The Driver Merry-Go-Round... Pivotal Decisions

2015 has been quite a year for F1. The Introduction of new venues, more reliable Engines in the new era of F1 but the most important, entry of youth in the pinnacle of motorsport.

The rookies have impressed in 2015 so far and their abilities have silenced the doubters.

At the Mid point of the season, rumours are rife in the paddock about potential driver lineups for 2016. Not many seats are up for grabs but for some, time to prove their worth is running out.

Who is safe and who is not, time to have a run through.

Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 :

The Fastest team in F1 ( Currently ) has steered clear from any paddock chatter by locking down the current lineup of Hamilton and Rosberg with long term contracts. Rumours about drives being available would be the last thing the team would want for themselves as well as for their drivers in their battle to maintain their edge in the current formula.

Scuderia Ferrari F1 :

The Loss of Jules Bianchi has hit both the Team and the F1 Fraternity hard. Sebastian Vettel has a contract. Kimi Raikkonen, as always is in the news about his future in F1. The Finn's contract expires at the end of 2015 and Ferrari has the option of extending it for another year based on the performance this year. 2015 has been a better year for Raikkonen but there is a considerable gap ( 84 points ) to his team-mate which isn't doing his chances any good.

Valtteri Bottas, Williams F1 Driver is being shortlisted as a replacement for Raikkonen and the rumours gathered a lot of steam in the past couple of months. However no formal announcement was made in this regard. Max Verstappen too has emerged as a contender in the past week but for 2017.

Ferrari have emphasized on multiple occasions that Kimi's contract extension / replacement isn't a priority at present. Recent developments suggest that the Maranello outfit will renew Kimi's contract for another year.

Kimi has the speed. In James Allison's words "Kimi is as quick as Seb, only difference is that Kimi has made a couple of mistakes in qualifying to Seb's one." Kimi has also been on the wrong end of reliability in 2 races. Add those results and he would be in contention for 3rd place in the Drivers' Championship.

Raikkonen's decision is the most pivotal in the market and can trigger a lot of movement. Else Status-quo.

Raikkonen has proved his mettle on more than one occasion. He remains Ferrari's Last Champion. Belgium beckons and being the most successful driver there, I am hoping to see the "King of Spa" do well.

Williams Martini F1 :

Williams should be happy with their current lineup of drivers. They have performed exceedingly well since 2014. Massa will continue into 2016. Bottas' future though is questionable. The Finn is young and fast besides being consistent. His performances have caught the attention of Ferrari and seems to be the favourite to sign for them. Bottas has reiterated that no deal with Ferrari is in place and such rumours should stop doing the rounds. Williams on the other hand were instrumental in bringing Bottas into F1 but that shouldn't hamper his chances of moving higher up the grid given the opportunity.

There were some rumours of Nasr stepping up but they were written off when Sauber renewed his contract.

Another rumour that surfaced was that Button was considering a switch to Williams. ( Discussed later ). Alex Lynn, formerly belonging to Red Bull's driver program, signed up with Williams as a development driver. It won't be long before he is ready to step up into F1. So Williams have their hands full.

The Possibility of Bottas to Ferrari looks pretty certain but I feel Ferrari will hold stations for another year.

Red Bull Racing F1 :

Red Bull Racing seems to have their Driver Contracts sorted for next year inspite of talk of a potential offer for Ricciardo. Sometimes the media links every driver with a Ferrari Seat. Red Bull would like to continue with their current crop of Kvyat and Ricciardo considering the position they are in. Losing their Quadruple World Champion Vettel to Ferari didn't do them any good. Red Bull must keep their lineup stable to rebuild and mount a new challenge.

Sahara Force India F1 :

Force India too preserved their lineup of Perez and Hulkenberg for 2015. Both Drivers performed well so far. Perez has been overshadowed by Hulkenberg. Hulkenberg is another candidate for the Ferrari Seat for 2016 but substantial sponsorship backing besides a height disadvantage is hurting his chance of moving higher up the grid. Haas F1, a new team in 2016 with Ferrari Power should consider him as a candidate. If none comes calling, the Hulk will stay at Force India. Perez is best suited to Force India with the abilities he possesses. Perez should continue with Force India as he enjoys a great relationship with the team.

GP2 has some candidates willing to take the big leap but I feel the team must stick with their old guns and build a solid platform for the future.

Lotus F1 :

Grosjean and Maldonado continued into 2015 for Lotus F1. Grosjean should continue in Lotus. I don't see him going elsewhere. Maldonado has been reckless to be frank and its high time for Lotus to open up a seat. Maldonado might have a fat sponsorship with him but his failure to bring him consistent results is costing the team dear. Jolyon Palmer, the reserve driver is the current GP2 Champion and has every right to graduate into F1. This might be the last year for Maldonado according to me. Palmer seems favourite to land a drive in 2016.

Scuderia Toro Rosso :

Toro Rosso, Red Bull's "B" Team recruited 2 rookies in Max Verstappen and Carlos Sainz Jr. Verstappen joining F1 at a tender age of 17. Both have performed well so far in the season and Toro Rosso might opt to retain them both, maybe until the time is right to move to the Big League.

It would be very difficult for any driver from the Red Bull Program to grab a seat in 2016. The Best anyone can manage would be to become the 3rd Driver.

Sauber F1 :

Sauber F1 has been instrumental in bringing the best into F1. Many greats began their careers in F1 through Sauber. The Team dismissed any rumours about their drivers fairly quickly by confirming new contracts for Nasr and Ericsson. Marciello, a Ferrari Driver Program graduate, might have to wait another year and prove his mettle in GP2 if he wants a seat with the team, courtesy of Engine Suppliers Ferrari.

McLaren Honda F1 :

McLaren's new partnership with Honda began in 2015. They hired the services of World Champions Button and Alonso ( Dual WDC ) to assist them in their quest to return to supremacy. However their poor form and reliability has left the duo frustrated. Alonso expressed that he is slowly losing interest in the sport. He is happy to be a part of the challenge being faced but he is slowly losing the excitement he had about the sport. Alonso didn't re-sign with McLaren only to leave prematurely. He will dig deep and bring home the results and McLaren need to keep him interested to stay.

The situation with Button is very different. Button has been with the team for a fair amount of time and quite frankly, lived in the shadow of his team-mates. He has been in the news on many occasions with questions being raised about his abilities. The toughest was last year when McLaren bided their time in renewing his contract. Magnussen, his team-mate from last season, stepped down to 3rd driver and is waiting in the wings hoping to land a drive in 2017. To complicate matters, McLaren's protegee, Stoffel Vandoorne is performing brilliantly in GP2. He must get a drive sooner rather than later. Vandoorne should win the championship this year and failure to absorb him into the F1 team will leave him with few options ( A GP2 champion can't return to the feeder series ).
McLaren has to decide. Soon.

