Driver of the day in Valencia?

There was so much going on in the European Grand Prix that it was hard to decide on a driver of the day, something often asked on social media and on TV.

(c) Octane Photographic

There were some great drives on Sunday, as well those who were not so good. In this quick blog I will explain my choices for driver of the day and also add some from the fans as well.

I thought I would start by analysing my choices for driver of the day. I could not decide on 1 so decided on 2 instead, those are:

• Kimi Raikkonen
• Mark Webber

I decided on Raikkonen because I have been immensely impressed with his pace since his return but also his consistency. He has finished in the points 7 times in the 8 2012 races so far which is something a certain someone who returned to F1 did not do. He has also managed 3 podiums since his return and currently is in contention for the title, its great to see him running at the front again. In Europe he started badly thanks to a terrible chop by Maldonado. However instead of towering down the field he managed to overtake and get ahead of people to finish 2nd, a feat which is difficult around the Valencia track.
I also thought Webber did a very good job. He mimicked what he did in China last season and used the extra, fresh tyres to his advantage. I was extremely disappointed with his exit in Q1 but my perception of the result changed when I realised he had a DRS problem. DRS is very valuable in qualifying so he did well just to start where he did. He weaved his way through the field and I was very impressed with the fact that he did not tangle or get caught up in the incidents. Thats extremely difficult in 2012 with the massive front nose cones but he put in some great lap times, the team also giving him very fast pit stops.

I'm not putting down other drivers like Alonso and Schumacher who equally did well, it was just the fact that some drivers stood out to me more.

F1 fans are so passionate and enthusiastic so when I asked my twitter followers who their driver of the day was, or where, I got a great response. Here are some of their answers:

@F1coverage

"@JackLeslieF1 It has to be Fernando. Opportunistic,majestic.Made 3 passes in 2 laps before safety car.Wouldn't have been possible otherwise."

@KolhamsterdamF1

"@JackLeslieF1 #JLF1 PETROV, invisible until he passed a Ferrari. In a Caterham !!"

@F1_Fans_Updates

"@JackLeslieF1 Alonso, he was my driver of the day! A bit of luck but Great drive!"

@Sinniebaby

"@JackLeslieF1 Fernando Alonso and Mark Webber #JLF1"

@appleseed_08

"@jackleslief1 mine is Webber. He had a brill drive from 19th & he had good fight with Michael for a lot of the race . #JLF1"

@LoisMarketing

"@JackLeslieF1 Alonso with honourable mention to Senna, battling back and able to grab the point for Williams when Maldonado lost it #JLF1"

@FakeSauber

"@JackLeslieF1 #JLF1 Webber and Petrov"