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Europe 2010 - Race highlights - The Valencian race surprises with a fascinating afternoon

Published by Christine

We didn't think it was going to be a good one, but the European Grand Prix in Valencia certainly delivered. Even if you were left wanting by the action or the controversies, it would be hard to call that a dull race.

We've got all the action covered for you in the Factbyte Factbox replay, including which drivers may or may not be penalised, and the ultimate Red Bull victor. Enjoy!

As it happened: 2010 Europe - The Race

  • 12:30

    Hello and welcome to the Factbyte Factbox for the European GP! Yay! Otherwise known as Valencia! Boo.

  • 12:32

    Trulli preparing to leave the garage: http://twitpic.com/20f3yh

  • 12:33

    We are live commenting the session here: https://sidepodcast.com/livecommenting Join us, if you have not already!

  • 12:33

    This week, the Factbyte Factbox has a few snazzy updates. If you're following live and in Chrome, you can get desktop notifications each time it updates. Like now.

  • 12:35

    If you're in the UK, you can follow the BBC live commentary and stream: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/8765162.stm

  • 12:35

    Autosport also have live updates: http://live.autosport.com/commentary.php/id/240

  • 12:37

    Don't forget to keep your eye's peeled for anything that would make Christine's Rankings. Glock is currently leading the championship: https://sidepodcast.com/2010/06/21/calmness-falls-on-this-weeks-christines-rankings/

  • 12:41

    From @alanbaldwinf1: See Adrian Newey was having a good look at the back end of the Renault on the grid.

  • 12:45

    SchumiSchumacher takes to the grid.

  • 12:46

    Rubens being interviewed: http://twitpic.com/20f7my

  • 12:51

    From @autosportlive: If the safety car does appear, look out for opportunistic moves at the final corner, which is beyond the line where overtaking can begin.

  • 12:55

    From @edb_lotusracing: Just back from my wander around the grid. It's a good chance to see all the cars close up. Odd to see the Mercs so close to us! 6mins 2 go

  • 12:56
    Circuit Data
    Track Temp46°
    Air Temp26°
    Wind Speed2mps
    Humidity45%
  • 12:58

    From @InsideFerrari: Everything is ready on the grid. It nice to race in front of such an enthusiatic crowd...

  • 12:59

    @ManipeF1: 83,443 people in to see this afternoon's European GP. That's 162,785 for all three days.

  • 13:00

    The cars are off on their parade lap. All away cleanly so far.

  • 13:01

    For anyone who missed qualifying, Vettel is on pole with Webber alongside him on the front row. Full starting order: https://sidepodcast.com/2010/06/26/europe-2010-qualifying-results/

  • 13:02

    From @VirginRacing: Both lotuses on primes. So are we. Chd on options

  • 13:03

    Vettel's formation lap is very, very slow, but they are reaching the grid now. Ready for the lights.

  • 13:04

    Hamilton zipped past Webber on the start, as Mark falls back to fifth.

  • 13:05

    Hamilton radio: "Vettel hit me. Vibration on the left front."

  • 13:07
    Driver Positions
    1VettelRed Bull
    2HamiltonMcLaren
    3AlonsoFerrari
    4MassaFerrari
    5KubicaRenault
  • 13:08

    Vettel has posted the fastest lap so far, a 1:43.768.

  • 13:10

    From @tonyfernandes: jarno bad luck continues. wing hit. heikki keeping pace with .jarno has gear box problems .

  • 13:12

    Trulli pits again.

  • 13:15

    SchumiWebber chasing down the Williams in front - Nico Hulkenberg - after a terrible start sees him down in 9th place.

  • 13:16

    Red Bull mechanics preparing for Webber to pit.

  • 13:16

    Slow stop for Webber. Luck is against him today.

  • 13:18

    Rosberg pits.

  • 13:19

    Webber in a huge crash, very similar to the GP2 crash earlier. Collided with Kovalainen, into the air and then into the wall - high speed. He's okay and out of hte car.

  • 13:20

    Safety car deployed.

  • 13:20

    Everybody pits!

  • 13:22

    Comment from Alex Andronov: Who had just been saying that mark had been unlucky today... I think he was just very lucky.

  • 13:22

    Hamilton has changed his front wing.

  • 13:24

    Schumacher was up to third before pitting, but had to wait at the end for the safety car pack to pass.

  • 13:25

    Webber and Kovi crashMark Webber mounts the back of Heikki's Lotus.

  • 13:26

    Kovalainen radio: "I was defending and I think he ran into me."

  • 13:28
    Driver Positions
    1VettelRed Bull
    2HamiltonMcLaren
    3KobayashiSauber
    4ButtonMcLaren
    5BarrichelloWilliams
  • 13:28

    Of note, Kobayashi is up to third but has not pitted yet.

  • 13:29

    Schumacher stopping again - changes tyres. Safety car coming in this lap.

  • 13:30

    A great picture of the media - you've got to be fit to catch up with Webber: http://twitpic.com/20fitq

  • 13:32

    Vettel's restart wasn't great - made a big gap but messed up the first corner - retains the lead... just.

  • 13:33

    Alonso passes Hulkenberg for 9th place.

  • 13:35

    Vettel and Hamilton are pulling away from Kobayashi - already a gap of 3.4 seconds.

  • 13:38

    We all assumed Trulli had retired, but he is back out on track now, three laps down on everyone else.

  • 13:39

    Hamilton saving fuel now, hoping to attack later.

  • 13:41

    Going into lap 20, Vettel leads, whilst Webber and Kovalainen are both out of the race. The fastest lap is with Vettel.

