2014 saw F1 in a new avatar - New Regulations, New Engines, New Designs, New Tracks.. it was a complete overhaul!

The Contenders to the crown should have been the same but the Rules of the Game have changed and so have the contenders!

The Teams return to racing at Spa - Francorchamps ( Belgium ) in a Week's time after the 4 week Summer Break.

It might not be right to title this post as the Mid Season Review as we have already completed 12 rounds out of 19 for the season but no better a time to write one.

So how have all the teams fared this season?

Mercedes AMG Petronas :

The Silver Arrows are in a class of their own! 2 Years of hard work finally bearing fruit. The Mercedes Power Unit has left its Ferrari and Renault counterparts gasping for breath and has been a revelation this year.

The Duo of Rosberg and Hamilton have dominated the proceedings with everyone playing catchup. Rosberg leads the championship by 11 points and it seems to be a close fight with Hamilton who is second. Hamilton's season has been riddled with problems and retirements. 2 retirements compared to Rosberg's one and 3 bad qualifying sessions ( due to reliability issues ) compromised his races and chances at victory. However Hamilton's 5 wins to Rosberg's 4 could be pivotal in the title race.

Conspiracy theories have been circulating in the media about Rosberg getting preferential treatment and the more reliable equipment. I think such allegations and assumptions about the team are misplaced.

Lewis Hamilton was recruited by the team with one objective in mind - to propel the team to greatness. The Team was aware that they can mount a serious challenge only from 2014. Lewis Hamilton too has enjoyed preferential treatment - 2013 Malaysian Grand Prix ( Rosberg was denied the chance to overtake Hamilton as the team wanted both cars to come home ). Some even suggested post race that Lewis might have a clause in his contract, something that we shall never know. I haven't seen any instance which would authenticate this conspiracy theories doing the rounds. One must also understand that these cars are machines at the end of the day and they are prone to failures. It is quite unfortunate for Hamilton to be on the receiving end more often than Rosberg. Rosberg whose been with the team since 2010 has seen his fair share of disappointments. A Good Car and a Championship is long due for him, so I choose to be more considerate towards the German.

The Constructors' Championship is going to end up at Brackley thanks to the Team's Exceptional performance. They are on top with a comfortable lead but the car does has chinks in its armour. I wont be surprised to see the Silver Arrows lift the crown way before the season ends and with the resources that they have, reliability issues should be addressed fairly quickly.

Infinity Red Bull Racing ( Red Bull - Renault ) :

Red Bull Racing enjoyed 4 years of success but the plethora of Rule Changes unsettled them. The Team struggled to bring itself up to pace with this year's demands and that has allowed Mercedes AMG Petronas to gain a sufficient advantage over them.

Daniel Ricciardo who joined the Team from Toro Rosso has outclassed his Championship team-mate Vettel so far. Ricciardo is 3rd in the Championship with 131 points and clearly the best amongst the rest. Ricciardo notched up 2 victories - Canada and Hungary ( the only winner other than Rosberg and Hamilton ) and three 3rd Place finishes. He faces stiff competition from Fernando Alonso who is only 16 points behind but the Australian should be able to hold onto his position with the ever improving car.

Sebastien Vettel suffered 3 retirements this season and his best finish is 3rd ( at 2 races ) this season. The Torquier motor and the Drive problems of the power unit has troubled the German. He is trying to get the most out of the car and is slowly getting to grips with the rule changes this year. Vettel is currently 6th in the standings with 88 points. He should finish higher up in the Championship eventually but outscoring his immediate rivals is paramount.

Red Bull has already lost its crown to Mercedes and finishing 2nd is the best that they can manage this year. The Lack of power and unreliability of the Renault Power Unit has cost them dearly. Christian Horner, Red Bull's Team Principal issued an ultimatum to Renault to address these issues on a war footing or the team would consider other options. Some reports even suggested that Red Bull might start building their own engines but Horner wrote off such rumours clearly stating that Red Bull are good chassis designers and not engine manufacturers.

Scuderia Ferrari F1 Team ( Ferrari ) :

The Most Decorated Team in F1 History has had a rough ride so far. The team has the Best Driver Line-up on the grid in Fernando Alonso and Kimi Raikkonen. The world was eager to see how the 2 Ex-World Champions would match up and the contest has been pretty one sided. Alonso, a pilot since 2010 has felt more at home both with the rules and the car, scoring well and even bagging 2 podiums - 3rd at China and 2nd at Hungary. He is placed 4th in the Championship with 115 points. Its no surprise that the Spaniard has performed well beyond the car's capabilities and has made the most of the mistakes and retirements around him. Fernando Alonso still is the Best Driver on the Grid according to me and knows how to maximize results with the resources that he has.

