F1-Blog

Valencia Preview

This weekend sees a new track join the F1 parade.

The Valencia circuit is a street track based around the Valencia dock front. The track has been custom built and setup for the race, with part of the circuit on specially made roads, and other parts of it on the normal roadways and bridges around the area.

The race is a complete unknown in it’s design, speed and difficulty. Although most teams and drivers are likening it to the Monaco circuit.

If it does drive like the Monaco track, then the McLaren’s should be the team to beat around here. The team look strong at this stage of the season, with a car that is certainly the match, if not better than the Ferrari’s. However it will be interesting to see how far the other teams have progressed in the holiday break.

There has been a testing ban on over the last few weeks so the teams have been unable to take the cars to tracks and test, but with all the CFD and Wind Tunnel testing they will almost all come with new parts on the cars this weekend.

Toyota did well at the last race, stepping above the Red Bull cars in pace, so it will be interesting to see how far both of the teams have come since then. The Toro Rosso cars should have the new Red Bull parts on their cars this weekend as well, and could be contenders for points as Vettel has been quick in the practice sessions.

Williams seem to have stopped or at least slowed development of their 08 car, judging that their time and money is better used on the 09 contender. But it will be interesting to see if they have brought anything new this weekend.

As for winners and podiums, I’m not going to make any predictions, however it’s highly likely that it will be McLaren and Ferrari at the end of the race.