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A Gallery of Memories - Part 8

2014 United States Grand Prix, Round 17 of the 2014 F1 Season was held at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas.

This was the 2nd race of the season that I attended after the 2014 German Grand Prix and I was once again honoured to be a guest of the Scuderia Ferrari F1 Team.

This is the newest addition to the Gallery of Memories Series... here goes.

I was in Downtown Austin to pick up my race passes from the team hotel and I met Giedo Van Der Garde ( Ex Caterham F1 Racing Driver and Sauber F1's Reserve Driver ). A Very Kind and Gracious man.


With the Scuderia Ferrari F1 Team Personnel during the Pit Lane Walk :


I also met a great artist Kevin Paige. Kevin Paige is a maestro at creating original works of art, including oil, acrylic and watercolor paintings. He has a unique skill-set and has made some stunning art works, be it F1, Moto GP or Nascar!

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

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

TOUS AVEC JULES!!


Mark Arnall, Kimi Raikkonen's Physical Instructor. Its always a pleasure to meet him and he is the man that keeps the Iceman fit!


First I met the Physical Instructor of Kimi Raikkonen and then I met the Man Himself!! Scuderia Ferrari F1..Thank you sooo much for making my dream come true.

A Special Thank you to Mr. Larry DiBiase from Lambda Performance GmbH for all his efforts to ensure that everything happened smoothly!


A moment with the Race Winner's Trophy :


The Hosts at the Ferrari Formula 1 Club!


I flew out of Austin on Monday Evening and met old friends from Lotus F1 and got a chance to get a photo with some too!

Rob Smedley..Head of Vehicle Performance at Williams Martini Racing. Had a nice chat with him before he flew out to Sao Paulo.


Matt LeBlanc ( Joey from Friends ). It was such a pleasure meeting him. A thorough gentleman.. we talked a lot about F1. I hope I get to meet him again. What an honour!

It was a fantastic weekend for me as I got to meet the man I have admired for so long - KIMI RAIKKONEN!

A Big thank you to the Scuderia Ferrari F1 Team
for hosting me over the weekend.

A Big Thank You to Ma'am Emilia Capasso, Simona De Filippis and Shotije Bega from Ferrari for being so hospitable and helping me get a picture with Kimi Raikkonen. Really Thankful to all of them!!

Day 1, Day 2, Day 3 Experiences coming up soon..What a fabulous weekend!!

When your Cherised Dream comes true

I have been an avid Fan of F1 since 1998. Mika Hakkinen was the man I admired during his years at McLaren and as his retirement neared, a New Finnish driver was destined to take his place.

Mika called it at the end of the 2001 season and Kimi Raikkonen took his place in 2002 at McLaren Mercedes.

I became a die hard fan of Kimi Raikkonen very quickly and followed his exploits since 2002. In 2007 he switched to Ferrari and won the Driver's World Championship in the most dramatic way possible. He left F1 in 2009 to return with Lotus F1 in 2012.

The News of his return came as a surprise. 

I knew this was the opportunity to meet him before he hands up his boots for good.


So Began the Journey..


3 years..11 races.. 9 countries.. 8 Paddock Clubs and finally the moment arrived!

Friends The Dream Came True at the 2014 United States Grand Prix. The Scuderia Ferrari F1 Team gave me the opportunity to get a couple of photos with the Iceman.


Moments with the Iceman... The Flying Finn.. The Kimster.. KIMI RAIKKONEN!!.. Captured for a Lifetime!!



A Big thank you to Shotije Bega from the Scuderia Ferrari F1 Team for helping me with getting the photo.

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

Most Importantly..God made it happen..

More coming soon from the 2014 United States Grand Prix.. so watch this space!


The Driver Merry-Go-Round.... Speculations Galore

2014 is a new chapter in the history of Formula 1.

The Rules have changed, the Designs have changed, the chariots look different, the Turbos have returned and new battlegrounds have been added.

Reliability is paramount this season. The changes have humbled some and brought a resurgence for some.

We are almost nearing the end of the season and the paddock is abuzz with rumours about drives for next season.

How does it all shape up? Lets have a quick peek.


Williams Martini Racing :

Valtteri Bottas and Felipe Massa are retained for 2015 and its not a surprise considering their performances so far. The Team can now focus on fighting for Constructors' Championship as well as on developing their 2015 contender.



Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team :

Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton stay in the team for 2015. The Incident in Belgium created a huge stir but I feel both have grown from the incident and learnt many lessons. The 2014 Title is still up for grabs and either one could go home with top honours. Leaving a team dominating the way they are this season would be unthinkable. The Team only needs to ensure that both cars finish races.



Marussia F1 Team :

The Team should retain their current lineup for 2015 and with the possibility of a higher financial influx at the end of the season should aid the survival of the team ( thanks to vital points in Constructors this year ). Chilton and Bianchi are both resourceful, the latter enjoying preference for a seat as the team is a Customer for Ferrari Engines. Staying with the current lineup is the way forward but as is the case with smaller teams, guarantees can never be given.



Sahara Force India F1 Team :

Nico Hulkenberg and Sergio Perez have been performing really well and the sheer talent of the duo should ensure their seats for 2015. Its a shame to see Hulkenberg's inability to move up the grid due to a lack of sponsors and the height disadvantage. A man with his talent definitely deserves a seat in the sharp end of the grid. Daniel Abt from GP2 is waiting in the wings but his decision to also race in Formula E might hamper his chances into F1.



Sauber F1 Team :

Sauber is a team known to spot talent. However the team's existence in F1 itself is at stake due to a lack of funds and dismal performances. Sergey Sirotkin, the rookie might get a Practice Session in Sochi and his chances for 2015 seem bright. Gutierrez and Sutil might lose their seats to Van der Garde and Sirotkin if they can't raise sufficient finances for 2015.

Sutil seems the most likely to go out with Sirotkin taking his seat. Van der Garde is a talent but does he have the same financial backing as Sirotkin? - I don't think so.



Caterham F1 Team :

A Change of Ownership and a management overhaul means there is a lot of uncertainty about the team. The Team has reiterated its intention of staying in F1 and the current line-up of Kobayashi and Ericsson cannot take a 2015 seat for granted. Kobayashi has already lost his seat once this year and Ericsson is definitely not the quickest rookie around. Both Seats would be up for sale according to me and the Highest Bidder will get them. The Contenders are many and for most this might be the ticket into Formula 1.



Lotus F1 Team :

Lotus went backwards in 2014 after 2 years of great success. The Drastic Rule Changes left them struggling at the back of the grid not to mention the exodus of technical personnel and the lack of finances. Maldonado was hired in 2014 to bring PDVSA onboard and some much needed finances. The Car has not yielded the results expected and the team is languishing at the back of the grid. Grosjean will be looking to greener pastures and Maldonado's performances will not help him go elsewhere. For Charles Pic ( the reserve driver ) the possibility of a drive is getting bigger by the day.



Scuderia Toro Rosso :

Red Bull's B Team and the final hurdle before earning a drive in the Big Team. Both Vettel and Ricciardo spent time here and their performances helped them moved into the A Team. Jean-Eric Vergne already lost his seat for 2015 while Daniil Kvyat retains his. Max Verstappen who will be 16 years old next year joins the team for 2015.

Is he too young for F1? Many believe if someone is quick then age shouldn't really be a factor but the lack of experience might prove to be detrimental. Red Bull is the best judge and I am sure they might have seen something in him to be reason enough to award him with a drive. Carlos Sainz Jr. who belongs to the same program and races in a series higher than Verstappen was overlooked and would feel hard done by Red Bull's Decision. I hope he does well and proves the doubters wrong.



Infiniti Red Bull Racing, Scuderia Ferrari F1 & McLaren Honda :

6 Drives and uncertainty looms all over in 3 of the top teams in F1. Daniel Ricciardo and Kimi Raikkonen will stay with Red Bull and Ferrari respectively for 2015. The other 4 drives are a classic case of Driver Merry-go-round in F1 with the rumour mills running overtime.

Red Bull Racing will try to hold onto their Quadruple World Champion Sebastien Vettel. He had a tough season so far but his abilities and talent are unquestionable. 

Fernando Alonso and Sebastien Vettel might swap seats as per the latest rumours. Alonso joined Ferrari in 2010 and is yet to win a World Championship with the team. Ferrari has had a forgettable 2014 and the struggles within the Maranello outfit compelled Alonso to explore options. Alonso's departure would also mean the loss of a big sponsor in Santander for Ferrari and the team must look for a worthy replacement for his seat.

