116 replies to this topic

[Richard T]

So i'ts finally GP-week again!

The European GP at Valencia street circuit is approaching fast and we are potentially eyeing a EIGHT different winner in eight races.
My money is on Alonso as the winner this weekend and hoping for a strong result for MSC as well!

Edited by Richard T, 19 June 2012 - 14:58.

[maverick69]

Wunderground is showing some cloud cover on Sunday...... Hence, I've got a funny feeling it's going to be pretty similar to Canada.

[wacktifosi]

For some reason I just can't bring myself to be excited by this track (actually, I barely remember the place every time they come back). No clue why but none of the corners have any personality, it seems like someone dumped a bucket of corners on a map and just went with what stuck. That said, they tend to stick cameras in some good places so we'll see what they manage.

As for the racing, I can see Alonso doing well, as well as any of the other drivers that have won already this season (and for the Pirelli-Illuminati conspiracy theorists we have Dark Lord Hembrey saying Michael is on for the win). I feel pretty safe saying there will be a repeat winner for this one.

EDIT: According to f1weather.com - just to throw in another forecast - we've got sun all day everyday with slightly higher temperatures (a couple of degrees C) for the race.

Edited by wacktifosi, 19 June 2012 - 15:10.

[F1ultimate]

One stoppers by the likes of Sauber and Lotus are grinding their palms. Given that overtaking is practically impossible at Valencia unless you force your way through or slam dunk the barriers, qualifying and pit strategies will be absolute key.

I'm cheering on Grojean for his third podium which is probable given how kind the Lotus is on its tyres in hot temperatures. As for the front runner I doubt anyone will attempt a one stopper given Ferrari and Red Bull's hard learned lesson in Canada. Quick pit stops and the undercut is where positions will be won. Alternatively using one driver to back up the field.

[RedOne]

I expect no one will be particularly excited by the race unless their driver/team is leading. Sometimes the races we expect to be boring end up throwing the most suprises. Still anything could happen..

Edited by RedOne, 19 June 2012 - 17:16.

[Cavani]

the amount of excitment is apparent through this thread

[Cavani]

really miserable circuit

[maximilian]

the amount of excitment is apparent through this thread

Exactly.

NEXT!

[maverick69]

Unfortunately the track is a genuine pile of arse - for F1 cars at least.

When viewed from above the layout looks ok - with what appears to be at least 3 passing points..... But the walls and the placement of the kerbs dictating one tight line, and the track surface have all combined to make it a precession waiting to happen..... even with the cheese tyres and DRS.

I hope I am very wrong.

[Nonesuch]

I think it's unlikely we'll see an eight winner here. If we do get one it'd probably be one of the Renault/Lotus drivers, or perhaps Schumacher or Massa. Though then again, who'd have guessed Maldonado would do well in Spain.

Either way, I don't really care about this Grand Prix. The track has produced some terrible races so far, and I don't see much reason this year will be very different.

Edited by Nonesuch, 19 June 2012 - 18:04.

[midgrid]

This is probably the worst circuit on the calendar, but last year's race was a noticeable improvement on what had gone before, and even featured an overtaking battle for second place! Hopefully the 2012 edition of the event will be OK in excitement terms, even if it's likely to suffer in comparison to other circuits.

[Massa_f1]

I think it's unlikely we'll see an eight winner here. If we do get one it'd probably be one of the Renault/Lotus drivers, or perhaps Schumacher or Massa. Though then again, who'd have guessed Maldonado would do well in Spain.

Either way, I don't really care about this Grand Prix. The track has produced some terrible races so far, and I don't see much reason this year will be very different.

I really am not looking forward to this event.

It is strange being an f1 fan and not looking forward to a race weekend, but thats the effect this circuit has on me. Its a pile of crap, and that is being kind.

Can we do a quick de tour to another circuit instead!

[jrg19]

Best part of the weekend will be qualifying.

