I've been to the Valencia Street Circuit as McLaren's reserve driver and walked around it and I've been around it in a simulator many times, but I had never driven it before this race weekend.
The biggest problem about the circuit, which a lot of drivers have complained about, is that off the racing line the track is very dirty, which makes it very difficult to overtake. Realistically, turn two is probably the only place where overtaking actually happens. There are two other long straights but it's so dirty off the racing line so it's almost impossible to do anything. In the first year the race was held there, it was particularly dirty so they brushed the track a lot to clear it the following year. But by the time of the race, it was just as dirty again.
For me, I can't say that Valencia is a circuit I know perfectly. If I close my eyes, I would say I maybe know 40 per cent of it by memory. But to properly learn a track for me, it takes about 10 laps. I'd say Lewis Hamilton can learn a circuit in about three laps as he's amazing at that but, for the rest of us drivers, it takes about 10 laps. People think that Valencia must be like Monaco as it's a street circuit, but it's completely different. Driving fast around Monaco, now that is such a great buzz. Wow, I can't describe that feeling.
Valencia is not the same. It's probably more forgiving for a driver as it's not so narrow and there are greater run-off areas, and maybe it's even a little bit boring. But whether a driver finds a track interesting or boring isn't really important at all, what matters above everything else is that there is overtaking. That's what the spectators expect and that's what they pay for. I don't want to be too hard, as the European Grand Prix is another great race for me. As a Spaniard, it is fantastic to have two home races and, everyone knows in this sport, that it's not easy to get two home races in Formula One.
So when I race there I will feel extremely proud, and that's thanks to the Spanish fans. Obviously, Fernando Alonso's the star, but I feel they treat me, Fernando and Jaime Alguersuari equally. There's something about the Spanish - more than any nationality in fact - that they back their people equally. Racing in front of your home crowd doesn't necessarily mean more pressure, although, in Barcelona for example, it meant I was doubly disappointed when I crashed out. I was sorry for the fans and also for my friends and family.
My parents were watching in Barcelona but they won't be in Valencia. They don't like watching me and never have - they just get so nervous - so for me it's probably best that they don't come along. Going back to the circuit, it is one of those places where it's all about qualifying. Where you qualify tends to be often where you finish so a qualifying lap becomes particularly important. The main points of interest are turn two - a right-hander which is the best place to watch on television as that's where all the overtaking will probably happen. In previous races here, a lot of people have locked up their brakes here - you try to brake late to give yourself the best chance to be fast but you need to be careful not to overdo it.
The next challenging corner is turn four. It's narrow and fast as it turns to the left and precision is required to avoid hitting the Armco barrier. There comes another slight overtaking opportunity at turns seven and eight, but you risk ruining your race in the process as cars can easily come together here. After that, it's long straights and short corners until the hairpin at turn 17, another point where spectators might see some overtaking if they're lucky. And maybe the other corner to mention is the final one - it slows you right down on entry before picking up speed for the final straight.
There are challenges for the circuit despite the lack of overtaking. It's very bumpy as a driver - you're shaking all over the place - and it's very hard on the tyres so you need to be kind to your tyres as a driver. As for Valencia itself, it's a great, colourful city. I'm from Barcelona, so I'd have to say that's the best city in Spain. But Valencia is fun too and it will be a fun weekend whatever happens on the racing track. motoring@thenational.ae