The 2016 Spanish Grand Prix produced a great result for Ferrari. There was still work to be done and there was no better way to test some new upgrades then at the In-Season Tests in Montmelo after the Grand Prix. The Test was held on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Scuderia Ferrari Club of Denver ( of which I am a member ) offered the chance to attend the sessions as a team guest and I decided to attend Day 1. Sebastian Vettel was testing for the team on day 1 and this is a small write-up of the experience.
Enroute to the Circuit :
Many of the Trucks had left for their next destination i.e. Monaco and the Paddock felt so silent on a Testing day. Security was still strict about access but the atmosphere was a lot more relaxed.
Paddock Walkthrough ( Video Link ) :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7LjlBWlcESo
Dani Clos, Driver of now Defunct HRT Racing F1 Team :
Shots of the Pitlane from the Ferrari Garage :
Cars roll out for the First Half of the Tests :
Lynn and Ricciardo returning to pits ( Vieo Link ) :
Gasly, Ocon and Rosberg returning to the pits ( Video Link ) :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gdwhAS4_asg
Scuderia Ferari F1 in the Session :
Sebastian Vettel being interviewed before Lunch :
Start of the Post - Lunch Tests :
This was the Paddock Club on Sunday. Everything is dismantled and gone by Tuesday.
Shots from the Pit Lane Level :
Scuderia Ferrari F1 continuing the tests :
On the way back to the Hotel :
It was quite a different experience being at the Race Track on a Testing day. The Paddock is very relaxed and one enjoys a closer view of the cars entering and leaving the Pit Boxes. However I would still prefer a Race Weekend over a Test Day.
A Big Thank you to Scuderia Ferrari Club of Denver for arranging the passes for the day!
Day 3 of the 2016 Spanish Grand Prix. D Day. The Day that matters.
Ferrari had faltered in Qualifying but their Race Simulations showed good pace on Friday.
I was pretty optimistic!
Photos shot with Sony HX400V, GoPro Hero4 Black and Samsung Note 5.
Enroute to the Circuit :
I decided to stay outside the Paddock area and hoped to meet some more famous people. My wish was fulfilled!
Piero Ferrari, Son of founder of Ferrari, Enzo Ferrari :
I was then able to have a moment with the man I adore and follow with zeal. MR. KIMI RAIKKONEN!!
Marcus Ericsson, driver for Sauber F1 Team :
Soon I noticed commotion in a corner. I was wondering what was going on. Then I realized it was Lewis Hamilton! He had ridden to the circuit on his MV Augusta Brutale 800!
What a stunning bike!
A moment with the Triple World Champion :
Sergio Perez, driver for Sahara Force India F1 :
Nico Hulkenberg, driver for Sahara Force India F1 :
Daniel Ricciardo ( Red Bull Racing ) again!
Nico Rosberg, one of the fastest guys on the grid driving for Mercedes AMG F1 Team :
Valtteri Bottas, Williams Martini Racing Driver :
Felipe Massa, Williams Martini Racing :
Jolyon Palmer, 2014 GP2 Champion & Renault Sport F1 Team Driver :
Esteban Ocon, Reserve Driver of Renault Sport F1 :
Daniil Kvyat, formerly a Red Bull Racing driver and now a Scuderia Toro Rooso Driver ( felt he was wronged ) :
Jenson Button! McLaren F1 Team Driver and 2009 World Champion!
Double World Champion and McLaren-Honda F1 Racing Driver, Fernando Alonso!
Romain Grosjean from Haas F1 Team :
Esteban Gutierrez of Haas F1 Team :
The Trophy for the Race Winner :
The Paddock on Sunday Morning :
Michael Latifi, Nicholas Latifi's ( DAMS GP2 Racer ) Brother :
I made it to the Scuderia Ferrari F1 Club and we were joined by Paul Hembery, Motorsport Director of Pirelli :
We were soon joined by Maurizio Arrivabene, Scuderia Ferrari F1 Team Principal in the Suite :
Video Link :
A Moment with the Boss :
Arrivabene left and it was time for Sebastian Vettel to visit the Suite. His Helmet and Race Suit :
Sebastian Vettel :
Vettel Q & A in the Suite ( Video Link ) :
A moment with the Quadruple World Champion!
Time to binge :
I didn't have much time during the Pit Lane Walk and was more concerned with getting a good view for the start of the race :
The grid being set up :
Cars out on sighting laps :
Cars being rolled to their grid spots :
Shots of the grid :
Scuderia Ferrari F1 on the grid :
Selfies with the GoPro :
The Kids who sang the Spanish National Anthem :
Some more shots :
Drivers & Team Personnel getting ready :
Cars ready for the formation lap :
Formation Lap - 2016 Spanish GP Video Link :
Lining up for the Race Start :
The 5 Red Lights illuminate and the Spanish Grand Prix is a go!
2016 Spanish Grand Prix Start ( Video Link ) :
The race started and Nico Rosberg lead Hamilton into T1 but both had a shocking coming together and got taken out at lap 1 much to the delight of the crowd at the race; guess they knew we would see one of the best races ever!
Safety Car was deployed to clear the mess :
Safety Car Deployed ( Video Link ) :
Race Restart after the Safety Car ( Video Link ) :
Shots from the Race! Got loads this time. Ricciardo lead the way only to lose the lead to Max Verstappen due to an extra pit stop. He was running 4th after that. Vettel too had an extra pit stop and fell back to 3rd while Kimi Raikkonen moved up to 2nd.
Scuderia Ferrari F1 during the race :
The Pit Wall was busy with giving important info to the drivers :
Video Links of 5 Pit Stops ( Total ) for Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen ( in chronological order ) :
Kimi's 1st Stop :
Seb's 1st Stop :
Seb's 2nd Stop :
Kimi's 2nd Stop :
Seb's 3rd Stop :
Kimi Raikkonen was chasing down Max Verstappen throughout the race. However the Red Bull was fantastic out of the final turn so the DRS on the Start Finish Straight proved ineffective.
Daniel Ricciardo was catching Vettel after his third stop and he did try a bold move which didn't come out right. Unfortunately he picked up a puncture in the fag end of the race and had to pit on the penultimate lap.
Ricciardo coming in to pit ( Video Link ) :
Max Verstappen held on to take the chequered flag and victory on his debut race for Red Bull! Unbelievable! Spare a thought for Dany Kvyat who was demoted to Toro Rosso for the same weekend. Kimi Raikkonen and Sebastian Vettel drove strong races and finished on the podium for Ferrari! A Highly Successful weekend considering the state of affairs on Saturday Evening!
Chequered Flag ( Video Link ) :
Team Personnel, media and the fans running towards the podium to celebrate :
Hosts from the Scuderia Ferrari F1 Club :
Red Bull Team Personnel Celebrating the win :
Final shots of the Paddock :
I left the Paddock Club and decided to hang around for sometime to see if I could get the opportunity of meeting some more people. I was happy that I stayed back!
