'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
After a trip to Canada, the Formula 1 teams are again back in Europe for the upcoming European Grand Prix in Valencia. Seven races have resulted as many different winners this season and while some predict this streak will be over after this weekend, others think there will be even more records broken with an eighth different winner.
DRS zone
For the European Grand Prix, the FIA has set only one DRS zone, which will be located at the back stretch of the Valencia Street Circuit between turns 10 and 12. The detection point will be located 132 meters ahead of turn 8 and the activation point will start at turn 11. Last year the FIA had set a double DRS zone on this circuit, but chose to drop one of them; the zone between turns 14 and 17 has been left out.
Trending
Tires
For the European Grand Prix the teams will be provided with the soft (yellow) and medium (white) compound tires. Every team will be provided with six sets of the harder compounds (also known as Prime tires) and five sets of the softer tires (known as Option). Also the intermediates (green) and full wet (blue) tires will of course be available in case of rainy weather conditions.
Remember?
Last year, Sebastian Vettel had taken his sixth victory of the season in the European Grand Prix. It was a good weekend for the Red Bull team as his teammate Mark Webber came in third and marked a double podium finish for the team. Ferrari had enjoyed a good race as well as Fernando Alonso came in second. However, teammate Felipe Massa could have had a better result as a slow pit stop held him back. He eventually finished fifth, behind Lewis Hamilton who was able to pass him in the final stages of the race. In a rare occasion, the race had not seen any DNF’s.
Back to reality
As the teams are still looking for something that will make them stand out and take the lead in the standings, several of them have revealed to introduce updates to their cars in the European Grand Prix. The Mercedes team has changed some components to their DRS, hoping it can get driver Michael Schumacher out of the DNF list. Out of the seven races, Schumacher failed to finish in five of them. Also the Caterham team is doing its best to improve. In order to get closer to the midfield, the team will introduce several updates to their car in Valencia. The same goes for Ferrari, who are still looking for a pace that will make them satisfied. Driver Felipe Massa has been underperforming so far this season, but has shown a drastically improved pace in the Monaco Grand Prix. However, there was nothing left of this great pace in Canada and the team is doing its best to get the driver back on track again for the remainder of the season.
Weather conditions
Warm weather conditions are predicted for the European Grand Prix weekend with temperatures around 27 degrees Celsius.
Event schedule Formula 1 Grand Prix of Europe 2012 – local time
Friday, 22 June 201210.00 – 11.30: Practice 114.00 – 15.30: Practice 2
Saturday, 23 June 201211.00 – 12.00: Practice 314.00 – 15.00: Qualifying
Sunday, 24 June 201214.00: 2012 Formula 1 European Grand Prix