[Alfisti]

This is probably the worst circuit on the calendar,

I dunno, I have Yabbi Dabbi, the long Bahrain and maybe Singapore in the mix with Valencia or even worse. At least the cars look fast.

[Atreiu]

1 - is this bye-bye Valencia?
2 - who the hell will get a decent set up and tyres to work fine?

[Kingshark]

The turns 2-3-4-5 complex is very pointless. If it was one fast right-handed sweeper, that itself would make the circuit 60% more epic. It would also create a very good overtaking opportunity into (what is now known as) turn 8.

Anyway, for this GP weekend I'm expecting an average race with a couple of highlights, but nothing memorable. Lotus look like a strong bet for 8 winners out of 8 races; especially because they are very fast on harsh tarmac and in hot conditions; with Grosjean who knows the circuit very well. Although either Vettel or Alonso could potentially break the trend. I believe the podium will be Vettel - Alonso - Grosjean in whatever order you'd like.

[MP422]

Oh stop, It's not that bad !

[Mc_Silver]

I am sure the race will be boring, i really do not feel excited as much as other races!

Edited by Mc_Silver, 19 June 2012 - 18:50.

[Seanspeed]

Oh stop, It's not that bad !

The race here last year would have been considered quite entertaining just a few years ago, but our standards of what makes a 'good race' have been raised a great degree since Pirelli came in and DRS was introduced.

I'm looking forward to the race. Overtaking isn't so difficult anymore with DRS and even if there isn't a lot of overtaking on-track, we've seen how cars good in qualifying dont always do as well in the race and that strategy still plays a huge part in getting a good result so nothing will be set-in-stone after qualifying, I dont think. Not this year.

[Owen]

If Pirelli give us a good race here then they truly are masters of a dark art.

[tifosiMac]

The most exciting thing that has happened at this circuit is Webber doing a flip. Not a track that is particularly memorable for the viewers although the drivers enjoy the challenge from what I gather.

[Disgrace]

If the football is on at the same time, I am choosing the football. This circuit is such pants. No amount of rain nor a Pirelli lottery can save it.

[Creepy]

The race in 2010 and specially 2011 wasn't bad at all. First years were horrible but no the last ones. I'm sure this year it will be more exciting surely than Monaco and probably more than Canada.

[RedOne]

Oh stop, It's not that bad !

I agree, people are crying too much about this circuit, we haven't even seen the race yet.

Edited by RedOne, 19 June 2012 - 19:50.

[Crazy Ninja]

I agree, people are crying too much about this circuit, we haven't even seen the race yet.

We've seen the ones before though!

[puxanando]

I agree, people are crying too much about this circuit, we haven't even seen the race yet.

Its courios, drivers are not crying too much about this circuit and all are speaking well about this GP-host.......

[MadYarpen]

I'm sooo excited. Next please, I see no reason for improved European GP this year.

[wingwalker]

For some reason I just can't bring myself to be excited by this track (actually, I barely remember the place every time they come back).

This. I've just spent a few seconds looking at the map in confusion thinking 'that's an odd angle for a Nurburgring map".

[redbarron]

I actually quiet enjoy racing this track in the F1 games

[Fastcake]

The race in 2010 and specially 2011 wasn't bad at all. First years were horrible but no the last ones. I'm sure this year it will be more exciting surely than Monaco and probably more than Canada.

Canada was a boring race now?

[ASFA2011]

I actually quiet enjoy racing this track in the F1 games

Me too !! , it might be a boring track to watch but it is certanly fun to drive , especially the last sector

[joshb]

Best part of the weekend will be qualifying.

well it won't be the race!

(unless your driver does well)

[jrg19]

well it won't be the race!

(unless your driver does well)

Always helps!

[RedOne]

Canada was a boring race now?

The strategy thing with the leaders in Canada could have easily happened in Valencia since before that they were all just following each other not doing any overtaking between the pit-stops. So that leads me to my next question, if that happened in Valencia instead of Canada would people still say the race was boring!?

Edited by RedOne, 19 June 2012 - 22:24.