Mark Arnall ( Kimi Raikkonen's Physio ) who obliged for a quick selfie with the packed trophy!
Spanish Arts Administrator & Podium Interviewer for the Spanish GP Placido Domingo :
Nicolas Todt, FIA President Jean Todt's Son :
Eric Boullier, Racing Director of McLaren F1 Team :
Britta Roeske, Sebastian Vettel's PR :
Pascal Wehrlein, Manor F1 Racing Driver & Mercedes Development Driver, a really nice guy!
Susie Wolff, Formerly Test Driver for Williams F1 Racing and Mr. Toto Wolff's wife :
Toto Wolff, Executive Director of Mercedes AMG F1 Team :
Susie and Toto Wolff were so kind to a young fan named Heilly :) The Couple are the nicest people in F1
Rio Haryanto, Race driver for Manor F1 Team :
Christian Horner, Team Principal of Red Bull Racing F1 :
Made New Friends over the weekend : Darren, Toni, Chris, Maurizio & Roberto
Returning to Barcelona :
It was a Fantastic Sunday at the Spanish Grand Prix. If the Two Mercedes AMG cars had not taken each other out, we wouldn't have seen Ferrari get a double podium. The Fans went home happy. Raikkonen had a great outing and I was so proud of the Iceman. The win still eludes him but I stay positive. His time will come! Verstappen won on debut for Red Bull Racing while Daniil Kvyat struggled post his demotion to Toro Rosso. Do feel for him.
However, for Many this was the best race up until that point.
I would like to thank Scuderia Ferrari F1 and the Hosts at the Ferrari F1 Club for all their Hospitality shown to me. The only disappointment was that the guests at the club didn't get a photo opportunity with the trophies ( unlike Lotus F1, now Renault Sport F1 ). I wish it was different.
A Big Thank You to Edge Global F1 for a hassle free, memorable experience! Flawless Service!
The Spanish Grand Prix experience doesn't end here, the experience at the First day of Testing still remains!
I was busy writing the Day 3 experience from the 2016 Spanish Grand Prix over the past couple of days but what has conspired in the last six hours has made me stop and immediately switch focus to the World of Football.
Its been a long time since I have written something about the sport but the recent developments have persuaded me to pen my thoughts.
Pic Credit : www.mirror.co.uk
The past week has been quite eventful for the sport. Zlatan Ibrahimovic announced his retirement from the International team at the end of the Swedish European Campaign. Unfortunately they were ousted in the group stages. Zlatan served his country well and the time was right to pass the baton.
Lionel Messi returned from injury for Argentina at the Copa Centenario and propelled them to the finals only to face Chile ( like in 2015 ), miss a penalty in the shoot-outs and come up short again.
Messi was devastated and the tears flowed freely as the 5 time Ballon D'Or winner once again fell short of success for the International Team.
However the news of Messi announcing his immediate retirement from International Football have sent shockwaves around the world.Aguero & Mascherano followed suit.
Is this a knee-jerk reaction by the 29 year old legend? Is he really the reason due to which Argentina's 23 year trophy drought has not ended?
Rooney, Scholes, Giggs, Terry, Lampard, Gerrard, Puyol, Ronaldinho, Casillas, Kaka, Maldini, Nedved, Zidane, Henry, Figo, Raul and so many others made football the sport we adore and love since childhood.
Lionel Messi & Cristiano Ronaldo are the biggest stars of the Footballing world with a fan following that no one can keep a count of.
Zlatan toohas his fair share of followers even in the twilight of his career.
Messi's decision to call it a day with Argentina underlines the pressure of performing that even the best have to endure while wearing national colours.
Ronaldo too faced ridicule due to a missed penalty and lacklustre play at the Euros.
Both Messi & Ronaldo have scaled unthinkable heights in Club Football but have been found wanting at the International level.
Why?
The difference between Club and Country is huge. A Player plays week in week out with players from different nationalities at a club and a bond is formed. Making Runs off the ball become muscle-memory and a trust is developed. A chemistry is formed that helps propel many to greatness.
International Football on the other hand features less games compared to Club football. A Player teams up with some people who he used to play against at Club Level and sometimes that same style of play cannot be replicated.
Some Clubs have Fantasy Teams whereas a certain player is the mainstay in his International Squad.
Every Footballer dreams of wearing his National Colours and most would still prefer Country over Club, so the passion to win and succeed increases even more. Sometimes a team, no matter how talented simply fails to win it, be it any tournament. England is one classic example. We have seen naturally gifted players down the years but Football is a team sport - you win together, you lose together, you score together, you conceed together. There are days when a player can single-handedly change the outcome of a match. There are days when that very player becomes the butt of all jokes amongst fans, specially in the Social Media.
Players like Ronaldo and Messiare captains of their respective countries and this comes with added responsibility. Ronaldo and Messi have borne the responsibility of carrying their countries to the crown, the former more so. Messi has had better players with him in Argentina ( as against Portugal ) on paper at least but the performances on field is what matters. Ronaldo was ridiculed when he missed the penalty at the Euros and was visibly under pressure with the media harassing him about his lack of performances. The Focus then shifted to Messi who missed the chance of winning the Copa, a cup that escaped his grasp in 2015 as well. Social media left no stone unturned in ridiculing both. Both sets of fans had their field days but Messi's radical call should make us re-examine our attitude towards footballers. Messi didn't play alone and like I mentioned earlier, the other 10 have to perform and support their marquee player to be successful. Argentina misfired as a team, not just one individual.
Germany, Spain, Italy, France don't feature players that can outclass Ronaldo's and Messi's abilities ( legendary if I may say ) but they have a solid set of World Class Players who perform as a team and have enjoyed their fair share of success.
Ronaldo and Messi will continue to be successful at Club levels as they are surrounded by players who understand their game and deserve equal credit as the players themselves. At International Level, some go for glory and in their zest to achieve greatness deny these two the opportunity to play at their highest level; the result then is what we see before us.
Messi's decision shows that footballers are human too and the weight of expectations can be too much to bear sometimes. We as fans will never understand what players like Messi and Ronaldo go through mentally, emotionally and physically when they are on the losing side. It hurts deep to finish second best on 3 occasions in the span of 3 years. They are expected to win it all, produce Man of the Match performances everyday, everytime. Was Messi not good enough? No. This has simply drained him and if he feels that his continuity will affect the future prospects of Argentina, then he has thought right. His decision, he knows best.
The banter and ridicule is not going to changebut for once as a family we can salute the man who has amazed the world of football with his skills and abilities. We are fortunate to be alive in this era.
