European Grand Prix (2010) RESULT

The European Grand Prix Valencia 2010

With Vettel on pole will this be a Red Bull walkover? Or can Hamilton bully his way to victory in Valencia?

The 2010 European Grand Prix in Valencia was really about the Red Bulls. Vettel managed to start from pole and end up on the top step after the chequered flag. Team mate Mark Webber didn’t fare so well. From a poor start – where he seemed to be going backwards when everyone else was going forwards – he had a shunt and a half when he drove in to the back of Heikki Kovalainen’s Lotus at close on 200mph, flipped his car and ran off in to the tyre wall. Thankfully he emerged pretty much unscathed.

In between these two extremes the race unfolded. The safety car that came out after Webber’s prang was also the cause of more drama. As the safety car emerged from the pits Hamilton was leading the Ferraris on track past the pit exit. He slowed as he saw the safety car emerge and then accelerated away. The Ferraris slowed and stayed behind the safety car. That moments hesitation by Hamilton when he slowed meant the safety car crossed the line just feet ahead of Hamilton.

As a result Hamilton suffered a drive-through penalty and Alonso – who was behind Hamilton when the incident occurred – suffered apoplexy at the perceived unfairness as Hamilton went on to come a close second to Vettel and he ended an also-ran. Stroppy Spaniard spiked in his own back yard. Oh, he did pout and stomp.

Button was also able to take advantage of the safety car and was first in the pits as the safety car emerged. When Button rejoined he was up to fourth behind the Sauber of Kamui Kobayashi who had chosen not to pit. Unfortunatley for Button Kobayashi kept him locked in fourth so he was unable to join the race between Vettel and Hamilton at the front. But Kobayashi eventually pitted just six laps from the end after which Button put in the fastest lap of the grand prix. As for Kobayashi, he rejoined in ninth and was able to pass both Alonso and Buemi (Buemi at the final corner of the race) to take seventh place.

Rubens Barrichello brought his Williams in fourth place after Kobayashi’s late pit stop. Kubica’s Renault took fourth. But the drama wasn’t over after nine cars were inbvestigated for speeding under the safety car, including third place Button. Thankfully the ensuing penalty of five seconds made no difference to the result.

Not really a fan of the Valencia circuit, but this was a cracking race.