.:: 2011 European GP - 24-25-26 June ::.

.:: LV GRAND PRIX OF EUROPE ::.

Welcome to the 2011 European GP Thread. cjek and mjk1 will keep the thread updated with the latest times as they happen.

RANDOM FACT

In last year's GP2 Sunday race, Josef Kral had an almost identical crash to the one Mark Webber would suffer later in the day.

CIRCUIT STATS

2010 Race Number: 8
Circuit Event Number: 4
Circuit Length: 3.367 miles
Number of Laps: 57
Lap Record: 1:38.683 (T.Glock, 2009)

2010 Podium
1. Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull)
2. Lewis Hamilton (McLaren)
3. Jenson Button (McLaren)

POINTS OF DISCUSSION

1. With engine mapping changes banned between qualifying and the race, will this start to become the downfall of Red Bull or will it prove to vindicate their true pace all along?
2. It was confirmed that there will still only be a single DRS detection zone for the two DRS areas this weekend. Given only the brief glimpse we saw in Canada, is this good or bad?
3. Where, if at all, does the 2011 Canadian GP rank in your favourite races of all time?
4. With another upgrade to their diffuser, can Williams further cement themselves in the points scorers?
5. Will anybody use a Lotus as a launch ramp this weekend?

SCHEDULE FOR WEEKEND (All Times UK)

Friday 24 June: Practice one - 0900-1030; Practice two - 1300-1430

Saturday 25 June: Practice three - 1000-1100; Qualifying - 1300

Sunday 26 June: Race - 1300

WEEKEND WEATHER

FRIDAY: White Cloud, Max. 25 deg. cent.
SATURDAY: Sunny, Max. 27 deg. cent.
SUNDAY: TBC

PRESS CONFERENCE SCHEDULE

THURSDAY: TBA

FRIDAY: TBA

QUALIFYING: TBC

RACE: TBC

BBC PRESENTS: 2011 European Grand Prix - Friday (Link Available Soon)

PREVIOUS SESSIONS
FP1 (Unavailable)
FP2 (Unavailable)
Quali (Unavailable)
Race (Unavailable)
Forum (Unavailable)

1. With engine mapping changes banned between qualifying and the race, will this start to become the downfall of Red Bull or will it prove to vindicate their true pace all along?
   
   I have my doubts, I have a feeling that the front runners will all be as effected as each other. If anything Mercedes, Renault and HRT could have the most to gain given that their diffusers are all less dependant on the hot air flow through them.
   
2. It was confirmed that there will still only be a single DRS detection zone for the two DRS areas this weekend. Given only the brief glimpse we saw in Canada, is this good or bad?
   
   Personally I'd like to see two seperate detection points, this would mean that the driver who was passed would have a chance to re-take the position. This would also counter a move ala Button on Schumacher where one can pass the car in front in the first activation zone and then sail away in the second with an overtake boosting device used not for boosting the chances of an overtake if that makes sense.
   
3. Where, if at all, does the 2011 Canadian GP rank in your favourite races of all time?
   
   Due to the relatively poor connection I have to the internet I'm almost completely unable to watch the races live. Which is good because I would have rather gouged my eyes out than sit for 3 hours waiting to re-start the race (thank Hitler for free VPN software and BBC iplayer). I missed the best bits of the race so I can't really comment. Sounds like it was pretty good though.
   
   
4. With another upgrade to their diffuser, can Williams further cement themselves in the points scorers?
   
   You mean perhaps beat Force India? It's a pity Williams can't get what appeared to be a solid car in winter testing working.
   
5. Will anybody use a Lotus as a launch ramp this weekend?
   
   Unlikely.

DoTD: Vettel, clean race again and put the doubters behind with the change in engine revs.

SoTD: Alguersuari, good race from the back to the points, plus, you know, that aweome D1 video.

Relatively boring race by this season's standards. Think I'm going to do a rain dance when I'm at Silverstone in a fortnight's time!!

DotD: Alguersuari ( I refuse to give this award to someone who crusies round at the front and doesn't have to do any real driving! )

SotD: Hamilton for the "I can't go any slower" followed a few laps later by "I can't go any faster" comments in response to messages from his engineer :D - Particulary love the "can't go any slower" one :lol:

Relatively boring race by this season's standards. Think I'm going to do a rain dance when I'm at Silverstone in a fortnight's time!!SadPSPAddict

Please do. Just... not on the Saturday, please. I'm out then and given my close proximity to the circuit anyways, it's the last thing I need...

DotD: Alguersuari

SotD: Schumacher - entertaining as always :roll:

Hard one...

DotD: Vettel (nice and clean, like a robot);
SotD: Algersuari.

DotD: Alguersuari

SotD: Hamilton. Like Charlie Sheen, he only has one gear: "Go".