Manor Marussia F1 :

Manor, the buyers of Marussia brought in Roberto Merhi and Will Stevens for the 2015 campaign. Both have brought home satisfactory results. Merhi has been outshone by his team-mate on many occasions. There were rumours of Merhi's seat being up for grabs in 2016 but the bosses at Manor have reiterated that holding onto both for 2016 is the priority. The team wants stability going forward but as is the case with smaller organizations, nothing can be taken for granted. Fabio Leimer, the 2013 GP2 Champion bagged the reserve driver's seat and I won't be surprised to see him challenge for a drive in 2016.

Haas F1 :

Haas is the new kid on the block. It might be early days but there is a lot of buzz surrounding the team's entry into F1 in 2016. Haas has enjoyed a close relationship with Ferrari who will eventually supply them the engines. Ferrari will have a say when it comes to hiring the pilots for 2016 ( for at least one seat ). Estebaan Gutierrez, 3rd Driver at Ferrari currently should return to the starting grid in 2016 with Haas.

Haas must sign someone who is quick and can bring home the results consistently. Their intentions are clear - they want to be a top running team in F1. Nico Hulkenberg will be the perfect candidate for the job. But will the bosses at Haas consider him worthy? Surely they must!

To Summarize, Haas has 2 places, Lotus should have 1. Little movement elsewhere according to me.

F1 is a very funny sport. A lot of things can change overnight. We still have 2 races left in the European Leg of the season. More Rumours are bound to emerge, some totally absurd. Its tough for both the teams and drivers to operate in such a competitive environment, but compete they must. This post might be a bit earlier than it should have been. Nevertheless the silly season has thrown up enough speculations for the F1 Fraternity and Fans to keep them engrossed for months.

Who goes, who stays, only time will tell. Some might already know their fate..some might be in the dark...it will all be revealed soon...

The Season isn't over yet. We still have 9 races to go.

Time to put all that aside and prepare for the 2015 Belgian Grand Prix. I shall be at the race supporting Kimi. There will be updates from the Grand Prix once I return.

Have a great week and enjoy the race everyone!

2 responses

2015 Mid Season Review - The Contenders Close In

2015, the second year in the Turbo Era of F1. In 2014, Mercedes AMG Petronas flattened the opposition with their dominance.

Would 2015 be a repeat of the same? We have reached the mid point of the season and the F1 Fraternity take a 4 week break before returning for the Belgian Grand Prix.

A quick look at how the season has conspired so far.

Mercedes AMG Petronas :

Mercedes have preserved their dominance in the new era but its not been easy sailing this time. Hamilton leads the Championship from Rosberg by 21 points. Reliability has been the forte for the team this year. Bahrain was the only race where the limits ( Brakes ) were tested for the team. No Retirements this year, the duo featured on the podium at every race barring the recently concluded Hungarian Grand Prix. Mercedes lead the constructors with 383 points on the board. One can say they have one hand on the Constructors' trophy.

Hamilton won 5 Races ( Australia, China, Bahrain, Canada & Great Britain ) to Rosberg's 3 ( Spain, Monaco & Austria ). One might argue that Rosberg was handed victory at Monaco thanks to Hamilton's tactical error but points are points. Hamilton was destined to lose his lead to Rosberg at Hungary after his hasty move on the German ( at the start ) bumped him down from 4th to 10th. Rosberg was set for 3rd place when Ricciardo clipped his rear tyre and caused a puncture. Hamilton retained his lead going into the break and looks favourite to retain his title.

Mercedes have the edge for now. Ferrari are close but not close enough.

Scuderia Ferrari :

2015 saw a change in the driver lineup for the Maranello based outfit. Vettel joined forces with Raikkonen as Ferrari began hunting down the leaders with full earnest. Ferrari are the closest contenders to Mercedes and have been since the start of the season. They seem to have overcome the problems of last year and show a marked improvement, particularly on the powertrain side. Results improved by far and the team has already met their target of 2 victories for the season. Upgrade Tokens were used before Canada but the upgrades have yielded mixed results. Ferrari still linger in outright pace in comparison to Mercedes. The first couple of races in the 2nd half will be of utmost importance for the team. Mercedes always keep something in reserve. Monza, Ferrari's home race, will be a reality check.

Sebatian Vettel joined Ferrari after winning 4 titles at Red Bull. He is following his idol Schumacher's Footsteps. Vettel has been brilliant this year and is definitely on course to becoming a legend at Ferrari. The German with his tremendous racecraft has outfoxed the Mercedes duo on a few occasions; with 2 victories under his belt, he still is in the reckoning for the Driver's Title. Hungary was a brilliant outing for him and victory cut down the deficit to Hamilton to 42 points. It still is a tall order, but Vettel chooses to believe.

Kimi Raikkonen, The Iceman. What can I say. Its been a funny year for him. In his own words "its not as disastrous as last year" The Finn has been on the wrong end of reliability on a couple of occasions. Strategy & Variable weather conditions have cost him dearly. Honestly the results are not as good as 2013 but way better than what they were last year - Three 4th Place finishes, One 5th, 6th & 8th with a brilliant 2nd Place in Bahrain. Kimi is known to be stronger in the second half of the year and I am hoping to see him silence his critics come Belgium.

I had the privilege of supporting him live in Austria, unfortunately the first lap crash cut short his race. Kimi is the King of Spa and I shall be in Belgium to support the Iceman! Praying for a better outing! Keep Flying Iceman!

Williams F1 Racing :

Williams were a revelation in 2014. Come 2015 and they still are the Strongest Mercedes Customer Team on the grid. Williams have surprised their bigger spending rivals with some sparkling performances this year - Red Bull has been displaced, Ferrari are looking over their shoulders and Mercedes got a reality check in a couple of races. Williams must learn to be decisive in their decisions though and winning races should always be a priority. Silverstone was a harsh lesson but other than that its been another good year for the team. 3rd Place will match their performance from last year and quite honestly 3rd is the best this team might achieve. Ferrari have been pretty strong in the first half and catching them will be no walk in the park.

Valtteri Bottas and Felipe Massa, one of the strongest pairings in F1. There is little to choose between them. Only 3 points separate the team-mates with Kimi Raikkonen sandwiched in between. Both ensured that after Ferrari, they are the next best team on the grid, sometimes even beating the Prancing Horse. A 3rd place for each and finishing on the sharper end of points underlines the consistency. The strategy coupled with weather cost the duo a double podium and possibly victory in Britain. Hungary was a disaster too and only the 2nd time that Williams didn't take home any points ( Monaco was the other ). Williams are stronger at power tracks. There are still a few in the 2nd half of the season. They can definitely spring a surprise, so eyes open rivals!

Red Bull Racing F1 :

Red Bull lost their prized quadruple World Champion Sebastien Vettel to Ferrari at the start of 2015. Daniil Kvyat graduated from Toro Rosso to partner Daniel Ricciardo. Red Bull are a mere shadow of themselves in the Turbo Era. The Renault engine has hampered their chances and the team is struggling hard to bring home results. The Team predicted that Hungary and Singapore are 2 races they would be the strongest at. Hungary was a brilliant outing with a double podium. Strong Points haul every other weekend is the target for the team and 4th place looks cemented for them. Williams in 3rd aren't out of reach but it may be too big a task even with the resources the team possesses.

