The first Formula One grand prix to be staged in Valencia, the ambitious Spanish Mediterranean port city that is also home to the America's Cup, should be a joyous occasion, but like everything else in Spain, the start of the racing weekend was overshadowed yesterday by Wednesday's plane crash in Madrid.

As the drivers arrived and got their first chance to see the new street track around the America's Cup harbour, where flags flew at half mast over the sailing team bases, Fernando Alonso caught the mood by calling on all his 19 rivals to agree to observe a minute's silence that may be held before the first session of free practice today.

“I will wear a black armband and I will talk with the drivers tomorrow,” the Spanish former world champion said. “Maybe we can do something before starting, maybe one minute's silence in the pitlane. It will definitely change the weekend for me, because it's a tragedy.”

The coming together of Formula One and its sailing equivalent should have been the opportunity for at least a symbolic showcasing of two of the world's most technically advanced sports, which share much in common, including several sponsors. But a glance around the harbour, where all the team bases are shut with their boats locked up inside, was enough to underline that this opportunity has been comprehensively missed.

Sources close to the sailing community here say Formula One did not want any “contamination” of its product by America's Cup teams and made it clear it did not want the sailing teams to get involved in the weekend, even if this would have caused some logistical difficulties. “All of the teams wanted to be part of the F1 show and F1 said no,” a source said.

The race - styled as the European Grand Prix because Spain already has a grand prix in Barcelona - comes after the mid-season three-week break. With seven races left including this one, the World Championship battle is beautifully balanced, with Lewis Hamilton, of McLaren Mercedes, just five points ahead of Kimi Raikkonen, of Ferrari, at the head of the standings and Felipe Massa, Raikkonen's team-mate, in third place, just three points further back.

Hamilton has enjoyed a relaxing two weeks off and believes that he has found the right approach to convert his lead into a title that, this time last year, looked his for the taking.

“I am more driven this time,” he said. “Last year I was on cloud nine the whole year - it was just all fantastic. I remember coming back from this break and I was still floating. This time I've got my feet on the ground. I haven't done anything crazy over the two weeks and have just been really relaxed and I know what I need to do to hit hard at the next races.”