Although this post has been restricted to Ronaldo and Messi, there are so many others who displayed the same passion and love for football and have the same aura about them in their respective countries.
I Salute them too..
Yes I am a Big Fan of Messi and although I am saddened by this sudden decision of retirement, I still believe Messi will return to don his National Team colours and drive them to success.
I pray that this only turns out to be a sabbatical and I hope I am not proved wrong...
Friday at the 2016 Spanish Grand Prix was a memorable one. Saturdays start early with Team Pit-Stop Practice and then Free Practice 3 followed by the Qualifying Session. This just wasn't any other Saturday..
The Saturday experience starts now!
Photos from Sony HX400V Camera, GoPro Hero4 Black & Samsung Note 5.
Early Morning Start to the day, enroute to the circuit :
Reach the Circuit and walk straight to the Pit Lane for the First Pit Lane Walk of the day.
Shots from the Note 5 Camera :
GoPro :
Shots from the Scuderia Ferrari Garage :
The Pit Lane Walk ended and I came across a really expensive parking lot! DROOL :
Breakfast in the Paddock :
The View on Saturday Morning as the FP3 session goes green :
The Helicopter in Position for overhead shots :
FP3 features most cars running qualifying simulations. On some occasions drivers who had their Friday compromised run race simulation for a short time :
Scuderia Ferrari F1 Team in Free Practice 3 :
Shots of the GoPro :
Nico Rosberg, Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel had less than two-tenths of a second between them while Kimi Raikkonen was a second off the pace in 6th. It seemed like Mercedes had sold Ferrari the dummy again!
We were soon joined by Ferrari Reserve Drive Jean-Eric Vergne in the Suite :
A Quick selfie with the Flying Frenchman!
Pirelli's Racing Manager Mario Isola Interview in the Suite :
Video Link :
A moment with the man :
Pirelli showcasing Miniatures of all the Tyre Compounds used for the season :
Lunch :
Soon it was time for the Pit Lane walk before Qualifying. Some shots :
Guess who popped in for an interview with Sky Italia? Jorge Lorenzo! 2015 MotoGP Champion!
Shots from the Pit Lane walk with the GoPro :
Karun Chandok, ex-F1 Driver from India, now with Channel 4 :
The Track ready for battle!
Q1 underway :
Scuderia Ferrari F1 in Q1 :
Chequered Flag :
Returning to the pits :
Nico Rosberg topped the timesheets in Q1. Kimi Raikkonen and Sebastian Vettel were 5th and 6th respectively.
Shots from Q2 :
Scuderia Ferrari F1 during Q2 :
Chequered Flag :
Jenson Button walking down the pit-lane after Q2 and after elimination.
Lewis Hamilton upped his game and topped Q2. Kimi Raikkonen and Sebastian Vettel were 4th and 6th. Red Bull were in the mix. Q3 was going to be one big battle!
Q3 begins :
Scuderia Ferrari F1 in Q3 :
Chequered Flag :
Media getting ready on Parc Ferme :
Lewis Hamitlon grabbed Pole Position. Nico Rosberg and Daniel Ricciardo completed the top 3. Kimi Raikkonen and Sebastian Vettel finished 5th and 6th, much to the disappointment of the tifosi.
Qualifying ended and we were soon joined by the man I was waiting to get a glimpse of : KIMI RAIKKONEN. Didn't get a decent picture with him though. Photos taken by the team host in the suite :
Kimi Raikkonen Q&A ( Video Link ), Kimi sharing about qualifying and the prospects for Sunday :
Kimi left and it was time for the GP2 Feature Race on Saturday!
GP2 Formation Lap ( Video Link ) :
GP2 Feature Race Start ( Video Link ) :
GP2 Feature Race Chequered Flag ( Video Link ) :
I decided to head to the Support Race Paddock during the GP2 Feature Race to see the preparations before Race 1 for GP3 teams and Mahaveer Raghunathan. Amazing Access and Exposure!
GP3 Race 1 Start ( Video Link ) :
The Paddock closing time neared and I made my way to the exit only to meet a host of F1 Fraternity. So who did I have the privilege of meeting?
Carlos Sainz Sr.
Federica Masolin from Sky Italia :
Antonio Boselli from Sky Italia :
Moko!
Jennie Gow from BBC F1 :
Sir Frank Williams, Founder & Team Principal of Williams F1 Team :
Alex Lynn, DAMS GP2 Racer and Williams F1 Development Driver :
I then decided to walk to the other Gate and I had the privilege of meeting Drivers and Senior Personnel of various teams.
Bob Fernley, Deputy Team Principal, Sahara Force India F1 Team :
Franz Tost, Team Principal, Scuderia Toro Rosso F1 Team :
Simon Rennie, Racing Engineer for ( Daniel Ricciardo ) Red Bull Racing F1 :
Carlos Sainz Jr., Scuderia Toro Rosso Driver :
The Honey Badger! Daniel Ricciardo of Red Bull Racing F1:
Monisha Kaltenborn, Team Principal for Sauber F1 Team :
John Booth, Scuderia Toro Rosso ( Formerly team principal for Marussia ) :
Paddy Lowe, Executive Director of Mercedes AMG F1 Team :
Felipe Nasr of Sauber F1 Team :
The Sky was overcast for quite a while and then the rain came pounding down!
Cyril Abiteboul, MD of Renault Sport F1 Team :
Alain Prost, The Perfectionist :
Max Verstappen of Red Bull Racing in his debut weekend for his team :
Having a good laugh with Pascal Wehrlein, Manor Racing F1 Driver and Development Driver for Mercedes!
It was a brilliant and a very eventful Saturday at the Spanish Grand Prix. The Qualifying positions were far from ideal for Ferrari but Sunday is what matters and race pace has always been our forte!
I would like to thank Scuderia Ferrari F1 for all the hospitality shown to me and also to Edge Global F1 for ensuring a hassle free weekend!
Spain has produced some stunning races over the years. Circuit de Catalunya, a 40 minute drive from Barcelona is a highly technical circuit and it can lay bare all the shortcomings of a car.
A visit to Barcelona was long overdue ( after the footballing trip in 2012 ) and I am so glad I chose to do it this year. I was a guest of the Scuderia Ferrari F1 Team for the 3 days.
As always, I start off with Day 1 i.e. Friday, this being the First Post from the "Paddock Club Diaries" from Spain.
Photos from Sony HX-400V, Samsung Note 5 and the GoPro Hero4 Black.
Passes for the Weekend :
Enroute to the Circuit, getting in and out of the circuit is a breeze. If one can spend, taking taxis to and fro is the best way to travel.
