2008 European Grand Prix

The 2008 European Grand Prix, otherwise known as the 2008 Formula 1 Telefónica Grand Prix of Europe, was the twelfth round of the FIA Formula One World Championship, staged at the Valencia Street Circuit in Valenica, Spain, on 24 August 2008.'12. Europe 2008', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2008/europe.aspx, (Accessed 18/03/2020)'Europe 2008: Massa stakes title claim in Valencia.', crash.net, (Crash Media Group, 24/08/2008), https://www.crash.net/f1/race-report/63280/1/europe-2008-massa-stakes-title-claim-in-valencia, (Accessed 18/03/2020) The race would see Felipe Massa sweep to victory for , in-spite of a controversial pit-lane incident.
The European Grand Prix moved to Spain for the 2008 season amid the growing popularity of Fernando Alonso and F1 in general, with the Nürburgring in Germany having lost the right to host the race.[Archived] 'Valencia street race for 2008', formula1.com, (FOA, 10/05/2007), https://web.archive.org/web/20070513232445/http://www.formula1.com/news/6058.html, (Accessed 18/03/2020) - Original In its place, the city of Valenica was chosen to host the race, constructing a street circuit around the city's harbour and centred upon the America's Cup dock.
Into the race weekend itself and Massa was the first driver to master the new circuit, dancing to pole position in qualifying ahead of Championship leader Lewis Hamilton. Robert Kubica was next ahead of Kimi Räikkönen in the second , while Heikki Kovalainen edged out Sebastian Vettel to secure fifth.
Massa duly aced his getaway at the start of the race to secure an early lead, while Hamilton had to fend off the attentions of Kubica to secure second. Behind, Kovalainen streaked ahead of compatriot Räikkönen for fourth, while David Coulthard was spun to the back of the field.
There was more drama further around the opening tour, as Spain's hero Alonso received a whack from behind from Kazuki Nakajima, destroying the back of the . Both cars trailed back to the pits to retire, with Alonso in a foul mood having already been fined €10,000 for crossing the pit-exit line during practice.
Out front, meanwhile, Massa would escape from Hamilton in the early laps, aided by the fact that Kubica was looming large in the Brit's mirrors. Kovalainen and Räikkönen were next ahead of Vettel, Jarno Trulli and Nico Rosberg, with the race quickly turning into a procession.
Kubica's pace would collapse as the first stops approached, resulting in Kovalainen, Räikkönen, Vettel and Trulli to form a queue behind him. Yet, it was race leader Massa who was the first to stop, diving in on lap fifteen, and despite a quick stop would end up rejoining in between the two Finns.
Hamilton and Kubica stopped a lap later, with Hamilton opting for a very short stop to try and jump Massa, but the ploy failed. The rest of the stops for the lead group were conducted over the following few laps, leaving Massa still leading from Hamilton, Kubica in third with a new front wing, and Kovalainen still ahead of Räikkönen.
The second stint saw Massa extend his advantage over Hamilton to a comfortable margin, although a mistake by his pitcrew put his entire race into jeopardy. Indeed, the Ferrari crew managed to release Massa right into the path of Adrian Sutil, resulting in the pair running side-by-side through the pit-exit. The officials immediately announced that the incident was under investigation, although the Brazilian racer still had a healthy lead over Hamilton.
Indeed, Massa would spend the rest of the afternoon wondering what his punishment would be, as he cruised through the final stint to secure victory ahead of Hamilton. Kubica duly completed the podium after fending off a late charge from Kovalainen, while Trulli, Vettel, Timo Glock and Rosberg secured the remaining points.
After the race it was announced that Ferrari would be reprimanded for Massa's unsafe release, while a second incident at Räikkönen's second stop, which saw the Finn released with the pit-hose still attached, saw them fined €10,000.[Archived] 'Europe: Ferrari fined, Massa keeps win', manipef1.com, (Manipe F1, 24/08/2008), https://web.archive.org/web/20090823082049/http://www.manipef1.com/news/articles/7675/, (Accessed 18/03/2020) - Original The incident left a Ferrari mechanic Pietro Timpini with a minor fractures.