Kimi Raikkonen has had a disappointing season so far and hit a really bad patch after the highs of 2012 and 2013 with the Lotus F1 Team. He has scored only 27 points and is placed 12th in the Standings. His best finish is 6th which came at the recently concluded Hungarian GP.

Many People have questioned Kimi's Motivation for this season and some have even suggested that the Finn has lost interest in F1.

I am a die hard Kimi Raikkonen Fan and its true that its extremely hard to see the Finn struggle this year. There are various factors that have troubled him this year.

The Rule Changes for 2014 don't suit Raikkonen's Driving Style. Ex-Team Grosjean who observed him closely in 2012 and 2013 has authenticated this fact. The Biggest Troublemaker - the new Braking system called the "Fly-by-wire" and Raikkonen is still getting to grips with it. The F14T hasn't been the most reliable for him with various problems cropping up regularly on Fridays and Saturdays hampering his preparations for the weekend. Ferrari has been working frantically to make the car as friendly as they can with regular updates. Team Principal Marco Mattiacci is confident that Raikkonen will hit top form soon. Double World Champion and Compatriot Mika Hakkinen has also been supportive of Raikkonen and warned rivals not to write off the 2007 World Champion yet. I can't wait to see Raikkonen on the top step of the podium! Belgium isn't too far..

Ferrari have struggled in comparison to the benchmarks they have set in the past and the primary reason for failure has been the Power Unit. The Engine isn't as powerful as its Mercedes counterpart causing the F14T to struggle in straight line speed. Updates have been coming in but rivals haven't been sitting on their laurels either and competition is fierce. Ferrari have the right personnel on board to help them return to their winning ways and the time to start concentrating on their 2015 contender is nearing.

Ferrari are 3rd in the Constructors with a slender lead of 7 points over Williams Martini Racing, whom they leapfrogged at the Hungarian GP. It will be difficult catching Red Bull Racing who have a considerable lead and a 3rd place finish seems a more realistic possibility. Both the Team and its Drivers will have to dig deep and ensure that their current position isn't threatened from here on.

Williams Martini Racing ( Williams - Mercedes )

Williams has been in F1 for quite a long time and has its fair share of history. The team reemerged this year in a new avatar and with a fresh resolve - to reclaim their rightful place. Williams hired the services of Felipe Massa who joined Valtteri Bottas and both have done a marvellous job for the team. Williams FW36 has been the strongest of the Mercedes Powered Customer Teams and has mounted serious challenges to the Factory Team, even beating them on a couple of occasions. Bottas, a revelation this year bagged 3 podiums for the team. 2 consecutive 2nd place finishes ( Silverstone and Hockenheim ) helped him leapfrog Sebastien Vettel into 5th Place and the Finn has 95 points to his name. Massa has had good qualifying sessions including a pole in Austria but unfortunate incidents ( 2 on the first lap ) have compromised his campaign. The Retirements hurt him bad and he is currenty 9th with 40 points.

Williams is 4th in the standings with 135 points and lost 3rd position to Ferrari at the recently concluded Hungarian GP. If the Team can ensure that both cars make it to the chequered flag at every race and continue to score consistently as the have done so far then 3rd position in the Constructors is a possibility but one cannot write off the chances of its traditional and well funded rivals in Ferrari and McLaren who will leave no stone unturned to eke out the best possible results from the remainder of the season.

Brilliant performance though by the team till now!

Sahara Force India F1 Team ( Force India - Mercedes ) :

Force India had an amazing season so far. The Superiority of the Mercedes Power Unit has helped the team to propel itself to the sharp end of the grid. The Team sits pretty in 5th on 98 points leading McLaren by just one point. Nico Hulkenberg and Sergio Perez have performed well this season. Hulkenberg has been the more consistent one with 5th being his best finishing position. He is 7th in the Championship with 69 points. Perez bagged a podium for the team in Bahrain where he finished 3rd and the team finally got on the podium after 5 years. Perez could have snatched another Podium but a collision with Massa on the last lap of the Canadian GP denied him the chance. Perez is 11th in the standings with 29 points.