  • 13:42

    Nico Rosberg radio: "Ease off the brakes, we're in a bad situation with the brakes."

  • 13:42

    Vettel and Hamilton still pulling away - ten seconds ahead of Kobayashi.

  • 13:43

    Race Control announce Car 2 under investigation - something Alonso was head complaining about on his team radio.

  • 13:45

    From @rf1paddockpass: 20/57 laps in the race. Robert is still closing up on BAR, hope he can overtake him soon.

  • 13:45
    One to Watch
    Barrichello
    vs.Kubica
    5th+0.76th
  • 13:48

    Gap to KamuiKobayashi holding up the rest of the pack in shocking style, allowing Vettel and Hamilton to scamper away.

  • 13:49

    From @ManipeF1: WEB out of the medical centre and walking down the paddock. Great news. Not good news for his championship though.

  • 13:49

    Drive through penalty for Lewis - overtaking the safety car.

  • 13:51

    A bigger version of the Kobayashi train graphic: http://twitpic.com/20fofs

  • 13:53

    TV cameras show the debris - From @VirginRacing: Timo has seen a beer bottle on track!

  • 13:54

    Hamilton serves his drive through penalty. Comes back out still in second.

  • 13:56
    Top Speed
    Sector 1Massa288kph
    Sector 2Sutil310kph
    Sector 3Sutil238kph
    Speed TrapAlguersuari313kph
  • 13:57

    Alonso radio: "Lewis was second, he is second. It's very unfair, but let's look at ourselves, try and get points, and see what happens afterwards."

  • 13:57

    Should clarify, that was Alonso's engineer to Fernando, explaining the situation.

  • 13:58

    A mechanic sprinted out on track to retrieve the beer bottle. All is clear. Brave man!

  • 14:00

    After 30 laps, Vettel still leads, we still have only the two retirements - Webber and Kovi - and Kobayashi is still holding everyone up. Hamilton has taken the fastest lap, though.

  • 14:02
    One to Watch
    Alguersuari
    vs.Schumacher
    16th+0.917th

    Schumacher trying to make his way back through the field after a poor safety car strategy call. He's not getting very far.

  • 14:04

    From @autosportlive: Button, fourth, has no challenge for Kobayashi and seems to be waiting for the Sauber to stop.

  • 14:05

    Kubica radio: "The car is a little bit hot, if you can get out of the dirty air of Barrichello."

  • 14:06

    If the race finished now:

    Live Championship Standings
    PosDriverPts
    1Hamilton127
    2Button118
    3Vettel115
    4Webber103
    5Alonso96
  • 14:11

    Glock not managing to get out the way of the front runners, but hit the wall instead. Gave himself a puncture and had to pit.

  • 14:13

    Senna has pitted for a new front wing.

  • 14:14

    Hamilton stuck behind backmarkersBack when Hamilton was held up by the backmarkers.

  • 14:14
    One to Watch
    Buemi
    vs.Sutil
    7th
    +0.78th
  • 14:17

    Hulkenberg pits - engine troubles.

  • 14:17

    Schumacher sets the fastest lap of the race so far: 1:39.895

  • 14:22

    Race Control: Cars 1, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 22 all under investigation after the race. SC inlap time.

  • 14:23
    Inter-Team Battle
    Force India
    Sutil
    7th
    Liuzzi14th
  • 14:26

    Numbers translated into drivers: Button, Barrichello, Hulkenberg, Kubica, Petrov, Sutil, Liuzzi, Buemi, De La Rosa

  • 14:28

    Hamilton fastest lap: 1:39.776.

  • 14:28

    Just nine laps left to go and Kobayashi has not pitted at all.

  • 14:31

    Kobayashi and Button have now managed to pull away from the rest of the field with a gap of 9.6s to Barrichello.

  • 14:33

    Hulkenberg pulls off and out of the race. Climbs from the car and kicks the tyres. Not happy.

  • 14:34

    Hulkenberg radio replay - told to stop by a fire marshal in case there's a fire.

  • 14:37

    Hulk retiresThe Williams retires from the race.

  • 14:37

    Kobayashi pits... finally!

  • 14:38

    Kobayashi returns to the grid in 9th place.

  • 14:40
    Driver Positions
    1VettelRed Bull
    2
    HamiltonMcLaren
    3ButtonMcLaren
    4BarrichelloWilliams
    5Kubica
    Renault
  • 14:41

    From @InsideFerrari: Now it is just matter to bring the car home and wait for the Stewards' decision

  • 14:42
    One to Watch
    Alonsovs.Kobayashi
    8th+0.29th
  • 14:43

    Final lap. All eyes on Kobayashi as he passes Alonso up the inside. He is now 8th.

  • 14:44

    Vettel wins the European Grand Prix! Hamilton and Button join him on the podium... pending investigation.

  • 14:45

    Kobayashi passes Buemi on the very last corner of the race. Amazing.

  • 14:46

    Remaining points positions to:

    Driver Positions
    6SutilForce India
    7
    KobayashiSauber
    8BuemiToro Rosso
    9AlonsoFerrari
    10De La Rosa
    Sauber
  • 14:48
    Live Championship Standings
    PosDriverPts
    1Hamilton127
    2Button121
    3Vettel115
    4Webber103
    5Alonso96

    *Pending investigation

  • 14:55

    Vettel race winnerThe winner.

  • 14:55

    Thanks for joining us for the race today. Live commenting will continue as the BBC discuss the race in their F1 Forum. https://sidepodcast.com/livecommenting

  • 14:57

    We'll be back in two weeks time for the British GP. See you then!

All content in the series Europe 2010