Daniel Ricciardo has been the more consistent and became the new leader in the team. The Aussie continues to impress in 2015 and the latest result in Hungary proved his driving prowess. Ricciardo is locked in battle with his team-mate for 7th in the Drivers' Championship but he will eventually move up the list by the end of the season. 3rd place in Hungary was his best finish so far.

Daniil Kvyat had a much better outing in 2015 albeit in a stronger car. Kvyat has cemented his place in the team with the performances produced in the first half of the season. He will go from strength to strength thanks to an able ( & Young ) Challenger in Ricciardo. 2nd Place in Hungary, his best finish taught him many things as a driver. He might not be able to replicate this finish this year but he has played the perfect support role to his team-mate this year.

Sahara Force India F1 :

Force India retained their 2014 lineup and 2015 has been a mixed season so far. Barring the debacle at Hungary, the car is reliable. The updated chassis was introduced in Britain and it remains to be seen how effective it is going to be. The setup prior to the B-Spec was solid and the team produced consistent results. 5th place seems to be a realistic target but Force India needs a strong second half to ensure they are untouched.

Nico Hulkenberg deserves to be in a team higher up the grid. His performances have been nothing short of brilliant. The German is in the top 10 with 4 points finishes so far. If the car has the speed, he could spring a surprise at the end of the year.

Sergio Perez had a tough 2015 so far. He has been on the cusp of points finishes on a few occasions. Although he has 5 points finishes, the aggregate points are 9 less than his team-mate's. Perez has a formidable rival in Hulkenberg and needs to move up a few gears for the remainder of 2015 - both for himself and the team.

Lotus F1 :

Lotus F1 had a dismal 2014. A Change in the Engine Supplier seemed to have helped the team this year. Lotus is locked in battle with Force India and Toro Rosso for 5th place. Securing their target would help them to bring in more sponsorships aiding their development for 2017. The Team still suffers from gremlins and their main aim should be to increase reliability for the second half of the season. Lotus has enough personnel to produce the results they desire. I do feel 5th place in the Constructors will be too much to ask considering the team's current roster of drivers.

Romain Grosjean has been more successful than his team-mate and unsurprisingly so. Grosjean showed that he has the speed provided the car given to him is reliable. The Frenchman finished in the points 5 times in the first half of the season. The Team would be really dependent on him to produce the results in the 2nd half as compared to Maldonado who is very mercurial with his performances.

Pastor Maldonado earned a reputation of being the bad boy of F1 and this season he hasn't done anything significant to shake off this perception. Retirements and crashes have damaged his season badly. The team needs serious reconsideration for 2017 as the Venezuelan doesn't look cut out for the sport. Maldonado has brought home only 12 points with 2 Seven Place finishes so far.

I really hope that Lotus does well this year. I have great respect for the team and their work - ethic. They have a talented bunch of people in Oxfordshire and deserve to be racing in the pinnacle of motorsport.

Scuderia Toro Rosso :

Toro Rosso got 2 rookies for 2015. Max Verstappen, son of Ex-F1 Driver Jos Verstappen and only 17 years old. Carlos Sainz Jr. joined the team from the Formula Renault 3.5 Series. Toro Rosso have struggled so far in 2015 primarily with reliability issues. The Drivers have produced impressive drives and made a strong case for themselves. One can safely say that they have silenced the doubters. Toro Rosso will be looking to Renault to address their reliability and performance issues so that they can start producing better results and move up the grid in the second half of the season. Funding from Red Bull is of paramount importance too.

Verstappen has outperformed his team-mate so far. As a rookie, the mistakes are few and the Belgian will definitely be championship material in a quicker car. His best finish was 4th at Hungary besides being in the points on 2 other occasions ( Malaysia & Austria )

Carlos Sainz Jr. suffered more retirements than his team-mate and seems to be overhauled by him this year. Sainz Jr. has been in the points in 4 races, the best being 8th in Malaysia. The Spaniard needs a strong second half to preserve his seat in Toro Rosso, competition from GP2 is definitely closing in.

Sauber F1 :

Sauber hired Felipe Nasr & Marcus Ericsson for 2015. The Financial influx is more than welcome for Sauber as they strive to survive in a sport that is getting expensive day by day. The Team benefited from the revamped Ferrari Unit and did well in he early part of the season. However they have fallen back after China and are struggling to bring home the much needed results. The Chances of holding onto 8th in Constructors seem bleak and Sauber might end up being 9th and only faster than Manor by the end of the season. They need some upgrades soon to stay in touch with the competition around them

Nasr the rookie has finished in the points only thrice this season, his best finish being 5th at the season opener in Australia. Nasr has a lot to learn from the remainder of the season and I doubt he would be able to challenge his immediate rivals.

Marcus Ericsson who bagged the 2nd seat has performed slightly better than his previous year with Caterham. Ericsson's best finish was 8th in Australia. He also bagged a point each in China and Hungary. In comparison to his rookie team-mate, Ericsson has a lot of catching up to do. Some might even question his abilities to hold onto his seat for 2016. Only time will tell.

McLaren Honda :

McLaren switched from Mercedes to Honda for 2015. The Lineup saw a change too with Fernando Alonso returning to the Woking based Outfit to partner Jenson Button. Magnussen stepped down to become the 3rd driver. The faithful are hoping for a return of the Glory Years when Honda dominated the Sport in the Turbo era with Senna & Prost. However Honda's renewed partnership with McLaren has been anything but successful. The team struggled first with reliability issues and then started running short on the number of engine allocation units for the season. The change in the regulation allowing a new engine manufacturer to have an extra power unit in its first year has failed to provide any respite either. The team has taken baby steps in addressing reliability issues and now slowly shift their focus to performance. 2015 is a leaning year for McLaren and they would love to bring home as many points as they can.

Alonso suffered a crash in pre-season testing and had to sit out for the season opener in Australia. Magnussen took his place only to not start the race with an engine failure. Alonso had to endure a series of retirements besides losing a new engine in his crash with Raikkonen in Austria. However the last 2 races have brought about a change of fortunes. Alonso finished 10th in Britain and took an unthinkable 5th in Hungary, the team admitting to have run the engines at maximum performance.

Button's season hasn't been any different. Although Button has more finishes this season, he has finished in the points only twice - 8th in Monaco & 9th in Hungary. He would be hoping for a better 2nd half to the season with McLaren seemingly addressing their reliability issues.

Manor Marussia :

Manor became the new owners of Marussia for 2015 and sported a new lineup of Roberto Merhi & Will Stevens. The Team has had a decent outing so far with the limited resources that they have. Roberto Merhi produced the best result for the team with 12th Position at the British Grand Prix with Will Stevens 13th.

