July 2012 was my maiden flight on Emirates Airlines. I have always dreamt of flying First Class on Emirates A380 and the wish came true in July 2012 when I visited the UK for the British Grand Prix.

Soon enough, I drew up new plans to visit the United Kingdom again but this time it was for Football. I would attend games at Old Trafford ( Manchester United ) and the Camp Nou ( FC Barcelona )

It was time again to fly First on the Emirates A380 to London Heathrow!

Mumbai - London Heathrow ( 20th November 2012 ) :

I flew out on 20th November 2012 but this time took the First Flight out of Mumbai which would help me reach London at 1:30 in the afternoon

My Ride to the Airport :

A Brisk Check-in, Easy Immigration and Hassle-free security ensured a restful time in the Lounge before boarding commenced.

Shots from the Lounge :

An Elaborate Spread :

The Boarding commenced and I was ushered into my Private Suite :

The 24" LCD :

Minibar, Makeup Kit and the Writing Kit :

The Touchscreen console which controls all the features of the Suite :

The Suite :

The Bed :

The Suite lights up in brilliant blue during takeoff :

The Breakfast Menu :

Breakfast :

A Slight delay in landing meant a quick switchover to the A380 which was bound for London :

Video Link to the Emirates A380 Taking off from Dubai :

The Goodie Basket featuring Chocolates, Crisps, Gums, Mints!

Hello Friends!

I am so thankful to all the readers of my blog and being a part of the journey I started in 2011.

I am blessed by God to have such amazing readers and receive such great responses to the blog.

I am planning to start a new series on the blog called "The Flying Diaries" documenting the amazing hospitality I have experienced while flying First and Business Class to various Destinations on Emirates Airlines.

Posts will be coming thick and fast, so watch this space!

Thank you once again for being a part of this blog. YOU make this blog what it is!

God Bless you all :)

Fans visiting the Wankhede Stadium to watch the Mumbai Indians play can pre-register on this website to experience JioNet

Website Url : wankhede.jio.com

Technology and Sports must go hand in hand. Sports would have no meaning if Technology wasn't there to help it reach places it could only dream of. Besides ensuring a Global Footprint, Technology has contributed towards ensuring Fairness and Safety in Sports.

However opening up new vistas in terms of Fan Experience at an event is one of the principle functions of Technology in Sports.

Today, I got the first taste of such an experience at the iconic Wankhede Stadium, home to the Mumbai Indians!

JioChat and JioNet are 2 of the latest offerings at the Wankhede Stadium .

JioChat and JioNet would be available for Free ( Yes Free! ) to all the Fans at the Wankhede Stadium for all the Home Games of the Mumbai Indians.

What is so special about these offerings? - It is the First Time a Cricket Stadium in India will offer its fans unhindered, high speed internet access ( JioNet ) and an app  ( JioChat ) with features ranging from chats, calls to official channels featuring the latest news about our beloved Mumbai Indians!

JioNet and JioChat will be put through their paces ( for the first time ) on 12th April 2015 when Kings XI Punjab come visiting.

The Network produced some stunning results today! JioNet downloaded the 17 MB JioChat App from the Play Store in 5 seconds..jaw dropping speed!

I was one of the Fortunate Few to be at the Wankhede Stadium today and witness a practice session of the Mumbai Indians.

The Wankhede Stadium in all its glory :

Shots of the Mumbai Indians at practice :

The Visitors acclimatizing themselves :

Aaron Finch puts in the perfect sweep-shot:

Kieron Pollard warming up to face a few in the nets :

Lasith Malinga to Kieron Pollard :

Ambati Rayudu receiving some valuable advice from Cricketing greats Ricky Ponting and Sachin Tendulkar :

The Turbanator Harbhajan Singh :

Aiden Blizzard in the Nets :

The Best Fielder in the World and the Fielding Coach for the Mumbai Indians Jonty Rhodes in his element :

Mumbai Indians fine-tuning their fielding skills. Fielding is the 13th Man ( the Mumbai Crowd is the 12th ). Corey Anderson was really pushing himself!

A Young Man by the Name of Sachin Tendulkar was smiling away to glory and enjoying his time on the pitch!

Mr. Rahul Razdan decided to showcase the Video Calling feature of JioChat and made a call to Mr. Akash Ambani who very graciously obliged!

Then we got the chance to see the Legend on Video Chat, not only the Icon for Mumbai Indians but also a great ambassador for Cricket. The SUPERMAN FROM INDIA - MR. SACHIN RAMESH TENDULKAR!!

After a quick conversation, it was time to wrap things up.

The Mumbai Indians put in a good shift at practice :

Ricky Ponting, the Head Coach for Mumbai Indians focused as ever!

It was a great day at the Wankhede Stadium!

A Big Thank you to the Mumbai Indians for hosting us and helping us experience JioChat and JioNet! 

