So F1 community, I bet you're all quite bored with this three-week summer holiday, sitting at home waiting in anticipation for the European Grand Prix from the Valencia street circuit in the south of Spain.
It's okay for those of us who like football, too, because it all kicked off again this week, but for those who don't like football, I feel for you.
Anyway moving on to Aug. 24 and the European Grand Prix from the Circuit Urbano Valencia, what can I tell you about this place? Not much really, as there has never been a Grand Prix held at this circuit. There has been a Formula 3 race there this year, but that's it.
I've seen some onboard footage of a Ferrari GT car going round and it looks awesome. It actually reminds me of Monaco without the houses, apartments and casinos casting a shadow over the track.
This is why I'm both nervous and excited. No team has an advantage over another beyond their car's capabilities. No tyre data, no telemetry, no idea of the perfect racing line and braking points. It's safe to say that Ferrari, McLaren and BMW will be the favourites to get good results here.
I'm going to say Kimi Raikkonen has a big shout of this one (Fellow McLaren-ers, bear with me) and may take the win if fate is with him. If the car is poor, then it's going to be difficult.
Why do I feel Kimi might have his day? This Number 17 that's hanging over his head, the "Unlucky" number for Italy and Ferrari may disappear.
When Kimi won at Spain earlier this year, it put him onto that unlucky No. 17, which many drivers got to and then never won again in their careers. Can he get away fom that number on the Spanish mainland again?
It's a long shot, but fate works in crazy ways. I'll lay testiment to that, as I have seen fate play a part in my football team's past triumphs, but that's my theory on Raikkonen's side of the fence.
On Lewis Hamilton's side of the fence, though, we all know how destructive he can be on a circuit he has never raced before. He took four wins in the 2007 season at circuits he had never visited before: Canada, Indianapolis, Hungaroring, and Fuji Speedway, so I won't discount Lewis from being in with a shout just as big as Raikkonen's.
Felipe Massa? Now I don't want to upset anyone here because I rate Felipe as a big talent, but when I said Felipe will falter this season as he has in past seasons, this is where I feel it will happen.
Felipe has never been the quickest adapting to new race circuits , It's always taken him more than one attempt to win at any circuit.
I'm not saying he will have a disastrous weekend by any means. He will still score points, but I think this maybe where he loses ground to Lewis and Kimi, both of whom are exceptionally good at getting to grips with a new circuit. Kimi proved this in Turkey 2005 in a "not the best at that time" McLaren.
Others to watch out for are the usual suspects: Robert Kubica, Nick Heidfeld, Fernando Alonso, and the two Toyotas who have started bringing themselves into play. Both Trulli and Glock grabbed a podium at Magny-Cours and Hungary, respectively.
Red Bull seem to have slipped back in recent weeks, but I'm putting my money on Mark Webber to stop the rot with an eighth place finish, Coulthard will be somewhere not too far off the points I feel, It would be nice to see them back in a bit of rich form.
20 comments Last one added 10 months ago — Leave a Comment
peter devlin 10 months ago
Nice read ,
Its odd how I keep seeing Articles displayed twice on the same page and im assuming this is a fault with the site .
I think it will be Kimi Raikkonen , he has gone too long without a BIG result , it isnt like him , I hope to God its Hamilton , but i see the Iceman returning this time out .
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Damien Jones 10 months ago
Its going to Be Hamilton , I hope so .
I wouldnt rule out Felipe Massa though , he is dangerous but I can see your pont about how he has faltered around the midway point in the past , Intense times ahead for F1 fans , a close run in with a hug Finale .
I enjoyed the article mark .
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steven stones 10 months ago
Oh yes my son! This is top notch lad, getting me all excited again for some racing action! I can feel the tension building. 5 stars mate, enjoyed it!
I agree with you about Raikkonen as well, I think he needs a big drive in the recent Hamilton model.