Force India will have to continue bringing in upgrades and produce good results in order to maintain its advantage and slender lead over its higher spending rivals and the team knows the importance of having a higher position in the Constructors' at the end of the season - More money to fund the development of the 2015 contender. Its a tough ask this, but not impossible

McLaren - Mercedes :

McLaren have been the 2nd most successful team in F1 after Ferrari and their performances this season have been mercurial. The Team is running the Mercedes Power Unit for the final time this year before switching to Honda who make a return in 2015.

Jenson Button has scored 60 points and is 8th in the Championship with Kevin Magnussen scoring 37 and is placed 10th. Button and Magnussen scored a double podium ( 2nd and 3rd respectively ) in the opening round in Australia this being the team's best finish so far.

McLaren's association with Mercedes has been pretty successful and a long standing one but McLaren is the weakest of the Mercedes Customer Teams this season. The Team are struggling with this year's car inspite of recruiting talented personnel. Updates are trickling in and the team is trying its best to maximize results this season. They are trailing Force-India Mercedes by a single point and I believe a shot at 4th is a good possibility by the end of the season.

Scuderia Toro Rosso ( Toro - Rosso Renault ) :

Toro - Rosso, Red Bull Racing's B-Team switched to Renault Power Units ( from Ferrari ) this year and they have had a decent season. One might argue what would have been had they not switched to Renault. Jean-Eric Vergne stayed with the team and although his team-mate has seemingly done better, the Frenchman leads with 11 points to his name. Nevertheless, F1 Rookie Daniil Kvyat fared well so far and his total of 6 points don't suggest his true potential. Vergne 's best finish was 8th while Kvyat hasn't gone better than 9th.

Challenging the ones above them seems highly unlikely. The team has a contender for 7th place in Lotus F1 and keeping them at bay should be their top priority.

Lotus F1 Team ( Lotus Renault ) :

It is pretty disheartening to see my old friends struggle in 2014. 2012 and 2013, Lotus F1 were a front running team and a force to reckon with. A problematic Renault Power unit and the Basic Design of the car has compounded problems for Romain Grosjean and Pastor Maldonado. The Car has been riddled with Drive Problems and Reliability issues and the team is trying its best to address the problems. Grosjean has earned 8 points for the team this season with 8th place finishes in Canada and Monaco. Maldonado is yet to score this season.

The Team has suffered due to an exodus of personnel including the former team principal Eric Boullier to McLaren but they still have a talented bunch at Oxfordshire. Questions abound about the Financial Status of the Team, a possible reason for their struggles this year. I can't wait to see the team return to their glory days!

Marussia F1 Team ( Marussia - Ferrari ) :

Marussia comprise of a team whose members have a racing history and the team has done really well this season with the resources that it has had. Jules Bianchi finished 9th in Monaco and the team earned 2 vital points. Max Chilton's record run of 25 consecutive classified race finishes came to an end at Canada when he collided with his team-mate Bianchi.

Marrusia might not be able to score again this season but staying ahead of Sauber and Caterham could earn them vital finances for 2015! The season is just getting better and better!

Sauber F1 Team ( Sauber Ferrari ) :

Sauber had quite a productive 2013 with Nico Hulkenberg leading the charge. 2014 turned the tables on the team and they are yet to score a point this season. Adrian Sutil and Esteban Gutierrez both came close to scoring the first points of the season. Problems have riddled the team and its a pity to see such a talented bunch struggle. The Weight of the car is the Achilles' Heel.

Peter Sauber is a brilliant leader and he will be working hard with Monisha Kaltenborn to turn things around. What follows, only time will tell.

Caterham F1 Team ( Caterham-Renault ) :

Caterham had a tough run into the season, are last in the championship and haven't scored a point yet. Marcus Ericsson came close to scoring a point at Monaco when he finished in 11th. The struggles of the team have been very stressful for its previous owners.

On 2 July 2014 Tony Fernandes and his partners announced that they have sold the team to a consortium of Swiss and Middle Eastern investors. The Problems of the Renault Power Unit and the financial situation makes chances of improvements bleak. It seems that the team will struggle to score points this season.

2014 is being dubbed the "Silly Season" by experts and many fans have been critical of the lack of noise and power of the cars this year. The Lap Times have increased by a couple of seconds and F1 seems to have lost its sheen according to some.

