Formula 1: European Grand Prix

by Bodog Sports | Aug 20 2008

Picturesque and full of potential pitfalls, it’s faster and wider than a traditional tight street circuit – like Monaco – so there should be plenty of opportunities for overtaking. Just how F1 racing should be!

To pick up where the season left off, McLaren’s Heikki Kovalainen won the Hungarian GP at the beginning of August, finishing ahead of Toyota’s Timo Glock, who recorded his best-ever F1 performance. But it’s his teammate, Lewis Hamilton, who still leads the world championship despite failing to make the most of pole position and eventually settling for fifth.

on Lewis Hamilton to win the European GP

As it’s been for most of the season so far, Hamilton’s pursuers are the Ferrari pair Felipe Massa and Kimi Raikkonen, who are both within a victory of leapfrogging the Brit. A little further back, BMW Sauber duo Robert Kubica and Nick Heidfeld cannot be discounted, though they need to start getting some big points on the board.

on Kimi Raikkonen to win the European GP

Out of championship contention but quietly confident of success in Valencia is Fernando Alonso. The two-time former world champion has had a patchy season in this, his return to the Renault fold, but will have been encouraged by his fourth-placed performance in Hungary, equalling his best finish of the year.

The Spaniard, of course, will be thrilled at the thought of putting on a good show in front of his ‘home’ fans, and will be doubly eager to impress after being forced to retire from Barcelona’s Spanish Grand Prix in April. Can Alonso seize the day and record a first GP victory of the season in Valencia? Or will the honours go to one of the genuine title contenders?

on Fernando Alonso to win the European GP

After the surprise of Kovalainen and Glock in Hungary, and the unknown quantity of a brand new circuit to contend with, anything can happen in the European Grand Prix

Driver Standings
1. Lewis Hamilton 62
2. Kimi Raikkonen 57
3. Felipe Massa 54
4. Robert Kubica 49
5. Nick Heidfeld 41

Constructor Standings
1. Ferrari 111
2. McLaren-Mercedes 100
3. BMW Sauber 90
4. Toyota 35
5. Renault 31