Street circuit or not, the debate continues

The third running of the Grand Prix of Europe in Valencia this weekend raises the question of what constitutes a street circuit. A real street circuit uses the same roads used by you or me, as we go about our daily business. That makes the tracks bumpy, cramped and unforgiving. Sadly I don't believe Valencia is a street circuit.

The third running of the Grand Prix of Europe in Valencia this weekend raises the question of what constitutes a street circuit. A real street circuit uses the same roads used by you or me, as we go about our daily business. That makes the tracks bumpy, cramped and unforgiving. Sadly I don't believe Valencia is a street circuit.

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It is not alone. In this year's F1 World Championship there are six tracks that make the claim of being street circuits. In reality four of these are 'wannabes' and only two, Monaco and Singapore, live up to the billing.

Albert Park in Melbourne is a park. A road around a park isn't a street. Therefore Albert Park is not really a street circuit. The same can be said for the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Canada.

Even though Valencia may be wide of the mark in terms of purity and atmosphere, it doesn't mean we can expect a dull race. We can expect a battle royal between the McLaren and Red Bull Racing, with Lewis Hamilton the favourite.

The Briton has finished second in both previous races and neither of the drivers who beat him have the machinery to do so again.