There isn't much the team can expect from this year. A points finish would be a blessing but the lack of funds isn't going to help their cause

A LEGEND GOES HOME :

Safety has been paramount in the world of F1 since Ayrton Senna's demise in 1994 at Imola. However a severe crash ( in Japan ) with a extrication vehicle ( sent to retrieve Sutil's stricken Sauber ) saw Jules Bianchi of Marussia F1 Team ( now Manor ) suffer serious heading injuries eventually sending him into a coma. Battle for Survival ensued with many hoping for the young Frenchman to return to the sport. However 9 months later, on 17th July 2015, Jules Bianchi passed away, the first fatality of the sport after Senna.

Jules Bianchi was a brilliant driver, a talent well spotted by Ferrari and inducted into their driver program. The aim was to eventually replace Raikkonen with him and Bianchi had ticked all the right boxes. The 9th Place in Monaco for Marussia was a testimony of his God gifted abilities. However Bianchi went home and left the F1 Fraternity and the fans broken.

Hungary was an emotional weekend for F1 Personnel and Fans alike. Emotions still run high as I type this. A Young Talent lost...

Its the Drivers that make F1 the sport that it is. The men who take to the grid are the best in the world. Bianchi was one of them. He will live on in the annals of F1 history as a Legend.

Jules, you will be missed. JB17, JB17 FOREVER. CIAO JULES!

The Summer Break is a time for the Teams and Drivers to take a much needed break and recuperate before the start of the final 2 European Races and the Fly Away Events.

Belgium will see everyone refreshed and ready for the 2nd half of the season.

As a Fan, I can't wait for F1 to return!

Paddock Club Diaries - Austrian GP 2015 - Day 3

Sunday had arrived and it was the day of the 2015 Austrian Grand Prix! I was really looking forward to being at the First European Race this year!

As Always the day started early.

Enroute to the circuit :

Passing through a town near Spielberg :

The circuit was abuzz with activity and the paddock parking was slowly filling up with Supercars :

I chose to take the Underground Tunnel enroute to the Paddock Building and bumped into an old friend Andy Stobart - Press Officer for Lotus F1.

I reached the Ferrari F1 Club and it was soon time for the GP2 Sprint Race :

Shots from the Sprint Race :

It was early in the morning and the stands were empty. However every seat had a flag to form a Giant Austrian Flag :

Chequered Flag for the Sprint Race :

Video Link for Chequered Flag at the end of the GP2 Sprint Race :

Photos from Parc Ferme :

Rio Haryanto celebrating his victory :

GP2 Mechanics awaiting the podium celebrations :

GP2 Drivers on the podium :

Davide Valsecchi conducting the podium interviews :

Video Link for the Gp2 Podium Interviews :

FIA Representative discussing with the Mechanics :

GP2 cars standing on Parc Ferme :

Mark Sutton, one of F1's top photographers at work :

The Porsche Supercup :

Shots of the GoPro Hero4 Black :

We were joined by the Ferrari Boss Maurizio Arrivabene in the Suite. His message was clear : "We are here to race, not to holiday"

A moment with the boss :

Video Link for Maurizio Arrivabene's Interview :

Mr. Arrivabene left and within minutes we were joined by Sebastian Vettel!

Video Link for Sebastian Vettel's Interview :

A Rider performing stunts during the pre-race performances :

Drivers Track Parade Photos :

I had a quick lunch before I head down for the Final Pit Lane Walk of the Weekend :

Shots from the Pit Lane Walk :

With Jacques Villeneuve & Davide Valsecchi :

Mark Arnall ( Kimi's Physical Instructor ) :

With Ferrari Team Personnel :

The Red Bull Ring has a Special Feature called the Legends' Parade where F1 Drivers from the yesteryear take to the track in the machinery they used to race in :

Video Link for the Legends Track Parade :

The Skies too weren't quite as the Air Force and Navy strut their Stuff in the sky :

Red Bull too joined the party with a Brilliant Air Show. Video Link :

The Grid before the Grand Prix :

Scuderia Ferrari F1 cars rolling to their grid slots for the preparation of the race. Maurizio Arrivabene spent more time at the back of the grid with Kimi than at the front :

Shots from the GoPro Hero4 Black. The Widescreen does wonders.

Martin Brundle during his Grid Walk on Sky Sports F1 :

Drivers readying their protective gear :

Counting down to the start of the Grand Prix :

Video Link for Countdown to the Formation Lap, Shot with the GoPro Hero4 Black :

The Start of the Formation Lap :

Video Link for the Start of the Formation Lap, Shot with the GoPro Hero4 Black :

Mechanics Running back to their garages :

Cars rolling to their Grid Slots at the end of the Formation Lap. Used the GoPro Hero4 Black :

The Race got underway and Kimi Raikkonen suffered a major accident with Fernando Alonso. The Hopes of seeing the Iceman race live..dashed..I was distraught.

The incident brought out the Safety Car.

Video Link for the Safety Car Period, Shot with the GoPro Hero4 Black :

The Race Restarted after a few laps. Video Link :

Shots from the Grand Prix :

Video Link for the Pit Stop for Felipe Massa :

The lone Ferrari of Sebastian Vettel :

Sebastian Vettel was running third until he had a very slow Pit Stop and a problem with the right rear tyre's wheelnuts. The Loss of time cost him 3rd place. Video Link :

Halfway through the race, I made my way to a spot above the podium and got some more shots, albeit from a different location :

Sebastian Vettel hunting down Massa :

Nico Rosberg took the Chequered Flag and Victory. Lewis Hamilton finished 2nd. He served a 5 second penalty for crossing the white line while exiting the pits. Felipe Massa held on to take the final podium position. Sebastian Vettel finished 4th for Scuderia Ferrari.

Chequered Flag :

Video Link for the Chequered Flag, Shot with the GoPro Hero4 Black :

Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton on Parc Ferme, Video Link :

Nico Rosberg celebrating his win, Lewis and Massa join in.

Pastor Maldonado and Felipe Nasr on Parc Ferme :

Podium Finishers entering the podium, Video Link :

The Podium Finishers :

Video Link for the Podium Celebrations :

Gerhard Berger conducting the Podium Interviews :

Mechanics participating in the celebrations below the podium :

The Crowd all over the track and trying to get a glimpse of their favourite drivers post race :

The Paddock now in "Packup Mode" :

Shots with the Paddock in the background :

The Ferrari F1 Club Hosts :

The Sky Sports F1 Team wrapping up the Post Race show :

Shots from a silent Paddock :

Some more shots of the circuit while leaving :

Allan McNish, Ex-Formula 1 Driver, 3 time Winner of 24 hours of LeMans with Audi and FIA WEC Champion ( 2013 ). He is now a top TV Pundit and does Commentary for F1 Races on BBC / ITV.

Christian Danner - former race car driver, TV Commentator for RTL Germany and consultant to number of German Companies in F1, notably Allianz. He has a regular feature in the DHL F1 show in India.

Returning from the Circuit :

I would like to thank Scuderia Ferrari and the Ferrari F1 Club for all the Hospitality shown to me.

A Big Thank you to Edge Global Events for all the arrangements made by them for me over the weekend. They ensured I had a memorable experience. A Special Mention for Mr. Rory Haworth for all his efforts leading up the event.

