2008 European Grand Prix

Report

Background

The Grand Prix was contested by 20 drivers, in ten teams of two.{{cite web |access-date=2009-07-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090825091750/http://www.fia.com/en-GB/sport/championships/f1/2008/europe/Pages/race_classification.aspx |archive-date=2009-08-25 |url-status=dead

Prior to the race, McLaren driver Lewis Hamilton led the Drivers' Championship with 62 points, and Ferrari driver Kimi Räikkönen was second with 57 points. Behind them in the Drivers' Championship, Felipe Massa was third with 54 points also in a Ferrari, and the two BMW Sauber cars of Robert Kubica and Nick Heidfeld were fourth and fifth, with 49 and 41 points respectively. In the Constructors' Championship, Ferrari were leading with 111 points, 11 points ahead of their rivals McLaren. BMW Sauber were third with 90 points. Toyota were fourth with 35 points, and Renault were fifth with 31 points.

The Grand Prix was the first to be held at the new Valencia street circuit. After seeing the track for the first time, four days before the race, the drivers were positive about the track. Formula One tyre supplier, Bridgestone, celebrated their 200th Formula One grand prix at the race, having now supplied Formula One tyres since 1997. Celebrations included a special "golden tyre" which was displayed at the track, as well as two hoardings, inscribed with "Bridgestone 200".

In technical developments, McLaren and Ferrari modified their front winglets, to make sure that the maximum amount of air flow was diverted. Ferrari also revised their sidepod chimneys and winglets, with the aim of making sure the engine remained cool in hot conditions.

Practice and qualifying

Three practice sessions were held before the Sunday race—two on Friday, and a third on Saturday. The Friday morning and afternoon sessions each lasted 90 minutes. The third session was held on Saturday morning and lasted an hour.{{cite web |access-date = 2008-12-02 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090324235223/http://argent.fia.com/web/fia-public.nsf/475632E46002BEDAC125744F004312F4/$FILE/F1.SPORTING.REGULATIONS.19-05-2008.pdf |archive-date = 2009-03-24 |url-status = live |access-date= 2008-10-05 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080913005833/http://www.itv-f1.com/news_article.aspx?id=43670 |archive-date= 13 September 2008 |url-status= dead |access-date= 2008-10-05| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080912081148/http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2008/8/8251.html| archive-date= 12 September 2008 | url-status= live}} Sébastien Bourdais went fastest early on, but it was his Toro Rosso teammate Sebastian Vettel who posted the quickest time of the session. Massa and Hamilton finished second and third, with Bourdais just behind them.{{cite web |access-date= 2008-10-05| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20081013055102/http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/69934| archive-date= 13 October 2008 | url-status= live}} Following the session, the drivers and personnel observed a minute's silence for those killed in the plane crash in Madrid two days previously. Kimi Räikkönen topped the timesheets in second practice, having traded fastest times with teammate Massa for the majority of the session. |access-date= 2008-10-05 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080913010150/http://www.itv-f1.com/news_article.aspx?id=43675 |archive-date= 13 September 2008 |url-status= dead Fernando Alonso had the set the quickest time late, but was surpassed by Räikkönen in his final flying lap.{{cite web |access-date= 2008-10-05| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20081013054245/http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/69947| archive-date= 13 October 2008 | url-status= live}} A notable incident in the session involved Nico Rosberg spinning under brakes in the final corners, and narrowly missing Mark Webber on the inside, before rejoining the track with no damage done. |access-date= 2008-10-05 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080913010150/http://www.itv-f1.com/news_article.aspx?id=43675 |archive-date= 13 September 2008 |url-status= dead Surprsingly, usual back-runner Jenson Button, driving for Honda, finished third.{{cite web |access-date= 2008-10-05| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080912231837/http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2008/8/8253.html| archive-date= 12 September 2008 | url-status= live}} After the session, Fernando Alonso, driving for Renault, was reprimanded and fined €10,000, after crossing the pitlane entry line early on in the second session. Rain overnight meant that the Valencia track began with almost no rubber on the surface, but Robert Kubica was still able to carry enough speed to become the first man of the weekend to break into the 1:38s, with Rosberg and Bourdais close behind.{{cite web |access-date= 2008-10-05| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080912231847/http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2008/8/8261.html| archive-date= 12 September 2008 | url-status= live}}{{cite web |access-date= 2008-10-05| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20081012140803/http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/69979| archive-date= 12 October 2008 | url-status= live}} There were minimal mishaps, with only Hamilton and Timo Glock spinning. Jarno Trulli spent the majority of the session in the pits with gearbox problems, completing only two laps.{{cite web |access-date= 2008-10-05| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080912231901/http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2008/8/8264.html| archive-date= 12 September 2008 | url-status= live}}

