Enroute to the Circuit :

Walking to Spa Francorchamps Circuit via La Source Hairpin :

Photos of the Paddock Club Track Truck Tour :

Some Photos with the GoPro Hero 5 Black :

The First Pit Lane Walk of the Day :

Scuderia Ferrari F1 Garage during the Pit Lane Walk :

Sahara Force India F1 Pit Stop Practice ( Video Link ) :

The Latest post in the Paddock Club Diaries comes in from the 2017 Belgian Grand Prix. The Event was held from 22nd August to 24th August at the iconic Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps.

I had the privilege of being a guest of Scuderia Ferrari F1 Team in the Paddock Club and as always, the first post is from what I experienced on Friday.

I stayed at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Hasselt. Hasselt is the birthplace of Red Bull Racing Driver Max Verstappen and about an hour's drive from the circuit. An early morning drive from Hasselt is recommended as the traffic was atrocious going into Spa.

Enroute to the Circuit :

The Race Passes picked up from Radisson Blu Hotel in Spa :

Walking to the circuit :

The Scuderia Ferrari F1 Club :

The View from the Ferrari F1 Club :

I didn't have the opportunity of making it to the First Pit Lane walk of the day and as soon as I settled in the Suite, it was time for Free Practice 1.

Shots from FP1 :

Scuderia Ferrari F1 Team during FP1 :

Chequered Flag :



Kimi Raikkonen was the fastest in FP1 with Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel completing the Top 3. Only a tenth of a second separated the trio.

Marc Gene visits the Ferrari F1 Club for a quick Q&A :

Video Link of the Interview :

A Moment with Marc Gene :

Friends, Scuderia Ferrari Family!

Prior to the Pit Lane Walk, I signed up to go downstairs and join other guests on a truck which would take us around the track for an amazing tour. Its a part of the F1 Experiences, a new initiative by the new owners of F1 to bring the sport closer to its fans.

I got the Chance to do the Paddock Club Track Truck Tour. The Best Experience ever!

Video Link of the Track Truck Tour :

Shots from the 2nd Pit Lane Walk of the day :

The Scuderia Ferrari Garage :

Sebastian Vettel's Ferrari being readied for FP2 ( Video Link ) :

Lunch!

I had a hearty lunch and it was time to settle in for Free Practice 2. FP2 saw limited running after an hour thanks to rain belting down on the track. Only Daniel Ricciardo and Fernando Alonso volunteered to venture out but the conditions got treacherous really quickly.

Shots from FP2 :

Free Practice 2 saw Lewis Hamilton set the Fastest time. Kimi Raikkonen and Valtteri Bottas not too far behind.

The track was then thrown open to the 2 Seater F1 Cars from the F1 Experiences.

2 Seater F1 cars offering those with deep pockets a couple of laps around the circuit. A new venture called F1 Experiences.

Formula 2 cars then took to the track for the Qualifying Session.

Qualifying Session of F2 :

The Session over, it was time to head back to the hotel, get some dinner, rest and be ready for Saturday Morning!

Returning to Hasselt :

The Latest post in the "Gallery of Memories" comes in from the Legendary Track of Spa Francorchamps in the Ardennes region of Belgium. I got the opportunity of attending the Belgian Grand Prix in the final week of August and it was a great experience!

Once again I had the privilege of meeting celebrities and the tradition began from the day I flew out of Mumbai Airport bound for Brussels International.

A Quick trip down memory lane!

Bollywood Actress Parineeti Chopra :

Bollywood Music Director Anu Malik :

Bollywood Actress & Comedian Sugandha Mishra :

Marc Gene, Scuderia Ferrari F1 Team Development Driver :

Mattia Binotto, Chief Technical Officer of Scuderia Ferrari F1 Team :

Riccardo Adami, Sebastian Vettel's Race Engineer :

Federica Masolin, Sky Sports F1 Italia Hostess :

Jacques Villeneuve, Former F1 Champion and Expert on Sky Sports F1 Italia :

The Jovial trio, Martin Brundle, Damon Hill & Paul Di Resta of Sky Sports F1! Stay blessed guys!

Pat Symonds, Ex Williams and Sky Sports F1 co-presenter :

Mark Webber, Fan moment here with the AussieGrit!

Jock Clear, Scuderia Ferrari F1 team :

Niki Lauda!

The Professor! Alain Prost! What a gentleman!

Pierre Gasly, Red Bull Racing F1 Team Reserve Driver :

Maurizio Arrivabene, Scuderia Ferrari F1 Team Principal :

Not the selfie I wanted but nonetheless, Kimi Raikkonen!

Gino Rosato, Scuderia Ferrari F1 :

A Moment with Seb's P2 Trophy :

Massimo Rivola, Scuderia Ferrari Academy Supremo :

Giuliano Alesi, Jean Alesi's son & Scuderia Ferrari Academy Driver in GP3 :

Mark Arnall and Kimi's Partner in Ice One Racing ( Motocross ) :

Silvia Hoffer, McLaren F1 Team PR and one of the oldest faces in the paddock :

MOKO!!

Daniil Kvyat, Scuderia Toro Rosso F1 Team :

Sir Franz Tost, Team Principal, Scuderia Toro Rosso F1 Team :

Carlos Sainz, Scuderia Toro Rosso F1 Team :

It was a memorable weekend in Spa and I would like to thank Scuderia Ferrari F1 Team for the Hospitality and the graciousness shown to me over the weekend. A big thank you to Edge Global Events for ensuring nothing was out of place and ensuring that I had an enjoyable weekend.