Personally, this is one of the best seasons in a long long time. The Field has been shaken up, new contenders are fighting for the crown and racing has never been so exciting. Overtakes have become more common and drivers have learnt the art of being quick yet frugal. People were tired of the Red Bull Dominance for the last 4 years and the rule changes levelled the playing field; fans should have no reason to complain. The Engines are pretty loud, although not as loud and melodious as the 2.4 L V8.

One mustn't forget that this is only the first year for the new power units and the teams will slowly master the rule changes too.

F1 has turned a new chapter in its history and I am loving it! Can't wait for the Racing to resume.

Raceday finally dawned and the big day had arrived!!

An early start to the day as usual, Sunday was going to be fantastic again!

Enroute to the Circuit :

I took a new route again on Sunday and this time I passed through camping sites.

Some shots enroute :

Enroute, I was pleasantly surprised to see the Vintage cars that were to be used for the Drivers' Track Parade :

I reached the Paddock club and we were soon joined by Paul Hembery, Pirelli's Motorsport Director.

He discussed the strains that the company faces in delivering the required number of tyres over a season and how each tyre compound is designed for varying conditions.

His departure was soon followed by the one and only KIMI RAIKKONEN!! Kimi discussed about his chances for the weekend and  for Ferrari for the remaining part of 2014.

Video Link for Kimi Raikkonen's Interview :

Kimi Raikkonen left and we were joined by the Ferrari Test Driver, Marc Gene. Marc is a great human being and a very talented driver. It was a privilege meeting him!

Before the Final Pit Lane Walk I was taken downstairs for a quick Garage Tour.

Shots from the Paddock :

The Ferrari F14T Firing up and being readied for the race. Video Link :

Shots from the Garage :


I made a quick run back up to collect my Autograph Booklet and rushed back downstairs for the Final Pit Lane Walk of the weekend!



Shots from the Pit Lane Walk :


Scuderia Ferrari F1 getting ready for Battle :


A Moment with Andrea Stella, Fernando Alonso's Race Engineer :


The Track Parade was an amazing experience! The People dressed up in their Regional Clothing with their Regional Flags containing their Coat of Arms and marched to a melodious drum beat.

Video Link :





Sky Sports F1 getting ready for the Pre - Race Show!


I headed back upstairs and it was time for a Quick Lunch before the Race Start :


The Cars soon started rolling out of the Pit Lane as the Pit Lane opened to start preparations for the Grid for the Race!


Preparations in full swing for the Scuderia Ferrari F1 Team :


Mechanics make their way to the Grid to wheel the cars into their Grid Slots :


The Fans building up the traditional European atmosphere for an F1 Grand Prix.

A Big Rule Change came into effect :

Two weeks before the race, the FIA announced an immediate ban on the Front-and-Rear Interconnected suspension system (commonly abbreviated as FRIC), effective as of the German Grand Prix, arguing that the FRIC system qualified as a movable aerodynamic device under Article 3.15 of the technical regulations. ( Source - FIA )

There were some changes to the grid. Gutierrez qualified P14, but dropped three places for causing a collision at previous round. Lewis Hamilton opted for a gear box change and earned a 5 place grid penalty to start 20th.
Ericsson failed to meet 107% requirement but raced at stewards' discretion

The Formation Lap - 2014 German Grand Prix. Video Link :



The Cars line up for the 5 Red Lights and Race Start!


Race Start - 2014 German Grand Prix. Video Link :




A Huge Incident at the First Turn of the First Lap meant that the Safety Car had to come out. Kevin Magnussen got a good start but Felipe Massa turned into the him and the contact caused the Brazilian's Williams to flip over thrice. The Safety Car came out until the debris cleared.


Race Restart after Safety Car. Video Link :



Shots from the Race :


Some More Stills :

Scuderia Ferrari F1 during the Race :


I had the opportunity of going down into the Pit Garage and watching the Race Unfold. Post the Experience, I made it back to the Suite.


Fernando Alonso Pit Stop. Video Link :



Kimi Raikkonen Pit Stop. Video Link :


Kimi Raikkonen had damage to his front wing after 2 incidents. First Involving Hamilton and then the duo of Vettel and Alonso. The damage severely compromised his race and he could only manage 11th.

Fernando Alonso had a mighty battle with Daniel Ricciardo but came out on top. He finished 5th.



