Setting the scene for Valencia
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Setting the scene for Valencia

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Amid the blistering heat in Spain, all the talk was of Lotus, Romain Grosjean, and the possibility of having Fernando Alonso and Sebastian Vettel in the same team, as Jonathan Noble explains

With the mercury nudging 35C for much of the day in the Valencia paddock, it was hard to imagine anyone other than Mad Dogs and Englishmen being happy wandering around in the midday sun.

But while the blisteringly hot weather made life difficult for everyone going about their business on Thursday afternoon, down at Lotus the predictions of even more sunshine was more than welcome - as it left its men as clear favourites to deliver what could be an eighth different winner this season.

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