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European Grand Prix Preview

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The European Grand Prix

¡Ola! Bienvenidos a España. For the second time this season Formula One comes to the land of paella and flamenco when the European Grand Prix takes place in the picturesque street circuit of Valencia on Sunday.

It’s anyone’s game at the top of the points table as we reach the halfway stage of the season. Lewis Hamilton currently sits at the head of the drivers’ leader board on 109 points with teammate Jenson Button just three points behind as McLaren begin to exert some dominance over proceedings and they will be aiming for another one-two finish in Sunday’s race.

This is the third year on the trot that the European Grand Prix has been held in Valencia. The Herman-Tilke designed track is a stunner to look at, especially as it should be bathed in glorious sunshine this weekend. However like many modern circuits designed by the German it lacks a bit of the old razzle-dazzle, although it does have more character than some of his woeful other efforts.

With its waterfront views and yachts you could see that the thinking behind this circuit was along the lines of a Monaco II. It doesn’t have the twisty razzmatazz and aura of that track and surprisingly for a street circuit it can boast some colossal speeds in parts. Unfortunately it isn’t the finest for overtaking and has low-speed corners which will require minimal downforce and ultimately leads to bunching up of cars as they break hard for the turns.

Stand out sections of the track include the straight from turn 11 to 12 where speeds can reach up to 190mph, interestingly there are few run-off areas so don’t expect to see drivers taking many risks.

The McLaren boys will be favourites once again going in to this race. Hamilton will want to better his second place last season, but faces a tough test from Fernando Alonso in the Ferrari who seemed back on form with a third in Canada and will want to put on a show in front of his passionate local support.

Meanwhile Sebastian Vettel will be looking to return to form after struggling in Canada as will Mark Webber. The Red Bull team continue to deteriorate since that fateful collision in Turkey a few weeks ago. Tensions probably weren’t helped by Germany’s 4-0 drubbing of Australia in the World Cup either. Maybe Webber and Vettel should go out for a beer to patch things up, awkward times at team energy drink.

Outside the obvious, Nico Rosberg has been consistently steady all season and could be a decent shout for his third podium of the season while poor old Michael Schumacher struggles to keep up with the kids as the queues form behind him like a grandma doing the shopping run. Good job for the elongated-chinned legend that Formula One cars aren’t fitted with horns.

Polish driver Robert Kubica continues to go from strength to strength, while Filipe Massa needs to kick-start his woeful season with a solid result. While last year’s European Grand Prix winner Rubens Barrichello has been well off the pace all season and would only be backed to win by a madman.

There is potential for this to be a decent race, the circuit has drawn parallels with Canada and that was arguably the best of the season. With the championship so tight as well all guns should be blazing.

The locals will all be behind fellow Spaniard Alonso, but it’s Hamilton who’s the form driver and as such you would expect him to come away with the spoils, but Button, Vettel and Webber won’t make it easy for him.

Either way hopefully we will be treated to something that is more fiesta than siesta in Valencia this weekend.

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