==Background==
Lewis Hamilton saw his Championship lead grow by a single point as a result of the Hungarian Grand Prix, leaving the Hungaroring with a five point advantage. Kimi Räikkönen had moved into second to be the Brit's closest challenger, with Felipe Massa's engine failure potentially crucial to the outcome of the Championship as he slipped eight behind. Elsewhere, Robert Kubica and Nick Heidfeld retained their top five status, although they had been reeled in by race winner Heikki Kovalainen.
In the Constructors Championship it was who continued to lead the way, although their advantage at the head of the field had been reduced. Indeed, had moved to within striking distance after Kovalainen's fortunate Hungaroring triumph, leaving Hungary just eleven off the lead. Behind, had made way for the Anglo-German alliance and slipped to third, while had moved ahead of their customers to secure fifth.
===Entry list===
The full entry list for the is outlined below:
No. 	Driver 	Entrant 	Constructor 	Chassis 	Engine 	Model 	Tyre
1 	Kimi Räikkönen 	Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro 	 	F2008 	 	056 2008 2.4 V8 	
2 	Felipe Massa 	Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro 	 	F2008 	 	056 2008 2.4 V8 	
3 	Nick Heidfeld 	BMW Sauber F1 Team 	 	F1.08 	 	P86/8 2.4 V8 	
4 	Robert Kubica 	BMW Sauber F1 Team 	 	F1.08 	 	P86/8 2.4 V8 	
5 	Fernando Alonso 	ING Renault F1 Team 	 	R28 	 	RS27 2.4 V8 	
6 	Nelson Piquet, Jr. 	ING Renault F1 Team 	 	R28 	 	RS27 2.4 V8 	
7 	Nico Rosberg 	AT&T Williams 	 	FW30 	 	RVX-08 2.4 V8 	
8 	Kazuki Nakajima 	AT&T Williams 	 	FW30 	 	RVX-08 2.4 V8 	
9 	David Coulthard 	Red Bull Racing 	 	RB4 	 	RS27 2.4 V8 	
10 	Mark Webber 	Red Bull Racing 	 	RB4 	 	RS27 2.4 V8 	
11 	Jarno Trulli 	Panasonic Toyota Racing 	 	TF108 	 	RVX-08 2.4 V8 	
12 	Timo Glock 	Panasonic Toyota Racing 	 	TF108 	 	RVX-08 2.4 V8 	
14 	Sébastien Bourdais 	Scuderia Toro Rosso 	 	STR3 	 	056 2007 2.4 V8 	
15 	Sebastian Vettel 	Scuderia Toro Rosso 	 	STR3 	 	056 2007 2.4 V8 	
16 	Jenson Button 	Honda Racing F1 Team 	 	RA108 	 	RA808E 2.4 V8 	
17 	Rubens Barrichello 	Honda Racing F1 Team 	 	RA108 	 	RA808E 2.4 V8 	
20 	Adrian Sutil 	Force India F1 Team 	 	VJM01 	 	056 2007 2.4 V8 	
21 	Giancarlo Fisichella 	Force India F1 Team 	 	VJM01 	 	056 2007 2.4 V8 	
22 	Lewis Hamilton 	Vodafone McLaren Mercedes 	 	MP4-23 	 	FO 108V 2.4 V8 	
23 	Heikki Kovalainen 	Vodafone McLaren Mercedes 	 	MP4-23 	 	FO 108V 2.4 V8 	
Source:'Europe 2008: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2008/europe/engages.aspx, (Accessed 18/03/2020)	Source:'Europe 2008: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2008/europe/engages.aspx, (Accessed 18/03/2020)	Source:'Europe 2008: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2008/europe/engages.aspx, (Accessed 18/03/2020)	Source:'Europe 2008: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2008/europe/engages.aspx, (Accessed 18/03/2020)	Source:'Europe 2008: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2008/europe/engages.aspx, (Accessed 18/03/2020)	Source:'Europe 2008: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2008/europe/engages.aspx, (Accessed 18/03/2020)	Source:'Europe 2008: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2008/europe/engages.aspx, (Accessed 18/03/2020)	Source:'Europe 2008: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2008/europe/engages.aspx, (Accessed 18/03/2020)
==Practice Overview==
==Qualifying==
===Q1===
===Q2===
===Q3===
===Qualifying Results===
The full qualifying results for the are outlined below:
Pos. 	No. 	Driver 	Team 	 	Q1 	Q1 	 	Q2 	Q2 	 	Q3 	Q3 	Grid