Apologies for the delay, Paddock Club Experiences coming thick and fast!

The European leg of the 2017 F1 Season has come to an end and the "Fly-Aways" remain.

The new owners of F1 have ensured that the sport is in the news for all the right reasons. Its also that time of the year when teams are locking down driver contracts or are in the final stages of talks with prospective pilots for next year.

Driver Markets is one topic that the media can never get enough of. Many claims turn out to be true, many don't.

Lets take a quick look into who is confirmed for 2018 and who isn't.

Scuderia Ferrari :

Scuderia Ferrari confirmed their lineup on the Belgian GP weekend with Sebastian Vettel signing a 3 year deal up until 2020 and Kimi Raikkonen till the end of 2018. Raikkonen's extension had a mixed reception but as a fan of Raikkonen its great news! I believe its the right decision by Ferrari to persist with the duo ( totally unbiased analysis here ). Raikkonen complements Vettel very well and the atmosphere within the team is extremely healthy. Kimi with his experience provides invaluable feedback to the team and Ferrari still have some catching up to do with Mercedes. Sebastian Vettel knows Ferrari is his best chance to get his 5th world title. Vettel is loved in Maranello and its great to see him continue in the red.

Experience over youth is the way forward for 2018 for Ferrari

Mercedes AMG F1 Team :

Lewis Hamilton continues his contract until the end of 2018. Staying put is a no-brainer for him. Valtteri Bottas joined the team for 1 year and the team made its intentions clear to continue the partnership into 2018. Bottas is doing an exceptional job in his first year. The team-mate relationship is as good as that in Ferrari. Bottas and Lewis are doing a fine job of keeping Ferrari at bay and the team have one hand on the Constructors' Trophy! Bottas is no slouch either and will be a more potent force in 2018. Its imperative that he must stay inspite of having protegees waiting to move up into the A-Team.

Red Bull Racing F1 Team :

The Honey Badger Daniel Ricciardo & The Flying Dutchman Max Verstappen continue their partnership for 2018. The chances of a seat opening in the other 2 front runners seemed a difficult prospect so it is best for the duo to stay put.

Sahara Force India F1 Team :

Force India also announced their intention to persist with Sergio Perez and Esteban Ocon for 2018. It hasn't been smooth sailing with the team-mates coming together and causing the team grief on a few occasions. They are banned form racing each other in 2017. However their talent cannot be belittled. Force India is a force to reckon with and it needs motivated and hungry individuals to pounce on any opportunity they may get from lapses by the front runners. There are few who can do what Perez and Ocon are capable of.

McLaren Honda F1 Team :

The Situation at McLaren is very tense. Their hopes of returning to glory with Honda have fallen flat. Fernando Alonso is very vocal about Honda's failures to deliver a powerful reliable engine, Stoffel Vandoorne feels no different. McLaren, the 2nd most successful team in F1 are now at a crossroads. Fernando Alonso will leave if McLaren choose to continue with Honda in 2018. Losing a two time World Champion to another team will be disastrous for McLaren and there is no driver that can replace a man with Fernando's experience. Renault power units is the only other option for them and the possibility of a switch has gained traction in the past fortnight. McLaren also need to consider the cost of divorce with Honda. Only McLaren can afford the pay demands of Alonso. Will they switch to Renault? I definitely think so. A must to maintain their respect and prestige in F1 besides holding onto the best driver on the grid ( personal opinion ). Stoffel Vandoorne is confirmed for 2018.

Williams Martini Racing F1 Team :

Williams have a talented prospect in Stroll who is finding his feet and beginning to impress people. Felipe Massa came in to fill the void left by Bottas at the end of 2016. Williams made it clear that they are in no hurry to discuss options for 2018 up until the end of the season. Paul di Resta is the reserve driver but his chances of landing a seat seem bleak. Stroll should be able to do enough to warrant a contract extension. Felipe's decision to stay or retire is still a debatable one. Williams hiring Alonso was also doing rounds for some time. Williams need someone experienced enough and fast to aid the development of the 2018 Contender. They must convince Felipe to stay another year before they can actually scout talent or hire a capable replacement for him in 2019. Pascal Wehrlein is out of contract and Mercedes would try to get him a seat at Williams should Sauber not opt to continue with him. Wehrlein is one driver Williams must consider.

Haas F1 Team  :

Haas confirmed Kevin Magnussen and Romain Grosjean quite early in the season and they rightly shifted their focus to developing a stronger and a faster car.

Renault Sport F1 Team :

Nico Hulkenberg is confirmed for 2018 and as per the reports coming in in the past couple of days, Renault have acquired the services of the talented Carlos Sainz Jr. This means that Jolyon Palmer's career in F1 might be coming to a sad end. Hulkenberg is fast and consistent and Renault is improving its car at a brisk rate. They will definitely be moving up the grid in 2018. Carlos Sainz Jr. has been stuck for quite sometime in Toro Rosso, Red Bull's B Team and his chances of moving up to the main team has dwindled drastically. He will definitely benefit from joining a Work's Team. Carlos Sainz's impending move to Renault will be just reward for his performances - but it could also hand a well-earned F1 chance to another deserving racer.

Renault will benefit from having 2 consistent strong drivers. Jolyon Palmer, as for him, its best to seek other pastures.

