The inaugural European Grand Prix to be held around Valencia's Juan Carlos I Marina circuit had been anticipated with fevered expectation - but the on-track action, or rather lack of it, failed to live up to pre-race hopes.
There may have been a great deal of build-up and anticipation ahead of the inaugural European Grand Prix held around the harbour-side streets of Valencia at the weekend, but the venue came in for just as much criticism in the wake of its first Formula 1 race for being widely deemed 'boring'.
Much had been expected of what is effectively now Spain's second grand prix after Barcelona, with teams and drivers predicting thrills and spills galore, numerous safety car periods and perhaps even an unusual pecking order around the Juan Carlos I Marina circuit. Very little of that actually materialised.
With the top three men in qualifying being the same three men as appeared on the podium at the end of the grand prix, and precious little in the way of overtaking making for a processional race from lights to chequered flag, the media - who had previously trumpeted the arrival of what they described as one of the most exciting new events on the F1 calendar in years - were quick to pounce.
'Ho-hum in Valencia', commented the International Herald Tribune, whilst even Spain's national newspapers were no kinder.
'A boring track,' blasted sports daily Marca, 'with hardly any possibilities for overtaking.'
'A boring race,' echoed Diario Sport. 'At this venue, pole position is crucial.'
'It was a procession,' agreed El Mundo Deportivo, 'during which nothing happened, except for that which should not have happened - [Fernando] Alonso retiring.
'It was a grand prix with much glamour but no safety car. The most exciting place was the pit-lane.'
Indeed, Ferrari's pit-stop travails with both race-winner Felipe Massa and defending world champion Kimi Raikkonen were arguably the sole highlights of the race - and BMW-Sauber test driver Christian Klien admitted that he had expected considerably more.
"I was actually surprised that it was a relatively boring race in which nothing really happened," the Austrian former Jaguar and Red Bull Racing ace told Credit Suisse emagazine. "In the other categories racing here we saw some really good racing, with spectacular overtaking."
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I totally agree ginger gitt's comment about Hungary being the most tedious race on the calender, which is the reason why i haven't watched it for 2yrs!
Magny Cours is a boring circuit too which lacks elevation i feel, same with Hockenheim.
Silverstone needs to be reprised asap.
Not all doom and gloom though as we have a new circuit to look forward too in Dubai for 2009 and Korea 2yrs later.
I really feel the night race in Singapore will be a great spectacle, just wait and see!
Bernie drops Silverstone and this year we had a great race. We lose the Nurburgring this year because its Hockenheims turn. Last year Spa was missing because the facilities weren't 5-star. And yet Magny-Cours gets its contract renewed. And the Hungary gets its contract extended despite being the most tedious race on the calender for years. An honour which it now seems to have lost. Obviously making more money for the sponsors and massaging Bernie's ego are more important than providing a genuine race for the fans. And as for the Lewis-knocker, if Hamilton had won that race, it still would have been boring, and thats coming from someone who believes he's one of the best on the grid.
The race was promised to be the best thing ever, so much hype and then what? Not even a safety car, there was not much action, but on the bright side Massa did a superb race!
if hamilton had led the race from start to finish,and won as comfortably as massa did.i doubt if the race would have been described as boring
I think the same race could occur in Singapore. The drivers are once again on a new circuit and won't have the confidence they would during day racing. We're probably in for another sleeper. It should be something to see with sparks flying from the under carriages and brake discs glowing in the corners, but that will wear off after the first 20 laps.
I was sooo looking forward to this race. I really enjoy the street circuits. After a 2 weeks of F1 withdrawal I was ready for a great race with the odds evened a bit between the teams due to a new track. Pre-race analysis heaped promises of overtaking that Monaco can't deliver. What a disappointment. I enjoy the strategy of the sport and the race in the pits, but without the drivers challenging for position (and not just from the start) on the track I'd just as soon watch NASCAR. I know it's a bunch of left turns mostly, but at least on the super speedways there's action. 30 cars all at 320+ KPH and 1-30 are only seperated by 1 second and 3-4 cars abreast. THAT kind of driving my fiends will tighten your colon.
The circuit at Valencia has a few flaws but i wouldn't say its a bad circuit. Definitely needs more run-off and a wider pit lane exit for safety. All the slower corners are extremly narrow which makes over-taking very difficult.
Definitely lacks the class in scenery that normally comes with a street circuit.
I think Singapore will have more to offer.
Tbh i don't see what's wrong with a night race and what people are fussing about!
Various driving disciplines race at night so why the hell not F1!!?
concrete slabs left and right....like watching two hours of scalectric zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz mr tilke makes it all very efficient and may i say...German(no offence meant) zzzzzzzzzzzzz
At least in Singapore we won't be able to see how @#$% it looks! Racing in the dark - what an utterly stupid idea.
Sadly, I have to agree. You couldn't even look at the 'stunning architecture', as most of the buildings were hidden behind the high fences - something Monaco seems able to avoid. What was visible seemd to be the normal dockside buildings you would see anywhere. The people who have spent many millions on this circuit at Bernie's behest must be well cheesed off. I think they should return the designs to Herman (the German)Tilke as 'unfit for purpose'
Well this doesn't bode well for Singapore, another one of Bernie's 'World Class' circuits.
We can only hope that it has been designed differently, oh sorry I forgot Bernie only signs one designer. So look forward to much of the same.
I am not sure about the circuit itself. but this is a boring race with no doubt. Hopefully something different at next year.
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