Fans visiting the Wankhede Stadium to watch the Mumbai Indians can pre-register on this website to experience JioNet

Website Url : wankhede.jio.com

JioChat is available on the Play Store / iStore.

There is more to come about these product offerings..soon..so watch this space!

2014 was the dawn of a new era in the History of F1. The Plethora of changes posed a huge challenge to all teams. 2015 would be a step higher in technical challenges.

2015 will see the reduction of Allocated Power Units from 5 to 4, minimum weight of the car increasing to 702 kgs, ban on FRIC ( usage stopped from mid 2014 ).

Penalties too have changed for 2015 : ( Source : www.fia.com ) :

• The replacement of a complete power unit will no longer result in a penalty. Penalties will continue to be applied cumulatively for individual components of the power unit, and if such a grid place penalty is imposed and the driver's grid position is such that it cannot be applied in full, the remainder of the penalty will no longer be carried over to the next race, but will instead be applied in the form of a time penalty during the race corresponding to the number of grid spaces remaining in the penalty.

This is a great modification to the rule applied in 2014 as a driver and a team must not be denied a chance at finishing strong in a race where they might be strong due to residual penalties being carried forward thus affecting their race starts.

• In addition to the existing five-second penalty that may be served during a driver's scheduled pit stop, a new ten-second penalty that will have to be served in the same manner, will be introduced.

The definitions of the same are yet to be clarified.

• If a car is deemed to have been released from its pit stop in an unsafe manner, the driver will receive a ten second stop-and-go penalty. Further penalties will be applied if the stewards believe that the driver is aware of this and attempts to drive the car regardless.

I personally believe that the team is equally to blame for an unsafe release. The "Lollipop Man" is the the best judge of the situation and handing out penalties to a driver is a bit harsh.

• The qualifying procedure has been further clarified to cater to different sizes of starting grids: if twenty-four cars are entered for the race, seven will be eliminated after the each of the first two qualifying segments; if twenty-two are entered, six will be eliminated after each qualifying segment and so on if fewer cars are eligible.

F1 is aiming to expand its global audience. The Possibility of a Local Racing Team seems very real. This rule is as clear as it can be.

• The partial ban on pit-to-car communication introduced at the 2014 Singapore Grand Prix will be extended to include a blanket ban on sharing technical data between team and driver, such as specific fuel consumption settings.

The aim is to make racing more Driver - Centric. Drivers would have to learn to manage their allocations wisely. Safety advice though is permitted.

• Double points will no longer be awarded at the final event of the championship.

2014 was the only season where we had double points. It didn't go down well with the Fans and rightfully so.

• In light of a regulation introduced in 2014 dictating that a race can not run for more than four hours and following recommendations from the report into Jules Bianchi's accident the previous season, the start times of five Grands Prix have been brought forward by one hour, so that races do not start with less than four hours until dusk. Thus, the Australian, Malaysia, Chinese, Japanese and Russian Grand Prix will start an hour earlier than in 2014.

A Wise Move by the FIA to address safety issues arising out of drastic weather conditions which lead to stoppages in the race.

• In the aftermath of Bianchi's accident, a new procedure called virtual safety car (VSC) will be introduced, obliging drivers to reduce their speed to match the one indicated on their displays on their steering wheels. The procedure may be initiated when double waved yellow flags are needed on any section of a circuit where competitors and officials may be in danger, but the circumstances are not as such to warrant deployment of the actual safety car.

This system did see trial runs in the final rounds of the 2014 season. The Effectiveness of the same will be clear in 2015. Clearly a step to increase safety in the sport.

• The safety car procedure was amended. Once the last lapped car has passed the leader, the safety car will return to the pits at the end of the following lap. This is a change of the previous practice which required the unlapped cars to have caught up with the back of the pack before the safety car could return to the pits.

The Pace Car always increases the time duration of a race and changing weather conditions can also cause Safety Car Periods.
The move for the safety car to return to pits after the Last Lapped Car has passed the leader is a good move to finish the full race within the specified time limits.

• If a race is suspended, the cars will no longer line up on the grid but will slowly proceed to the pit lane instead. Pit exit will be closed and the first car to arrive in the pit lane will proceed to the exit with the other lining up behind the first one.

New Rule introduced, the effectiveness of which is yet to be seen.

• If any team personnel or team equipment remain on the grid after the fifteen-second signal has been shown before the start of the formation lap, the driver of the car concerned must start the race from the pit lane. If the driver concerned fails to obey this, they will receive a ten second stop-and-go penalty.

The earlier rule punished the driver with a Drive Thru Penalty. The Time lost would be considerably more with this change.

• Drivers are no longer permitted to change the design of their helmet in-season.

Cosmetic Change. This would ease the stress of recognising the drivers. As Kimi Raikkonen said : Helmets protect my head!