Scuderia Toro Rosso F1 Team :

Toro Rosso are yet to announce their 2018 line-up. Daniil Kvyat is out of contract but with Carlos Sainz Jr. departure to Renault, he should bag an extension. Pierre Gasly, Red Bull Racing's Reserve Driver is slated to take up the 2nd seat for 2018 and the Frenchman has proven his potential in test sessions earlier. If Kvyat does get a contract extension, its imperative that he outperforms Gasly to ensure a strong case for promotion in 2019, should any of the current Red Bull Drivers opt to switch to another front runner.

Sauber F1 Team :

Sauber has both seats available for 2018. Ferrari are intending to invest in Sauber and re-brand it under the umbrella of Alfa-Romeo. Should the move come to fruition the team could become Ferrari's B Team and that could open up places for Antonio Giovinazzi and the talented Charles Le Clerc in F1. Marcus Ericsson would also have an opportunity of continuing there ( performances in second half matter ). Its improbable that Ferrari would allow a Mercedes Protegee in Wehrlein to continue in the team. Sauber still has the freedom to choose what they think is the way forward for them but for how long?

The championship resumes in Singapore this weekend and there will be a lot more clarity with teams and drivers in the coming weeks.

The general consensus for most has been to continue with the current pairing of drivers. Continuity is key for 2018..

2017 turned a page in the turbo era of F1. Bigger tyres, more downforce, faster lap times and the good emanating out of new ownership of the sport prove that F1 is slowly making its way back to the glory days. 2017 has brought a sense of freshness to the sport and the teams have embraced the challenges with aplomb. New Partnerships were created and New Rivalries were born. The Mid-Season Break is ongoing but the work carries on in the respective team factories. So how good have the contenders been up until the halfway point of the season?

Lets have a quick peek.

Mercedes AMG F1 Team :

Mercedes, the undisputed champions of the Turbo Era are tipped to retain the crown for both the Drivers' as well as the Constructors' but unlike the years gone by, the competitors have posed a bigger threat than they ever have before. Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas are having to play catch-up with Sebastian Vettel. Mercedes' lead in the Constructors' is a slender 39 points and they have been outclassed in a few races this year. Lewis Hamilton is P2 in the Championship, 14 points adrift with 4 wins and 2 podiums to his name. Valtteri Bottas is P3 with 169 points with 2 wins and 6 podiums.

Its advantage Lewis in the intra-team battle according to me. Lewis knows how the team functions and has shown time and again why he is a 3 time world champion. The Team will look to him to aid their defense of the world title. Valtteri Bottas on the other hand is a revelation and surprised one as he settled into his new team fairly quickly. Bottas is keeping Lewis honest in this title fight. The team must ensure that a healthy environment is maintained between the 2 garages. Mercedes maintained a fair fight on the track and delivered on their promise so far. They still have the fastest car on the grid but an unsettled one as well when stuck behind another car. 

Scuderia Ferrari F1 Team :

Ferrari persisted with Sebastian Vettel & Kimi Raikkonen for 2017 and they have upped their game this year. Sebastian Vettel has been leading the charge and is currently the leader in the Drivers' Championship with 202 points with 4 wins to his name ( Australia, Bahrain, Monaco & Hungary ) and four 2nd place finishes. Kimi Raikkonen was the slow starter again and had many issues hampering his progress, both on the mechanical and the strategic fronts. The Iceman's performances improved in the races going into the break. Kimi Raikkonen is P5 in the Championship with 4 podium finishes to his name.

The Gap between Mercedes and Ferrari is 39 points. Momentum is with the Prancing Horse. Mercedes are definitely looking nervously over their shoulders. I wish to quote Ferrari Team Principal Maurizio Arrivabene : At Ferrari, there is no holiday. We have to stay humble and keep pushing. Unquote.

Sebastian Vettel is the favourite for the driver's title. Kimi Raikkonen is providing the perfect support role. Mathematically Kimi isn't out of the title race but realises its best to not jeopardize team chances by unsettling his team-mate in races ( inspite of being faster ). Kimi had the chance to win 2 races, one in Monaco and the other in Hungary but the team chose otherwise. Once again the Finn has shown that he is a team man and a class act. Ferrari will always be indebted to him

Red Bull Racing F1 Team :

Red Bull had a strong 2016 and had hopes to replicate it in 2017. However Ferrari arrived a lot stronger and currently maintain a healthy lead over them. Red Bull are unbeatable when it comes to chassis design and aerodynamics. However the Renault Power Tag Heuer branded Power Unit continues to be their Achilles' Heel. Daniel Ricciardo sits P4 in the Drivers' Standings with 117 Points and 1 victory to his name. ( Azerbaijan ). Max Verstappen has been very unfortunate with issues in his car causing him to retire from strong finishing positions in 4 Races. Verstappen's  best finish was P3 in China. Max is P6 in the championship with 67 points.

Red Bull must ensure that both cars reach the Chequered Flag. They don't face an immediate threat from Force India but if they plan to dethrone Ferrari by the end of the season reliability will be the key. Red Bull top brass will be thoroughly displeased if they are unable to bag P2 in the Championship. Realistically, its a far fetched dream. The Development curve must not stop and Red Bull must aim to carry their progress into 2018 to be closer to the fastest teams on the grid.

