Thursday is walkin’ day

None of the F1 drivers has had a chance to actually drive a full lap of Valencia yet - that chance will come tomorrow. For now though, it’s time to don a pair of sensible shoes and walk around the circuit:

Fernando Alonso checks out his second “home” track of the season.

More photos below…

Lewis and co. preview Spain’s new street circuit

What do the drivers think about Valencia? Here’s what:

Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari)
“I know Valencia, because we’ve done several tests here last winter, but now we’re racing in the city on a new track: I’m sure it will be a great atmosphere. I’ve seen the new track only from the position of an on-board camera and it seems to be very fast for a street circuit. I always love to drive on new tracks and I am always very quick to know them. I can’t wait to race at Valencia.”

More selected driver quotes after the jump…

A virtual rFactor lap of F1’s latest street circuit

Jenson Button has been using a high-tech simulator in a bid to learn every inch of the new Valencia street circuit. The simulator, located at Honda’s Brackley HQ, has been set up with data from the F3 race held at the track last month - it’s about as close to the real thing as an F1 driver can get.

“With that [the simulator] you’re not getting the complete feelings of the car but you are understanding distances, the braking points. It’s very useful,” Button said.

Watch a virtual Honda lap of Valencia after the jump…

Honda ace papped with ex-Destiny’s Child star

F1 bachelor Jenson Button, who split up from girlfriend Florence Brudenell-Bruce earlier this year, was snapped last night leaving Nobu with Kelly Rowland.

Celebs only dine at Nobu when they want to be photographed by paparazzi (see Lewis and his Pussycat Doll). Therefore we can only assume Jenson is having hot, entirely legal sex with the former Destiny’s Child singer.

Alonso’s murky future clears…

Nando Alonso is set to sign a £7.6m deal which will see him drive for Honda in 2009 - but the Japanese manufacturer won’t be able to stop the Spaniard joining Ferrari in 2010 - that is a done deal.

Honda chief Ross Brawn has been after Alonso for several months and now it seems he will get his man, if only for a stop-gap season. Alonso is the best development driver on the grid, and Brawn hopes that in one year, Alonso can be instrumental in transforming cash-rich Honda into a podium team.

A brighter future for Ross Brawn and co.?

HONDA
Drivers Jenson Button (GB) & Rubens Barrichello (Brazil)
Championship points 14

Read Grid Crasher’s verdict on Honda below:

Ferrari overhaul McLaren on final day at German track

Under-pressure Felipe Massa restored confidence at Ferrari by setting the pace on the third and final day of testing at the Hockenheim ring (which sounds like some disgusting German sausage, but isn’t).

Massa was the only driver to dip under the 1:15.00 mark yesterday. After completing 109 trouble-free laps, the Brazilian claimed he was happy with the team’s progress:

“It was a good day’s work… We did a lot of kilometres and I have to say the car felt well balanced. This can only mean we should also be competitive at this track, which is also the case for our main rivals.”

Honda will be encouraged by Jenson Button’s performance. The British driver was second-fastest, with Heikki Kovalainen in third for McLaren.

Full timesheet below:

Lewis turns down Jenson’s triathlon challenge

At a Reebok event on Tuesday, Lewis Hamilton had claimed he was fitter than Jenson Button. Yeah, cause it’s not like F1 drivers are competitive freaks, so Jenson was not going to let that line lie.

At yesterday’s Silverstone press conference, Super Jens dared Lewis to compete against him in the Bath Triathlon on 27 July, with the loser coughing up £10,000 to charity.

The two British drivers traded verbal blows, with David Coulthard egging Lewis on from the sidelines: “He’s throwing down a man challenge,” DC said, in a blatant attempt to wind up Hamilton. “You’re turning down a man challenge? You can’t turn down a man challenge!”

N*E*R*D play for star-studded party crowd

Pharrell Williams and band N*E*R*D played for select guests at the F1 Party last night. The party was held at London’s Bloomsbury Ballroom. Several drivers showed up, including Jenson Button, Mark Webber and Giancarlo Fisichella.

One notable absentee was Lewis Hamilton, who pulled out at the last minute due to the fat lip he sustained while kayaking last weekend.

Party photos coming right up…

Grid Crasher previews this weekend’s race at Silverstone

1. It will rain on Sunday afternoon That’s what the expert weather folks say, and who are we to doubt them. A wet GP is an unpredictable GP - but that’s not going to stop us from making another nine rash predictions…