[Creepy]

We've seen the ones before though!

Clearly some people seems to have missed the ones of 2010 and 2011 though.

I think there is a lot of unrasonable hate for this GP...

Edited by Creepy, 19 June 2012 - 22:13.

[Talisker]

No amount of rain nor a Pirelli lottery can save it.

Oh please, this lottery stuff is getting tiresome. If it's such a lottery how come Hamilton, Alonso and Vettel are leading the championship? If it was Pic, De la rosa and Petrov at the top you might have had a point.

[Seanspeed]

The strategy thing with the leaders in Cananda could have easily happened in Valencia since before that they were all just following each other not doing any overtaking between the pit-stops. So that leads me to my next question, if that happened in Valencia instead of Canada would people still say the race was boring!?

Most likely, because its popular to say Valencia is boring.

[RedOne]

Clearly some people seems to have missed the ones of 2010 and 2011 though.

I think there is a lot of unrasonable hate for this GP...

I think no matter what happens people will still label it boring 'except for that part or except for this part'. But it's good to see we are not all jumping on that bandwagon.

[Disgrace]

Oh please, this lottery stuff is getting tiresome. If it's such a lottery how come Hamilton, Alonso and Vettel are leading the championship? If it was Pic, De la rosa and Petrov at the top you might have had a point.

Perhaps I should have added "hypothetical" to that, for I am actually not a believer in a Pirelli conspiracy or lottery.

My point was that this track is so bad that not even (hypothetical) deliberate interference from above can improve the spectacle.

[RedOne]

Most likely, because its popular to say Valencia is boring.

[PorcupineTroy]

If the football is on at the same time, I am choosing the football. This circuit is such pants. No amount of rain nor a Pirelli lottery can save it.

This would actually be pretty interesting to see, at least for one session.

[Cavani]

it is so boring kimi would fall asleep halfway through the race

[Mc_Silver]

it is so boring kimi would fall asleep halfway through the race

[RockyRaccoon68]

2011 had a really good race long battle between Alonso and Webber for P2 with Massa pressuring the Mclarens behind and Vettel never too far up the road to be comfortable...it was a pretty good race!

[InvertedLift]

I honestly can't even begin to understand the people not describing this race as a steaming pile of **** (except for Vettel fans last year maybe).

In a year that contained multiple 3am GPs, and one weekend where I was up for 24 hours straight watching Le Mans, then stayed up to watch Canada from 3-7am including a 2 hour rain delay, Valencia was the only race where I nearly fell asleep.

I might have actually dozed off at one point, it's not like it's easy to distinguish between boring precession and boring precession.

At least Abu Dhabi has an interesting pit exit and is all twilighty.

Can anyone seriously tell me that if they just did 58 formation laps you would notice the difference?

I'll probably watch it, because I love F1, but **** I hate this track.

[Seanspeed]

2011 had a really good race long battle between Alonso and Webber for P2

Nonsense. That didn't happen. Didn't you hear? Its impossible to overtake here and every race is a complete procession where qualifying is all that matters.

[Kingshark]

If the football is on at the same time, I am choosing the football. This circuit is such pants. No amount of rain nor a Pirelli lottery can save it.

How can you know? We've never had a wet race here.

Edited by Kingshark, 20 June 2012 - 05:49.

[f1fastestlap]

Nonsense. That didn't happen. Didn't you hear? Its impossible to overtake here and every race is a complete procession where qualifying is all that matters.

Yeah, we all want to see a fight for 2nd place at some point in the race...

[V8 Fireworks]

For some reason I just can't bring myself to be excited by this track (actually, I barely remember the place every time they come back). No clue why but none of the corners have any personality,

Yep, seconded.

Talk about forgetable motor race. At least Singapore has a unique spectacle.


It's like the mediocre imitation of Monaco gp.

But... At least the wonderful sun will be out in the industrial harbour

[V8 Fireworks]

it is so boring kimi would fall asleep halfway through the race

Good one.