Shots from the First Pit-Lane Walk, early in the morning. Very Few Guests and one can get a lot closer to the cars during this time :
Shots from the Ferrari Garage :
I also got a chance to have a great conversation with Mr. Nick Chester, Renault Sport F1 Team's Technical Director :
Here are some Video Links of various engines being Fired up before the start of Free Practice 1 which immediately follows the Pit-Lane walk :
Jenson Button :
Daniil Kvyat :
Fernando Alonso :
Kimi Raikkonen :
A Quick Systems Check on Kimi Raikkonen's Car ( Video Link ) :
Post the walk, it was time to enter the Paddock Club building and here is a view of the Paddock from there :
Ferrari F1 Club, the Hospitality Suite of Ferrari :
View from the Club :
Kimi Raikkonen Supporters! C'mon Kimi!!
The Standings Board :
The Pit Walls getting busy for Free Practice 1 :
I had the opportunity of being in the Garage for a short period of time during Free Practice 1. Ofcourse Photography is banned in the Garage.
Shots from FP1 :
Scuderia Ferrari F1 in Free Practice 1 :
Chequered Flag :
Sebastian Vettel tried to leave the pit lane before the session ended. However the Pit Lane lights turn red and he had to stop at the end of the Pit Lane only to be wheeled back by the mechanics :
Enjoying FP1 ( GoPro Shots ) :
The Ferraris were flying at the end of FP1. Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen led the standings, only a tenth separating the two. Rosberg was another 0.5 second away.
We were soon joined in the Suite by Marc Gene, Test / Development Driver for Ferrari. He was pretty optimistic about our chances.
Video Link of the Interview :
I was invited by my Italian Friend and Trainer in the GP2 / GP3 series to visit the Support Race Paddock and meet Mr. Mahaveer Raghunathan, the First Indian entrant in GP3. Frankly, it was my first time in the Support Race Paddock and feel like kicking myself for not going on previous occasions.
Mahaveer Raghunathan & his Father. RESPECT the man who has made so many sacrifices to fulfill his son's dream :
My Friend Federico Stirpe :
The Menu for lunch :
Lunch!
I didn't get much time as I got late from the Support Race Paddock and apologies for only a few photos from the 2nd Pit Lane Walk :
Jock Clear ( Ex-Mercedes ), Senior Performance Engineer for Ferrari :
Romeo Bonucchi of Ferrari :
Shots with the GoPro :
Free Practice 2 began in full earnest, the First Half of which Drivers ran Qualifying Simulations followed by Race Simulations.
Photos Galore from FP2, ENJOY!!
Scuderia Ferrari F1 during FP2 :
GoPro doing a brilliant job again in FP2 :
Chequered Flag :
FP2 ended with Nico Rosberg topping the timesheets for Mercedes. Kimi Raikkonen was only two-tenths off his time. Lewis Hamilton & Sebastian Vettel completed the top 4.
The Stands bearing a deserted look at the end of FP2 :
Post FP2, it was time for GP2 Qualifying :
I decided to head down to the F1 Simulator with my friends in the Paddock Club. The Simulator now features the Oculus Virtual Gear, quite a nifty piece of equipment :
It was soon time to head back to Barcelona after an eventful Friday :
Ferrari had a strong Friday and the gap to Mercedes seemed pretty small but everyone was wary and rightly so. Mercedes have sold Ferrari the dummy many times on Friday so Saturday would give us the true story.
I would like to thank the Hosts at the Ferrari F1 Club and Scuderia Ferrari for their Hospitality.
A Big Thank you to Edge Global Events for ensuring all arrangements were in place and I didn't face any hassles.
Saturday and Sunday to follow, thanks for your support!
2016 is the longest season in F1 with 21 Races. Plans were drawn early in the year for me and Spain, Monaco & Hungary remained the European Circuits that I still needed to be at. Spain & Hungary were the ones chosen for this year and I couldn't wait to be at the Circuit De Catalunya in Montmelo, a 40 minute drive from Barcelona.
First Up, The Circuit is a must do for every fan. Its easiest to get to in terms of access and I got to meet practically everyone from the grid!
This should be the longest "Gallery of Memories" to date.
Photos shot with GoPro Hero4 Black, Samsung Note 5 by a new Friend Mr. Toni Mengibar!
Ok so here goes!
Nick Chester, Renault F1 Team Technical Director :
Mahaveer Raghunathan! The First Indian to be racing in GP3, the Support Series :
Jock Clear, Senior Performance Engineer at Scuderia Ferrari :
Romeo Bonucchi of Scuderia Ferrari :
Jean-Eric Vergne, Reserve Driver for Scuderia Ferrari :
Mario Isola, Pirelli's Racing Engineer :
Karun Chandok :
Carlos Sainz!
Federica Masolin from Sky Italia :
Antonio Boselli from Sky Italia :
Bob Fernley from Sahara Force India :
Moko, one of Kimi's Closest Friends :
Jennie Gow from BBC F1 :
Sir Frank Williams, Founder & Team Principal of Williams F1 Racing Team :
Alex Lynn, DAMS GP2 and Williams F1 Development Driver :
Franz Tost, Team Principal of Scuderia Toro Rosso :
Simon Rennie, Racing Engineer for Red Bull Racing F1 :
Carlos Sainz Jr., Scuderia Toro Rosso Driver :
The Honey Badger! Daniel Ricciardo of Red Bull Racing F1 :
Monisha Kaltenborn, Team Principal for Sauber F1 Team :
John Booth, Scuderia Toro Rosso ( Formerly team principal for Marussia )
Paddy Lowe, Executive Director of Mercedes AMG F1 Team :
Felipe Nasr of Sauber F1 Team :
Cyril Abiteboul, MD of Renault Sport F1 Team :
Alain Prost, The Perfectionist :
Max Verstappen of Red Bull Racing in his debut weekend for his team :
These were photos from Saturday Evening. Now for those from Sunday!
Piero Ferrari, Son of founder Enzo Ferrari :
Does this man need an introduction? Kimi Raikkonen! Scuderia Ferrari F1 Team!
Marcus Ericsson, driver for Sauber F1 Team :
Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes AMG F1 and 3 time World Champion!
Sergio Perez, driver for Sahara Force India F1 :
Nico Hulkenberg, driver for Sahara Force India F1 :
Nico Rosberg, one of the fastest guys on the grid driving for Mercedes AMG F1 Team :
Valtteri Bottas, Williams Martini Racing Driver :
Felipe Massa, Williams Martini Racing :
Jolyon Palmer, 2014 GP2 Champion & Renault Sport F1 Team Driver :
Esteban Ocon, Reserve Driver of Renault Sport F1 :
Daniil Kvyat, formerly a Red Bull Racing driver and now a Scuderia Toro Rooso Driver ( felt he was wronged ) :
Jenson Button! McLaren F1 Team Driver :
Double World Champion and McLaren-Honda F1 Racing Driver, Fernando Alonso!