Chequered Flag at the 2014 German Grand Prix. Video Link :




Nico Rosberg took Victory and did his championship chances a world of good after disappointment at the British Grand Prix.
Valtteri Bottas did an amazing job to hold off a charging Lewis Hamilton to take 2nd. Lewis produced a stellar drive to take the final step on the podium after starting 20th.

Vettel, Alonso, Ricciardo, Hulkenberg, Button, Magnussen, Perez completed the top 10.


The different moods on the Pit Wall at the end of the Race. The Mercedes AMG Petronas team couldn't contain their joy!


James Allison ( Technical Director for Ferrari and Ex-Lotus ) enjoying a light conversation with Antonio Spagnolo ( Kimi Raikkonen's Race Engineer )


Scenes from the Podium Celebrations :


A Certain Footballer by the name of Lukas Podolski joined the celebrations in the Mercedes AMG Petronas Team's Garage :


Sky Sports F1 ( UK and Italy ) reviewing the race as it starts pouring on the circuit. F1 Greats Damon Hill, Johnny Herbert ( for UK ) and Jacques Villeneuve ( for Italy ) seen here.


A Moment with the Hosts at the Ferrari Formula 1 Club! Thank you for the amazing hospitality!


The Boys who drive the Scuderia Ferrari F1 Team Forward : Fernando Alonso and Kimi Raikkonen!


The Suite now bears a deserted look.


Its Goodbye to Germany for the Ferrari Formula 1 Club and onwards to Hungary!


The Teams Packing Up and getting ready to head out for the Next GP in Hungary.



Enroute to Frankfurt and I get to see the beautiful Mercedes SLS - AMG! ( Also the Safety Car in F1 )


Returning to Frankfurt :


The Scuderia Ferrari F1 Team had a mediocre weekend in Germany but they still were the most reliable team on the grid and with improvements coming in all the time, the Glory Days are not far.

It was an amazing weekend for me and an exciting experience with a different team! I would like to thank everyone at the Ferrari Formula 1 Club for being great hosts. Thank you for the wonderful gifts everyday!

Thank You to Scuderia Ferrari F1 for accepting me into the family and entertaining me throughout.

Kimi Raikkonen you were awesome as ever! Win or Lose, Always an Iceman Fan! Thank you for the memories and all the best for the upcoming races!

Fernando Alonso you amazed one and all with your amazing consistency and performing well against all odds!

Finally a Big Thank You to Exclusive GP for all the arrangements and ensuring that everything leading up to the Grand Prix was Hassle - Free :)

Next Race? - Austin Texas.


Mid Season Review coming up in the next few days,... so watch this space....

Saturdays are always an early morning start for the teams. It wasn't any different from me. A quick breakfast and it was time to hit the road.

Enroute to the Circuit :

An Hour drive and then the walk to the Paddock again, this time a different route :

The Early Morning Pit Lane walk is a pleasant one.. Few visitors and ample time to roam.

Shots from the Pit Lane Walk :

The First Hour of Activity is reserved for Teams to practice their pit stops.

My Friends at Lotus F1 Team showing their skills with their Pit Stops! Video Link :

Shots from the Scuderia Ferrari F1 Garage :

The Pit Lane walk ended and everyone were getting ready for the final practice session before the Qualifying.


Scuderia Ferrari F1 shared their suite with Official Tyre Suppliers for F1 - PIRELLI!

Pirelli showcasing all the Tyre compounds for this year - 4 Types of Slicks ( Dry ), the Intermediates and the Full Wets.


Pirelli also conducted a test with the Lotus F1 Team to test their 18" Wheels at Silverstone the previous week. Showcased here :


The View from the Suite, GP 2 Teams getting ready for Qualifying and then the F1 Teams getting ready for FP3 :


The end of the Qualifying for GP2 marked the Start of the Final Practice Session. FP3.

Team Bosses taking their places on the Pit Wall :


The Scuderia Ferrari F1 decision makers take their places :


FP3, the final practice session before Qualifying sees the Teams do Qualifying Simulations.

Shots from FP3 :



Scuderia Ferrari F1 Team in FP3 :


Chequered Flag in FP3 :


Kvyat, Vergne and Kobayashi returning from the FIA Centre after FP3 :

Nico Rosberg outclassed Hamilton to be fastest in FP3. Fernando Alonso was 3rd Fastest while Kimi could only manage 8th.


It was time for a quick lunch and then getting ready for Qualifying :


We were soon joined by Mario Isola, Pirelli's Racing Manager who discussed which tyre compounds had been selected for the weekend and the amount of effort that goes into the manufacturing of these engineering marvels.


