2008 European Grand Prix
All you want to know about 2008 European Grand Prix
| Race details | ||
|---|---|---|
| Race 12 of 18 in the 2008 Formula One season. | ||
 The Valencia Street Circuit |
||
| Date | August 24 2008 | |
| Official name | LII Telefónica Grand Prix of Europe | |
| Location | Valencia Street Circuit, Valencia, Spain | |
| Course | Street circuit 5.419 km (3.367 mi) |
|
| Distance | 57 laps, 308.883 km (191.931 mi) | |
| Weather | Sunny | |
| Pole position | ||
| Driver |  Felipe Massa |
Ferrari |
| Time | 1:38.989 | |
| Fastest lap | ||
| Driver | Felipe Massa |
Ferrari |
| Time | 1:38.708 on lap 36 | |
| Podium | ||
| First | Felipe Massa |
Ferrari |
| Second |  Lewis Hamilton |
McLaren-Mercedes |
| Third |  Robert Kubica |
BMW Sauber |
The 2008 European Grand Prix (formally the LII Telefónica Grand Prix of Europe) was a Formula One motor race held on August 24, 2008 at the Valencia Street Circuit, Valencia, Spain. It was the 12th race of the 2008 Formula One season. The race, contested over 57 laps, was won by Felipe Massa for the Ferrari team after starting from pole position. Lewis Hamilton finished second in a McLaren car, with Robert Kubica third in a BMW Sauber.[1]
Contents |
Report
Practice
The very first session on the newly opened Valencia Street Circuit was held on a dusty and slippery track,[2] but despite the drivers' relative unfamiliarity with the circuit there were no major incidents (though David Coulthard did hit the barriers late in the session).[3] Sébastien Bourdais went fastest early on, but it was his Toro Rosso team-mate Sebastian Vettel who posted the quickest time of the session. Massa and Hamilton scored the next two highest times, with Bourdais just behind them.[4] Following the session, the drivers and personnel observed a minute's silence for those killed in the plane crash in Madrid two days previously.[5]
Kimi Räikkönen topped the timesheets in second practice, having traded fastest times with team-mate Massa for the majority of the session.[6] Fernando Alonso had the set the quickest time late, but was surpassed by Räikkönen in his final flying lap.[7] A notable incident in the session involved Nico Rosberg spinning under brakes in the final corners, and narrowly missing Mark Webber on the inside, before rejoining the track with no damage done.[8] Big surprises in the session were Jenson Button running his Honda third, and Giancarlo Fisichella getting his Force India to tenth.[9]
Rain overnight meant that the Valencia track began with almost no rubber on the surface,[10] but Robert Kubica was still able to carry enough speed to become the first man of the weekend to break into the 1:38s, with Rosberg and Bourdais close behind.[11] There were minimal mishaps, with only Hamilton and Timo Glock spinning.[12] Jarno Trulli spent the majority of the session in the pits with gearbox problems, completing only two laps.[13][14]
 |
Please help improve this section by expanding it. Further information might be found on the talk page. (September 2008) |
Race
Felipe Massa's Ferrari was released from its pit stop into the path of Adrian Sutil's oncoming Force India car. There was no collision as Massa backed off as soon as he realised what had happened. This incident was deemed "unsafe" and was being investigated by the stewards. Shortly afterwards it was announced the incident would be investigated fully after the race. Massa was subsequently reprimanded by the stewards and fined €10,000, but the Brazilian kept his victory[15].
Kimi Räikkönen left a pit stop with his car's fuel hose still attached. The incident left a Ferrari mechanic with a minor fracture, as well as losing Räikkönen a place.[16]
Classification
Qualifying
| Pos | No | Name | Constructor | Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Grid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | Felipe Massa |
Ferrari | 1:38.176 | 1:37.859 | 1:38.989 | 1 |
| 2 | 22 | Lewis Hamilton |
McLaren-Mercedes | 1:38.464 | 1:37.954 | 1:39.199 | 2 |
| 3 | 4 | Robert Kubica |
BMW Sauber | 1:38.347 | 1:38.050 | 1:39.392 | 3 |
| 4 | 1 |  Kimi Räikkönen |
Ferrari | 1:38.703 | 1:38.229 | 1:39.488 | 4 |
| 5 | 23 | Heikki Kovalainen |
McLaren-Mercedes | 1:38.656 | 1:38.120 | 1:39.937 | 5 |
| 6 | 15 |  Sebastian Vettel |
Toro Rosso-Ferrari | 1:38.141 | 1:37.842 | 1:40.142 | 6 |
| 7 | 11 |  Jarno Trulli |
Toyota | 1:37.948 | 1:37.928 | 1:40.309 | 7 |
| 8 | 3 | Nick Heidfeld |
BMW Sauber | 1:38.738 | 1:37.859 | 1:40.631 | 8 |
| 9 | 7 | Nico Rosberg |
Williams-Toyota | 1:38.595 | 1:38.336 | 1:40.721 | 9 |
| 10 | 14 |  Sébastien Bourdais |
Toro Rosso-Ferrari | 1:38.622 | 1:38.417 | 1:40.750 | 10 |
| 11 | 8 |  Kazuki Nakajima |
Williams-Toyota | 1:38.667 | 1:38.428 | 11 | |
| 12 | 5 |  Fernando Alonso |
Renault | 1:38.268 | 1:38.435 | 12 | |
| 13 | 12 | Timo Glock |
Toyota | 1:38.532 | 1:38.499 | 13 | |
| 14 | 10 |  Mark Webber |
Red Bull-Renault | 1:38.559 | 1:38.515 | 14 | |
| 15 | 6 | Nelson Piquet Jr. |
Renault | 1:38.787 | 1:38.744 | 15 | |
| 16 | 16 | Jenson Button |
Honda | 1:38.880 | 16 | ||
| 17 | 9 | David Coulthard |
Red Bull-Renault | 1:39.235 | 17 | ||
| 18 | 21 | Giancarlo Fisichella |
Force India-Ferrari | 1:39.268 | 18 | ||
| 19 | 17 | Rubens Barrichello |
Honda | 1:39.811 | 19 | ||
| 20 | 20 | Adrian Sutil |
Force India-Ferrari | 1:39.943 | 20 |
Race
Standings after the race
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|
Notes
- Both Rubens Barrichello and Adrian Sutil started from the pit lane.