Romain Grosjean from Haas F1 Team :
Esteban Gutierrez of Haas F1 Team :
Michael Latifi, Nicholas Latifi's ( DAMS GP2 Racer ) Brother :
Paul Hembery, Motorsport Director of Pirelli!
Maurizio Arrivabene, Team Principal of Scuderia Ferrari F1 :
Sebastian Vettel, 4 time World Champion and Scuderia Ferrari F1 Driver :
Ferrari achieved a double podium with Kimi Raikkonen finishing 2nd & Sebastian Vettel 3rd. However we couldn't get photo opportunities with the Trophy.
However I bumped into Mark Arnall ( Kimi Raikkonen's Physio ) who obliged with a quick selfie with the packed trophy!
Spanish Arts Administrator & Podium Interviewer for the Spanish GP Placido Domingo :
Nicolas Todt, FIA President Jean Todt's Son :
Eric Boullier, Racing Director of McLaren F1 Team :
Britta Roeske, Sebastian Vettel's PR :
Pascal Wehrlein, Manor F1 Racing Driver & Mercedes Development Driver, a really nice guy!
Susie Wolff, Formerly Test Driver for Williams F1 Racing and Mr. Toto Wolff's wife :
Toto Wolff, Executive Director of Mercedes AMG F1 Team :
Christian Horner, Team Principal of Red Bull Racing F1 :
Rio Haryanto, Race driver for Manor F1 Team :
Hosts from the Scuderia Ferrari F1 Club :
Dani Clos, Driver of now Defunct HRT Racing F1 Team :
Made New Friends over the weekend : Darren, Toni, Chris, Maurizio & Roberto
It had been a great weekend at the Spanish Grand Prix. Ferrari getting a double podium was the Icing on the cake! Ofcourse there is the disappointment of not being able to hold the Trophies like the Podiums in 2013 for Lotus F1 in Nurburgring & India but Kimi is performing well and that is important.
I would like to thank Scuderia Ferrari for their Hospitality in the Scuderia Ferrari F1 Club and a Big Thank you to Edge Global Events for all the arrangements made for the weekend!
This was by far the Best weekend ever as I got to meet so many from the F1 Fraternity. This post is just the beginning. There is more on the way!
November 2012, the last time I was at Old Trafford to see Manchester United. We tamed Queens Park Rangers that day. I was so fortunate to see Sir Alex Ferguson in his final year at United. A lot has changed since then - David Moyes & Louis Van Gaal.
I wanted to see United play under the Van Gaal regime and plans were drawn, dates set! I was to visit the Theatre of Dreams again on 23rd January 2016 to see Manchester United face Southampton! This time I opted for the Salford Suite seats with Hospitality at Hotel Football.
My Family Friend accompanied me on this journey and we stayed at Hotel Football ( for 3 nights ) as well since itsopposite Old Trafford. My friend was returning to the sport after a span of 40 years and what awaited him was truly an eye-opening experience for him.
Day started early as we left London :
London Euston..now where is our train..We travelled in style - Virgin Trains First Class :
Menu onboard Virgin Trains First Class :
Enroute to Manchester :
Manchester!
We reached Hotel Football and had a couple of hours before Kickoff. The Hotel was buzzing with activity! You knew it was matchday!
Passes for the game :
The Hospitality Suite at Hotel Football :
Menu :
Time to binge :
We were soon joined by David May in the Suite who discusses United's season so far :
Part 1 of the Q&A ( Video Link ) :
Part 2 of the Q&A ( Video Link ) :
Post the Interview, it was time to go to the Stadium for the game.
An Important Update :
The Only recording equipment allowed now is your mobile phone. Cameras, Selfie Sticks are banned on matchdays ( in the aftermath of the Paris Attacks ) - Huge disappointment but safety first.
The View from the Salford Suite in Sir Alex Ferguson Stand :
Manchester United enters Old Trafford ( Video Link ) :
The Boys entering OT!
Team Announcements ( Video Link ) :
Selfie Time :
First Half Commences ( Video Link ) :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5gDW5NE4es
Shots from the First Half :
Manchester United pressurizing Southampton ( Video Link ) :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWpmdNb7Gmg
Barring a few minutes of pressure, United played possession football with nothing to show on the scoreline. These pictures sum up the mood of the United Supporters that night :
First Half comes to an end ( Video Link ) :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TmBFZGN-JeM
Waiting for the Second Half to begin :
Seats filling up again before the Second Half :
Second Half begins ( Video Link ) :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=drvFRdkPAhk
Juan Mata came on in the Second Half and the play was a lot more positive for United :
United creating chances in the Second Half ( Video Link ) :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SySaBziNaLw
However Southampton scored in the dying minutes of the game and boos were heard all over the stadium!
The Atmosphere in the stadium after Southampton scores ( Video Link ) :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4v8rc-8T5No
We had been pretty ordinary over 90 minutes and I was very disappointed with the display that night. However Win or Lose, United for Life!
Final Whistle and a disappointing day at Old Trafford :(
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x62znw516bw
We returned to the Hotel Suite and the mood was pretty sober. However we were soon joined by another United Legend - Sammy McIlroy!
Part 1 of Interview ( Video Link ) :
Part 2 of Interview ( Video Link ) :
Norman Whiteside!!
Making new friends in Manchester :
The Final Selfie as an eventful day comes to an end :
4 years had passed since I last visited Old Trafford. A lot has changed since then. The Result and the performance wasn't what was expected but the joy of being a part of the Manchester United Family is unparalleled! My Friend cherished the experience and his love for football was rekindled!
A big thank you to Mr. Peter Watts from Premier Explore for arranging Hotels, Match passes and the Hospitality for us at Hotel Football.
2015 featured 2 Business Class trips to Austria and Belgium. I had plans of attending a match at Old Trafford to see Manchester United play. My last visit was in November 2012 and when the opportunity came knocking, I took it with both hands.
I flew to London Heathrow ( just like 2012 ), taking the early morning flight out of Mumbai. My family friend in the UK was more than glad to have me over and was also accompanying me to the game at Manchester.
The Outbound Flight was on 19th January 2016 and the return on 29th January 2016.
Mumbai - London ( 19th January 2016 ) :
My Ride to the Airport, the Mercedes C220 :
Quick check-in, not so quick Security Check and Immigration ( never seen so much rush in the Fast Track, excruciatingly slow ) and I was at the GVK First Class Lounge. The First Class Lounge offers a complimentary Massage and has a separate seating area with A la-carte menu.
Shots from the Lounge :
After a quick nap, it was time to board the early morning flight. The Airbus A380 boasts First Class Suites and it is such a pleasurable experience. The Traditional Welcome includes Dates and Arabian Coffee :
Breakfast Menu :
Video Link for the Emirates A380 Takeoff from Mumbai International Airport :
Breakfast service commences :
Shots of the Business Class Lounge :
Dubai International Airport :
Video Link for the A380 Landing at Dubai International Airport :
A Quick Security Check and I was at the First Class Lounge :
The Boarding Commenced from the Lounge and it was so nice to be in the FIrst Class Suite of the A380 again!