No sooner did he leave and we were joined by the Double World Champion Fernando Alonso!! Fernando discussed the chances for the team and the fact that they were improving slowly.


A Mega Selfie by Fernando Alonso!


Alonso gave us a quick farewell and it was time to go down and watch the teams make their final preparations before Qualifying

Shots from the Pit-Lane Walk :

Sky Sports F1 Boys Damon Hill and Johnny Herbert getting ready for the Pre - Qualifying show.

Scuderia Ferrari F1 Team completing the Final Setups for Battle!

A Moment with the Red Hot Wings :)


The Pit Walls are ready for Qualifying:

Shots from Q1 :


Scuderia Ferrari F1 in Q1 :

However the Session had to be Red Flagged as Lewis Hamilton's car suffered brake failure and caused him to crash out of Q1. The Session was delayed for the car to be cleared out of the gravel trap.

The Stage was set for Rosberg to go on pole and gain a massive advantage at his home race!


Chequered Flag ending Q1 :


Hamilton, Sutil, Bianchi, Maldonado, Kobayashi, Chilton, Ericsson could not make it out of Q1. Ericsson could not set a time within the 107 % rule ( 107 % of the Fastest time in Q1 ) but was allowed to race at the stewards' discretion.

Nico Rosberg was fastest in Q1. Fernando Alonso was 8th Fastest and Kimi Raikkonen was 11th Fastest for Ferrrari.


Q2 began without any delay.

Shots from Q2 :


Scuderia Ferrari F1 in Q2 :


Chequered Flag :

Nico Rosberg proved his mettle again in Q2 and was the Fastest. Scuderia Ferrari F1 had a very disappointing Q2 as Kimi Raikkonen could only manage P12 and was thus eliminated from further participation. Fernando Alonso was 7th Fastest.

Button, Raikkonen, Vergne, Gutierrez and Grosjean were eliminated from Q2.


Q3 was the Final session and the Top 10 shootout which would decide the Top 10 Grid for Sunday.


Shots from Q3 :


Scuderia Ferrari F1 in Q3 :

Chequered Flag :

Nico Rosberg was going to have a cake-walk to pole with Lewis Hamilton eliminated but the Williams Mercedes duo didn't make it easy for the German. Rosberg would start on pole. Bottas and Massa would complete the top 3 with the former only a couple of tenths slower than Rosberg.

Magnussen, Ricciardo, Vettel, Alonso, Kvyat, Hulkenberg, Perez completed the top 10.

So the Ferrari duo had their work cut out starting in 7th and 12th.

Post Qualifying, I had the opportunity of being the part of another Garage Tour!


Shots from the Paddock :


Tyre Warmers doing their job again :


Some Stills from the Ferrari Garage :

The Garage Tour ended and it was time to head back to the Suite and enjoy the GP2 Feature Race.

GP2, a feeder series and a support event at almost all F1 Races is a great spectacle in itself featuring youngsters who want to showcase their skills to make the final jump into F1. 2 Races are hosted, the Feature Race on Saturday and the Sprint Race on Sunday with the Reverse Grid ( Driver finishing 8th on Saturday starts on pole with the one winning starting 8th )

 


Feature Race Start Video Link :



End Of Lap 1 Video Link :



The end of the race also marked the end of the day and it was time to leave the Paddock!


Enroute to my pickup point :


Returning to Frankfurt :


It was a great experience with the Scuderia Ferrari F1 Team. We didn't have the best qualifying session but upgrades were trickling in every week and progress could be seen.

I would like to thank the Scuderia Ferrari F1 Team and the Hosts at the Ferrari Formula 1 Club for all their Hospitality and treating me with utmost care and affection. Its great to be a part of this family.

The Sunday Experience coming soon.. so watch this space!!!

Kimi Raikkonen had 2 successful years with the Lotus F1 Team and joined Ferrari in 2014. It was an awesome experience being a guest of the Lotus F1 Team for 2 years and it was time to switch to the Prancing Horse.

I had the privilege of being a guest of the Scuderia Ferrari F1 Team at the German GP held at Hockenheimring.

This was the First Race this season that I got to be at and I must say that I had 3 wonderful days.

The Friday Experience, Documented!

An early start to the day ensured that I would reach the circuit in time as I had to collect tickets enroute.

Tickets in hand, Ready for Hockenheimring!