- Lap Leaders: Felipe Massa 50 (1–14, 20–36, 39–57), Lewis Hamilton 4 (15–16, 37–38), Robert Kubica 1 (17), Heikki Kovalainen, 2 (18–19).
- The car of race leader Felipe Massa's Ferrari was released from its second pit stop into the path of Adrian Sutil's oncoming Force India. Massa had to back off to avoid a collision. The stewards lauched an investigation into this and fined Massa €10,000.
- Ferrari's Kimi Räikkönen left a pit stop with his car's fuel hose still attached. The right rear tyre of Räikkönen's car hit Ferrari mechanic Pietro Timpini, who suffered a minor fracture to his right leg. Räikkönen did not last much longer in the race, retiring with an engine failure two laps later.
- Fernando Alonso's retirement meant that he retired from both of his home Grands Prix held in 2008.
- This race was Bridgestone's 200th Formula One Grand Prix since its full time entry in 1997.[17] The company's tyres were also used in the 1976 and 1977 Japanese Grand Prix therefore strictly speaking it was Bridgestone's 202nd Grand Prix.
References
- ^ "2008 Formula 1 Telefonica Grand Prix of Europe". The Official Formula 1 Website. Retrieved on 2008-11-10.
- ^ "Practice One - Vettel pips Massa in maiden Valencia session". Formula1.com (2008-08-22). Retrieved on 2008-10-05.
- ^ "Practice 1: Vettel upstages big guns". ITV-F1.com (2008-08-22). Retrieved on 2008-10-05.
- ^ Matt Beer (2008-08-22). "Surprising Vettel tops Valencia practice". autosport.com. Retrieved on 2008-10-05.
- ^ "Practice One - Vettel pips Massa in maiden Valencia session". Formula1.com (2008-08-22). Retrieved on 2008-10-05.
- ^ "Practice 2: Kimi's late show pips Alonso". ITV-F1.com (2008-08-22). Retrieved on 2008-10-05.
- ^ Matt Beer (2008-08-22). "Raikkonen steals Alonso's thunder in FP2". autosport.com. Retrieved on 2008-10-05.
- ^ "Practice 2: Kimi's late show pips Alonso". ITV-F1.com (2008-08-22). Retrieved on 2008-10-05.
- ^ "Practice Two - Raikkonen heads three-team tussle". Formula1.com (2008-08-22). Retrieved on 2008-10-05.
- ^ "Practice Three - Kubica takes his turn at the top". Formula1.com (2008-08-23). Retrieved on 2008-10-05.
- ^ Simon Strang (2008-08-23). "Kubica tops final Valencia practice". autosport.com. Retrieved on 2008-10-05.
- ^ "Sat practice: Kubica fastest for BMW". ITV-F1.com (2008-08-23). Retrieved on 2008-10-05.
- ^ "Qualifying - selected driver quotes". Formula1.com (2008-08-23). Retrieved on 2008-10-05.
- ^ Simon Strang (2008-08-23). "Kubica tops final Valencia practice". autosport.com. Retrieved on 2008-10-05.
- ^ "Europe: Massa fined, keeps win". Manipe F1 (2008-08-24). Retrieved on 2008-08-24.
- ^ "Pit-lane dramas plague Ferrari as Raikkonen retires" (2008-08-24).
- ^ "Bridgestone boss looks back on 200". GPUpdate.net (2008-08-23). Retrieved on 2008-08-30.
External links
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Wikinews has related news: Felipe Massa wins 2008 European Grand Prix |
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: 2008 European Grand Prix |
| Previous race: 2008 Hungarian Grand Prix |
FIA Formula One World Championship 2008 season |
Next race: 2008 Belgian Grand Prix |
| Previous race: 2007 European Grand Prix |
European Grand Prix | Next race: 2009 European Grand Prix |
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