VETTEL SLOWS MCLAREN CHARGE
The European Grand Prix has toured the continent since the 1980s as countries look for excuses to host two F1 races in a season. Right now it's parked itself at a street circuit in Valencia which doesn't always produce the best racing but certainly does look very classy. The show came into the Spanish port with an unreal feel to it - when was the last time two Brits were leading the championship - with Lewis having the slight edge at the moment. The practice sessions however promised little for the McLaren pair. All signs were that they were going to be given a reality check but anything can happen in F1. Time to see if the British dream could continue.
As for qualifying, well in Q1 as per usual the McLarens didn't have any serious issues and as per usual the new teams all got wiped out, Trulli being the best of that bunch on this occasion. Q2 saw Jenson having to dodge a bullet but Schumacher again ate one and you have to wonder when Mercedes are going to realise that hiring him was never a good idea. Jenson was the first guy to make his make his mark in Q3 but was soon outgunned by Lewis who in turn was beaten by Webber only for Vettel to outpace them all to claim his fourth pole of the season. Webber finished 2nd to complete the fourth all-Red Bull front row of the season. Lewis would start P3, with Jenson P7.
Well Jenson was in no mood to hang around and made it up to 5th at the start and later burned Kubica for 4th and then the safety car came out to allow the marshalls to deal with a spectacular involving Webber. However he then found himself stuck behind Kobayashi for ages but was still part of a queue chasing down the leader. Later on, the reiging world champion(along with half the grid) was under investigation by the stewards but he got off lightly. Kobayshi finally pitted though and Jenson slid into third and was able to cruise from there. Solid enough performance though a minor comedown given that sooner or later he's going to want to win races again.
Lewis wound up having a solid enough start, making it into 2nd early on though not quite taking the lead, taking advantage of a Webber mistake. That came the safety car and that's where things got interesting for the world championship leader. He accidentally wound up in front of the safety car. Cue a certain whiny scummy Spaniard. Alonso's whines got Lewis thrown into the pitlane for a drive-through...but he still kept 2nd place. Cue more of Alonso's whining. Ah well, the drive through probably was enough to write off Lewis's chances of a win but still 2nd place isn't that much of a drop down. It could have been worse and there will be other races for Lewis to win.
In the meantime, Vettel held the lead from the start and looked untouchable before the safety car before resuming his lead from that point. Things weren't all plain sailing for the German driver though, having a braking issue during one of the safety car periods. Bottom line though no one was really in a position to stop him and Red Bull will be glad that their capaign for glory this year is back in business, particularly as they weren't expecting to do so well this time around. So, Vettel claims his 2nd win of the season to put himself back in the mixer for the world championship. What will happen next time around is anyone's guess, but that's F1.
Still, Lewis still leads the championship on 127 points with his lead having extended to six point while just behind him, Jenson stays 2nd on 121.
Roll on Silverstone.
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