Sidepodcast

There’s been much consternation on this site and elsewhere around the web, relating to the various merits of the latest addition to the Formula 1 calendar. A couple of criticisms levelled at the Valencian street circuit is that it featured way to much concrete, didn’t produce particularly close racing and was nothing but a let down after all the pre-race hype built around the event.

However, it wasn’t until I read today’s race round-up from Axis of Oversteer that I realised where Bernie and the organisers had gone wrong.

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• Length: 05:22 
• Size: 62.1 MB 
• File: track12.m4v 
• Transcript: track12.pdf 
• Torrent: track12.torrent 
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For the second time this year F1 goes street racing and this time it’s through the twists and turns around the port of Valencia.

The city offers a unique backdrop for Formula 1, and notably features a specially created swing bridge allowing F1 cars to cross Valencia’s canal. In total, 25 corners make up this magnificent circuit and this is one episode of Inside Track you won’t want to miss.

It’s also Formula One’s annual summer break, so Christine takes a look at the state of the championship, some recent engine rumours and a look at why McLaren might have an advantage over their rivals when it comes to tyres and logistics as the racing returns to Spain once more.

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As reported yesterday, the Valencia street circuit was given the go ahead for the F1 race, as the FIA handed out their official licence. Button also gave his stamp of approval to the new circuit.

It is a great venue and it will bring a lot of new fans to F1. It is quite a fast circuit, for a street circuit. It has got a lot of run-off in the places that you need it.

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• File: episode61.m4a
• Length: 37:08
• Size: 34.2 MB
• Transcript: Coming soon

Slightly on the late side, we cover all the news and gossip from the week gone by, plus the action from the Circuit de Catalunya.

Intro

Don’t call me woman, and take a breath now and again.

Good Week / Bad Week

Flattering week for Force India and Murray Walker, not so good for McLaren.

News and Views

Valencia could be in trouble, and is EveryRace really worth the effort?

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• Length: 9:55 
• Size: 9.2 MB 
• File: digest16.mp3 
• Transcript: digest16.pdf 
• Torrent: digest16.torrent 

The Spanish race weekend draws to a close with a much more action-packed race than we were expected. Ferrari dominated, but the headlines are full of Heikki. Thankfully everything seems to have worked out, and F1 Digest is here to make sense of the drama.

The Race

Plenty of retirees right off the bat, and scattered throughout the race. Kovalainen’s accident, Barrichello’s front wing nightmare, and Coulthard in more overtaking controversy.

Conclusions

Covering all the teams, starting with those who had a driver DNF, right through to the glorious day had by Ferrari. Also, an update on Heikki’s condition and Ron Dennis’ thoughts on the accident.

The Circuit de Catalunya isn’t renowned for hosting particularly exciting F1 races. In fact they can be something of a procession at times. This year however, we have a heck of a grid that should spice up the action, if only for the first lap or two.

The drag down to the first corner will hold the key to the remainder of the race. How much fuel does Alonso really have, and are any of the championship contenders willing to go wheel to wheel with him? How much difference the new asphalt in turn one will make is also open to debate. Last year Fernando bounced across the old gravel surface, losing valuable places as he went, whilst this year heading off line will cost a driver considerably less.

Further down the grid there could be some fabulous charges from the back, with both Nico Rosberg and David Coulthard out of position and in faster cars than their grid positions belie. Vettel also must be hoping for a better race than his previous three.

UK television coverage is just starting, so we’ll be glued to our seats for the rest of the afternoon. It’s fair to say we’re unusually excited about this Grand Prix, so please say “hello” if you’re watching. Usually we’d ask for your podium predictions, but along with those, this week we’d like to know your opening lap predictions too!

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• Length: 10:02 
• Size: 9.3 MB 
• File: digest15.mp3 
• Transcript: digest15.pdf 
• Torrent: digest15.torrent 

The problem with this weekend is that you can never quite tell who’s legitimately fast and who’s just playing up to the crowds - Alonso being an extreme example of the mystery.

Free Practice 3

Raikkonen’s still up there at the top, but edged out by a BMW in this session.

Qualifying

Alonso does it for the Spanish crowds, whilst McLaren struggle slightly, and Raikkonen takes pole.

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And we’re back! It’s an action packed Formula 1 day today, no sooner has practice 3 finished and we’re already looking at qualifying.

The session earlier today was nothing if not inconclusive, with six different teams in the top eight.

It looks like Red Bull’s legendary unreliability came back to bite them again, and they will have had their work cut out readying the car for qualifying. The big guns are clearing keeping their cards close to their chests… has there been any sandbagging going on? How much was achieved at last weeks test?

We’re watching ITV’s television coverage, which is also available online. Don’t forget to keep the official live timing window handy.

Do let us know where you are, how you are and what you’re watching. Also let’s have all your predictions please.

Saturday in Spain, and looking at some of the press releases sent out yesterday, there are a few teams with some work to do today.

The weather is warm and sunny, so we’re in for another dry day of running. It’s a 60 minute practice session this morning and the race weekend has officially started so teams are using race engines and gearboxes.

Ferrari were looking peerless yesterday, can anyone take the fight to them? BMW have yet to show their hands, and they could be the dark horses today, while McLaren have a lot of time to make up.

It goes without saying (although the link is handy) that we’ll be following live timing, and seeing as ITV don’t cover this session, it’s TVlizer coverage for us this hour. Incidentally they appear to be showing The Factory (a look behind the scenes at Williams) right now.

Update: Almost forgot, 5Live are covering practice on 5Live Sports Extra.

We’re both here and raring to go, let us know if you’re around on this fine Saturday morning. Tell us where you’re at and how you’re following.

• Length: 8:13 
• Size: 7.6 MB 
• File: digest14.mp3 
• Transcript: digest14.pdf 
• Torrent: digest14.torrent 

A day of two halves, with the first Free Practice session a dull 90 minutes and the second a mad dash seeing many drivers at the top of the timesheets.

Free Practice 1

After installation laps from all but the Ferrari’s, we had to wait for twenty minutes before there was any action. However, anything that did happen is covered here.

Free Practice 2

How many drivers can top the timesheets in one session? This second practice may be pushing at the world record!

Conclusions

A rundown of all the teams, with some saying they took the wrong path when it comes to setup, others saying they had a good day, and a final group saying conditions are just completely different to the test last week.