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Billy Sexton 10 months ago
good article mark, steady predictions.
the only chnage i would make is that Kovy will get the podium over heidfeld... his confidence is going to be sky high after his first race win... but other than that, good predictions, I hope lewis can do it... he certainly has the car and the ability.
look out for my preview of the European Grand Prix next week.
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mark andrew 10 months ago
Billy and Steven thank you for the ratings and comments . Appreciated as always .
It's a toss up between Lewis and Kimi for sure , thats my opinion anyway , Kimi needs it , Lewis wants it , in my eyes that makes one hell of a fight .
I hope yor right about Kovy Billy , I really do , Its just that when I predict Kovy to do well , he doesnt ,
Then when I said he wouldnt do that well at Hungary , he went and won , Its reverse psychology ha ha .
Ill look out for your preview billy ,
Again thanks boys .
Im not happy about it showing up twice tho , its doing my head in ,
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steven stones 10 months ago
Don't worry mate, its worth a second read :)
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mark andrew 10 months ago
Ha ha thanks Steven mate .
Hopefully they will see my Annoyed plea and sort it out :-)
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ferrari maranello 10 months ago
did you consider if will raining? the circus has goooood outsider in raining conditions? of course non massa but what about vettel? or sutil? (of course without raikkonen behind him).
We know brother lewis is fantastic,he will get any gp sotto la pioggia!!!! but also we have a polska guy named kubica!! don't you think that?
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mark andrew 10 months ago
Yes i did mention Kubica ,
I havent taken into account for rain , but ive been to spain 6 times and it only rained for 1 day out of 6 visits so i wouldnt bank on rain .
Sutil is in a Force India , i wont bank on them doing anything unless the ran falls .
Vettel , i know he is fast but this circuit doesnt look kind to backmarkers .
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Ben Auty 10 months ago
Good writing mate ... My prediction to follow shortly so it will have to remain to be seen if I agree or not, ha ha ! Well done mate !
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mark andrew 10 months ago
Cheers Ben .
I got bored and impatient waiting for Valencia that I just had to write something about it .
I know I can Count on you and Mike to do predictions too , it makes race weekend Exciting , I think you will find I predicted 2 Hamilton wins in a row ha ha .
Mike -----Thanks mate and I know you repeated yourself to let BR know they have work to do , Its done my head in seeing it twice .
I look forward to your prediction as well as bens mate .
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Ben Auty 10 months ago
Coming soon mate !
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Michael Griffin 10 months ago
Nice article Mark
Nice article Mark
Amazing how it appears twice
Amazing how it appears twice.
Site is getting on my nerves now
Site is getting on my nerves now.
Yes, I did do all that lot twice to put a point across, sort it out B/R!
My prediction is coming next week at some point, amongst my Safety First series.
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mark andrew 10 months ago
Thanks for the POTD Peter , I cant wait till next weekend , United ruined my weekend by drawing today , so valencia is all i got to look forward to .
I may just go to William hill , but i only really Gamble on Poker , i see that as more skill than Gambling tho .
I cant see it raining, its Spains summer ......errr do they even have a winter lol . I would love to see a bit of rain tho .
Who said the age of the driver was over ? I can take a guess :-)
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aditi anshu 10 months ago
nice article but i will go with kimi. he should win the race at Spain.
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mark andrew 10 months ago
Cheers aditi ,
Kimi does need a win to stop the rot , definatly , things will only get worse if he doesnt win in the next 2 races .
Im not disrespecting any of the other drivers by saying i think only Kimi or Lewis will win but after Lewis' lucky let off in Hungary , its put both of them in prime position in my eyes , maybe ill be wrong about Felipe , If i am then we will have a very interesting title chase .
Cheers for comment .
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Janet A. 10 months ago
Good Article.
I’m putting my money on the Kimster. He absolutely needs to win this!
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Stuart Baird 10 months ago
good preview, even tho there isnt much to preview!
great.
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Saraswathi Siriginia 10 months ago
my bet is none of the above :-)
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mark andrew 10 months ago
Ah but if Massa gets penalised , as he rightly should , my prediction will be right for the 3rd time in 4 races !!!
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