Tourism Malaysia have always been gracious. I had the privilege of attending the 2012 and 2013 Malaysian Grand Prix and was awed by the amazing hospitality shown to me in 2013.

This year too Tourism Malaysia invited me to their event held at SMAAASH Mumbai which was aimed at promoting not just the 2015 Malaysian Grand Prix held at Sepang but also Malaysia as a tourist destination, a destination worth visiting more than just once.

The event was held on 26th February 2015 with a Go-Karting Contest aptly named "Race to Sepang".

Shots of the Track :

I have been a regular here and its always been fun driving on this challenging but narrow track!

Shots from the Event :

Ma'am Sharmila ( Representing the Sepang International Circuit ) welcoming us and sharing the variety of value offerings at Sepang International Circuit.

Statistics and Spectator Turnout from previous events held at the Sepang International Circuit ( F1, MotoGP, SBK and their likes )

The Regional Tours undertaken by Tourism Malaysia for the promotion of the 2015 Malaysian Grand Prix

The Director of Tourism Malaysia - Mr. Manoharan welcoming us to the event and sharing the beauty of Malaysia as a destination and the importance of an Indian Audience to the various events held at the Sepang International Circuit.

The Winners of the Contest. I was beaten by 0.5 seconds to the Fastest time of the Day. The Team ( consisting of 6 Randomly chosen drivers ) with the best average time over a 3 minute session were chosen to travel to Malaysian for the 2015 Malaysian Grand Prix.

In all my travels I must admit that Tourism Malaysia has been proactive and involved  in generating an interest for Formula 1 in India and inviting fans to Malaysia to experience both the Malaysian Hospitality and the Race held at Sepang.

Sepang as a circuit has produced some amazing races in F1 and I am sure that 2015 would not fail to disappoint.

I missed the opportunity to be at the 2015 Malaysian Grand Prix but if offered a chance again, I would join the contingent without any hesitation.

Malaysia - Truly the Face of Asian Hospitality!

2014 was not just another season in the history of F1.

F1 donned a new face and saw a huge changeover from the previous year.

Many avid fans had reservations about seeing F1 in its new avatar - 1.6 L V6 Turbo Charged Engines, Reduction to 5 Power Units from 8, Bigger Energy Recovery Systems, Reduced Downforce, 8 Gears ( from 7 last year ) to compensate for the Torque and reduced fuel usage to accommodate the new allocation of 100kgs ( of fuel ) over a race distance and most importantly double points in the season finale in Abu Dhabi.

F1 was on a mission to bring down costs and the rule changes would be the first step in that endeavour. However towards the end of the season we saw the demise of 2 teams and questions being raised by one and all as to whether F1 really profited from these drastic steps. The engines also weren't loud enough for many fans and everyone remembered the days of old. F1 Supremo Bernie Ecclestone even hinted at a return to the noisier V8s but a switchback will not happen anytime soon.

2014 saw the introduction of a new track - Sochi in Russia and the return of the Red Bull Ring at Spielberg in Austria.

How did the teams fare in 2014? Lets have a quick recap :

Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team :

Mercedes had started work on their power unit 2 years before its introduction into the sport and they reaped huge rewards on the racetrack. The Factory Team enjoyed a considerable advantage over its rivals and its customer teams. The duel between the team-mates was all that mattered and childhood mates Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg left no stone unturned as they battled for supremacy and the eventual crown.

The Team had the fastest car on the grid but they suffered with reliability issues throughout the season.

Lewis suffered retirements in Australia, Canada and Belgium while Nico in Britain and Singapore. 

Lewis and Nico battled hard and sparks were flying between the two. Nico captured pole and victory at Monaco albeit "unsportingly" according to some experts. Lewis on the other hand didn't let Nico pass him during the Hungarian GP. Nico was pretty discontent going into the summer break.

The Battle between the team mates reached a flashpoint when Nico hit Lewis while challenging for the lead in the 2nd lap at Belgium. The damage caused Lewis to retire and instigate an internal investigation which ended in Nico issuing an apology to Lewis and suffering a heavy fine.

Lewis then went on a 5 race winning spree and overturning the deficit to Nico whose retirement in Singapore due to another mechanical failure didn't do his chances any good. Nico was trailing by 17 points going into the final race in Abu Dhabi but electrical problems denied him from mounting a challenge. Lewis won the Championship on pure merit though.

The 2008 World Champion notched up 11 wins to Nico's 5. He also produced stellar drives from the back of the grid to end up on the podium on a few occasions and was the victim of unreliability more often than his team-mate.

The Team finished with 16 Wins in 19 races, 11 1-2s and a colossal 701 points! The Team had sealed the Constructors' Championship at the Inaugural Russian GP ( Round 16 ).

2014 truly saw the dawn of the "Silver Arrows and the 3 Pointed Star" era. 

Red Bull Racing F1 Team :

Red Bull had a torrid start to the 2014 campaign in testing and went into 2014 with a lot of uncertainty about them - most notably the reliability of the Renault Power Unit.

