The Paddock Club Diaries for this weekend draws to a close with the experience on Sunday, the day that matters. Its Raceday! Win on Sunday and all else is forgiven. It was also the day when I got the opportunity of having a Paddock Pass for the whole day.
So how was the Overall Experience? Lets have a quick recap!
Enroute to the Circuit :
I got my Paddock Pass at the F1 Experiences Suite and wasted no time in getting downstairs.
Walking around the Paddock :
Some stills with the Samsung Note 9 :
Its pretty obvious that one would bump into some known faces in F1.
Alfa Romeo Racing F1 Team Manager Beat Zehnder!
Julien Simon-Chautemps, Kimi Raikkonen Race Engineer in Alfa Romeo Racing F1 Team :
Daniil Kvyat, Scuderia Toro Rosso F1 Team :
Mr. Giorgio Piola, Journalist, Technical Artist and Watchmaker!
Fredric Vasseur, Alfa Romeo Racing F1 Team Principal :
I made my way back up, just in time to see the Ferrari Challenge Cars line up on the grid for their Race Start :
My friends at Ferrari informed me that Charles LeClerc would be visiting their Suite for a quick Interview!
He was soon followed by the Scuderia Ferrari F1 Team Principal Mattia Binotto :
It was then time for the final Pit Lane Walk of the Weekend!
Sportpesa Racing F1 Point Pit Stop Practice ( Video Link ) :
Slow Motion Edition :
Shots of the Alfa Romeo Racing F1 Team Garage :
The Teeam was busy practicing their pit stops :
Alfa Romeo Team Pit Stop Practice ( Video Link ) :
Slow Motion Edition :
I decided to pay the Paddock Area another visit and there was an atmosphere of tension, as is the case before the start of every race on Sunday :
Tom Stallard, Race Engineer for Carlos Sainz Jr. in McLaren Racing F1 Team :
Josef Leberer from Alfa Romeo Racing F1 Team :
A Quick bite before grabbing a vantage point for the Race Start :
Team Personnel venture out of the pits to make their way to the Grid :
Drivers roll out of their Garages for Sighting Laps :
Drivers going out for Sighting Laps ( Video Link ) :
The grid, a hub of activity :
Kimi & Co. getting ready for battle!
The Cars rolled out of their grid slots for the Formation Lap and the Pit Crew were scrambling back to the Pits. The Grid has to be clear of personnel for the Race Start :
Formation Lap and Race Start ( Video Link ) :
Shots from the Race :
The Stricken McLaren of Lando Norris with the Broken Rear Suspension :
Some more shots from the Race :
Video Links for Pit Stops during the Race :
Scuderia Toro Rosso F1 Team :
Scuderia Ferrari F1 Team :
Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team :
Alfa Romeo Racing F1 Team :
Haas Racing F1 Team :
Alfa Romeo Racing F1 Team during the Race :
Lewis Hamilton won the Canadian Grand Prix after a controversial incident which saw Sebastian Vettel being penalised with a 5 second time penalty. Charles LeClerc finished 3rd. Antonio Giovinazzi & Kimi Raikkonen were P13 & P15 respectively, a disappointing result for Alfa Romeo Racing F1 Team.
The Podium finishers on Parc Ferme :
Driver Interviews underway. Sebastian Vettel was nowhere to be seen. He attempted to see the Stewards regarding the incident. One of the Team Members had to restrain him from going to the Stewards before completing the Parc Ferme and Podium Formalities. The repurcussions of such a move would have been straight disqualification from the race!
Charles LeClerc being congratulated by the team :
Parc Ferme Video Link ( Part 1 ) :
Charles LeClerc with Martin Brundle giving a quick debrief of his race :
Parc Ferme Video Link ( Part 2 ) :
The Podium finishers :
Podium Presentation Video Link :
National Anthem time :
Trophy Presentation Video Link :
Trophy Presentation Time :
Time for some Champagne Shower :
Sebastian Vettel finally having a say about the result and the Stewards' verdict :
Video Link for Sebastian Vettel's Interview :
The Pit lane post the Podium celebrations :
I made my way back upstairs to say the final goodbyes to my friends at Ferrari and have a selfie with the GoPro Hero 7 Black :
The Crew at F1 Experiences. Thank you for a great weekend :
They were kind enough to let me keep the Paddock Pass! This allowed me to roam and meet so many more people!
Jacques Villeneuve, 1997 F1 World Champion and Sky Sports F1 Italia Presenter :
Sir Franz Tost, Scuderia Toro Rosso F1 Team Principal :
Max Verstappen! Driver for Aston Martin Red Bull Racing F1 Team :
Antonio Giovinazzi! Alfa Romeo Racing F1 Team :
Kimi Raikkonen!! Yes Kimi Raikkonen!!! Alfa Romeo Racing F1 Team!
Ruth Buscombe from Alfa Romeo Racing F1 Team :
2009 F1 World Champion Jenson Button!
Sebastian Vettel, Scuderia Ferrari F1 Team :
Teams packing up to head back to Europe!
And Thats a Wrap! I was disappointed about the result for the Alfa Romeos, nevertheless it was a wonderful weekend. Montreal is really a great track to visit. Highly recommend it! F1 Experiences ( Legends ) is a great experience by itself. As good as Team Hospitality? Probably not.
A Big Thank You to Edge Global Events for ensuring that I have a great weekend at the races. My next trip is to Belgium
Paddock Club Diaries shall return then!