Sony HX400V was brilliant while the GoPro Hero4 Black ensured that I was a part of all the action.

It wasn't the best Sunday in terms of results for Kimi. However I got to meet so many people and made new friends.

My Next trip takes me to the Ardennes where Spa Francorchamps is situated. I hope to see Kimi, the King of Spa have a better outing there.

There are a couple more posts scheduled to come over the mid season break. So watch this space!

Paddock Club Diaries - Austrian GP 2015 - Day 2

Saturday is an important day in a F1 Weekend. The day starts early for the teams and as an avid fan, I don't like to miss a moment.

One has to leave early on Saturday to catch a glimpse of the Teams' Pit Stop Practice happening on Saturday Morning.

The Saturday Chauffeur Transfer was in the powerful and Sporty Audi RS6!! What a Car!

Enroute to the Circuit :

I reached the Circuit and the Pit Lane Walk was underway. Shots from the Pit Lane on Saturday Morning :

Williams F1 Racing were busy practising their Pit Stops :

Video Link for Williams F1 Team Pit Stop Practice :

With Jonathan ( Handles the Hospitality for Ferrari Guests ) from Scuderia Ferrari F1 :

Jean Eric Vergne & Maurizio Arrivabene in the Garage :

With the Boss of AVL Racing :

Shots from the GoPro Hero4 Black Edition :

A Moment with Esteban Gutierrez :

Mark Sutton :

GP3 Cars rolling into the Pit Lane :

Quick GoPro Selfies with the Cars :

The Main Grandstand from the Paddock Club :

Shots from the GP3 Session :

GP3 ended and it was time for Free Practice 3 to begin. Felipe Massa had an early sighter lap in the session

Kimi Raikkonen followed suit :

Shots from FP3 :

Some More Stills :

Scuderia Ferrari F1 in FP3 :

Fernando Alonso stopped ontrack and the session had to be red flagged. The McLaren gave up on the Pit Straight :

Mechanics wheeling back the car :

Fernando's Long Walk back to the Pits :

The session restarted but the changeable weather of Spielberg brought in the rains :

Video Link to Rain in FP3. Shot with the GoPro Hero4 :

The Drivers nevertheless went out on track to collect valuable data for the engineers since Qualifying was predicted to be in the wets.

Once the Session got over the Drivers practiced their starts from various starting grids :

Video Link to Practice Starts :

The Session ended with Ferrari right in the mix to challenge the Mercedes. Sebastian Vettel was the fastest again with Lewis Hamilton and Kimi Raikkonen only 2 tenths of a second down on the German's time. Rosberg was 5th around 3 tenths down on the time. The Field was pretty bunched up and Qualifying seemed promising.

The Session got over and we were soon joined by Esteban Gutierrez :

Esteban left the club and then entered Jean-Eric Vergne!!

Video Link to Vergne's Interview :

Post the Interviews it was time to binge before heading down for the 2nd Pit lane walk of the day :

Enroute to the Pit Lane. The Paddock was abuzz with activity :

Shots from the Pit Lane :

GoPro Hero4 being put through its paces :

With Paul Seaby ( Lotus F1 ) :

Claudio Bersini from Ferrari :

Ted Kravitz!! ( Sky Sports F1 ) :

The Pit Lane walk ended but the heavy shower had left behind a lot of wet patches on the track.

Valtteri Bottas deep in conversation before the start of Qualifying :

A Damp Track at the start of Qualifying :

Selfie time again! GoPro Hero4 Rocks!

Shots from Q1 as the track dries up.

Teams Switching to the slicks as the track started drying up quickly :

Williams had a slow pit stop with Bottas. Video Link

Scuderia Ferrari F1 in Q1 :

Cars returning to the pits :

As the Timer counted down, the track got drier and faster. The Last Man to take the Chequered Flag would be the fastest. Ferrari mistimed Kimi Raikkonen's exit from the pits. This meant that he ran into Traffic on his flying lap and was shunted out of Q1!!!

Kimi qualified a dismal 18th and it was another torturous Saturday. He would however start 14th after penalties being applied to drivers above him

Nico Rosberg was the fastest in Q1 with Sebastian Vettel 2nd.

Q2 began and a lot of strategies played out on track. Some went out early while some played the waiting game.

Shots from Q2 :

Chequered Flag in Q2 :

Nico Rosberg was fastest in Q2. Lewis Hamilton & Sebastian Vettel completed the top 3.

Q3 would be a shootout between the top 10 drivers to decide the final 10 places and the sharp end of the grid.

Shots from Q3 :

Q3 wasn't without drama. Lewis Hamilton was leading in Q3 and went out on his final run only to miss the First Turn on his flying lap. Nico Rosberg was 2 tenths up and nearing the end of his Flying Lap only to misread the last section and ended up in the gravel trap!

Lewis Hamilton held on to be on Pole. Nico Rosberg and Sebastian Vettel completed the top 3.

It had been a dramatic qualifying session and I was so gutted to see Kimi languishing down in 18th. However it couldn't be undone.

Kimi was due to visit the Suite post the debacle and he obliged.

Kimi Raikkonen in the Ferrari F1 Club :

Video Link to Kimi Raikkonen's Interview :

Kimi left and it was time to sit back and enjoy the GP2 Feature Race :

Video Link for the GP2 Feature Race Formation Lap :

Video Link for the GP2 Feature Race Start :

Video Link for Lap 1 :

Arden Pit Stop in the Feature Race ( Video Link ) :

The Race got over and I headed to the Paddock Side to catch up on some action. I was pleasantly surprised to see Sebastian Vettel in the Red Bull Motorhome in conversation with old friends Christian Horner and Red Bull Owner Dietrich Mateschitz.

The Spread of Pirelli Tyres. What a sight to behold :

The Beauty of Speilberg, Amazing! The Most Beautiful track I have ever been to!

Returning to Graz in the evening.

Kimi Raikkonen had a dismal Qualifying but nevertheless it was a memorable Saturday.

I would like to thank Scuderia Ferrari and the Ferrari F1 Club for all the Hospitality shown to me.

A Big Thank you to Edge Global Events too for all the arrangements done over the weekend

I have really enjoyed the company of my new equipment - Sony HX400V and the GoPro Hero4 Black. Sony must introduce the feature of taking photos while shooting videos like the predecessor of HX400V.

Sunday is the day that matters and I was hopeful that Kimi would have a better outing on the day that matters the most.

Sunday post coming up soon! Thank you for the Support!

Paddock Club Diaries - Austrian GP 2015 - Day 1

The 2015 Austrian Grand Prix was the First Race of the 2015 Season that I had the privilege of attending. I was a guest of the Ferrari F1 Club for the weekend. As always, this is the Friday Experience from the weekend.

My Standard equipment for this race featured an upgrade and an extra addition. Besides the upgraded Sony HX400V, the GoPro Hero4 Black Edition with the LCD BacPac & the Smart Remote

Nestled in the Styria Region in the town of Spielberg, the Red Bull Ring is one of the most beautiful tracks on the F1 Calender and rightly so!