The Advent of the Honda Engine for McLaren in 2015 adds more confusion to the mix. Reports suggest that McLaren are trying to sign either Alonso or Vettel or if possible both. Kevin Magnussen is a rookie this year and his performances bode well for him. A product of the McLaren Driver Program, he would be hoping to retain his seat.

Jenson Button faces an uphill task to hold onto his. I feel his stint at McLaren is over and the team wants a change of guard. Honda comes in as a new engine supplier in 2015 and joining the team carries a big risk for a new entrant. The Uncertainty of the performance and reliability could severely backfire on Alonso or Vettel if they choose to go down that path. Alonso had issues with the management at McLaren but those are things of the past. Alonso is more likely a contender for the seat than Vettel as it would be taking a step back for the latter.

According to me, Vettel and Alonso swapping teams seems to be more realistic with Alonso opting to be with Red Bull only for one year; this would help the Spaniard to assess the performance of McLaren in 2015 with the Honda Engine and of the Renault in the Red Bull. He can weigh his options at the end of 2015. McLaren would be stronger in 2016 with Honda addressing engine issues ( if they have any in 2015 ) and if Ferrari produces a resurgence, maybe return to replace a retiring Raikkonen for 2016.

Red Bull would definitely have something in place for him in 2016 but considering his age and the talent pool that Red Bull possesses, Alonso's one year will be the perfect time frame for Red Bull to ready the next Ricciardo or Vettel.

Romain Grosjean could spring a surprise in all this.

Grosjean's Manager Eric Boullier is the Racing Director at McLaren while Ciaron Pilbeam the Chief Race Engineer at Lotus F1 ( in 2013 ) also joined the Woking Outfit this year. Both know how big a talent and how resourceful Romain is. His arrival would be like a breath of fresh air at Woking.

All this points to only one thing - Jenson Button's Career is at stake. Should he lose his seat to any of these, he would either have to hang up his boots or move down the grid and join a smaller team. Lotus F1 seems to be the most viable option.

However McLaren must keep Button and Magnussen for 2014 to maintain stability but the final decision rests with the management.


Personally, I see 4 to 5 drivers not featuring in next year's Driver Line-up. Its a sad story this but with the cut-throat competition, drives are few and far between.


2014, dubbed the "Silly Season" has been one the most exciting in the history of F1. The Possibility of a major reshuffle within the big teams would be an intriguing one. What happens at the end of the season? Only time will tell.

Till then, lets enjoy the remainder of 2014.

2014 Mid Season Review - What a Season so far!

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

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

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

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



So how have all the teams fared this season?


Mercedes AMG Petronas :

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

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

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

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

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


Infinity Red Bull Racing ( Red Bull - Renault ) :

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

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

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

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



Scuderia Ferrari F1 Team ( Ferrari ) :

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

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

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

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

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

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

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



Williams Martini Racing ( Williams - Mercedes )

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

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

Brilliant performance though by the team till now!



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

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

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



McLaren - Mercedes :

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

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

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



Scuderia Toro Rosso ( Toro - Rosso Renault ) :

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

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



Lotus F1 Team ( Lotus Renault ) :

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

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



Marussia F1 Team ( Marussia - Ferrari ) :

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

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



Sauber F1 Team ( Sauber Ferrari ) :

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

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



Caterham F1 Team ( Caterham-Renault ) :

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

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


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

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

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

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

Paddock Club Diaries - German GP 2014 Day 3

Raceday finally dawned and the big day had arrived!!

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


Enroute to the Circuit :


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

Some shots enroute :


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


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

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


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


Video Link for Kimi Raikkonen's Interview :


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


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

Shots from the Paddock :


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


Shots from the Garage :


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



Shots from the Pit Lane Walk :


Scuderia Ferrari F1 getting ready for Battle :


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


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

Video Link :





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



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


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


Preparations in full swing for the Scuderia Ferrari F1 Team :


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


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

A Big Rule Change came into effect :

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

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

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



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


Race Start - 2014 German Grand Prix. Video Link :




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


Race Restart after Safety Car. Video Link :



Shots from the Race :


Some More Stills :

Scuderia Ferrari F1 during the Race :


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


Fernando A
lonso Pit Stop. Video Link :



Kimi Raikkonen Pit Stop. Video Link :


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

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



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




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

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


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


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



Scenes from the Podium Celebrations :


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


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


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


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


The Suite now bears a deserted look.


