Bridgestone wary of street circuit’s bridge section

According to Spanish newspaper Diario AS, Bridgestone is concerned that a small height gap between the two sides of Valencia’s swing bridge (see photo) may cause punctures.

The FIA’s technical boss, Charlie Whiting, walked around the track to inspect its layout. He is considering making changes to the bridge section prior to the race - although quite what those changes might be is anyone’s guess.

Problems ahead of next month’s European GP

Valencia’s new street circuit hosted Spanish F3 and GT Open series races at the weekend, in what amounted to a dry run for next month’s F1 European Grand Prix. Everything seemed to run smoothly, although there are still many rough edges that need to be smoothed before the F1 circus rolls into town.

Encouragingly, the guinea pig drivers seemed to like the track: “On Thursday night, I really though that it would not be finished, but now I am very impressed,” GP2 driver Adrian Valles told El Mundo, “The circuit is very pretty, it is fast and seems very unlike Monaco, as the corners in the Principality are slower. It is closer to a permanent circuit than a street circuit.”

More fuel for the anti-McLaren conspiracy theorists

Part of Kimi Raikkonen’s exhaust fell off during the French GP, but should he have been allowed to drive round with it hanging off in the first place? It could have flown off in any direction. Worst case scenario: it hits another driver, or a steward, or a spectator.

Okay, the chances of that happening are very slim indeed, but why do we get the nagging feeling that had it been a McLaren, then different action may have been taken? Hmm… (strokes beard pensively)

Charlie Whiting should have at least ordered a black-and-orange flag, forcing Kimi into the pits; some might say the Ferrari driver deserved to see a full black flag.