I stayed at the Ibis in Graz. Spielberg is a 60 minute drive from Graz. Vienna is a Two Hour Drive.

The Paddock Club Passes :

I had quite a grand transfer to the circuit. Audi A8 for the Friday :

Enroute to the Circuit :

I was dropped off at a certain point and had to walk my way to the Paddock Club. It was quite a confusing walk and it took me some time to go down the right route. Nevertheless the surroundings are a brilliant sight to behold :

I only had 15 minutes in the First Pit Lane Walk and I tried to make the most of it :

Enorute to the Ferrari F1 Club and the Paddock for the teams is very visible :

The View of the Track from the Ferrari F1 Club :

The Camera that moves up and down the Pit-lane & the Pit Straight :

Helicopter doing a trial run up in the air :

Fighter Jets strutting their stuff in the skies. Austria showcases many aerial shows throughout the weekend :

Soon it was time for FP1 and get busy with the cameras!

Shots from Free Practice 1 :

Scuderia Ferrari F1 during FP1 :

The Pit Boards doing their jobs :

Chequered Flag to signal the end of FP1 :

At the end of every practice session, Drivers are allowed to do a couple of Practice Starts :

Video Link to the Practice Starts at the end of FP1 :

Scuderia Ferrari F1 in the pits :

Williams Racing returning to the pits.

Free Practice 1 ended with Nico Rosberg recording the Fastest Time with Lewis Hamilton 2nd. Kimi Raikkonen was 3rd for Ferrari and Sebastian Vettel was the slowest and suffered a problem and came to a stop on track after only 4 laps.

FP1 ended and we were soon joined by Ferrari Development Driver Marc Gene :

Video Links to Marc Gene's Interview in the Ferrari F1 Club ( Part 1 & 2 ) :

Fridays feature the GP2 Practice Session also :

Shots from the Pit Lane :

GP2 Practice underway :

I finally had the time to sample my GoPro for the first time on the weekend and here are some shots taken :

GP2 ended and it was time for Lunch!

A hearty meal and it was time to go down for the 2nd Pit Lane Walk of the Day.

The Paddock pretty silent :

Shots from the Pit Lane Walk :

The Teams in preparation for FP2 started their engines and did test runs to check for any issues.

Video Link of the Red Bull Racing revving their Renault Engines :

Mercedes AMG Petronas Revving their engines ( the Most Melodious of all )

McLaren Honda Engine Test :

Shots from the Ferrari Garage :

Shots of the GoPro Hero4 :

The First Person I met was a Famous Austrian Ferrari GT Racer - Karl Baron! A very humble guy but very quick on track!

Video Link of the Scuderia Ferrari SF15-T revving its engine :

The Podium :

Helicopters taking off for FP2 :

Shots from Free Practice 2 :

Scuderia Ferrari F1 in FP2 :

Busy with the GoPro Hero4 and getting some great shots!

Video Link of the Williams F1 Team performing a Pit Stop with Valtteri Bottas :

Chequered Flag :

Drivers performing Practice Starts :

Cars returning to the garages :

Sebastien Vettel finished FP2 on the top of the timesheets. Nico Rosberg was 11 hundredths of a second off the pace while Kimi Raikkonen was 3rd two tenths behind.

However, Vettel was forced to return to the garage after slowing on track in the final half hour with a suspected gearbox problem. Raikkonen was unable to do a long run on the supersoft tyre compound after he flat-spotted his only set midway through the session.

The Ferrari F1 Club featured all the compounds of the Pirelli Tyres used :

We were soon joined by Esteban Gutierrez in the Ferrari F1 Club :

FP2 was followed by the GP2 Qualifying session for the Feature Race on Saturday.

Shots from GP2 Qualifying Session :

Some Iced Coffee to stay fresh :

Shots from the Paddock at the end of Friday :

Panoramic Shots of the Paddock :

The Bull - the Face of the Red Bull Ring at Spielberg.

Some Shots of Famous F1 Personalities :

Stills from the Ferrari F1 Club!

Tires being cleansed and readied for Saturday :

It was soon time to leave the Paddock Club and I was walking back to the Shuttle stop only to spot Kimi Raikkonen leaving the Paddock with Mark Arnall in his Ferrari FF!

Returning to Graz :

It was a Brilliant Friday! Kimi was flying and the Ferraris looked strong and a lot closer than usual to the Mercedes. It was fingers Crossed for Saturday.

I was really happy with capabilities displayed by the GoPro Hero4 and I highly recommend people to grab one. Does a brilliant job of capturing and storing memories.

Edge Global Events, the Hospitality experts left no stone unturned when it came to making all the arrangements!

Finally I would like to thank Scuderia Ferrari and the Hosts at the Ferrari F1 Club for all the Hospitality shown to me!

More to come from the weekend!

A Gallery of Memories - Part 9

The European Leg of the 2015 F1 Season has begun. Austria was the First Race in the season I had the honour of attending.

The Circuit is located in the picturesque town of Spielberg and named the Red Bull Ring ( Full feature in upcoming posts )

As always, my F1 experiences begin with the Gallery of Memories.

The First Person I met was a Famous Austrian Ferrari GT Racer - Karl Baron! A very humble guy but very quick on track!

Esteban Gutierrez, Scuderia Ferrari F1 3rd Driver :

Friday was a quiet day until I spotted Kimi Raikkonen leaving the Circuit in his Ferrari FF :

I had the chance of meeting the Famous Motorsports Photographer Mark Sutton! Such an amazing moment. Have always loved the masterpieces he has created through his lens!

So Happy to meet Paul Seaby - Race Team Manager for Lotus F1! It was great to catch up with him and hope to see him again soon!

With the Ferrari Team Personnel - Jonathan Giacobazzi, Claudio Bersini & Alberto Revelli!

Ted Kravitz!! Sky Sports F1! How can you not know him!

Sunday Morning and I meet Andy Stobart - Press Officer for the Lotus F1 Team in the tunnel. Had a warm chat about the sport and many other things. Very Approachable person and extremely down to earth!

Had the Honour of meeting Maurizio Arrivabene in the Ferrari F1 Club on Sunday! Mr. Maurizio is the Team Principal for the team and one of the most passionate and hard working people I have seen. He interacted with the guests and even honoured many with a photo. Patience and Humility personified.

The Final Pit Lane Walk so we bump into the Sky Italia Crew and meet a very close friend Davide Valsecchi! Deep in conversation I noticed the man standing next to me - Jacques Villeneuve, the 1997 F1 World Champion! I didn't miss the opportunity of taking a selfie with the duo!

Mark Arnall, Kimi's Personal Instructor. Our conversation was mostly about Kimi's horrible qualifying session that left him languishing near the back of the grid. Photos in the 2015 gear!

The Hosts in the Ferrari Formula 1 Club! Extremely Hospitable and Welcoming!

On my return to the parking lot, I met 2 more famous people. Christian Danner - former race car driver, TV Commentator for RTL Germany and consultant to number of German Companies in F1, notably Allianz. He has a regular feature in the DHL F1 show in India.