Taxiing to the Runway :
Video Link for the Takeoff from Dubai International Airport :
The Breakfast, Lunch and everything in between Menus :D
Amazing Lunch Spread onboard :
The Unused but Small Lounge in front of the First Class. The Business Class Lounge is the USP in the A380.
76 Business Class Seats :
The Business Class Lounge :
I roamed the Upper Deck for sometime and returned to find my bed ready for a quick nap!
One Hour before the Flight landed into London, I was awakened by the Stewardess for my On-Board Shower Appointment! A Shower 40000 feet in the Sky!
Video Link of a Quick Tour of the Emirates A380 First Class Onboard Shower :
Refreshed and ready for arrival, I was served some fruits and tea before landing. Now that is Service!
Nearing Touchdown at Heathrow :
Video Link for the A380 Landing at Heathrow International Airport, London :
Touchdown :
Heathrow is the Busiest Airport in the world and these photos prove it :
Fast Track Service at Heathrow is brilliant and all formalities were completed in less than 20 minutes. I then walked into the Emirates Arrivals Lounge for my Chauffeur service.
The Mercedes S Class. Pampered! Business Class passengers get chauffeured in an E Class.
Enroute to my Friend's Place.
London - Mumbai ( 29th January 2016 ) :
A memorable trip came to an end and it was time for the return journey. Once again I had the luxury of the S Class to shuttle me to the Airport :
Amazingly, Heathrow wasn't crowded the way it was in 2012. Fast Track ensured brisk movement and I was in the Departures' Hall in no time :
The Emirates Lounge is quite a walk and the Lounge does have the option of Boarding from the Lounge. However our flight would follow the standard single gate boarding procedure.
Shots of the Lounge :
One thing is certain, when flying in premium classes, you are never famished! Lip Smacking Spread :
I boarded the last flight out of Heathrow, I think its termed as the "Red Eye" Flight since it lands at Dubai in the morning. The First Class Suites number 14 onboard the A380.
Video Link for the Takeoff from Heathrow. Goodbye London, until next time!
Dinner Menu :
Food, food and more food. I wanted to binge on desserts!
Light Snacks at the Lounge in the Business Class :
Its quite a tight space to operate from :
The Lounge Host ( A Liverpool Fan, we indulged in some friendly banter ) decided to give up his job and clothed me in his trademark Emirates Suit. A teetotaler was asked to serve up some mocktails ( supposedly ) :P
What an experience!
The Return Flight wasn't full but many wanted to try the Onboard Shower. Unlike the previous flight, I had to shower midway through my journey :( It was a blessing in disguise as I felt so fresh and slept like a baby, even though the nap lasted less than 3 hours.
Shots from the Onboard Shower :
Video Link :
Time to zzzz :
What a beautiful sight, above the clouds, Thank you Lord! One day we won't need airplanes for such heights :)
Approaching Dubai :
It wasn't a clear day in Dubai and the sky was pretty overcast.
Video Link of the touchdown at Dubai International Airport :
Dubai International Airport :
Time to relax in the First Class Lounge of Dubai for the last time on this trip :
The Menu, I opted for an early Brunch :
Yummy :
Boarding at Dubai is always from the Lounge and the final leg of the trip was in the Boeing 777-300ER. There are 16 First Class Suites and the Layout is slightly different. These Suites are next to each other unlike the step formation in the A380 :
A Never ending list of options on Emirates' Multi Award Winning ICE ( Information, Communications, Entertainment ) System, Live TV does offer variety.
The Menu onboard but I had my fill and didn't intend to eat anymore.
Pushback :
Taxiing to the runway :
Video Link of an A380 touching down at Dubai International Airport :
Takeoff from Dubai. Bye Bye Dubai. Thanks for the Hospitality :
Video Link ( No Rear Wing Camera on this ) :
Finish watching The Martian, shut the doors of the Suite and get some sleep :
Hovering over Mumbai, as usual delays due to air congestion :
Nearing touchdown at Mumbai :
Video Link of the Landing at Mumbai International Airport Terminal 2, quite a pleasant evening :
The disembarking was quick and I reached the Duty Free section only to realise I had forgotten my Duty-Free bag onboard!! This trip taught me not to get complacent and not just think that its fine to go through the motions. Anyways, so began the run back to the aircraft and the retrieval of the bag. The Contents of the bag were intact and I made it back to the arrivals hall safely. I exited the terminal after an exhaustive 45 minutes but everything in hand. Thank God for that! It would be a crime to leave chocolates behind haha!
Barring the result Manchester United gave me at Old Trafford, it was a memorable trip. It was nice to have a First Class journey early in the year. Set the tone for the coming months and I already have a journey lined up in less than a fortnight. Where to, well patience! Time will reveal it all.
Once again, a Big THANK YOU to Emirates for all the love and hospitality shown to me. Its a blessing to be a Gold Member of Skywards!
2016 will feature more posts in the "Flying Series". God Bless and thanks for the Support for this Blog :)
2016 has begun and the days were counting down for the season opener in Australia. We are less than 24 hours away from Free Practice 1 and the 2016 season already promises loads of excitement.
Teams have come to terms with the new Turbo era now and focus should shift more towards performance.
There are new entrants vying for the Constructors' crown, new drivers in some teams and yes another revision in some regulations.
The season will be the longest in F1's history, having a total of 21 races with Baku, Azerbaijan being the latest entry under the guise of the European Grand Prix.
A quick look at some rule changes : ( Source : www.fia.com )
1) Tyre supplier Pirelli will introduce a 5th tyre compound known as "ultrasoft",with the manufacturer stating that they would only be available on street circuits.Pirelli will change their approach to tyre supply in 2016, bringing three dry compounds to races instead of two. The compounds will be made public two weeks before each event. Pirelli will assign two "choice" compounds, and a third set (the softest available regardless of Pirelli's selection) will be given to teams reaching Q3. Drivers will select their remaining ten tyre sets for the event between the three compounds and must use at least any two dry compounds of their choosing during the race, so long as at least one set is of the two Pirelli "choice" sets.
Video Link explaining the new tyre rules by Chain Bear F1 :
A Very Complex Rule change but it will definitely spice things up in both Inter and Intra Team battles as drivers mix their tyre strategies in order to find the right balance between pace and longevity.