Sebastien Vettel who enjoyed 4 years of success struggled with the lack of downforce and the loss of considerable amount of aerodynamics on the new car. He suffered reliability issues and even exceeded the 5 Power Unit allocation for the season.The German however managed 4 podiums in the 2014 season - Malaysia, Canada, Singapore and Japan. Vettel decided it was time to move on and take on a new challenge. He will be joining Ferrari for the 2015 season. He finished the year in 5th.

Daniel Ricciardo the new graduate from Toro Rosso had a fantastic year and finished 2nd in his debut race for Red Bull on his home turf in Australia but Fuel Irregularity in his car meant that he was stripped of his 2nd place and disqualified.
Ricciardo produced stellar drives throughout the season and was the sole driver to capitalize on any mistake or reliability issues that the Mercedes duo faced. He notched up his First Win for Red Bull in Canada when both Hamilton and Rosberg suffered brake problems. Hungary and Belgium were 2 more victories that followed soon after and kept him in the title hunt. 5 podiums helped him top off a fine 2014 in 3rd place in the Drivers' Championship.

Red Bull relinquished their crown and finished in 2nd place, a resurgence after the uncertainties at the start of the season.

Williams - Martini Racing F1 Team :

Williams have been living in the shadows for a long time and a return to the sharp end of the gird was overdue. Williams hired the services of Felipe Massa and Rob Smedley, the latter becoming the Head of Vehicle Perfomance. Williams were the most successful customer team amongst the Mercedes Engine buyers and the duo of Bottas and Massa showed everyone that Williams were back in business.

Bottas was a little slow off the blocks but soon gathered pace and started bagging podiums. He finished in the top 3 on six occasions. His consistent performance in other races ensured that he stayed ahead of rivals to finish 4th in the Championship.

Massa too enjoyed life with his new team and was a very different racer in 2014. He too took his time to start scoring good points for the team and even stole pole position at the Austrian GP. However he could only manage 3 podiums - Italy, Brazil and Abu Dhabi.

Massa was a handful in 2014 and will be a force to reckon with in 2015. He finished 7th in the Standings.

Williams had a slow start to 2014 but consistency from both drivers helped them gather points rapidly. They won the duel with Ferrari to take 3rd Place in the Constructors. This was a massive jump from 8th last year and the extra cash will definitely help them move closer to the top in 2015.

Scuderia Ferrari F1 Team :

Ferrari had the strongest driver lineup on the grid and all were eyes were on them to see how 2 drivers with 3 world championships between them would cope with the new season. Massa's Departure meant the return of the Iceman KIMI RAIKKONEN! Ferrari had last won the Drivers' Championship with Kimi in 2007. What Promised to be a battle royale between Alonso and Raikkonen eventually fizzled out. 

Alonso lead the charge for Ferrari and flattered to deceive in a car which was simply not good enough to challenge the Mercedes. Alonso managed 2 podiums - 3rd in China and 2nd in Hungary. He scored consistently throughout the season and managed to finish 6th in the Championship.

Kimi Raikkonen had a season to forget. The Iceman suffered all year long and his best finish in the year was 4th in Belgium.
Kimi could only muster 55 points and finished 12th in the Championship.

Ferrari was the most reliable car on the grid but not the quickest and they paid a heavy price for their lack of pace as they finished a disappointing 4th in the Constructors' Championship. The primary reason for failure has been attributed to the Pushrod Suspension Design. The Design is better aerodynamically but makes the front end unresponsive. Kimi really struggled with the lack of front end grip and also the new "Brake by wire" system. These simply don't suit his driving style. Ferrari have been working all year to address these issues and progress is visible. Alonso suffered 2 retirements due to mechanical failures and the Spaniard has struggled during his time at Ferrari. He announced that he would leave the team at the end of the season and has returned to McLaren for 2015.

McLaren Mercedes F1 Team :

McLaren brought in a Driver Program graduate Kevin Magnussen to partner Jenson Button for 2014. McLaren and Mercedes have enjoyed a great partnership down the years but the partnership would come to an end at the end of 2014 as McLaren switched to Honda with the hope of restoring the days of Prost and Senna.

Kevin Magnussen and Jenson Button had an amazing start to the Season when they finished 2nd and 3rd respectively. ( Australia )

However post that none could manage any more podiums. Button was more consistent and his experience shone on track. His future at McLaren was uncertain but some stellar drives towards the end helped his cause as well as McLaren's who were locked in a heated battle with Force India and even trailing them for a certain period. Button finished 8th in the standings with 126 points.

Magnussen's rookie year in F1 was a promising one. He made a few mistakes and struggled to score big post his podium in the first race. Magnussen finished 11th with 55 points.

McLaren were the weakest of the Mercedes' Customer teams but improved towards the end of the season to narrowly beat Sahara Force India F1 Team to 5th position and save themselves the blushes.