Allan McNish, Ex-Formula 1 Driver, 3 time Winner of 24 hours of LeMans with Audi and FIA WEC Champion ( 2013 ). He is now a top TV Pundit and does Commentary for F1 Races on BBC / ITV.

It was an awesome weekend ( barring Kimi's race result ) and I got to meet so many new people and catch up with the ones I know. A Big thank you to Scuderia Ferrari F1 and the Ferrari F1 Club for all the Hospitality throughout the weekend.

Edge Global Events ensured that all the formalities for the Grand Prix were completed smoothly.

A Special mention about the new camera I used besides my usual Sony HX400V - the GoPro Hero4 Black with the LCD Bacpac and Wifi Smart remote.

I was able to get some great selfies with my GoPro in the highest resolution. So happy to have purchased one.

There is more coming from the 2015 Austrian GP weekend..soon..

The Flying Diaries : BOM - SFO - BOM ( Emirates Business )

My First Trip in 2014 was to San Jose California in the United States of America.

My Best Friend was due to get married on 30th May and it was time to fly on Emirates for the First time in 2014. Emirates Airlines don't fly to San Jose but to San Francisco.

My Mother accompanied me for this trip and she was really thankful to be flying in Business Class.

The Outbound Trip was on 21st May 2014 and the Inbound on 11th June 2014.

Mumbai - San Francisco ( 21st May 2014 ) :

Mumbai now had a New International Terminal - Terminal 2 or T2 and believe me it is simply stunning to behold. Everything about this Terminal is so good. Brisk Check ins, Seamless Security Checks, Minimal Waiting at the Immigration and State of the art Facilities. This Terminal has it all!

Shots from the Business and First Class Lounges. The Airlines have a shared space for their premium travellers.

The Spread for the Early Morning Hours :

Mum enjoying her coffee :

Settled in the Business Class Seat :

Some shots of the Business Class onboard the Boeing 777-300ER :

Breakfast Service :

I chose to sleep through the rest of the Flight and soon enough we landed in Dubai on a bright and sunny morning :

Shots from the Business Class Lounge at Dubai International Airport :

Soon enough, it was time to board the Flight for the 16 Hour Long Journey.

The Menu for the Journey :

The Business Class seats :

Breakfast :

A Lavish meal and it was time to catch up on some much needed sleep :

A 6 Hour Nap and I sampled the Pad Thai :

The Air Show and Flight Information on-board :

Time for more food! Lunch :

The Lunch service got over and the plane started its descent into San Francisco International Airport. Beautiful country from above.

There was no Fast-Track at San Francisco and after waiting in a long line to complete the formalities, we were on our way to San Jose :

San Francisco - Mumbai ( 11th June 2014 ) :

The Lincoln waiting for us to take us to the Airport. A very comfortable car but I prefer the cars provided in European transfers :

A 45 minute drive and we reached the airport on time. It was a brisk check-in thanks to some really helpful staff. Security too took minimal time and we had ample time to relax in the Lounge.

Shots from the Lounge :

The Spread in the Lounge, Mouth Watering!!

Our Ride being readied for the Journey to Dubai :

Relaxing in the Lounge :

A Host of Arrivals and Departures :

Like all big airports, Boarding commenced from the Lounge and after a hassle free boarding, we settled into our seats. Emirates was the official sponsor of the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the Plane was full of livery of the same :

The Menu :

Pushback and Taxiing to the Runway for Takeoff :

Beautiful San Francisco from above :

Relaxing in our Lounge Mode Seats :

Lunch Service commences :

Passing some beautiful mountains enroute to Dubai :

I had my fill and it was time to reset the clocks and get some sleep!

As we advanced through time, we were served a quick bite :

Food never stops being served and we became gluttons by dinner time :

Emirates was running live updates for the opening game of the World Cup :

Descending into Dubai :

Touchdown and shots enroute to the gate :

Welcome to Dubai :

Shots from the Dubai Business Class Lounge :

The Lavish Spread in the Lounge. Food, Food and More Food!!

It was time to board and it was the Boeing 777-300ER again. Just 3 days after our arrival, Emirates introduced the A380 Service to Mumbai for this flight.

The Menu for the Final Leg :

I wanted to enjoy my last meal of the trip : Nuts, Fruits and some Torte!

We returned to Mumbai, our home at 2 am in the morning. Thankfully we caught up on some sleep inflight and didn't feel too fatigued.

I am thoroughly impressed by the Hospitality shown onboard Emirates Airlines. More importantly we were recognized as Gold Members onboard every flight and graciously welcomed by the cabin crew chief. The Air Hostesses and Stewards left no stone unturned in making us feel special and ensured nothing was found wanting throughout the flight.

There are more stories to be added to the Flying Diaries. However its time to update the Gallery of Memories and Paddock Club Diaries from my trip to the 2015 Austrian GP.

Watch this space. Updates coming thick and fast!

The Flying Diaries : BOM - DXB - BOM ( Emirates Business )

Dubai was the last destination I travelled to on Emirates Airlines in 2013.

I got the opportunity to attend the 2013 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and this time I had a co-traveller. My Mother got the first taste of Emirates' Hospitality and believe me, she was thoroughly impressed!

Mumbai - Dubai ( 30th October 2013 ) :

Shots from the Lounge :

Mum is all smiles :

The Flight to Dubai was a Brand New Boeing 777 - 300 ER and the seats were comfortable as always :

The Touchscreen Controller shaped as a Tablet adding to the Premium Feel :

Mum settled in her seat :

Breakfast time!

Time to rest :

In less than 3 hours, we had reached Dubai :

Fast Track Services meant minimal time at the Immigration and soon enough we were on our way to our hotel :

Dubai - Mumbai ( 8th November 2013 ) :

Enroute to the Dubai International Airport in a Volvo :

The Burj Khalifa towering above the Dubai Skyline :

Shots from the Lounge :

Mum relaxing after a good meal :

Boarding commenced from the Lounge and this time we were flying in the Airbus A330 - 200.

Taxiing to the runway :

The Beverage service on Emirates is always amazing :

Enroute to Mumbai in the Setting Sun :

Dinner :

This was the shortest journey during my association with Emirates. My mother was all praise for Emirates. The Hospitality shown to her was special and as a Gold Member, I always felt welcomed.

This was the last trip in 2013 but 2014 saw me completed 2 trips to the Americas with a trip to Germany in between.

There is more to come in the "Flying Diaries" Series, so keep visiting. God Bless and Take Care!

The Flying Diaries : BOM - MXP - BOM ( Emirates First )

September 2013 saw me take the First Emirates Flight as a Gold Member on Skywards.

F1 travelled to Monza for the Italian Grand Prix and this gave me the opportunity to fly First Class on Emirates once again.

The Outbound journey was on 4th September 2013 and Inbound on 13th September.