Sahara Force India F1 Team :

Force India continue to be a revelation in 2017. They are right up there with the big boys fighting wheel to wheel and causing some upsets along the way as well. An accomplished power unit in Mercedes alongwith a capable chassis has ensured that Force India is the strongest customer team on the grid. They are well ahead of Williams in the Constructors but considerably behind Red Bull so improving to P3 at the end of 2017 seems uncertain. Barring Monaco, the team has always scored points. Sergio Perez leads the team-mate battle with 56 points to his name and P4 being his best finish ( Spain ). Esteban Ocon isn't far behind with 45 points, Spain his best result ( 5th ). Team Livery also is a talking point - eye-catching pink coloured cars on the grid. Driver Race Suits were similar and this invited some healthy banter with other teams over social media.

P4 would be a great finish and for a team with financial constraints like Force India, they can be extremely proud of what they have achieved so far.

Williams Martini Racing F1 Team :

Williams started well in 2014 with the New Turbo Engines suiting their cars well. However they have gone backwards since and sit 5th in the standings in the mid season break. Felipe Massa returned from retirement to take up Valtteri Bottas' place who left for Mercedes AMG F1. Lance Stroll, the rookie joined forces with him. Williams have underachieved in the first half of 2017. Lance Stroll's 3rd Place in Baku Azerbaijan was a surprise but Massa has been the more consistent of the two. His experience has been vital in keeping the team in 5th, albeit just 2 points ahead of the fast charging Toro Rossos. Massa's best finishes came in Australia and Bahrain ( 6th ) alongwith points finishes in 4 other races. Stroll is on 18 points scoring in 2 other races barring his podium. Its early days for the Canadian but in a demanding sport like F1, its vital to find your feet quickly.

The biggest advantage for Williams is the Mercedes Power Unit and there are still some power circuits left on the calendar so holding onto P5 shouldn't be an issue for the team. 

Scuderia Toro Rosso F1 Team :

Toro Rosso, the final step before a Red Bull Driver Program protegee steps into the A Team prove time and again that a team operating on a small budget can still perform well with the right chassis and personnel. Daniil Kvyat and Carlos Sainz Jr. continued their alliance going into 2017. The quest to impress the bosses has token a toll on Kvyat. Incidents, accidents, retirements have marred the Russian's performances and he must pray for a strong second half to retain his seat. Carlos Sainz Jr. is in a league of his own outclassing his team-mate and bringing home majority of the points. He sits 9th in the Drivers' Standings with 35 points while Kvyat has managed only 4 and is 17th currently.

Toro Rosso will have the backing of Red Bull for the rest of the season but as much as they have to stay focused to hunt down Williams who are 2 points ahead they have to keep an eye out for those behind as well. Renault and McLaren will be forces to reckon with by the end of the year. Its imperative for the team to "make hay while the sun shines"

Haas F1 Team :

Haas F1 fielded Romain Grosjean and Kevin Magnussen for 2017 and they deserve credit for the start provided in 2017. Haas impressed one and all since their arrival in F1 and at half-way point in 2017 they lead 2 works' teams! Grosjean has 18 points to Magnussen's 11 and unlike the teams below them, both drivers have scored points whenever presented with an opportunity. Haas is powered by Ferrari so the unit is potent enough for strong results. However the Chassis needs improvements and the team will improve with experience.

They are 10 points off Toro Rosso and it will be a close battle up until the end of the season. Toro Rosso wont be an easy team to beat but the mid-field battle is about to get fiesty in the second half of the season as Haas are no slouches.

Renault Sport F1 Team :

Renault returned as a factory team in 2016 with an elaborate road map. They made their intentions clear by acquiring the services of the talented Nico Hulkenberg and the German has been a great investment. He has scored all the points for the team this season, the tally of which stands at 26, seemingly safe from McLaren Honda. Nico's best results were 6th in Spain and Great Britain. Renault is improving the performance of its power unit and I predict P6 for them at the end of the year. Like McLaren the chassis is pretty competent and Renault have the privilege of pumping in more money unlike their immediate competitors. Another concern for the team is the performance of Jolyon Palmer. The Former GP2 Champion is yet to score a Championship Point and is fairly off the pace in comparison to Hulkenberg. He missed being in the points on 3 occasions and he must start bringing home the desired results to aid his own career as well as the team's chances in moving up the order.

Renault has the money, the tools, the personnel, the facilities to improve race by race and as a fan I definitely believe that they will soon be fighting at the sharp end of the grid. Priority though is to have a strong second half in 2017.

McLaren Honda F1 Team :

McLaren in the second year of its partnership with Honda still languishes in ninth in the Constructors' Standings. The Chassis has been brilliant but Power Unit Issues have cost them at many races. The past few rounds promise a change of fortune and as claimed by Honda, the unit should be powerful enough to beat a Renault. Will this turn out to be true? Highly doubt it. Fernando Alonso is ahead in the intra-team battle with 10 points on the board to Stoffel Vandoorne's one. Both achieved their best result in Hungary, a circuit where power isn't the deciding factor for a strong result.

Mclaren cannot afford to be P9 by the end of the season and Honda must get its act together to ensure they don't lose sponsors and vital financial benefits of finishing higher up in the pecking order. Fernando Alonso is another asset they cannot afford to lose. I believe he is the best driver on the grid with race craft second to none. Reliability with performance will lead to stronger results to make a strong case for the Spaniard to stay put.