Sahara Force India F1 Team :

Force India saw the return of Nico Hulkenberg who partnered Sergio Perez, the latter removed by McLaren for not fulfilling expectations and being vocal about the lack of performance of the 2013 contender. Force India is slowly clawing their way up the grid and 2014 was a really rewarding one for the team.

Nico Hulkenberg performed well for the team, scoring good points consistently and making a strong case for himself. He truly deserves to be driving for a team higher up the grid and Force India would be really thankful for this acquisition. Hulkenberg's best finish was 5th on 4 occasions and he finished the season in 9th with 96 points.

Sergio Perez had a mercurial 2014. Some heroic driving helped him earn a podium for the team ( 3rd place ) ( Belgium 2009 being Force India's last ). He was robbed of another 3rd place in Canada after his coming together with Massa on the last lap.
He was unable to make heavy inroads in the rest of the races and finished 2014 in 10th place with 59 points.

Force India can take encouragement from a much better 2014 and build from here. Their association with Mercedes will definitely help them in 2015 too.

Scuderia Toro Rosso F1 Team :

Toro Rosso acquired the services of young Daniil Kvyat, another graduate from the Red Bull Driver Program while Jean-Eric Vergne retained his seat for 2015. Toro Rosso switched to Renault from Ferrari in 2014 to become the 4th Customer team for the French Engine Manufacturer.

Jean-Eric Vergne had a rough start to 2014 with retirements and questions being raised about his calibre.However a couple of strong performances helped him reinstate his authority within the team.He managed to finish 7 times in the points. Vergne finished 13th with 22 points. Vergne is only 24 and deserved another year of racing to make a strong case for himself but Red Bull ( Toro Rosso's Main Sponsor ) thought otherwise. Toro Rosso relieved him of his services allowing him to become a reserve driver for Ferrari in 2015.

Daniil Kvyat made his F1 Debut at a tender age of 19. Some suggested that it was too early to bring the Russian into F1. I second that opinion but one musn't forget the turnout he generated at the Inaugural Russian GP. Kvyat showed brilliance in parts and only managed 5 points finishes. Kvyat should have spent another year with Toro Rosso but Vettel's Departure to Ferrari has given him the rare privilege of driving for the A Team in 2015.

Toro Rosso didn't have the best year in F1 and the rising costs also troubled them in 2014. They finished a disappointing 7th in the Constructors' Championship.

Lotus F1 Team :

Lotus F1 saw an exodus of  talented people at the end of 2013. The Team had been brilliant in 2012 and 2013 and hired the services of Pastor Maldonado who replaced Kimi Raikkonen for 2014. Maldonado also brought in a big sponsor in PDVSA and expectations were high going into 2014. However pre-season testing revealed that the team was nowhere near ready for the season opener. The 2014 car had done minimum running and was plagued with Renault Power Unit problems.

The team had a very rough 2014 with both drivers qualifying at the back of the grid on more occasions than one. Reliability issues didn't help their cause either. Romain Grosjean finished in the points only on 2 occasions and Maldonado's best finish was 8th ( only once ). Grosjean finished in 14th on 8 points while Maldonado was 16th on 2.

Lotus F1 scored 10 points ( 8th in Constructors ) and the loss of talented people at the top hurt them bad. Lotus have parted ways with Renault and will work with a Mercedes engine in 2015.

Marussia F1 Team :

Marussia continued with Jules Bianchi and Max Chilton for 2014. The Team was locked in a heated battle with Caterham and Sauber Ferrari all season long and they earned their first points in Monaco when Jules Bianchi finished 9th. 

The 2 points turned out to be vital in the Constructors' Championship. Max Chilton too continued to finish races until a retirement in Canada ended his record run of 25 consecutive classified race finishes.

However rising costs and lack of funds were threatening the very existence of the team. The F1 world was rattled when Jules Bianchi suffered a horrific crash ( on Sunday ) in Suzuka on a rainy day and in fading light. The Car went under a tractor which was trying to extricate the stricken Sauber of Adrian Sutil from the gravel. Bianchi has been in induced coma since and was recently shifted to Europe to continue treatment. The F1 Fraternity has rallied around the Frenchman and we all hope to see him hale and hearty and racing ontrack soon. Flag Rules, Race Timings and Safety for drivers has become the centre of discussions again in the aftermath of the incident.

Marussia set up Bianchi's car ( to honour him ) and raced only one car during the Russian GP weekend. The mood was sombre in the paddock.

Marussia and Caterham F1 became the victims of rising costs in F1. Marussia went into administration and didn't make a return to F1. The Team's higher finishing position had no value now.