Mumbai - Milan ( 4th September 2013 ) :

Shots from the Lounge :

The First Class Suite in the Boeing 777-300ER is one of the best in the Airline Industry. I also got a quick peep into the cockpit. Some stills of my seat :

Taxiing to the Runway :

The Breakfast Menu :

Breakfast. The Presentation excellent as always :

Time for some privacy and time to catch up on some sleep :

The Doors of the Suite shut to ensure complete privacy and also have a "Do Not Disturb" feature and believe me, no one disturbs :)

The Mumbai Dubai Leg is always a short flight and soon enough we were approaching Dubai International Airport :

Nearing Touchdown at Dubai :

Touchdown and we had the company of the famed Airbus A380 :

Shots from the Dubai International Airport :

The First Class Lounge offers A-la-carte dining to its guests and I helped myself to some lip-smacking Indian Starters and Delicious Desserts :

Shots from the Emirates First Class Lounge :

The 2nd Leg of the Journey wasn't as comfortable as the first as it was an older aircraft. However we only had 2 guests onboard in First Class and the crew left no stone unturned in ensuring a comfortable flight for me.

My Seat :

Taxiing for Departure :

So, What's for Lunch?

Time for a quick bite onboard :

The Flight to Europe offers some Picturesque views :

My Bed for the next few hours. Very Comfy and I immediately fell asleep

Nearing touchdown at Milan Mapensa Airport :

Touchdown at dusk :

My ride to the Hotel was a Mercedes Benz S 350.

Milan - Mumbai ( 13th September 2013 ) :

A Mercedes Benz S 350 for the pickup again :

Enroute to the Airport :

The sky looks stunning :

Milan Mapensa Airport :

A Brisk Check - in, Fast Track Security and Immigration and it was time to enjoy what the Lounge had to offer!

Dinner Time in the Lounge!

Boarding commenced from the Lounge and I quickly settled into my seat, no Suite on this flight either.

Night Flights always reward you with some amazing amenities. Who can forget the Goodie Basket!!

Dinner Menu onboard :

Time to have some dinner. The Options were brilliant and the food was really well made :

I chose to head to bed immediately after dinner and the Lie-Flat Bed does its job amazingly well.

The Time advances and after a 3.5 hours of sleep, we were nearing touchdown at the Dubai International Airport :

Touchdown on a hazy morning in Dubai and a line of Emirates Aircrafts ready for Departure.

Shots from the First Class Lounge :

The wait at the Lounge was a longer one and I really enjoyed some sleep in the Quiet Room.

It was time to board the afternoon flight to Mumbai for the Final Leg and the Boarding commenced from the Lounge.

Settling into my seat :

Dubai International Airport is a big hub for various airlines and here are some sharing airspace with Emirates :

Various Emirates Flights leaving for different destinations across the world :

Takeoff from Dubai and bound for Mumbai :

Lunchtime :

No Mattress or Duvet onboard this flight :

Mumbai and we are home :

There is definitely a difference between the services offered in First Class and Business Class . However one must opt to fly First when First Class Suites are on offer.

Emirates Airlines strive to ensure that their guests have an enjoyable flight and it was nice to see the crew recognize my Gold Status. Offering Personalized Services is a hallmark of Emirates and I would like to thank them for all the Hospitality shown to me.

Next post? - Emirates Business to Dubai and this time I have a co-traveller. Watch this space!

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The Flying Diaries : BOM - DUS - BOM ( Emirates Business )

July 2013 was my First Business Class Experience on Emirates Airlines.

I flew to Düsseldorf to attend the 2013 German Grand Prix.

The Outbound journey was on 4th July 2013 and the Inbound on 13th July.

Mumbai - Düsseldorf ( 4th July 2013 ) :

A Prompt Transfer service to the airport, a brisk check in and breezy completion of the formalities characterize the service of Emirates on-ground.

I quickly settled into my seat as we waited for pushback :

The Flight to Dubai was a Brand New Boeing 777-300 ER and the control console was a fantastic looking tablet. The Tablet has a plethora of functions from controlling the Personal TV Screen to activating the in-seat massager. Lighting Options and Seating options add other value additions.

ICE - Information, Communication and Entertainment, the award winning Inflight Entertainment of Emirates offering programs for all ages :

Business Class Seats :

The Menu Onboard :

Taxiing to the runway :

Breakfast time! Emirates pampers their Business Class Guests!

Keeping myself entertained during the journey :

Nearing Touchdown at Dubai International Airport :

A Journey of 1948 kms and we have arrived at Dubai!

Dubai International Airport boats of dedicated lounges for its Business and First Class passengers and numerous lounges are spread across the 3 different terminals.

Enroute to the Business Class Lounge :

View from the Lounge :

Shots from the Lounge, Boarding commences from the Lounge itself!

After a restful 3 hours in the Lounge, it was time to board the flight for Düsseldorf.

The 700-300 ER to Düsseldorf was an older aircraft but then this isn't the most frequented sector.

Personal TV Screen :

The Seat Console :

My Seat in Business Class :

Enjoying Apple Juice as I settle into my seat :

Waiting for Pushback :

2009 F1 World Champion Jenson Button and his partnership with Tag Heuer.

Takeoff for Düsseldorf!

Some Sprite and Assorted Nuts in the Beverage Service :

The Menu for Lunch!

The Lunch Service Commences :

After a fantastic 3 course meal, I chose to catch up on some sleep and the 3 hour nap was extremely comfortable in the Lie - Flat Bed!

6 Minutes to Touchdown :

Arriving at Düsseldorf. An Amazing City from the Sky :

Emirates Chauffeur Services in Europe are top - notch and I had a BMW M5 waiting for me in the arrivals hall to take me to Cologne!

Enroute to Cologne :

It was a very comfortable and smooth 1st leg of the trip and I was taken care of very well by Emirates!

Düsseldorf - Mumbai ( 13th July 2013 ) :

I always opt for the late evening flight and the return leg was no different.

Emirates never fails to impress me and this time they had a BMW 750 Ld waiting at the hotel to take me to Düsseldorf.

The Exquisite Luxury of the BMW 750 Ld!

Enroute to Düsseldorf, spotted my personal car, the Passat on the Autobahn :

Düsseldorf Airport :

Brilliantly built Airport :

Shots from the Emirates Lounge in Düsseldorf :

A Lavish Buffet spread in the Lounge :

Boarding commenced from the Lounge and I quickly settled into my seat. This time the Boeing 777-300 ER was the new aircraft!

The Sunset nearing at Düsseldorf Airport and we wait for the pushback :

Taxiing to the Runway :

Takeoff Time :

Video Link of the 777-300 Takeoff :

Enroute to Dubai in the setting sun :

The Console for Seat and the Joystick to make calls :

Dinner Service on-board. I had my fill in the Lounge but the spread on-board is too much to resist. Gluttony!

Emirates replicates the Constellations seen in the sky within the plane during a night flight. They leave no stone unturned in ensuring that you sleep under the stars :

A 4 Hour Nap and it was time to land into Dubai. Emirates AV welcoming their guests into Dubai International Airport :

The Business Class Lounge next to the gate :

Buffet Spread for Breakfast :

The Last Leg was in an Airbus A330-200 and this plane seemed to be a generation old.

Pushback :