Pos. 	No. 	Driver 	Team 	 	Pos. 	Time 	 	Pos. 	Time 	 	Pos. 	Time 	Grid
1 	2 	Felipe Massa 	 	 	3 	1:38.176 	 	2 	1:37.859 	 	1 	1:38.989 	1
2 	22 	Lewis Hamilton 	 	 	6 	1:38.464 	 	5 	1:37.954 	 	2 	1:39.199 	2
3 	4 	Robert Kubica 	 	 	5 	1:38.347 	 	6 	1:38.050 	 	3 	1:39.392 	3
4 	1 	Kimi Räikkönen 	 	 	13 	1:38.703 	 	8 	1:38.229 	 	4 	1:39.488 	4
5 	23 	Heikki Kovalainen 	 	 	11 	1:38.656 	 	7 	1:38.120 	 	5 	1:39.937 	5
6 	15 	Sebastian Vettel 	 	 	2 	1:38.141 	 	1 	1:37.842 	 	6 	1:40.142 	6
7 	11 	Jarno Trulli 	 	 	1 	1:37.948 	 	4 	1:37.928 	 	7 	1:40.309 	7
8 	3 	Nick Heidfeld 	 	 	14 	1:38.738 	 	3 	1:37.859 	 	8 	1:40.631 	8
9 	7 	Nico Rosberg 	 	 	9 	1:38.595 	 	9 	1:38.336 	 	9 	1:40.721 	9
10 	14 	Sébastien Bourdais 	 	 	10 	1:38.622 	 	10 	1:38.417 	 	10 	1:40.750 	10
11 	8 	Kazuki Nakajima 	 	 	12 	1:38.667 	 	11 	1:38.428 	 	 	 	11
12 	5 	Fernando Alonso 	 	 	4 	1:38.268 	 	12 	1:38.435 	 	 	 	12
13 	12 	Timo Glock 	 	 	7 	1:38.532 	 	13 	1:38.499 	 	 	 	13
14 	10 	Mark Webber 	 	 	8 	1:38.559 	 	14 	1:38.515 	 	 	 	14
15 	6 	Nelson Piquet, Jr. 	 	 	15 	1:38.787 	 	15 	1:38.744 	 	 	 	15
16 	16 	Jenson Button 	 	 	16 	1:38.880 	 	 	 	 	 	 	16
17 	9 	David Coulthard 	 	 	17 	1:39.235 	 	 	 	 	 	 	17
18 	21 	Giancarlo Fisichella 	 	 	18 	1:39.268 	 	 	 	 	 	 	18
19 	17 	Rubens Barrichello 	 	 	19 	1:39.811 	 	 	 	 	 	 	19
20 	20 	Adrian Sutil 	 	 	20 	1:39.943 	 	 	 	 	 	 	20
Source:'2008 FORMULA 1 TELEFÓNICA GRAND PRIX OF EUROPE - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Limited, 2006), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2008/races/836/europe/qualifying.html, (Accessed 18/03/2020)	Source:'2008 FORMULA 1 TELEFÓNICA GRAND PRIX OF EUROPE - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Limited, 2006), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2008/races/836/europe/qualifying.html, (Accessed 18/03/2020)	Source:'2008 FORMULA 1 TELEFÓNICA GRAND PRIX OF EUROPE - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Limited, 2006), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2008/races/836/europe/qualifying.html, (Accessed 18/03/2020)	Source:'2008 FORMULA 1 TELEFÓNICA GRAND PRIX OF EUROPE - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Limited, 2006), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2008/races/836/europe/qualifying.html, (Accessed 18/03/2020)	Source:'2008 FORMULA 1 TELEFÓNICA GRAND PRIX OF EUROPE - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Limited, 2006), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2008/races/836/europe/qualifying.html, (Accessed 18/03/2020)	Source:'2008 FORMULA 1 TELEFÓNICA GRAND PRIX OF EUROPE - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Limited, 2006), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2008/races/836/europe/qualifying.html, (Accessed 18/03/2020)	Source:'2008 FORMULA 1 TELEFÓNICA GRAND PRIX OF EUROPE - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Limited, 2006), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2008/races/836/europe/qualifying.html, (Accessed 18/03/2020)	Source:'2008 FORMULA 1 TELEFÓNICA GRAND PRIX OF EUROPE - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Limited, 2006), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2008/races/836/europe/qualifying.html, (Accessed 18/03/2020)	Source:'2008 FORMULA 1 TELEFÓNICA GRAND PRIX OF EUROPE - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Limited, 2006), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2008/races/836/europe/qualifying.html, (Accessed 18/03/2020)	Source:'2008 FORMULA 1 TELEFÓNICA GRAND PRIX OF EUROPE - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Limited, 2006), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2008/races/836/europe/qualifying.html, (Accessed 18/03/2020)	Source:'2008 FORMULA 1 TELEFÓNICA GRAND PRIX OF EUROPE - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Limited, 2006), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2008/races/836/europe/qualifying.html, (Accessed 18/03/2020)	Source:'2008 FORMULA 1 TELEFÓNICA GRAND PRIX OF EUROPE - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Limited, 2006), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2008/races/836/europe/qualifying.html, (Accessed 18/03/2020)	Source:'2008 FORMULA 1 TELEFÓNICA GRAND PRIX OF EUROPE - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Limited, 2006), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2008/races/836/europe/qualifying.html, (Accessed 18/03/2020)	Source:'2008 FORMULA 1 TELEFÓNICA GRAND PRIX OF EUROPE - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Limited, 2006), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2008/races/836/europe/qualifying.html, (Accessed 18/03/2020)
*T Indicates a driver used their test/spare car to set their best time in that session.
*Bold indicates the fastest driver's time in each session.
===Grid===
* Barrichello and Sutil both started the race from the pitlane for changing their gearboxes.
==Race==
===Report===
To add to Ferrari's pit stop blunders, Kimi Räikkönen left his pit box with his car's fuel hose still attached. The incident left a Ferrari mechanic Pietro Timpini with a minor fractures.
===Results===
The full results for the are outlined below:
Pos. 	No. 	Driver 	Constructor 	Laps 	Time/Retired 	Grid 	Points
1 	2 	Felipe Massa 	 	57 	1:35:32.339 	1 	10
2 	22 	Lewis Hamilton 	 	57 	+5.611s 	2 	8
3 	4 	Robert Kubica 	 	57 	+37.353s 	3 	6
4 	23 	Heikki Kovalainen 	 	57 	+39.703s 	5 	5
5 	11 	Jarno Trulli 	 	57 	+50.684s 	7 	4
6 	15 	Sebastian Vettel 	 	57 	+52.625s 	6 	3
7 	12 	Timo Glock 	 	57 	+1:07.990 	13 	2
8 	7 	Nico Rosberg 	 	57 	+1:11.457 	9 	1
9 	3 	Nick Heidfeld 	 	57 	+1:22.177 	8 	
10 	14 	Sébastien Bourdais 	 	57 	+1:29.794 	10 	
11 	6 	Nelson Piquet, Jr. 	 	57 	+1:32.717 	15 	
12 	10 	Mark Webber 	 	56 	+1 Lap 	14 	
13 	16 	Jenson Button 	 	56 	+1 Lap 	16 	
14 	21 	Giancarlo Fisichella 	 	56 	+1 Lap 	18 	
15 	8 	Kazuki Nakajima 	 	56 	+1 Lap 	11 	
16 	17 	Rubens Barrichello 	 	56 	+1 Lap 	PL 	
17 	9 	David Coulthard 	 	56 	+1 Lap 	17 	
Ret 	1 	Kimi Räikkönen 	 	45 	Engine 	4 	
Ret 	20 	Adrian Sutil 	 	41 	Accident 	PL 	
Ret 	5 	Fernando Alonso 	 	0 	Collision 	12 	
Source:'Europe 2008: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2008/europe/classement.aspx, (Accessed 18/03/2020)	Source:'Europe 2008: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2008/europe/classement.aspx, (Accessed 18/03/2020)	Source:'Europe 2008: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2008/europe/classement.aspx, (Accessed 18/03/2020)	Source:'Europe 2008: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2008/europe/classement.aspx, (Accessed 18/03/2020)	Source:'Europe 2008: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2008/europe/classement.aspx, (Accessed 18/03/2020)	Source:'Europe 2008: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2008/europe/classement.aspx, (Accessed 18/03/2020)	Source:'Europe 2008: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2008/europe/classement.aspx, (Accessed 18/03/2020)	Source:'Europe 2008: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2008/europe/classement.aspx, (Accessed 18/03/2020)
*T Indicates a driver used their test/spare car.