2) The FIA has opted to increase the number of tokens available for power unit development starting in 2016. While the initial plans would have given manufacturers 15 tokens for the season, the number was raised to 32, the same number as 2014, in order to allow struggling manufacturers such as Renault and Honda to improve their development. This decision also allows further development on parts that were initially planned to be closed off, including the upper and lower crankcase, valve drive, crankshaft, air-valve system and ancillaries drive.
A Welcome Change to bring more parity in the field ( in Honda's case ) and hopefully an opportunity for Renault to catch up.
3) Any driver who causes the start of the race to be aborted will be required to start the race from pit lane at the restart.
Quite Harsh on the driver in case of a Technical Failure.
4) The procedure for issuing gearbox penalties will be amended so that penalties are applied in the order that they are awarded, bringing the system in line with the wider grid penalty system.
The Penalty System has become interesting and clarity will come when it comes into effect during a race weekend.
5) The Virtual Safety Car system will be used in practice sessions as well to avoid the unnecessary use of red flags and session stoppages.
An Important change in the sessions and will allow continuity in the case of minor incidents like stoppages on track.
DRS which is deactivated when under Virtual Safety Car periods and full-course yellow flags, will be available as soon as a Virtual Safety Car period has ended allowing drivers to start racing immediately after green flag conditions are restored.
6) The process new drivers go through in order to qualify for F1 for a super license has changed.
7) Qualifying has seen a big change.
The qualifying process was heavily revised two weeks before the season opener. The Q1, Q2, and Q3 format that has been in place since 2006 will be retained, but with a progressive "knock-out" style of elimination. Drivers conducting a lap at the end of each session will still be allowed to complete their lap, though this does not apply to mid-session eliminations.
a) Q1 will last 16 minutes, with the slowest driver being eliminated every 90 seconds after the first 7 minutes until 15 cars remain.
b) Q2 will last 15 minutes, with the slowest driver being eliminated every 90 seconds after the first 6 minutes until 8 cars remain.
c) Q3 will last 14 minutes, with the slowest driver being eliminated every 90 seconds after the first 5 minutes until pole position is determined.
This means that no driver will have a respite and everyone has to be on the limit to stay afloat. Its going to be a lot of fun. I am reminded of the now defunct A1 GP Series which ran a similar qualifying format.
As Stated earlier, Baku is the new entrant making this the longest season in F1. The Calendar has gone through some revisions as well. Malaysia has been pushed back to October while Russia moves up into May becoming Round 4. Germany will be the last race before the Mid Season break in July.
On the Teams side, Lotus F1 Team has been rechristened as Renault Sport F1 Team, Haas F1 make their debut and Red Bull Racing will sport a Tag Heuer Branded Renault Engine after Renault and Red Bull parted ways ( sort of ) at the end of 2015. Manor Racing is the new name for Marussia for 2016.
2016 will not feature the reckless Maldonado, Roberto Merhi, Will Stevens & Alexander Rossi.
So who drives for who? How did the teams fare in pre-season tests? Who are the contenders for the crown? I hope what follows does justice and addresses these questions.
Mercedes AMG F1 Team :
Favourites to win it all this year again, Mercedes have flexed their muscles, although not completely in the pre-season tests. The Team has the most number of laps to its name and reliability doesn't seem to be an issue for now. The team does have something in reserve and maybe masked their true pace. Their pace advantage, if any will come to the fore in China and Bahrain.
Hamilton and Rosberg will be at it this year and both have worked hard in the pre-season tests. Its a very close call between the two for 2016 again. Hamilton does have an edge when it comes to statistics but Rosberg had the momentum at the end of last season. Can the German recreate that form? Its a tough ask but he is capable. On his day the German is unbeatable. Will those days outnumber Hamilton's? I have my doubts.
The Mercedes duo don't just have to contend with each other...
Scuderia Ferrari F1 Team :
Ferrari had a strong 2015. "Strong" is a word not good enough at Ferrari. You have to win it all and you don't rest until your goal is reached. 2016 should be that year. Ferrari have played second fiddle long enough. Pre-season results promise a fantastic 2016. The SF-16H is more than just a strong contender. Vettel and Raikkonen have been fastest on their respective days ( albeit on Ultra-softs ), Raikkonen being the fastest overall but just. Ferrari didn't clock the same number of laps as the Mercedes but they will be the only worthy contender according to me. The Car is also kinder on its tyres so the team could adopt more aggressive strategies and match the Mercs on pace.
Vettel had an edge over Raikkonen in 2015, the Finn being riddled by misfortune and reliability problems. 2016 should be a more even battle between the two. As a Raikkonen Fan I am confident that he will justify Ferrari's decision of retaining him in 2016 and will be a strong contender for the Drivers' crown. Vettel has been on the pedestal 4 times so he is no stranger to winning it all. Vettel will be on the limit right from day 1 and has the knack of getting under the skin of the Mercedes duo. Both drivers have to be consistent throughout the season to maintain pressure and I am confident that the Prancing Horse will shine again.
Williams F1 Team :
Williams were the best of the rest ( excluding Mercedes and Ferrari ) in 2015 and the strongest Mercedes Customer Team. Pre-season Tests suggest that challenging the Works teams would be difficult and Williams would have to be wary of other customer teams breathing down their necks. Both drivers haven't been particularly quick on the softer compounds but could Williams be holding back? Only time will tell.
Massa and Bottas stay with the team for 2016. It was a well contested battle for supremacy between the two, Bottas getting the better of his team-mate. Massa had a not so memorable second half of 2015 and has to step up his performances to not lose his seat to younger drivers. Bottas on the other hand has to optimize results if he garners hopes of making it into a Works Team in the future. Bottas should have the edge in this year's team-mate battle according to me and if Williams can bring him close to the Mercs and the Ferraris, he will be more than a handful.
Red Bull Racing F1 Team :
Red Bull had an eventful 2015. Reliability issues and a misfiring power unit bogged the team down. The boss Christian Horner was extremely critical of Renault which led to their eventual fall-out at the end of the season. The search for a new engine supplier never materialized after talks stagnated with Mercedes and an understanding could never be reached with Ferrari. Finally it was agreed that the team will run a Tag Heuer branded Renault engine for 2016. Aston Martin has also joined the long list of sponsors for the team. Something brewing? Maybe. Red Bull will be strong at street circuits but making it to the top 10 could be quite challenging elsewhere. Aerodynamically Red Bull are brilliant but the Power Differential is too big to bridge the gap with the Mercs or the Ferraris. They could spoil the party though with aggressive tyre choices.
Kvyat and Ricciardo finished 2015 with just 3 points between their respective tallies, new graduate Kvyat outshining the Honey Badger. Red Bull would be really pleased with their driver choices as the duo were instrumental in holding off Force India's challenge with consistent finishes. 2016 will see a close quarter battle but Ricciardo should pull this off this time. I eagerly wait to see Red Bull return to the sharp end of the grid and this duo is capable of capitalizing when the opportunity comes knocking at the door.