After the third practice, but before the qualifying session, the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile safety delegate, Charlie Whiting, announced that he had moved the pole position slot on the grid to the right side, after observing the cars' behaviour during the practice sessions. Saturday afternoon's qualifying session was divided into three parts. In the first 20-minute period, cars finishing 16th or lower were eliminated. The second qualifying period lasted for 15 minutes, at the end of which the fastest ten cars went into the final period, to determine their grid positions for the race. Cars failing to make the final period were allowed to be refuelled before the race but those competing in it were not, and so carried more fuel than they had done in the earlier qualifying sessions.

Massa clinched pole position with a time of 1:38.989, and was joined on the front row by championship leader, Hamilton.{{cite web |access-date=2009-08-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090822234557/http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/69986 |archive-date=2009-08-22 |url-status=live

Race

The conditions on the grid were dry before the race. The air temperature was 28 °C and the track temperature was 44 °C.

The front-runners of the race started the race cleanly, but at turn four Alonso and Nakajima collided; Alonso retired from, what was in effect, his home race, while Nakajima had a new nose, and rejoined.{{cite web |access-date=2009-08-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090822234627/http://live.autosport.com/commentary.php/id/4 |archive-date=2009-08-22 |url-status=live |access-date=2009-08-21}}

At his final stop, Felipe Massa's Ferrari was released from its pit stop into the path of Adrian Sutil's oncoming Force India car. There was no collision as Massa backed off as soon as he realised what had happened. This incident was deemed "unsafe" and was being investigated by the stewards. Shortly afterwards it was announced the incident would be investigated fully after the race. Ferrari was subsequently reprimanded by the stewards and fined €10,000, but the Brazilian kept his victory.

To add to Ferrari's pit stop blunders, Kimi Räikkönen left his pit box with his car's fuel hose still attached. The incident left a Ferrari mechanic Pietro Timpini with a minor fracture. Räikkönen also lost a place.

Nico Rosberg scored a "rare" point for his Williams Team by finishing eighth.

Classification

Qualifying

• – Rubens Barrichello and Adrian Sutil both made late gearbox changes, and consequently started from the pit lane.

Race

Championship standings after the race

;Drivers' Championship standings

;Constructors' Championship standings

• Note: Only the top five positions are included for both sets of standings.

References

References

1. (2008-08-24). "2008 European Grand Prix". The Official Formula 1 Website.
2. (2008-08-24). "Grand Prix of Europe". Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.
3. (2008-08-24). "2008 European Grand Prix fastest laps". The Official Formula 1 Website.
4. "Europe".
5. Jones, Bruce. (2009). "The Official ITV Sport Guide: Grand Prix 2009". [[Welbeck Publishing Group.
6. Jonathan Noble. (2008-08-21). "Drivers praise Valencia track layout". Haymarket Publications.
7. (2008-08-19). "Bridgestone races to new Formula One landmark". Bridgestone.
8. (2008-08-26). "McLaren MP4-23 - revised front winglets". The Official Formula 1 Website.
9. (2008-08-24). "Ferrari F2008 - revised sidepod chimneys and winglets". The Official Formula 1 Website.
10. Jonathan Noble. (2008-08-22). "Drivers hold silence for Madrid victims". Haymarket Publications.
11. Jonathan Noble. (2008-08-22). "Alonso reprimanded for crossing pit entry". Haymarket Publications.
12. (2008-08-23). "Sat practice: Kubica fastest for BMW". ITV-F1.com.
13. Pablo Elizalde. (2008-08-23). "Toro Rosso celebrate 'fantastic' result". Haymarket Publications.
14. Jonathan Noble. (2008-08-23). "Pole slot moved to right side of track". Haymarket Publications.
15. (2008-08-24). "Official FIA race report". Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.
16. (2008-08-24). "Europe: Massa fined, keeps win". Manipe F1.
17. (2008-08-24). "Pit-lane dramas plague Ferrari as Raikkonen retires".
18. "European GP 2008".
19. "2008 Formula 1 Telefonica Grand Prix of Europe". The Official Formula 1 Website.
20. (2008-08-23). "Qualifying Classification". The Official Formula 1 Website.
21. (2008-08-24). "As it happened - European Grand Prix". BBC Sport.
22. "Europe 2008 - Championship • STATS F1".