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Sorry about the delay in writing this, but basically I had real trouble with this one. Valencia represented the ultimate expression of modern Formula 1. An event without heritage at a new, artificial and clinical venue, and a boring "race" with no overtaking.

I must admit my initial reaction wasn't so bad. This may have been the incongruity of Formula 1 cars whizzing round in a context where you'd normally expect to see cars and caravans queuing for a ferry, or maybe the concrete walls and sunshine reminded me of sprints held on Blackpool sea front. Also, I quite enjoyed the in-car stuff as it looked like a nice track to drive.

However, what's good for a sprint is not necessarily good for a GP. At least at the former there is variety and variability and there is easy access to fish n'chips and Mr Whippy and there's no room for any of that in F1. [For legal reasons, readers are requested to insert their own joke here - Ed.]. How can anyone think that a flat and featureless track lined with bare concrete walls and catch fencing makes good telly? Also. in these days of super-sophisticated computer simulation, how can it be possible to design a track where overtaking is impossible?

Despite all the "street circuit, new Monaco" hoohah, in reality, this was just another sterile Tilkedrome, only this time in a bleak dockyard. Of all the tracks he's done, there is only Istanbul Park which is any good. Still, I bet they've all got absolutely fantastic facilities and, of course, the paddock and the pits is the only place you go if you're actually involved in the thing. The only way this event could have been more contrived would have been to run it at night. Sorry, what's that Dear? Singapore?

Sebastian Vettel was the star of much of qualifying, topping the table in Q2 and ending up sixth in Q3. The performance of his Toro Rosso was put down to the fact that Ferrari have properly read the rules and carried out permissible development under the "sealed engine" regulations (exhausts, air filters, fluids) and others, like Renault, have not. There are not many things better than seeing someone getting one over on Flav, unless it's seeing Whingey Webber unhappy too!

Raikkonen's lack of form continued as he qualified fourth and was jumped by Kovalainen at the start. Massa made no mistake and comfortably out-dragged Lewis Hamilton - and that was it for the rest of the race!. The only drama for the Brazilian was when the team released him his second pit-stop into the path of Adrian Sutil. The incident was investigated by the Stewards, but fortunately they let Ferrari off with a reprimand and a fine. I bet Ron Dennis was thinking what if it had been McLaren.....

Ferrari's second pit-stop incident was when Raikkonen left with the fuel line still attached, pulling over a mechanic who fortunately was not seriously injured. Raikkonen later accepted responsibility for the accident and another poor weekend ended for him when his engine blew up on lap 45, the latest in a worrying series of Ferrari engine failures.

Crazy Dave was in the wars again, managing to run into someone for the "nth" time. It's just as well he's retiring, though I did see to my horror that he's touted to become the resident "expert" commentator when F1 coverage goes to the BBC. For me, this would mean either watching it with the sound off or not at all.

Massa drove very well all weekend and took a dominant win ahead of Hamilton with Kubica third and Kovalainen fourth. Toyota's good form continued with Trulli fifth and Glock seventh, sandwiching Vettel. Williams returned to the points with Rosberg in eight. Team mate Kazuki Nakajima was probably lucky to get out of the country alive after he rear-ended Alonso on the opening lap, causing the Spaniard to retire.

We move next to one of the last remaining proper circuits, Spa-Francorchamps. Raikkonen has always gone well here and he badly needs another good performance. President Luca di Montezemolo has expressed Ferrari's full confidence in and support for him in one of those statements that usually has football managers clearing out their lockers. Hopefully Spa will inspire him, though it would be actually better for Ferrari's championship.phpirations if Massa won. Stefano Domenicali has said Kimi will play a supporting role to teammate Massa if necessary.

Speculation is rife as to who will replace the underachieving Finn. He has a contract for next year, meaning there could be a vacancy in 2010. Significantly, both Alonso and Kubica only want deals for next year. Right now, there is a grumpy-looking German sitting on the pit wall who most Tifosi would love to see getting a go, but I suspect that by 2010 it'd be too late even for him.

At least at Spa we'll get some decent ambiente, even though the frites and mayo will only be a memory. Valencia has just brought something else to mind: who would have thought that the Las Vegas Grands Prix of the early '80s, held in the car park of Ceasar's Palace Casino, would to be the vision of the future? I suspect the reason now is the reason then - making more money.

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Boats yes, Monaco no

Late for the ferry

The start and it's over bar the shouting

Lap one and Fred's gone

The race in visual form

Martini added a welcome splash of colour

Kubica was back up there in third

For once, these were sub optimal....

...on-track Massa was masterly

Click for FIA lap chart

Meanwhile....

"C'mon Jean, they need us"

Who says....

....modern racing is all catch fencing and concrete?

pics by Ferrari Media, DPPI, FIA, Reuters, XPB, LAT, NFI, IRL & Sutton