Sahara Force India F1 Team :
Force India a team that came close to beating the mighty Red Bull in 2015 will hope to carry the momentum into 2016. However the bosses have dominated headlines in News Dailies for all the wrong reasons. There is a Management Reshuffle on the cards and how it will affect the team remains to be seen. That said, Force India have been flying in Pre-Season Testing as the 3rd Fastest Team on the timesheets. Powered by Mercedes again, 4th place in the Constructors' should be achievable but Force India have to maintain a steep development curve and stay in touch with the bigger spending teams. Do they have that Financial Prowess? I hope they do.
Perez and Hulkenberg continue their partnership and both are quick and reliable. My Money is on Hulkenberg although Perez pipped him to 9th place in the Championship last year. Mr. Consistent Hulkenberg is on the shortlist of bigger teams but his height and lack of sponsorship works against him. Perez on the other hand is pretty mercurial in his performances but on his day is unbeatable. I can't wait to watch the 2 battle it out on track.
Scuderia Toro Rosso F1 Team :
Toro Rosso the sister concern/B Team of Red Bull Racing had an exciting 2015. 2 youngsters who jumped the ranks to land themselves a F1 Seat bowled over fans and experts alike with their amazing performances in 2015. Toro Rosso switch to Ferrari power for 2016 and this year should be no different. Toro Rosso had a very potent chassis in the rain and caused a lot of upsets last year. Ferrari power should help them make a few more places in 2016. Toro Rosso were the 4th Fastest team in Pre-Season Tests ( Albeit on ultrasofts )
Max Verstappen and Carlos Sainz Jr. have learned a lot about the sport in 2015. Both have to raise the bar in 2016 as this year will test their maturity and guile in F1. Both have the desire, the fire, the passion and the pace. Now to bring home the results. I am sure either one could get a call to move up within the next couple of years. Verstappen won the team-mate battle last year and might do the same again but I promise you this will be a hotly contested and well followed battle. Bringing home strong finishes should help the team fight for 5th place in the Constructors, probably with the Mother Red Bull team.
Renault Sport F1 Team :
Renault parted ways with Red Bull Racing at the end of 2015. Renault then took over Lotus F1 Team to ensure not just their presence in the sport but also save the team from certain bankruptcy. Renault have a roadmap for making their way back up the grid and its no secret that they are here to stay. A Little Birdie told me Renault's plan for the coming years : 2016 will be a struggle, 2017 aim for 7th place, 2018 aim for 5th, 2019th 3rd and 2020 be a Championship Winning team.
Lotus on the other hand had a decent outing in 2015 with Mercedes Power and had to terminate its contract with Mercedes due to the takeover. Renault's 2016 Challenger is the 2015 Car with loads of upgrades. It was too late to build a new car due to the delayed process of the takeover.
Renault hired Kevin Magnussen to join 2015's reserve driver & 2014 GP2 Champion Jolyon Palmer. Magnussen was released by McLaren midway through 2015. Palmer on the other hand might only remain with the team for one year but you never know what conspires over the duration of a season. Magnussen with his past experience of F1 should fare better than Palmer. He was quicker during the pre-season tests as well. 2016 will be a tough year for the team according to me due to the under-powered Renault unit but I would be overjoyed if the team ( the I love so much ) grabs some podium finishes.
McLaren Honda F1 Team :
McLaren had a horrendous 2015. Honda struggled to come to terms in their first year of the New Turbo era. Reliability problems bogged the team down all season long. 2016 Pre-Season did see them clock a considerable number of kilometres but the latest challenger isn't flawless. Both drivers had their fair share of breakdowns. The power disparity might cost the team valuable points as reliability remains priority in 2016. The team is addressing every gremlin one at a time and when they finally iron out these issues, they would be right up there with the high-fliers.
Alonso and Button form a formidable partnership. Their vast experience will help the team optimize points scoring. Button outscored Alonso but only just in 2015. 2016 will be an even contest. Alonso is a driver who can extract everything from a car so beating him consistently will be tough. Alonso has backed his decision of switching to McLaren this year, hope the stance doesn't change at the end of 2016. The increase in the number of tokens should help Honda improve their power units throughout the season.
Sauber F1 Team :
Sauber had a torrid 2014 & 15. The Lack of Funding hasn't helped their cause either. However Sauber keeps soldiering on and a big salute to their indomitable spirit. Sauber retained the services of Nasr and Ericsson for 2016. Nasr was faster of the duo in the pre-season tests and agonizingly close toMcLaren's fastest time on a slower tyre. Initial reports suggest that Sauber should be the 8th fastest team on the grid. Nasr will be the stronger of the two ( personal opinion ). I do hope Sauber brings in efficient upgrades throughout the season to help propel them up the grid and maximize their point scoring chances. It won't be easy sailing in 2016 either.
Manor Racing F1 Team :
Manor, formerly Marussia sport a brand new lineup of drivers in GP2 graduate Rio Haryanto ( First Indonesian in F1 ) and DTM Champion / Mercedes Protegee Pascal Wehrlein. Manor switch to Mercedes power for 2016 and have undergone a huge management reshuffle. Scoring points and finishing races are of paramount importance for the team. Both drivers are well funded and should help the team stay above water. For Pascal this is like an internship, for Rio his hope to move up the grid. Pascal might just pip Haryanto as the lead driver.
Haas F1 Team :
Haas F1 garnered a lot of interest even before their formal entry into the sport. The New Kids on the block have hired the services of 2 experienced drivers in Romain Grosjean and Esteban Gutierrez. Grosjean left Lotus ( now Renault ) at the end of 2015 wanting a new challenge. Gutierrez, ex-Sauber and Reserve Driver for Ferrari will be auditioning for the prancing horse seat with Haas it seems. Both are intelligent drivers and will provide valuable feedback for the team. Its going to be a steep learning curve for the team ( as Pre-Season results suggest ). Reliability first, performance later should be the approach. I do hope Haas finish some races in the points, which for now seems a long shot.
To sum it all up, Tyres are going to dictate play over a race weekend. Aggressive Tyre Strategies will throw the cat amongst the pigeons at many races.I am sure we shall see drivers out of position more often trying to make right the wrongs done during qualifying.
There isn't much to choose in terms of pace between the Williams, Force India & Renault. Can McLaren return to the sharper end of the grid this year? Haas F1 would hope for a strong start to the season. Renault likewise.
God willing, I would like to attend 3 races - Barcelona, Hungary and Abu Dhabi again ( if Kimi does leave at the end of 2016 ) this year.
Ferrari is closer to Mercedes than ever. Battle Royale Beckons!
I can't wait for the season to being. F1 returns and so does sanity.
We have waited long enough! Its time for the 2016 Formula 1 Season!!!