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


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



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


Returning to Frankfurt :


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

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

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

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

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

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

Next Race? - Austin Texas.


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














Paddock Club Diaries - German GP 2014 Day 2

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


Enroute to the Circuit :


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


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

Shots from the Pit Lane Walk :


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

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


Shots from the Scuderia Ferrari F1 Garage :



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


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

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


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


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


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

Team Bosses taking their places on the Pit Wall :


The Scuderia Ferrari F1 decision makers take their places :


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

Shots from FP3 :



Scuderia Ferrari F1 Team in FP3 :


Chequered Flag in FP3 :


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

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


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


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


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


A Mega Selfie by Fernando Alonso!


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

Shots from the Pit-Lane Walk :

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

Scuderia Ferrari F1 Team completing the Final Setups for Battle!

A Moment with the Red Hot Wings :)


The Pit Walls are ready for Qualifying:

Shots from Q1 :


Scuderia Ferrari F1 in Q1 :

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

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


Chequered Flag ending Q1 :


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

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


Q2 began without any delay.

Shots from Q2 :


Scuderia Ferrari F1 in Q2 :


Chequered Flag :

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

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


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


Shots from Q3 :


Scuderia Ferrari F1 in Q3 :

Chequered Flag :

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

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

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

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


Shots from the Paddock :


Tyre Warmers doing their job again :


Some Stills from the Ferrari Garage :

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

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

 



Feature Race Start Video Link :



End Of Lap 1 Video Link :



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


Enroute to my pickup point :


Returning to Frankfurt :


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

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

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


Paddock Club Diaries - German GP 2014 Day 1

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

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

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

The Friday Experience, Documented!


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


Tickets in hand, Ready for Hockenheimring!


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


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

The Ferrari Formula 1 Club :


My Table :


The View from the Suite - STUNNING!


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

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

Shots from FP1 :


The Scuderia Ferrari F1 Team in action in FP1 :


Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton were the fastest in FP1.

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


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


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


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

Shots of the Paddock!


Shots from the Motorhome!


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


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

Video Link :


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


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


Shots from the Pit Lane Walk :


Shots from the Scuderia Ferrari F1 Pit Garage :


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

Shots from FP2 :


Scuderia Ferrari F1 in FP2 :


Chequered Flag bringing an end to FP2


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

Video Link :


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

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

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


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

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





A Gallery of Memories - Part 7

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

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

Welcome to the Gallery of Memories, Part 7..

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


Marc Gene in the Suite :


A moment with Marc Gene :


Mario Isola, Pirelli's Racing Manager :

We were soon joined by FERNANDO ALONSO :


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


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

A Selfie with Nico Rosberg!


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


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


Andrea Stella - Fernando Alonso's Race Engineer


The Ferrari Formula 1 Club Hosts - They were amazing!


Fernando and Kimi, The Soldiers of Scuderia Ferrari F1 Team

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

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

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

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

Paddock Club Diaries - Abu Dhabi GP 2013 Day 3

Sunday was the Big Day!! The Final day of the Paddock Club Diaries for this Season! The last of the 4th and Final Paddock Club Experience for me.

Well, Lets relive it!


UAE is known for its fancy cars and I came across a couple on my way to Yas Island.



Enroute to Yas Island :


I reached the Paddock Club and the First event of the day was the GP2 Sprint Race :


Kimi Raikkonen joined us in the Suite to oblige the guests with autographs!!


Eric Boullier talking about the Team's Performance so far


Lunch!!!


A quick lunch and it was time to go down for the Final Pit Lane Walk of the weekend and the Final one for me to be at. I wanted to make the most of it.


Shots from the Pit-Lane Walk :


A Moment with Steve Robertson ( Kimi Raikkonen's Manager ). He is a very approachable man and very humble.


The Pit Lane Walk ended and preparations were in full swing for the race.

Cars doing installation laps :


Lotus Boys taking sighters of the Track :


The Grid Preparations :


The Etihad Airways Fly-Past :


The Cars rolled out for the Formation Lap and the Mechanics had to run back to the pits!

Video Link :


The Cars lined up on the Grid and Expectations were high. Kimi Raikkonen started at the back of the grid after the disqualification on Saturday and I was praying for a strong result.