Sauber F1 Team :

Sauber F1 currently stands 10th and last in the Constructors' Standings. They have managed only 5 points till now and are still adrift of McLaren by 6 points. Sauber went through a change of leadership with Monisha Kaltenborn leaving the team and Frederic Vasseur taking over the reins. Its hard to see them move up from the back of the grid ( due to cash constraints ). Pascal Wehrlein has impressed again bagging all the points for the team. Marcus Ericsson needs to pull his socks up and capitalize on finishing in the points whenever the opportunity arises. Antonio Giovinazzi stepped in for Wehrlein for the first 2 races after the German's preparations for 2017 were halted with a crash in the Race of Champions. He finished 12th and retired in the next race.

Its difficult to see Sauber finish higher at the end of 2017.

The final leg of the race will resume from Belgium.  A lot of action, drama awaits us in the second half of the season. The Second Half will also see many drivers suffering grid drops as components are changed on cars and exceed the permitted number by the FIA. The Teams must wait for the opportune time for such changes to ensure Damage Limitation. These could make or break the contest in the Drivers' Championship.

5 contenders to the Drivers' crown. 2 for the Constructors' but There Can Only Be One!

A glorious Sunday Morning, the weather seemed perfect for a day of Racing. I had a relaxed start to the day and I decided to skip the Paddock Club Truck Tour Opportunity! Need to train myself to be an early riser!

Love the view from my room!

Enroute to the Circuit :

The Paddock on Sunday Morning :

FIA Formula 2 Sprint Race is the second event on Sunday Morning after Race 2 for GP3. Shots from the Starting Grid.

FIA Formula 2 Sprint Race Formation Lap ( Video Link ) :

FIA Formula 2 Sprint Race Start ( Video Link ) :

Shots from the FIA Formula 2 Sprint Race on Sunday :

Safety Car - FIA Formula 2 Sprint Race ( Video Link ) :

Race Restart after Safety Car - FIA Formula 2 Sprint Race ( Video Link ) :

Maurizio Arrivabene visited us in the Ferrari F1 Club to share his expectations before the race. An amazing person! Great to have him as the Team Principal :

I won the Raffles Draw and got a Keyplate autographed by Maurizio Arrivabene! Finally I won in the Raffles!

Maurizio Arrivabene Interview in Ferrari F1 Club ( Video Link ) :

Ferrari preponed the Timing for Sebastian Vettel to visit the Ferrari F1 Club and I missed him! Huge disappointment for me!

Paul Hembery, Pirelli Motorsport Director comes in for a quick Q&A in the Ferrari F1 Club Suite :

Photos from the Pit Lane Walk on Sunday before the race :

Scuderia Ferrari F1 getting ready :

Photos with the GoPro :

Paddock Club Parking is never short of stunning Ferraris :

Lunch! A Quick bite, hard to eat as the tension rises!

Prepping up for the Grid Presentation :

Pit Lane Open and time for some sighting laps :

Team Personnel make it to the grid :

Celebrities on the Grid :

Drivers being interviewed as they make it to the grid :

Scuderia Ferrari F1 on the Grid :

Its Time to climb into your machines boys!

Counting down the Clock to the Formation Lap :

Team Personnel make a run for the pits as the cars head out for the Formation lap :

Formation Lap, Shot with Sony HX400V ( Video Link ) :

Formation Lap, Shot with Samsung Note 5 ( Video Link ) :

FIA Race Director Charlie Whiting getting ready to switch on the 5 Red Lights :

Cars line up on the grid for the Race Start :

Race Start, Shot with Sony HX400V ( Video Link ) :

Race Start, Shot with Samsung Note 5 ( Video Link ) :

Shots from the Race :

Sebastian Vettel Pit-Stop ( Video Link ) :

Sergio Perez Pit-Stop ( Video Link ) :

Chequered Flag :

Chequered Flag is waved ( Video Link ) :

TV Crews busy with Initial Reactions, Post Race.

Cars returning to Parc Ferme :

Kimi Raikkonen suffered retirement thanks to a shunt by Max Verstappen and Valtteri Bottas. Lewis Hamilton won an eventful race with Sebastian Vettel and Daniel Ricciardo completing the podium.

Post Race I got have a chat with the antagonist of Transformers Age of Extinction and Veteran actor Mr. Kelsey Grammer who was extremely friendly!

Sebastian Vettel's 2nd place trophy, a pleasant surprise to bring Vettel's trophy upstairs!

Arjun Maini! GP3 Race 2 Winner and an Indian! It was a blessed time chatting with him and Michael Reedy, his driver coach!

The Hosts of Pirelli for the weekend :

The Hosts at the Ferrari F1 Club :

With my friends from Renault Sport F1 Team :

Walking around in the support area as I make my way to the Paddock Entrance :

Art Work, Murals of the Drivers :

Trucks make their way to the Paddock as they pack up and head out to Monaco!

I made my way to the Paddock Entrance and had the opportunity of meeting a lot of people from the F1 Circuit - Drivers, Principals, Team Owners, Senior Team Personnel

Sergio Perez, Sahara Force India F1 Team :

Damon Hill, 1996 F1 World Champion & Sky Sports F1 Presenter :

Susie Wolff, Ex-Williams F1 Development Driver & Presenter for Channel 4

Toto Wolff, Team Principal, Mercedes AMG F1 Team :

Felipe Massa, Williams Martini Racing F1 Team :

Felipinho Massa, Massa Jr. Love his smile!

