Valencia dishes out the most exciting F1 race of 2012

VALENCIA, SPAIN – JUNE 24: Fernando Alonso of Spain and Ferrari celebrates on the podium after winning the European Grand Prix at the Valencia Street Circuit on June 24, 2012 in Valencia, Spain. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)

If you had an opinion that the Valencia street circuit is the most boring track in the F1 calendar, think again. Because we’ve just been treated to the most exciting F1 race in 2012 that was filled with overtakes, retirements incidents, shocking failures, and plenty of drama. Sure, we didn’t get the much hyped 8th different winner, but it was bound to happen at some point of time. Ferrari‘s Fernando Alonso became the first multiple winner of 2012, against all odds. I dare to say this, but don’t be surprised if Valencia turns out to be the crucial turning point in the battle for the world championship this year, considering the unpredictability that we’ve had so far.

The grid at the start of the race was in itself a bizarre one with drivers like Alonso, Massa, Schumacher and Webber being out of position in the midfield.

“It was an unbelievable qualifying session. There a lot of drivers we would expect to see at the front, aren’t at the front. They need to get through and we should see a lot of passing. It’s going to be titanic battle.” – Eddie Jordan

And it was a titanic battle indeed for those guys. Alonso, who started at 11th had a great start, jumped into 8th position at the end of the first lap. He had to keep moving up the field, and at the same time look after his tyres, as he was in a two strategy like most of the drivers.

At the same time, defending world champion Sebastian Vettel was going great guns, in a track where he has won two times in succession. He kept extending his lead by atleast one second per lap during the first quarter of the race. Lewis Hamilton was following him as a distant second. Romain Grosjean, who also had a great start, gave Lewis company until the 11th lap when the Frenchman passed the McLaren at turn 13. Meanwhile, a Finn in another Lotus was seen breezing past Pastor Maldonaldo to break into the top 5. Kimi Raikkonen, however, lost his spot to Alonso after the first round of pit stops.

At this point of time Michael Schumacher led a pack of almost 10 cars, rallying behind each other as if they were in a procession. Vettel was in his zone extending his lead to 20 seconds at the end of lap 20.

VALENCIA, SPAIN – JUNE 24: Sebastian Vettel (R) of Germany and Red Bull Racing leads the field at the start of the European Grand Prix at the Valencia Street Circuit on June 24, 2012 in Valencia, Spain. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)

It was lap 20, when we witnessed drama for the first time in this race. Bruno Senna trying to defend his place against Kamui Kobayashi in Sauber, banged his car into the wall side-first, then recovered superbly to get his car pointing in the right direction. He was given a drive-through penalty for his antics.Everyone went with a two-stop strategy except Paul di Resta, who was trying to get the best out of the tyres in his one-stop strategy and Caterham’s Vitaly Petrov, who took the aggressive three-stop strategy. However, it was a gamble worth taking for both men, given the fact that races in Valencia turn out to be monotonous during dry races. It was working in di Resta’s favor as there was limited action on the track at that point of time.

It was in lap 28 when all hell broke loose. Toro Rosso’s Jean Eric Vergne tried to make an ambitious move on the outside of Heikki Kovaleinen. They both made contact and got their tyres punctured. This led to a lot of debris on track, summoning the safety car into action. Suddenly, the race came alive at the expense of Jean Eric Vergne, who was under the scanner of the stewards for his immature driving. Vettel’s lead was thwarted, and Grosjean rekindled the hopes of a 8th different winner. Most of the drivers made into the pits while the safety car was about to take centerstage. Lewis Hamilton was one among them. His misfortune with pit stops continued as his front jack had problems. Even the promise of beers didn’t get the best out of the McLaren pit crew. He lost a lot of time and eventually dropped down the field. Paul di Resta’s plans too went haywire.

Lap 34. The safety car returned to the pits and the action resumed. Fernando Alonso pulled off a brilliant pass on Romain Grosjean to take 2nd position. This would turn out to be the most crucial overtake in the race. Later on in this lap, race leader Sebastian Vettel was seen slowing down. His race was over due to a engine failure. Frenetic action was seen in this lap throughout the field. Fernando Alonso was the biggest winner as he took the lead at the expense of an unfortunate Sebastian Vettel. However, Grosjean was giving Alonso company.

Lap 41. Another shocker as Romain Grosjean halted his car with a engine problem akin to Vettel’s one. Interestingly, both were Renault engines. However, one man was smiling through all of this. Fernando Alonso took a comfortable lead at the top ahead of Lewis Hamilton. Kimi Raikkonen was giving Lewis a hard time in third. Interestingly, Vitaly Petrov in Caterham was driving in 10th position for a point! However it wouldn’t last longer. A few laps later, Petrov made contact with Daniel Ricciardo, as the love affair between the Caterham and Toro Rosso cars continued.

Meanwhile, veterans Michael Schumacher and Mark Webber were making their way up the field. They made quick work of the Force India’s and were heading towards a top 5 finish.

On lap 56/57, Lewis Hamilton, running second, was bogged down by poor rear grip, and lost his place to Kimi Raikkonen, and Pastor Maldonaldo tried to pounce on Hamilton on the outside. However, they made contact and Hamilton banged into the walls, ending his race and most importantly losing crucial world championship points. Michael and Webber seized the opportunity and overtook Maldonaldo to take 3rd and 4th respectively. Maldonaldo would go on to finish 10th.

A lot of drama and lady luck paved way for Alonso’s first victory at Valencia. He started 11th and clawed his way up the field. What a weekend the Alonso’s are having. Xabi Alonso was in the headlines for his two goals in the Euro 2012 Quarterfinal against France, and now Fernando Alonso is giving the sporting enthusiasts in Spain much more to cheer about.

“You’d think the Spanish would be hoarse after the way they celebrated the football last night, but they are enjoying this win for Alonso.” – David Coulthard, former F1 driver

Kimi Raikkonen who started sixth, finished second and Michael Schumacher gained 9 places from 12th to finish third! This was Michael’s first podium since 2006. ‘Aussie grit’ Mark Webber gained a remarkable 15 places from 19th to finish fourth.

VALENCIA, SPAIN – JUNE 24: Race winner Fernando Alonso (R) of Spain and Ferrari celebrates on the podium with third placed Michael Schumacher of Germany and Mercedes GP following the European Grand Prix at the Valencia Street Circuit on June 24, 2012 in Valencia, Spain. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)

It was a dream podium, as three former world champions who had all driven for Ferrari lined up to receive their trophies. I bet that no one could’ve predicted this podium especially after the qualifying session.

The tyres played their part in making this race unpredictable, but it was also due to some awesome racing that this race can be regarded as the best races of this season.So much for Valencia being the least exciting race of the year!

“Well done to Valencia, what they served up today was enthralling. The winner came from 11th on the grid, on a circuit which they say you cannot pass on. – Eddie Jordan, F1 Legend“

It was one of those special races when the viewers are awestruck and dumbfounded by what happens in front of their own eyes. There is a no doubt, Valencia was the most exciting of the eight races we’ve had so far in this unpredictable F1 season. And I’m sure we have plenty more to come in the near future.