This weekend, we witness the inaugural visit to the Valencia street circuit for the European Grand Prix. Normally I would be unbelievably excited about this, but this weekend, it just will not be the same.
On Wednesday, a plane crashed shortly after take-off in Madrid killing 152 people on board, with 19 amazingly surviving, albeit horrifically burnt. This has brought immense shock to the country of Spain, and this weekend is a national weekend of mourning.
Fernando Alonso has already called for a minute's silence to take place at some point, but for me, that is not enough. Every team should remove their sponsors, just like Ferrari did after 9/11 for the Italian Grand Prix.
There should be no champagne sprayed and no celebrations whatsoever out of respect for those who tragically lost their lives in this unfortunate incident. The whole weekend will be sombre; the normally fiery Spanish crowd will be fighting back the tears, and praying desperately that Fernando Alonso wins.
Okay, we do have a race this weekend and I wasn’t going to make predictions, but I might as well. Ferrari is quite obviously back, and in a big way. Felipe Massa has said that Ferrari knows the fault with the engine and it will not happen again, which will be a welcome relief for the Tifosi.
Lewis Hamilton will be looking to bounce back from his disappointment in Hungary, and a win would do him fine, but I cannot see it frankly.
Kimi Raikkonen, oh where art thou? The ”iceman” seriously needs to find his form again. If he doesn’t, he can kiss his title goodbye. Can he do it this weekend? Others may believe so, but I do not.
Heikki Kovalainen will be on a massive high after his maiden victory at the Hungaroring, and he will look to take his second victory here, but is he up to the challenge? I think he will be challenging for the win here, and maybe even finishing ahead of Hamilton.
So, onto the results; I’m going to go bold and say that this circuit will put a lot extra miles on the safety car, which I’m still not a fan of, it is the new facelifted Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG.
Sorry, but that facelift looks more like Pat Butcher than anything good, and she looks like the honey monster from the Sugar Puffs adverts.
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3 months ago
my prayers are with those that lost their loved ones and for sure, go, go Nando!
3 months ago
Nice touch mate ,
It's really sad , unfortunate tragic accident , and While I think your predictions are crazy , I can see your reasoning and Id be more than Happy to see Fernando win at home for the spanish people , sod the title race , let him show his deepest sympathies in a raw emotional way .
I think its a very good idea to remove all sponsors from the cars and will show the sports compassion , surely the sponsors can spare one week without maximum advertising .
I also think a black stripe down the cars or an armband for the drivers will be a nice touch too , just like Toyota did at Magny- Cours .
My thoughts are with the Spanis people and the families and friends of those lost , may they rest in peace .
Well done mate .
5 and Pick
from 3 months ago
Thanks mate, unfortunately I'm watchin practice now and nobody has removed sponsorship. but ridiculous if u ask me.
from 3 months ago
Yeah it is ridiculous , I bet they will demand the drivers to celebrate on sunday too , I know they wont tho .
Where did you watch practise mate ?
from 3 months ago
itv.com/f1, they have every practice session live, along with all quali and race too. bloody brilliant.
3 months ago
Trail Blazing authorship as usual michael. But today I forbid myself from congratulate you because just the thought of such a massacre gives me shudders. I hope my condolences are heard. This is a very bad day. People who say "I know what that person feels like..." , tell a lie because when such a thing happens to one ... only that person knows how it feels like... No one else.
May the survivors be blessed and may the dead rest in peace.. AMEN.
from 3 months ago
Thanks for the comment mate, I don't understand those people who in any situation say "I know how it feels" ok, say you know the horrifying terror of knowing that you are going to die? idiots, and I don't get why people are POTD this article, it is a sombre weekend, an a POTD from this would be a bit disrespectful in my view.
3 months ago
i agree... no champagne, no sponsors... such a tragedy :(
very strange predictions though mate... none of the top 3 in the top 8?! i think all of them will be in there somewhere. good article though
from 3 months ago
It's like I said, this is the new Montreal, an I think the safety car will be in use quite a lot come sunday afternoon. who knows, i could be spot on here haha! if I am, it would be a miracle. too bad miracles couldn't have grace the 153 people on wednesday.
no sponsors - already done that, greedy scumbags.
no champagne - bernie will probably demand, greedy scumbags.
from 3 months ago
yeah it does look similar to montreal... i like the new circuit.
with alonso second in FP2... u could end up being right mate!!
3 months ago
Just finished watching practice sessions ... Alonso and Button ? ? ? ? ... Where the hell did that come from ... I am praying that there is sandbagging here !
from 3 months ago
What is even more amazing is the fact that the big boys now sem to think that they may not win, imagine that, alonso winning on this of all weekends. oh how i would gloat in my results haha! if button won, it would be a bloomin miracle.
from 3 months ago
I am sure there will be 1 of the big 4 in there ... You cant just write them off !
3 months ago
it would of been fitting for Alonso to make a suprise vist to the front row, and take the race with little effort, but he didnt make it to the final session of qualifying, let alone the front road.
my predictions for 2moro?
hopefully , kimi will win, but realisticly, massa is in for a good chance. at least until he gets down to turn 2. Hamiltons starting from 2nd place, on the grippy side of the track. bugger.
Kubica is good for 3rd, unless one of the top two drop out (those walls look awfully tempting to those million dollar cars).
might i also add that Raikkonen is also on the grippy side of the trak. could jump kubica at the start, or turn 2, but if he doesnt get by, he is probably gonna get stuck behind him.
so the win? Hamilton unfortunatly.
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