James Allison, Technical Director, Mercedes AMG F1 Team :

Bernd Maylander, F1 Safety Car Driver :

Mats Hummels! Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich & German Defender :

Stoffel Vandoorne, McLaren F1 Team :

Peter Sauber, Owner of Sauber F1 Team and the man responsible for bringing so many drivers into F1 :

Monisha Kaltenborn, Team Principal, Sauber F1 Team :

Lance Stroll, Williams F1 Team :

Cryil Abiteboul, MD, Renault Sport F1 Team :

Nico Hulkenberg, Renault Sport F1 Team :

Aerodynamic Genius Adrian Newey, Red Bull Racing F1 Team :

David Coulthard, Ex-McLaren F1 Driver, Red Bull Ambassador & Channel 4 Presenter :

Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull Racing F1 Team, A Fun Guy!

Gene Haas, owner of Haas F1 Team :

Jos Verstappen :

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing F1 Team :

The Professor! Alain Prost!

Romain Grosjean, Haas F1 Team :

Paul Hembery, Motorsport Director, Pirelli Motorsport :

Guenther Steiner, Team Principal, Haas F1 Team :

Alan Permane, Sporting Director, Renault Sport F1 Team :

Yusuke Hasegawa, Head of Honda's F1 Programme :

Ayao Komatsu, Chief Race Engineer, Haas F1 Team :

Marcus Ericsson, Sauber F1 Team :

Bob Fernley, Deputy Team Principal, Sahara Force India F1 Team :

Carlos Sainz Sr.

Daniil Kyvat, Scuderia Toro Rosso Driver :

Sir Franz Tost, Scuderia Toro Rosso Team Principal :

Simon Rennie, Red Bull Racing Race Engineer :

Gino Rosato, Scuderia Ferrari F1 :

Kimi Raikkonen's No.1 Mechanic & Setup Engineer :

Jolyon Palmer, Renault Sport F1 Team :

Stefania Arrivabene, Kimi Raikkonen's PR in Ferrari :

Carlos Sainz Jr., Scuderia Toro Rosso F1 Team :

Britta Roeske, Sebastian Vettel's PR :

Moko!

Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes AMG Petronas :

The Security in the Paddock was lifted and I had the chance to roam and take some shots of the Motorhomes :

Returning to the Hotel :

Saturday, the day of Practice and Qualifying; also the day of Early Morning Starts!

I was in a rush to get to the circuit in order to be in time for the Paddock Club Truck Tour but was delayed at the circuit entrance thanks to the security checks.

I did have the opportunity to spend time in the pit lane and capture a lot of stills!

Photos Photos and more Photos from the Pit Lane Walk!

Romain Grosjean's Haas F1 being readied before FP3 ( Video Link ) :

Sebastian Vettel's Ferrari Systems Check ( Video Link ) :

Scuderia Ferrari F1 Garage :

Scuderia Ferrari F1 Team practicing their Pit-Stops.

Scuderia Ferrari F1 Pit Stop Practice ( Video Link ) :

With Andy Stobart, Renault Sport F1 Head of Communications :

Mattia Binotto, Scuderia Ferrari F1 Chief Technical Officer :

Massimo Rivola, Head of Scuderia Ferrari Driver Academy :

Some photos with the GoPro Hero 4 Black :

As we were being ushered back to the Paddock Club, the pitlane became abuzz with activity as the GP3 teams drove in before the start of their Qualifying session.

An Interactive Robot and Driver Cartoon Murals were the new things added to liven up the entrance to the paddock :

Kimi Raikkonen! BWOAH as ever!

Kevin Magnussen of Haas F1 Team :

Pascal Wehrlein of Sauber F1 Team :

Kai Ebel, RTL F1 Presenter :

Free Practice 3 was due to begin and Scuderia Ferrari F1 were kind enough to take me down to the Garage for a quick peek into their preparation and setups :

Shots from FP3 :

Scuderia Ferrari F1 Team in FP3 :

Returning to the pits after session is over :

Kimi Raikkonen topped FP3, Sebastian Vettel, Lewis Hamilton & Valtteri Bottas were second, third and fourth respectively. It was looking promising for the Iceman!

The session ended and Ferrari's Reserve Driver Antonio Giovinazzi joined us in the Club for a quick Q&A :

Antonio Giovinazzi Interview in Ferrari F1 Club ( Video Link ) :

A Selfie with Antonio :

I was about to grab some lunch when I met the new owner of F1. Mr. Chase Carey of Liberty Media. He was so gracious and hospitable. I thanked him for freshening up the sport with his efforts and thanks to him we are back on the road to set many things right!

Mario Isola, Pirelli Sporting Director :

The Second Pit Lane Walk of the day; a lot more people and before the pivotal session of Qualifying!

Sergei Sirotkin, Renault Sport F1 Reserve Driver :

Karun Chandok, Ex F1 Driver, Channel 4 Presenter and a Williams Official Driver for Heritage Division :

Jock Clear, Scuderia Ferrari F1 Senior Performance Engineer :

Anthony Davidson, Ex F1 Driver, WEC Champion and Sky Sports F1 Presenter :

The Pit Lane Walk ended and it was time to head back to the Paddock Club have some lunch and prep up for Qualifying :

Qualifying commences, Q1 :

Dave Greenwood guiding Kimi Raikkonen out of the Garage for Q1 ( Video Link ) :

Chequered Flag :

Lewis Hamilton was fastest in Q1 with Kimi Raikkonen and Sebastian Vettel 2nd and 3rd respectively. Pascal Wehrlein made it to Q2 and that was a positive for Sauber F1 Team.

