build on the 25pts from the last race, Webber trying to finish ahead of Vettel, and Hamilton and Alonso both desperately wanting a win to close the significant gap to Vettel, mount their own challenge for the title and turn their fortunes around, we could see some thrilling stuff!

[Roobsa]

Not a big fan of this circuit, mainly because I could never quite get the hang of it on F1 2010!

Any word about Perez driving this weekend?

[dhr90]

Thats another weekend of motorsport sorted for me

Anyone know where the DRS zone(s) are for this race? Fingers crossed it isn't as dull as previous years, the only memorable thing I can think of is Webbers big crash...last year I think? Or two years ago?

[dj1015]

f1 = good
Valencia = boring, I don't think DRS or kers will improve this otherwise very dull circuit.

[neillya1]

Oh, Valencia

Still, DRS should make this a bit more interesting. I wish they'd stop with trying to bring in the street circuits though, I'm really not a fan of them at all, I much prefer a purpose made track.

Also, been thinking about DRS in the past few races and wondering, if they can use KERS anywhere on the track, why can't they use DRS anywhere? Why should we have specific zones only. Having is anywhere would surely make for more exciting racing.....

[Roobsa]

(Original post by dhr90)
Thats another weekend of motorsport sorted for me

Anyone know where the DRS zone(s) are for this race? Fingers crossed it isn't as dull as previous years, the only memorable thing I can think of is Webbers big crash...last year I think? Or two years ago?

At a guess, just after turn 11. I was kind of, but not really watching Inside Grand Prix earlier on Motors TV and Vettel and Webber did a commentary while driving the circuit on the RB sim and there was a mention of DRS but I wasn't really paying attention.

Did you watch the BTCC coverage on Sunday? There was some really good racing.

[dhr90]

(Original post by neillya1)
Oh, Valencia

Still, DRS should make this a bit more interesting. I wish they'd stop with trying to bring in the street circuits though, I'm really not a fan of them at all, I much prefer a purpose made track.

Also, been thinking about DRS in the past few races and wondering, if they can use KERS anywhere on the track, why can't they use DRS anywhere? Why should we have specific zones only. Having is anywhere would surely make for more exciting racing.....

Safety for one thing, over estimating how much grip you have, opening your wing in a fast corner and suddenly having a big accident is not something they want. You could just tell the drivers not to use it there, but they want to go fast and would accept the risk to try and find more time.

It'd be a bit more difficult if you wanted to implement it so only the driver behind, but within 1s of the car in front, could use it, so many detection zones, activation lights, it'd just be a mess really.

I think at times they may have made it too much with DRS and the tyres this year, after the first 10 laps or so I can't really follow what is happening anymore as drivers are pitting so often and with different strategies etc. It only makes sense for the first 7-12 laps and the final 5-10 laps of a race I think...

[dhr90]

(Original post by Roobsa)
At a guess, just after turn 11. I was kind of, but not really watching Inside Grand Prix earlier on Motors TV and Vettel and Webber did a commentary while driving the circuit on the RB sim and there was a mention of DRS but I wasn't really paying attention.

Did you watch the BTCC coverage on Sunday? There was some really good racing.

Always watch the BTCC coverage!! Although I did miss the second race, had to go tidy up the garden The BTCC always provides good racing, although the Formula Renault single seaters can be a bit dull, they need to learn from F1!
I should be going to the silverstone round at the end of the year

[ScoCmac]

DRS Detection point is on the apex of turn 7

DRS Activation point 1 is directly after turn 11

DRS Activation point 2 is directly after turn 14

[Roobsa]

(Original post by dhr90)
Always watch the BTCC coverage!! Although I did miss the second race, had to go tidy up the garden The BTCC always provides good racing, although the Formula Renault single seaters can be a bit dull, they need to learn from F1!
I should be going to the silverstone round at the end of the year

The race with Josh Hill in was awesome.

I will get to either Brand's Hatch or Silverstone in October!

[neillya1]

(Original post by dhr90)
Safety for one thing, over estimating how much grip you have, opening your wing in a fast corner and suddenly having a big accident is not something they want. You could just tell the drivers not to use it there, but they want to go fast and would accept the risk to try and find more time.

It'd be a bit more difficult if you wanted to implement it so only the driver behind, but within 1s of the car in front, could use it, so many detection zones, activation lights, it'd just be a mess really.

I think at times they may have made it too much with DRS and the tyres this year, after the first 10 laps or so I can't really follow what is happening anymore as drivers are pitting so often and with different strategies etc. It only makes sense for the first 7-12 laps and the final 5-10 laps of a race I think...

Fair enough I get the safety issues, but why not have DRS with the set zones as it is now, but anyone can use it there - be it the car in front, the one behind, 1s behind or 5s behind..... It almost feels like they're stopping the drivers from racing with it.

[dhr90]

(Original post by Roobsa)
The race with Josh Hill in was awesome.

I will get to either Brand's Hatch or Silverstone in October!

To be fair I did miss most of that race as well this weekend.

Brands Hatch is great! Definitely go if you can, if I had my own car I'd be going there as well. I won my Silverstone tickets in a competition
I'm working on a plan to get to Snetterton as well, but it night not happen yet...

[dhr90]

(Original post by neillya1)
Fair enough I get the safety issues, but why not have DRS with the set zones as it is now, but anyone can use it there - be it the car in front, the one behind, 1s behind or 5s behind..... It almost feels like they're stopping the drivers from racing with it.

If anyone could use it, then there wouldn't be any point in having it in the first place. You may get slight closing/widening of gaps depending how each team geared their cars, but otherwise there wouldn't be a point.

In some ways you can almost see drivers not trying to defend in DRS zones as the car behind is so much faster they can just drive around them before the braking zone, which is a shame I think. It's a good concept, but needs work. Though I'm sure others out there will disagree with me

[neillya1]

(Original post by dhr90)
If anyone could use it, then there wouldn't be any point in having it in the first place. You may get slight closing/widening of gaps depending how each team geared their cars, but otherwise there wouldn't be a point.

In some ways you can almost see drivers not trying to defend in DRS zones as the car behind is so much faster they can just drive around them before the braking zone, which is a shame I think. It's a good concept, but needs work. Though I'm sure others out there will disagree with me

True But still, I think it's a poor system really.....

I'd also love to see a reverse grid in F1 something like BTCC (if they still do that?).

[barnetlad]

Give Vettel's performances, barring mechanical failure, F1 is a simple sport. To paraphrase Gary Lineker, 20 something people take part and at the end the German wins.

[mastermind_107]

Everytime I think of this grand prix, I always think of Mark Webber's huge crash last year and Legard's "HE'S GONE RIGHT UP THERE" comment.

[dhr90]

(Original post by neillya1)
True But still, I think it's a poor system really.....

I'd also love to see a reverse grid in F1 something like BTCC (if they still do that?).

Reverse grid could be interesting. Maybe success ballast as well?

[marcusmerehay]

Crikey these are coming round quickly.

I think we'll see Force India breaking into the top 10 this weekend again, got a feeling Renault are going to struggle in quali.

[neillya1]

(Original post by dhr90)
Reverse grid could be interesting. Maybe success ballast as well?

Ooo yes please

Reverse field would be excellent though - look at how entertaining Canada was as an example

Still, would be hard to make work - how would quali even work, people won't qualify first to be last, and doing it alternate races means spectators would miss out

Anyway, I agree with marcusmerehay about Force India, I think we could see them breaking in to the top 10 (with Di Resta ahead of Sutil).

[gbduo]

Got another race weekend myself so can't watch this until Monday again, bad times, but I am hoping that if this is half as good as Canada it will be a cracking weekend!