==Milestones==
* 200th Grand Prix appearance for Bridgestone as a tyre supplier.
* Ninth career victory for Felipe Massa.
** This was also the 75th win for a driver listed with #2 as their race number.[Archived] '2008 European GP', chicanef1.com, (Chicane F1, 2014), https://web.archive.org/web/20190410004757/http://chicanef1.com/racetit.pl?year=2008&gp=European%20GP&r=1, (Accessed 18/03/2020) - Original
* secured their 207th win as a constructor and engine supplier.
* Lewis Hamilton recorded the 190th podium finish for a engine.
==Standings==
Victory for Felipe Massa ensured that the Brazilian racer moved back up to second in the Championship hunt, and reduced the gap to title leader Lewis Hamilton to six points. Yet, Hamilton's real-time lead had effectively grown by a point as Massa had to overhaul Kimi Räikkönen to secure second, with the Finn himself having slipped thirteen points off the lead in third. Furthermore, Räikkönen was just two points ahead of Robert Kubica in fourth, while Heikki Kovalainen had moved back into the top five in fifth.
In the Constructors Championship had retained their grip on the head of the title charge, although their advantage had been cut to just eight points. Indeed, were continuing to chip away at the Scuderia's lead, and had established a fair margin of seventeen points over . Behind had moved ten clear of to enhance their hold on fourth, while were still the Championship's only non-scorers.
World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers
Pos. 	Driver 	Pts. 	+/-
1 	Lewis Hamilton 	70 	
2 	Felipe Massa 	64 	1
3 	Kimi Räikkönen 	57 	1
4 	Robert Kubica 	55 	
5 	Heikki Kovalainen 	43 	1
6 	Nick Heidfeld 	41 	1
7 	Jarno Trulli 	26 	
8 	Fernando Alonso 	18 	
9 	Mark Webber 	18 	
10 	Timo Glock 	15 	
11 	Nelson Piquet, Jr. 	13 	
12 	Rubens Barrichello 	11 	
13 	Nico Rosberg 	9 	
14 	Sebastian Vettel 	9 	2
15 	Kazuki Nakajima 	8 	1
16 	David Coulthard 	6 	1
17 	Jenson Button 	3 	
18 	Sébastien Bourdais 	2 	
World Championship for Constructors	World Championship for Constructors	World Championship for Constructors	World Championship for Constructors
Pos. 	Team 	Pts. 	+/-
1 	 	121 	
2 	 	113 	
3 	 	96 	
4 	 	41 	
5 	 	31 	
6 	 	24 	
7 	 	17 	
8 	 	14 	
9 	 	11 	
Only point scoring drivers and constructors are shown.
==See Also==
==References==
Images and Videos:
*
References:
Category:Grand Prix articles
Category:2008 Grands Prix
Category:European Grand Prix
Category:Formula One races in Spain