Q2 :

Chequered Flag :

Lewis Hamilton remained the fastest holding off Sebastian Vettel and Valtteri Bottas. Fernando Alonso got the loudest cheers after his McLaren made it into Q3 and the Final Shoot-out.

Q3 begins :

Chequered Flag and the Cars return to Parc Ferme :

Lewis Hamilton took pole from Sebastian Vettel. Valtteri Bottas beat Kimi Raikkonen in the Battle of the Finns in P3. Not a bad place to start for the Iceman but he could have been on the front row.

Post Qualifying Kimi Raikkonen joined us for a quick Q&A in the Ferrari F1 Club :

Kimi Raikkonen Interview in the Ferrari F1 Club ( Video Link ) :

It was also time for the Formula 2 Feature Race to begin and most of the guests stayed back to enjoy watching the youngsters battle it out for supremacy!

Formation Lap - Formula 2 Feature Race ( Video Link ) :

Race Start - Formula 2 Feature Race ( Video Link ) :

Formula 2 Feature Race ( Video Link ) :

Prema Racing Pit Stop for Broken Front Wing - Formula 2 Feature Race ( Video Link ) :

Chequered Flag - Formula 2 Feature Race ( Video Link ) :

Photos from the Formula 2 Feature Race :

GP3 had Race 1 after the F2 Feature Race.

GP3 Race 1 ( Video Link ) :

Final set of Images before heading back to the Hotel for the evening :

Spain was a fantastic race to be at in 2016. I also had the opportunity of meeting F1 personnel in 2016 so returning to Catalunya in 2017 needed little persuasion.

It is one of the easiest tracks to get to and offers a lot of access for the fans.

Liberty Media, the new owners of F1 have also added a lot of experiences to the fans and guests of the Paddock Club and I shall be documenting some of them in the post.

The Spanish Grand Prix was held from 12th May to 14th May and this is Day 1 i.e. Friday Experience from the weekend.

The Passes arrived on time :

I got a chance to meet Fernando Alonso on Wednesday as he was launching the "Join the Pact" McLaren campaign for the upcoming weekend. McLaren were staying in the same hotel so it was nice to bump into F1 personnel on a regular basis.

A Selfie with Fernando Alonso!

Gavin Emmett of BT Sport; Gavin was present to interview Alonso for BT Sport and it was nice to have a chat with him.

Enroute to the circuit :

The Paddock Club doesn't open until 10 am. However the Pit Lane is open for the guests and Friday Morning is the best time to be in the pits as most teams allow guests to get close to the cars.

A 2 lap run in a Formula Minardi 2 seater is one of the newest offerings for Paddock Club Guests :

Shots from the Pit Lane Walk :

Haas F1 Firing up before FP1 ( Video Link ) :

Kimi Raikkonen's car Systems check before FP1 ( Video Link ) :

Shots with the GoPro Hero4 Black from the Pit lane:

We were ushered into the Paddock Club and the Club had a new vibe and feel to it. A freshness, unlike the same old same old. Show Cars at the entrance, music, dance, simulators, it just felt different.

Shots of the Paddock Club :

Photos with the Display Cars from 2016 outside the Paddock Club :

As Always, Ferrari had their own suite and like 2016 Pirelli shared the suite with Ferrari. 

Shots of the Ferrari F1 Club shared with Pirelli.

I took some time to take in the sights before the session began and was happy to see the same set of fans with their flags showing their support for Kimi Raikkonen and his Physio Mark Arnall

Kimi Raikkonen Fans showing their support :

Stands empty on Friday morning but the numbers increase considerably by afternoon :

It was time for Free Practice 1 to begin :

Scuderia Ferrari F1 in FP1 :

Pit Walls busy :

Chequered Flag to mark the end :

Lewis Hamilton was fastest with Valterri Bottas, Kimi Raikkonen and Sebastian Vettel hot on his heels.

It was time to have a quick lunch before heading down to the second pit lane walk of the day :

I spotted Pascal Wehrlein having his lunch while walking towards the pit lane!

Mark Sutton, Ace Photographer!

Shots from the Pit Lane Walk :

Renault Sport F1 Getting ready for FP2 ( Video Link ) :

Shots from the Scuderia Ferrari F1 Garage :

Photos with Kevin and Paul, New Friends!

Mark Arnall, Kimi Raikkonen's Physio and a thorough gent!

Dave Greenwood, Kimi Raikkonen's Race Engineer :

Max Verstappen Fans in attendance :

We made it back to the Paddock Club and it was time for Free Practice 2!

Shots from FP2 :

Scuderia Ferrari F1 Team in FP2 :

Chequered Flag :

Drivers returning to the pits after FP2 :

Lewis Hamilton was the fastest again. Valtteri Bottas, Kimi Raikkonen and Sebastian Vettel were within half a second of his best time.

Post FP2 we were joined by Scuderia Ferrari F1 Development Driver Marc Gene who shared his views on the team's chances for the weekend and the setup required for a track like Circuit de Catalunya

Marc Gene in the Ferrari F1 Club ( Video Link ) :

I also got a chance to interview him!

A Moment with Marc Gene!

Formula 2, formerly known as GP2 and F2 in short have their qualifying session in the evening.

