It is back to Valencia in Spain for the European Grand Prix and the eighth round of the F1 championship. The previous round in Canada was boring, despite the excellent circuit. One can only hope that the Valencia round might be different, despite one of the most boring circuits ever built.
The ‘round the houses’ of Valencia was a new circuit about three years ago for the F1 circus and it has been universally boring every time since then. Monaco without the boat harbor. Or the mystique. Yet, here it is – still on the calendar. Money has been paid under the table? (Or was that pesetas?) Surely not, in the clean and pure environment of Formula 1. And Bernie’s not saying anything!
F1 in Valencia.
After one boring race in Valencia, our Editor at Large, John Weinthal even suggested there must have been a street sign saying, “Welcome to Valencia – please drive carefully – no overtaking!”
I have the sinking feeling that we will all be annoyed at the lack of racing, but, ever the optimist, I will be watching. Perhaps the instantly wearing Pirelli’s or the DRS zone will save it. Or perhaps God will throw down buckets of rain on half the circuit. Or perhaps… We may even see Lewis Hamilton going back to the aggressive nature he has shown before and barging into Massa again. Who knows?
The Qualifying is at 7 p.m. on Saturday 23 and the race is 7 p.m. on Sunday 24. We watch the racing, on the even bigger screen in Jameson’s Irish Pub, Soi AR, next to Nova Park and enjoy the dedicated F1 Channel with no adverts during the race. We will get there around 6 p.m. and have something to eat (the specials are great value) and have a small drink or two before the start. Why don’t you come and join us.
