[F1] Grand Prix of Europe : 23.08.09
-
Venue: Valencia Street Circuit, Spain
Laps: 57
Race start: 2000 HRS SINThe European Grand Prix was moved here in 2008, but the race was a dour affair. There is little in the way of scenery and overtaking is nigh-on impossible on the dusty track. Expect maximum downforce settings and Bridgestone will supply the soft and super-soft tyres.
Home fans will be boosted by the repeal of Renault's one-race ban from Hungary, which will allow Fernando Alonso to race in front of his home crowd again. His race ended on lap 1 last year however. His new teammate, Romain Grosjean, is a graduate from the GP2 series and the marque's first French racer since 1985. He takes Nelsinho Piquet's spot after the latter was fired unceremoniously.
Ferrari test driver Luca Badoer steps into Felipe Massa's seat while the Brazilian recuperates at home, targetting a return at the Brazilian Grand Prix. He is the first Italian to drive for the team in 15 years and makes his debut after clocking 150,000 miles over a decade in that role. Michael Schumacher will be present at the race in his role as the team's consultant.
-
Watching FP2 now, and Alonso's run of bad luck at this track continues. He just crashed into Nick Heidfeld and launched the BMW into the air!
European GP free practice session one times
1. BARRICHELLO Brawn 1m42.460s
2. KOVALAINEN McLaren 1m42.636s
3. HAMILTON McLaren 1m42.654s
4. BUTTON Brawn 1m43.074s
5. VETTEL Red Bull 1m43.088s
6. SUTIL Force India 1m43.209s
7. NAKAJIMA Williams 1m43.225s
8. WEBBER Red Bull 1m43.243s
9. ALONSO Renault 1m43.345s
10. RAIKKONEN Ferrari 1m43.384s
11. BUEMI Toro Rosso 1m43.389s
12. KUBICA BMW 1m43.419s
13. ALGUERSUARI Toro Rosso 1m43.637s
14. ROSBERG Williams 1m43.746s
15. HEIDFELD BMW 1m44.040s
16. FISICHELLA Force India 1m44.126s
17. GROSJEAN Renault 1m44.356s
18. TRULLI Toyota 1m44.638s
19. GLOCK Toyota 1m44.732s
20. BADOER Ferrari 1m45.840s -
Originally posted by Kuali Baba:
Watching FP2 now, and Alonso's run of bad luck at this track continues. He just crashed into Nick Heidfeld and launched the BMW into the air!
-
European Grand Prix free practice session two
1. ALONSO Renault 1m39.404s
2. BUTTON Brawn 1m40.178s
3. BARRICHELLO Brawn 1m40.209s
4. ROSBERG Williams 1m40.385s
5. NAKAJIMA Williams 1m40.503s
6. SUTIL Force India 1m40.596s
7. KUBICA BMW 1m40.643s
8. FISICHELLA Force India 1m40.681s
9. VETTEL Red Bull 1m40.723s
10. KOVALAINEN McLaren 1m40.738s
11. RAIKKONEN Ferrari 1m40.739s
12. TRULLI Toyota 1m40.770s
13. GROSJEAN Renault 1m40.787s
14. WEBBER Red Bull 1m40.956s
15. GLOCK Toyota 1m40.985s
16. BUEMI Toro Rosso 1m41.156s
17. HEIDFELD BMW 1m41.350s
18. BADOER Ferrari 1m42.017s
19. ALGUERSUARI Toro Rosso 1m42.089s
20. HAMILTON McLaren 1m43.214s -
This session was interrupted for 25 minutes when Vettel's car dumped oil on the track, leaving everyone else with less than 5 minutes to set a laptime.
European Grand Prix free practice session three
1. SUTIL Force India 1m39.143s
2. NAKAJIMA Williams 1m39.247s
3. KUBICA BMW 1m39.513s
4. KOVALAINEN McLaren 1m39.553s
5. ROSBERG Williams 1m39.732s
6. FISICHELLA Force India 1m39.764s
7. BUTTON Brawn 1m39.883s
8. HAMILTON McLaren 1m39.950s
9. TRULLI Toyota 1m40.017s
10. GROSJEAN Renault 1m40.088s
11. BUEMI Toro Rosso 1m40.118s
12. BARRICHELLO Brawn 1m40.192s
13. HEIDFELD BMW 1m40.230s
14. RAIKKONEN Ferrari 1m40.260s
15. ALONSO Renault 1m40.402s
16. GLOCK Toyota 1m40.443s
17. WEBBER Red Bull 1m40.879s
18. VETTEL Red Bull 1m40.916s
19. ALGUERSUARI Toro Rosso 1m41.125s
20. BADOER Ferrari 1m42.198s -
European GP starting grid
1. HAMILTON McLaren
2. KOVALAINEN McLaren
3. BARRICHELLO Brawn
4. VETTEL Red Bull
5. BUTTON Brawn
6. RAIKKONEN Ferrari
7. ROSBERG William
8. ALONSO Renault
9. WEBBER Red Bull
10. KUBICA BMW
11. HEIDFELD BMW
12. SUTIL Force India
13. GLOCK Toyota
14. GROSJEAN Renault
15. BUEMI Toro Rosso
16. FISICHELLA Force India
17. NAKAJIMA Williams
18. TRULLI Toyota
19. ALGUERSUARI Toro Rosso
20. BADOER Ferrari -
A mix-up during Hamilton's second pitstop gifted Barrichello the victory. Vettel will have to make his next engine last 6 races, otherwise he will incur penalties for more engine changes.
European GP result
1. BARRICHELLO Brawn
2. HAMILTON McLaren +2.3s
3. RAIKKONEN Ferrari +15.9s
4. KOVALAINEN McLaren +20.0s
5. ROSBERG Williams +20.8s
6. ALONSO Renault +27.7s
7. BUTTON Brawn +34.9s
8. KUBICA BMW +36.6s
9. WEBBER Red Bull +44.9s
10. SUTIL Force India +47.9s
11. HEIDFELD BMW +48.8s
12. FISICHELLA Force India +63.6s
13. TRULLI Toyota +64.5s
14. GLOCK Toyota +86.5s
15. GROSJEAN Renault +91.7s
16. ALGUERSUARI Toro Rosso +1 lap
17. BADOER Ferrari +1 lap
18. NAKAJIMA Williams +3 laps
19. BUMEI Toro Rosso +16 laps
20. VETTEL Red Bull +34 laps
Fastest lap: GLOCK 1m38.683s (lap 55)