After the "follow my leader" end to the Canadian GP, Formula One needed an interesting and eventful European Grand Prix, round 9 of the Championship, to regain some lost credibility. The revised Nurburgring circuit certainly offers several overtaking opportunities and is an exciting circuit to watch and drive. The cars do seem very close in performance at this time with variations more in tyre performance one suspects than in any other area. This variation itself being very dependant on the prevailing weather. So we should get good racing.

Qualifying brought a first-ever pole position for Kimi Raikkonen. It was a superb inch-perfect lap which was well received at Mercedes' home event. Michael Schumacher was next up followed by brother Ralf and Montoya in the Williams. Bernie Ecclestone's pre race tip was for a Williams victory, and how often is he wrong? Other notables in the top ten were 6th position for Panis in the much improved Toyota, now with more power, and Coulthard in a lowly 8th position. The McLaren driver's ability is not in doubt but neither are the facts that 1) he has yet to get to grips with single lap qualifying and 2) he is going through a very bad spell of form.

Race day was warm and mainly sunny and at the off Raikkonen got an absolute flyer to lead into the first corner. Pole position here is on the outside "used" part of the track and all on that side fared better with improved traction. Barrichello also got a good start and got up to fourth just behind Michael.

The race settled into the order Raikkonen, Ralf, Michael, Barrichello, Montoya, Trulli, Alonso, Panis and Coulthard. The lead McLaren seemed in a class of its own and simply drove away from the opposition at around 1 second per lap. On lap 16 Raikkonen was the first to pit along with Michael. Next lap it was the turn of Barrichello, Montoya, Alonso and Coulthard. Ralf's stop was not until lap 21 which made his qualifying performance even more impressive and Bernie's prediction was looking like a good one.

On lap 26 "Iceman" Raikkonen's engine let go, much to the embarrassment of Mercedes. As he was "helped" from the scene the ice suddenly melted and a repeat of the James Hunt marshal bashing incident looked likely. However cool was soon returned along with a great disappointment. So now it was Ralf from Michael but nothing much else had changed.

The 2nd pit stops started at Lap 36 with both Ferraris and also Panis. For once the Ross Brawn strategy looked flawed as Michael rejoined behind Coulthard and the battling Renaults and got bottled up. However on the very next lap Trulli retired, Panis spun and retired and Alonso pitted, so all was well.

On lap 40 Montoya pitted and managed to pass Rubens "in the pits" as it were - and you thought there was no overtaking in Formula 1! Buoyed by this success the Columbian was closing on Michael quite quickly. Do any of you remember Montoya in Indycar ? He was really exciting to watch there and clearly fancied his chances with Michael in Germany. Going down to the right handed hairpin he had a good run. Michael defended leaving Montoya the outside line or nothing. To the turn in point they were side by side. No way from there surely ? Wrong - given only just enough room up the inside Michael locked up and slid into the William's sidepod. Normally this would have tipped the outside car in to a spin, but not on this occasion. Montoya continued and it was Michael who spun in to the gravel.

Now you need the rule book out. The car did not stall and was clearly in a dangerous position. Michael called for and got a push from seemingly an entire complement of marshals and continued. Legal - well yes, we are told. Would a Minardi have got going and not been penalised ? Let's hope so. For a while it seemed that Montoya was under investigation which surely would have been ridiculous.

There was some entertainment also with Coulthard harrying Alonso who clearly was very short of brakes. Odds on the experienced Scot, I would have thought, but when things are not going right they are not going right. Down into the last chicane David had a good run, Alonso moved to the centre of the track to defend and the McLaren driver, deciding I think to go the long way around, got out of shape under braking and spun into retirement. Thank goodness he missed the back of the Renault.

So to the last knockings with Ralf followed by Montoya, Barrichello, Alonso, Michael, Webber, Button and Heidfeld. At the very last corner Michael was so close to Alonso that they almost touched but positions were retained.

It would appear that with a new BMW deal in their pocket Williams are most definitely in the ascendancy as are McLaren, certainly with Raikkonen. Toyota too are looking better and better. Renault are good in parts and current losers are Jordan, maybe BAR and Sauber who are all under performing. With the new car failing to dominate I wonder how comfortable Ferrari are feeling right now ?

So we did have incident, but with two of the most notable overtaking manoeuvres ending in tears - Schuey/Montoya and Coulthard/Alonso F1 does still have a problem. Current regulations have lead to equal cars, which is great, but they are also preventing the best drivers in the world from racing wheel to wheel which is what we all want. Next week-end: Magny Cours.

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Raikkonen was excellent in qualifying and the race

The Brothers contemplate Kimi's first pole

Ralf heads the two Ferraris - all the way

Lauda gets to drive a Ferrari again

The first corner still plays havoc with all the suspensions

Either Ferrari or Michael fans - mania is alive and well

Into the smoke of a blowing McLaren goes the Renault

Pablo looks unhappy that Ralf has outdriven him - again

Celebration for those 1000 championship points

pics by Ferrari, DPPI & Schlegelmilch