It was quite a long walk to the Paddock Club from the Drop off Point and No Shuttle Service available. Piece of Advice to future visitors : Get a Parking Pass!!

The Scuderia Ferrari F1 Suite is called The Ferrari Formula 1 Club - Classy Name I must say.

The Ferrari Formula 1 Club :

My Table :

The View from the Suite - STUNNING!

The Friday First Free Practice is an early morning affair which starts at 10 am and no sooner did I settle into the Suite and it was time for FP1 to begin.

FP1 always comprises of teams running different setups and the order gets refreshed many times.

Shots from FP1 :

The Scuderia Ferrari F1 Team in action in FP1 :

Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton were the fastest in FP1.

Fernando Alonso stayed close in 3rd. Kimi Raikkonen was 8th Fastest.

We were joined by Ferrari Reserve Driver Marc Gene at the end of FP1. He reviewed the Season for Scuderia Ferrari F1 so far and commented on the prospects of the team for the weekend.

A great guy and very approachable, a moment with Marc Gene. What an Honour!

The Team was kind enough to take me downstairs for a quick tour of the Motorhome and the Garage. The Motorhome is the Weekend abode for Drivers and Mechanics and also entertains VIP Guests and Top Sponsors of the Team. It also houses the Engineers who study and analyze the data and telemetry and discuss strategies to be adopted for the drivers.

Shots of the Paddock!

Shots from the Motorhome!

Tyre Warmers readying the Tyres for Kimi Raikkonen's Car and the Mechanics hard at work to get the F14 T ready for battle

The F14 T being readied for FP2. Enjoy the Music!!

Video Link :

No Day is complete without Amazing Food! A Couple for the Foodies!

The 2nd Pit Lane Walk is always an interesting one. Many times have Driver Appearances in their pit-box and if you are fortunate, you might just get a few autographs!

Shots from the Pit Lane Walk :

Shots from the Scuderia Ferrari F1 Pit Garage :

It was soon time for FP2 and the teams would go out to do Race Simulations.  FP2 is the most important session as it is representative of the times for teams running with both the Option and the Prime Tyres.

Shots from FP2 :

Scuderia Ferrari F1 in FP2 :

Chequered Flag bringing an end to FP2

The Team did a quick pit stop and both the cars made it back to the pits.

Video Link :

Lewis Hamilton was the Fastest this time with Nico Rosberg a close second. This weekend too would be a close contest between the 2 Mercedes AMG Petronas Drivers.

Kimi Raikkonen improved to 4th with Fernando Alonso ending the session in 9th.

The Day came to end and it was time to return home.

It was a productive day for the team and helped the team to make things better for the next 2 days.

A Big Thank you to the Scuderia Ferrari F1 Team for the fantastic hospitality and a great day! A Big Thank you to the Ferrari Formula 1 Club hosts too for entertaining us the whole day. Day 2 and Day 3 coming up soon, so watch this space!

2014 hasn't been the best year for Kimi Raikkonen. The Finn has struggled to get to grips with the updated rules this year. One good thing though is that he has been reunited with his Old Team Scuderia Ferrari F1.

My First Race this year was again in Germany albeit at a different track - Hockenheim.

Welcome to the Gallery of Memories, Part 7..

The Tickets as usual were on time and it was time to roll!

Marc Gene in the Suite :


A moment with Marc Gene :

Mario Isola, Pirelli's Racing Manager :

We were soon joined by FERNANDO ALONSO :

Post his Interview, I was a part of an EPIC SELFIE!!

I also got the privilege of meeting some drivers outside the Paddock and getting autographs.

A Selfie with Nico Rosberg!

Paul Hembrey, the Motorsport Director of Pirelli joined us in the suite on Sunday to talk about the Tyres and the possibility of Rain in the Race.


KIMI RAIKKONEN was the next one to pay us a visit! I still wait for a good photo opportunity..


Andrea Stella - Fernando Alonso's Race Engineer

The Ferrari Formula 1 Club Hosts - They were amazing!

Fernando and Kimi, The Soldiers of Scuderia Ferrari F1 Team

Thank you for coming to the Scuderia Ferrari F1 Club at Germany!

The Race Result wasn't the one desired but I had a wonderful time with the Team.

I want to thank the Ferrari Formula 1 Club for the amazing hospitality! Next Race? - Austin.

More to come.. Detailed Experiences as always, so watch this space!