Sauber F1 Team :

Sauber, powered by Ferrari acquired the services of Adrian Sutil and Esteban Gutierrez. Sauber struggled with the balance of the car as well as its weight in pre-season testing and was never able to address the issue. Sauber was another team feeling the pinch of rising costs and certain sources even suggested that the team was searching for a new investor to continue racing in F1. Adrian Sutil took the team's best result by qualifying in 9th in the United States, but his performance was short-lived, as he was hit from behind by Sergio Perez and the team endured their first pointless season in their 22 year history.

Caterham F1 Team :

Caterham had a torrid 2014. Rising costs, lack of funds coupled with an unreliable Renault engine left the team in complete disarray. Team Principal Tony Fernandes didn't see F1 as profitable anymore and sold the team to a consortium of Swiss - Middle Eastern investors in July. The Team hired the services of ex-F1 driver Christijan Albers for Team Principal but he too stepped down at the end of the Italian GP in September citing "Personal reasons".

Marcus Ericcson and Kamui Kobayashi drove for the team until the latter was replaced by three time Le Mans winner and FIA WEC Champion champion Andre Lotterer for the Belgian GP. He outqualified Ericcson but retired after his power unit failed on the first lap.

The deal with the investors however fell through and the Team went into administration post the Russian GP. They were unable to return for the US GP and the Brazilian GP. The team started an online campaign to raise funds to return for the Final race in Abu Dhabi and were able to make it happen. The Team replaced Ericsson with 23 year old rookie Will Stevens for the Final Race.

The existence of the team was always in question and the chances of survival were few and far between. Will Caterham be on the grid in 2015? I certainly hope so.

2014 wasn't a great year for Kimi and neither for me. I hope 2015 brings a change in fortunes for both of us. Mercedes AMG Petronas deserve to be Champions and we must give credit where its due.

2014 was nonetheless a brilliant season in terms of racing and showcased the sheer dominance of One Engine manufacturer over its competitors.

The 2015 Season is almost upon us.. Watch this space..the preview is coming soon!! God Bless everyone and enjoy the holidays!!

Welcome to Raceday!!

A Battle Royale awaited us on Sunday and it was a battle that didn't disappoint!

Enroute to the Circuit :

The Vintage Cars to be used during the Drivers' Track Parade on display :

With Kimi Raikkonen's Chariot :

A Beautiful morning at the Circuit of the Americas :

3 teams were protesting against the Funds Distribution on F1 and Sunday Morning in the paddock was tense.

Gerard Lopez ( Lotus F1 Team Principal ) in conversation with Monisha Kaltenborn ( Sauber F1 Team Principal ) :

Breakfast Time :

Shots from the Paddock. A certain Emerson Fittipaldi featuring here :

The Ferrari V8 Cars on the Starting Grid :

We were soon joined by Giancarlo Fisichella ( Ferrari Test Driver ) :

Video Link :

His Departure meant the arrival of the Spaniard, the 2 Time F1 World Champion Fernando Alonso :

Video Link of Alonso's Interview :

Sky Sports F1 readying themselves for the Pre-Race Show :

Soon it was time to go downstairs for the Final Pit Lane Walk of the Weekend.

The Pit lane looking ready for the race :

Teams busy practicing their Pit Stops :

Sahara Force India F1 Team gathering together for a Photo Shoot :

The Podium which will be ready for the race winner :

I had the privilege of getting close to the drivers as they were leaving for the Drivers' Track Parade!!

Video Link for "Drivers enroute to the Track Parade" :

Drivers getting into their Vintage Cars :

Video Link :

An Airplane promoting a F1 Car Event :

The FIA Weigh Bridge which will see a lot of activity post race :

The Drivers returning from the Track Parade :

Video Link :

The Safety Car, Mercedes SLS - AMG :

The pre-race show on track :

I rushed back upstairs to finish a quick lunch :

It was time to go outside and watch the preparations for the Grand Prix.

Cars rolling out of the Garages :

Scuderia Ferrari F1 rolls out :

F1 Team Bosses, Celebrities ensure that the Paddock is abuzz with activity :

Shots from the Starting Grid :

The Clock ran down and it was time for the start of the Formation Lap :

Video Link of the Formation Lap :

The Mechanics running back to the garages after the cars roll out for the Formation Lap :

Video Link for Nico Rosberg's Pit Stop :

Video Link for Lewis Hamilton's Pit Stop :

Video Link for Daniel Ricciardo's Pit Stop :

Pastor Maldonado was penalised with a 5 sec Stop Go Penalty which he served during his pit stop.

Video Link :

Scuderia Ferrari F1 during the Race :

Video Link for Fernando Alonso's Pit Stop :

Video Link for Kimi Raikkonen's Pit Stop :

Video Link for Kimi Raikkonen's 2nd Pit Stop :

Lewis Hamilton took the lead from Nico Rosberg and once the move was done, he was unchallenged.

The pitlane was abuzz with activity as the Chequered Flag was being waved.

Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg completed another 1-2 for Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 team. Daniel Ricciardo was P3 for Red Bull Racing.

