European Grand Prix diary

Skysports.com reflects on another race to confound - Valencia finally giving us one worthy of the name.

Sunday
To paraphrase Sir Alex Ferguson: "Formula 1? Bloody hell." Fernando Alonso thought a podium was out of the question after Qualifying on Saturday, never mind a victory. But the season continues to confound and, for once, tyres did not seem to be the overriding factor in the events we witnessed. The usual combination of skill, bravado and determination was evident as Alonso climbed his way through the field, that pass on Romain Grosjean telling us everything we need to know about the double World Champion....perhaps triple World Champion? Now there's a thought. The season is not yet at its halfway mark, of course, but he's leading again - and that car will only improve. Surely 1986 was the last time a driver, Alain Prost, became Champion in a car that clearly wasn't the best one out there? Caught up as I am in this wonderful weekend for Spanish sport, I'm probably getting a little carried away. But it was quite something to witness and Valencia has finally delivered a race worthy of the name. Next stop Silverstone, but in the meantime attentions are starting to switch to Euro 2012 once more and this evening's big match. Fingers crossed for an England win - and also that the Easyjet crew are in a position to give us score updates! Saturday
Being occasionally caught in the reflected glow of a World Champion is, I'm learning, an occupational hazard when doing this. It's happened twice in the space of about 12 hours: leaving the track last night, I cadged a lift off Craig Slater and as we eased out of the car park, we found ourselves in the wheeltracks of Sebastian Vettel, who had drawn to a halt to deal with an excited posse of autograph-seeking fans. Vettel is known for his friendly demeanour and it evidently rubbed off this time because, after he sped off and we inched forward towards the throng, we were met by a sea of smiling faces chorusing a cheer. If it wasn't the Vettel charm in action, then I can only assume that Sky Sports News is very popular in this part of the world. Craig, of course, handled all the adulation with aplomb - a friendly wave from behind the wheel seeing us on our way (although he did stall at the first set of traffic lights we reached). Then this morning, the journey in search of breakfast was thwarted by the arrival of Fernando Alonso, who obviously inspires a whole different level of adulation to both Sebastian Vettel and Craig Slater around these parts. Bacon sarnie dispatched, it was down to the business of the day: a pole position for Vettel that ranks him alongside Jim Clark and Alain Prost. Quite an evening followed, with football naturally taking centre stage. Bars and restaurants along the beachfront were crowded, whilst Spain's victory was celebrated joyously. By that time (gone 11pm) the beach was very crowded indeed, but this is a happening unconnected with the beautiful game and more to do with a celebration of the summer solstice. Families gather around campfires before going for a midnight dip, the ritual climaxing with 12 dives through successive waves - an act which apparently absolves one from all sins. By that time I was heading back to the hotel, the sound of car horns and firecrackers ringing in my ears. Friday
Formula 1 is back on the Iberian peninsula for the second time in six weeks. Spain is the only country to host two Grands Prix - an irony, certainly, given the expense involved and the fact the country is stuffed to the gills with debt (€62billion being the latest estimate for a required bank bailout). The likelihood that Barcelona and Valencia will end up sharing the Spanish Grand Prix therefore comes as little surprise although, by the sounds of it, this particular event might be lucky to survive at all. The local government threw money at it, as it did the America's Cup, when times were good but now they've been left with an event that, frankly, has never really caught the imagination. Coming here, first impressions make it difficult to see why that's the case. Like Montreal, Valencia is clearly a great city to visit - a blend of the very old and the startlingly new - and the idea of a harbourfront track, swingbridge and all, sounds fantastic on paper. Alas, it hasn't proved the case in reality, with cars struggling to overtake even with DRS. Speaking to one or two team personnel it seems as though Singapore (which also appeared on the calendar in 2008) has stolen Valencia's thunder somewhat. All things considered, it's no surprise at all to hear that grandstand capacity has been reduced this year. The timing also seems to be a problem. Comparing the European Grand Prix with Euro 2012 is a bit like comparing a white dwarf to a black hole: certainly nothing or no-one seems able to escape the pull of the latter right now. The drivers are questioned about it almost as much as they are about the matter in hand whilst, walking into the city centre, every bar was showing the match between Germany and Greece. For those flying home on Sunday night, plans are already being hatched as to how they can watch as much of the England game as possible. It takes me back two years, to the race here in which Mark Webber's hopes went skywards - a shunt which would have been all over the evening news were it not for the fact that Germany stuffed England in Bloemfontein a couple of hours later. Passing under the radar and no longer making financial sense, the Valencia Grand Prix has its back to the wall right now. High time, therefore, that it served up a cracking race. In this season of all seasons, we can hope. But how many people out there will actually notice?