Shots from the F2 Qualifying Session :

Desserts!

It was time to go downstairs after F2 Qualifying and experience the newest offering by Liberty Media for the Paddock Club Guests - a tour of the F2 Paddock and an interactive session with Russian Time Racing and a tour of the track on the Parade Truck.

Some more shots of the Display Cars outside the Paddock Club.

Part 1 of the Paddock Club Guests' Experience was a tour of the F2 ( formerly GP2 ) Paddock and an interactive with Russian Time Racing. Our Host was an ex-Porsche Carrera Cup Driver Sam Power. He is an absolute star! Knowledgeable, Technical, Humorous he has it all! It would be criminal to not be with him on tour!

Part 2 of the Paddock Club Guests' Experience was the Paddock Club Parade Truck Tour - A Tour of the Track on the Drivers Parade Truck. We were joined by Driver Coach Michael Reedy who is training Haas F1 Development Driver and Jenzer Motorsport Racer ( from GP3 ). He talked us through the entire circuit and the various challenges a driver faces; not to mention the hillarious exhange and banter with Sam Power throughout the tour. The track's gradient changes were eye-opening. It definitely isn't  as easy as it looks on TV.

Selfies and more Selfies!

Photos taken with the GoPro Hero4 Black on the Paddock Club Parade Truck tour.

Video Link of the Track Truck Tour :

The Tour ended and it was time to head back to the Hotel.

Returning to the Hotel

Reached the Hotel and was overjoyed to see Hilton hosting McLaren F1 Team.

2016 Hungarian Grand Prix was the last GP I had the privilege of attending. There was a lull in my travel plans but as soon as the 2017 Season kicked off, I shortlisted Spain, Belgium & Abu Dhabi for this year. Spain since meeting the F1 Fraternity is very easy and I really enjoyed myself in 2016, Belgium cause I wanted to see Kimi Raikkonen race there one last time ( should he retire ) and Abu Dhabi would be Raikkonen's Farewell Race.

Gavin Emmett, BT Sport Presenter in MotoGP :

Mark Sutton, One of the best F1 Photographers!

Mark Arnall, Kimi Raikkonen's Physical Instructor

Mark Greenwood, Kimi Raikkonen's Race Engineer :

Marc Gene, Scuderia Ferrari F1 Development Driver :

Marc Gene's message for Fans in India :

Andy Stobart, Head of Communications, Renault Sport Racing :

Mattia Binotto, Chief Technical Officer, Scuderia Ferrari F1 Team :

Massimo Rivola, Head of the Scuderia Ferrari Driver Academy :

Kevin Magnussen, Haas F1 Team :

Pascal Wehrlein, Sauber F1 Team :

KIMI RAIKKONEN, Scuderia Ferrari F1 Team!

Kai Ebel, RTL Presenter for F1 :

Antonio Giovinazzi, 3rd Driver for Scuderia Ferrari F1 Team :

I was standing outside the Ferrari Suite when I saw the new boss of F1 pass me. Soon followed a quick photo, an excellent chat and as a F1 Fan, I was so glad to see the new boss as passionate as anyone can be, not to mention the fact that he was roaming in the Paddock Club without any security! 

Chase Carey, CEO & Chairman of Formula 1, the new boss of F1 :

Mario Isola, Pirelli Racing Manager :

Sergey Sirotkin, Reserve Driver for Renault Sport F1 Team :

Karun Chandok, Presenter for Channel 4 :

Jock Clear, Senior Performance Engineer for Scuderia Ferrari F1 :

Anthony Davidson, Ex-F1 Driver & Presenter for Sky Sports F1 :

I got back to the Hotel and had the Invitation to attend the Mclaren F1 Gala Dinner at the Hilton.

Read all about it here :

http://tech-know-crat.posthaven.com/mclaren-f1-team-gala-dinner-at-the-hilton

Eric Boullier, Team Principal, McLaren F1 Team :

Stijn Bastiaens, Sr. Director, Loyalty Partnerships, Hilton Hotels :

Sunday Morning and I won the Raffles Draw and got a Keyplate autographed by Maurizio Arrivabene!

Maurizio Arrivabene, Team Principal, Scuderia Ferrari F1 Team :

Ferrari preponed the Timing for Sebastian Vettel to visit the Ferrari F1 Club and that was a huge disappointment for me!

Post Race I got have a chat with the antagonist and Veteran actor Mr. Kelsey Grammer who was extremely friendly!

Hollywood Celebrity Kelsey Grammer!

Sebastian Vettel finished P2 in the race and Ferrari were gracious enough to bring the trophy upstairs and allow us a Photo Opportunity!

With Sebastian Vettel's P2 Trophy :

I got to meet Arjun Maini, GP3 Driver for Jenzer Motorsport and Development Driver for Haas F1 Team! Arjun is making India proud in the racing circuit with his performances and Won Race 2 in the GP3 series on Sunday Morning!

Sergio Perez, Sahara Force India F1 Team :

Damon Hill, 1996 F1 World Champion & Sky Sports F1 Presenter :

Susie Wolff, Ex-Williams F1 Development Driver & Presenter for Channel 4 :

Toto Wolff, Team Principal, Mercedes AMG F1 Team :

Felipe Massa, Williams F1 Team :

Felipinho Massa, Massa Jr. Love his smile!

James Allison, Technical Director, Mercedes AMG F1 Team :