Fernando Alonso was P6 for Ferrari while Kimi Raikkonen struggled and finished a disappointing P13.

Another weekend to forget as a Raikkonen Fan. :(

Sky Sports F1 interviewing the Mercedes AMG Petronas Pit Wall :

Cars coming on to Parc fermé :

Scuderia Ferrari F1 on Parc fermé :

There were a huge number of Lewis Hamilton Fans at the circuit and all of them congregated in front of the Mercedes Garage to celebrate his victory. They were even featured on Sky Sports F1 :

In the Sea of Lewis Hamilton Fans, there were a handful of Kimi Raikkonen admirers. A pleasure to see them!

Soon Enough it was time for the Mechanics gather all the equipment, put them in containers and ship them to Brazil, a race happening the next weekend.

The Fans walking on track towards the garages at the Circuit of the Americas :

The Ferrari Formula 1 Club that had hosted us over the weekend :

Some more shots from the Suite :

Replica of the 2007 engine that won Kimi Raikkonen the Drivers' World Championship and Ferrari the Constructors' Championship :

A moment with Ma'am Shotije Bega, Simona De Filippis and Emilia Capasso from Ferrari :

I left the suite and went upstairs to the Paddock Lounge to get some final shots of the Circuit.

The Circuit in the setting sun :

There were some really interesting cycle rickshaws near the Main Grandstand at the Circuit :

The Final shots from the Circuit of the Americas :

Thank you for a great weekend Formula 1!!

Saturdays mean early morning starts and Day 2 of the 2014 United States GP started with a bang.

Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 were sharing the same hotel at the Domain and after a long wait I was able to get close to Lewis Hamilton who was preparing to leave for the Circuit.

Enroute to the Circuit :

I reached the Circuit and soon enough I was escorted downstairs for the Garage Tour with Scuderia Ferrari F1!

Shots from the Garage Tour :

I also got a few minutes with Mark Arnall, Kimi Raikkonen's Physical Instructor. Its always a pleasure speaking to him.

We made it back to the Paddock and it was time for the Saturday Free practice ( FP3 ). Teams would run Qualifying Simulations and prepare the cars for the Qualifying in the afternoon.

Shots from FP3 :

Scuderia Ferarri F1 during FP3 :

Kimi Raikkonen Pit Stop Practice in FP3 Video Link :

Lewis Hamilton was the fastest again in FP3 and the gap had increased to Eight Tenths of a second over team-mate Nico Rosberg.

Fernando Alonso and Kimi Raikkonen finished P5 and P9 respectively for Ferrari.

We were once again joined by Mattia Binotto ( COO - Power Unit ) who discussed about the technical changes in the power units this year and the challenges faced by Ferrari so far.

His Departure meant the arrival of THE ICEMAN KIMI RAIKKONEN! I was waiting for the moment to meet the Flying Finn and it happened again!!

Shots from Kimi Raikkonen's Interview :

Video Link to Kimi Raikkonen's Interview :

The End of the Interview came soon and Tom Clarkson, the Host announced my name to invite me onstage to get a quick photo with Kimi Raikkonen. Kimi was in a great mood and smiling ear to ear.

I gifted him the poem I had made for him and he was appreciative of my effort. It was a surreal moment!

The Poem :

Scuderia Ferrari were gracious to send me photos with him and here they are : MOMENTS WITH THE ICEMAN, THE FLYING FINN - KIMI RAIKKONEN!!

A Special Special Special Thank you to Mr. Larry DiBiase from Lambda Performance GmbH for ensuring that I get the opportunity that I waited for so long! I am so thankful for all the efforts he took. Thank you Sir!!

It was time for the Pit Lane Walk before Qualifying and the rush was enormous :

The Sun was out in full force and here are some shots from the Pit lane :

A moment with Claudio Bersini of Scuderia Ferrari F1 :

Shots from the Scuderia Ferrari F1 Garage :

The Boys from Sky Sports F1 busy in the build up to Qualifying :

I returned upstairs and had a quick lunch.

Tummy Full, Camera Charged it was time to head outside and enjoy Qualifying.

The Absence of Caterham F1 and Marussia F1 meant that only 18 cars would take to track. Q1 would see the ouster of 4 cars, Q2 likewise. Q3 would be the usual 10 minute shootout between the remaining 10 drivers.

The Team Pit Walls are all occupied before the action starts.

Shots from Q1 :

Scuderia Ferrari F1 during Q1 :

Kimi Raikkonen Returing to the Pits in Q1. Video Link :

Lewis Hamilton was quickest in Q1. Fernando Alonso and Kimi Raikkonen were P5 and P9 respectively for Ferrari.

Sebastien Vettel had switched to a 6th Power Unit and Red Bull decided not to put extra mileage on the unit. They let him do one flying lap but the German couldn't make the cut into Q2.

Vergne, Gutierrez, Vettel and Grosjean were eliminated.

A dejected Vergne returning to his garage :

Q2 started on schedule.

Shots from Q2 :

Scuderia Ferrari F1 in Q2 :

Nico Rosberg turned the tables and was fastest for the first time. Fernando Alonso was P6 and Kimi Raikkonen was P9 for Ferrari.

Maldonado, Perez, Hulkenberg and Kvyat were eliminated in Q2.

Q3 would be the final shootout. Shots from Q3 :

Scuderia Ferrari F1 in Q3 :

Nico Rosberg powered himself to another pole, being the fastest when it mattered against Lewis Hamilton. Lewis was P2 with Bottas P3. Alonso and Raikkonen could only manage P6 and P9 respectively for Ferrari. Raikkonen however moved up to P8 as Button qualified P7 but dropped 5 grid spots for a gearbox change. Kvyat qualified P14 but dropped 10 places for an engine change.

Vettel who qualified P17 started from the pit lane for the complete power unit change.

Parc fermé ready after Q3 :

Sky Sports F1 interviewing the Mercedes Pit Wall at the end of Q3 :

The Paddock abuzz after Qualifying :

Graeme Lowdon ( Marussia F1 President and Sporting Director ) in the Paddock and deep in conversation with a FIA Representative :

The Team Principals holding a meeting following the crisis in F1 in regards to Fund Distribution

A Happy Mr. and Mrs. Rosberg posing with Friends. Lewis Hamilton in conversation with friends from the UK :

Fernando and Kimi look the part..don't they?

Some amazing clicks of the First turn in the setting sun :

A Moment with the Race Winner's Trophy :

Returning to the Domain :

2014 has been a busy year and unlike last year I was able to attend only 2 races.

The German Grand Prix was a fantastic experience and I was really looking forward to go across the Atlantic and attend the 2nd race this year held at Austin Texas.

As always, this is the Day 1 Experience at the 2014 United States Grand Prix.

The Passes arrived a day earlier and everything was in place for the Weekend :

Enroute to the Circuit :

Welcome to the Ferrari F1 Club at the Circuit of the Americas

I hardly got time to settle in and the Friday Free Practice ( FP1 ) was already underway.

Shots from FP1 :

Scuderia Ferrari F1 during FP1 :

Lewis Hamilton dominated FP1 and was 3 tenths faster than his team-mate Nico Rosberg.

Fernando Alonso and Kimi Raikkonen were 6th and 12th respectively for Ferrari.

The Lull after Free Practice :

For the first time in my Paddock Club Experiences, I came across Breakfast Service being offered :

We were soon joined by Mattia Binotto ( COO - Power Unit ) who discussed about the technical changes in the power units this year and the challenges faced by Ferrari to match up to the Mercedes.

Video Link :

The Paddock abuzz with activity after FP1 :

The Menu for Lunch :

Time for a Power Lunch before the Pit Lane Walk :

The Sun was out in full force and it was a windy day too. It was an amazing day for racing in Austin and I must admit that this was one of the best pit lanes I have been in. Caterham F1 and Marussia F1 could not make it to the race and their garages were taken up by Pirelli who showcased all their tyres.

Shots from the Pit Lane Walk :

The Scuderia Ferrari F1 Pit Garage :

Some moments in the Garage :

A moment with the Ferrari Team Boys :

The Ferrari F14 T Firing Up before the start of FP2 :

Video Link :

Free Practice 2 was soon underway and the Teams would run through the qualifying simulation and more importantly the Race Simulations :

Shots from FP2 :

Scuderia Ferrari F1 during FP2 :

Lewis Hamilton was the Fastest again in FP2 but the gap to Nico Rosberg was down to only 3 thousandths of a second.

Fernando Alonso and Kimi Raikkonen improved to P3 and P6 for Ferrari.

Post FP2, I was able to send some time with an amazing man who excels in artwork viz. oil, acrylic and watercolor paintings. He has a unique skill-set and has made some stunning art works, be it F1, Moto GP or Nascar!

Please do visit his page and be awed : www.kevinpaigeart.com

Kevin honoured Jules Bianchi with an art work of his car - a gesture that really moved me. The Mood was sombre after what had happened at the Japanese Grand Prix and the everyone from the F1 Fraternity rallied to offer Jules encouragement and support and prayers for a miraculous recovery!

TOUS AVEC JULES!!

Marc Gene ( Ferrari Reserve Driver ) joined us in the Lounge to discuss about the performance of the team on Friday and the expectations they had from the race.

The High Banking into turn 1.. it is quite a climb!

Some Shots of the Ferrari Formula 1 Club Lounge :

The Media interviews for drivers in the Paddock :

One of the support events for the weekend was the Ferrari V8 Series.

The 458s strutting their stuff on track :

It was time to head back to the hotel and the Track looked amazing in the setting sun!!