Race Start Video Link :



The Race began and Kimi jumped the Marussia but ran a bit wide on the kerb. The Resulting imbalance caused contact with the Caterham and damaged the front suspension rod. It was a First Lap retirement for the Iceman and a good weekend that went from bad to worse for me :( A Rare Retirement for the Iceman...

There was still a race to be won and here are some shots from the Race :

McLaren Mercedes during their Pit-Stop

Video Link :



The Lotus F1 Team in the Race :


Lotus F1 Team Pit-Stop Video Link :



The Chequered Flag came out and it was Sebastien Vettel again who took victory! Mark Webber finished 2nd while Nico Rosberg held off a late charge by Romain Grosjean to hold onto 3rd place.

Kimi Raikkonen was the sole retirement in the race.


Video Link ( Chequered Flag ) :


Fireworks display :

Parc - Ferme :

It was time to say goodbye to my friends at Lotus F1 Team and as I headed out, I saw the Yas Marina Hotel shining in all its glory!!

Some more exotics on the way back :

It was a good weekend from a neutral point of view but very disappointing as a Kimi Fan.

I was sad to see it end like this. This was the last race in 2013 that I would be at and it turned out to be the last one for Kimi too as he decided to go in for Back Surgery.

Overall it was a satisfactory 2013 for me. It all started with an All Expenses Paid trip to the Malaysian GP thanks to Tourism Malaysia. Then the German GP, Italian GP, Indian GP and the Abu Dhabi GP to make it 5 races for the season. I was with the Lotus F1 Team in the Paddock for the 4 races and I must say it was a great experience. I shall cherish every moment.

A Special Thank you to Oliver Anderson, Anne-Charlotte Remy, Sophie Stapleton, Anna Pamin, Fleur Foster, Francois Puentes, James Robinson, Gaby Mills, Anita Nyers, Fred Garcia and Luca Mazzocco for all the Hospitality shown to me.

I made some really dear friends in this season and I am thankful to God that I got a chance to meet such wonderful people!!

A Big Thank you to YOU my followers and readers on various social platforms who have been patient enough and enjoyed reading everything that I have shared over the past year.

2014 will have its own experiences and I pray that I get a chance to be at a couple of races... Fingers Crossed.

God Bless You All!!

Paddock Club Diaries - Abu Dhabi GP 2013 Day 2

Saturdays normally start early for the teams but the Abu Dhabi GP being a twilight race meant that the teams could have a slightly later start to the day.

Saturdays would see the Teams do Qualifying Simulations in FP3 and prepare themselves for Qualifying.


Enroute to the Circuit :


The First Pit Lane Walk sees the team practice their Pit Stops.

Shots from the Pit Lane Walk :


Video Link of the Lotus F1 Team practising their Pit Stop :


The Paddock Club was open and I made it to the Terrace to indulge in some snacks prior to lunch


The GP2 Feature Race was the First Event of the Day and it was quite a start.


Video Link :



Lunch!!!!


FP3 was a very important session for many teams. The Lap times were close and this was a precursor to an awesome Qualifying Session

Shots from FP3 :


Lotus F1 Team in action in FP3 :


Sebastien Vettel
was the Fastest in FP3. Romain Grosjean was 5th and Kimi Raikkonen 9th.


Alan Permane and Eric Boullier in a very engrossing conversation :


We were soon joined by Sir Jackie Stewart in the Suite and he shared about his career in F1 and his role in the team now.


The time for the Final Pit-Lane Walk of the day had come and it was time to see the Teams prepare for Qualifying up-close.

Shots from the Pit-Lane Walk :


A Moment with Mark Arnall - Kimi's Physical Instructor!


The Pit Lane was then vacated to make way for the start of the Qualifying Session!

Q1
saw the elimination of the slowest 6 drivers.

Shots from Q1 :


Lotus F1 Team in Q1 :

Lewis Hamilton was fastest in Q1. Kimi Raikkonen was 3rd fastest and Romain Grosjean 8th fastest.



The Lull before Q2 :


Q2
decided the final 10 drivers for the Final Shoot-out ( Q3 )

Shots from Q2 :


Lotus F1 Team in action in Q2 :

Nico Rosberg was the Fastest in Q2. Romain Grosjean was 8th Fastest while Kimi Raikkonen was 9th Fastest.

Fernando Alonso was shunted out of Q2 in 11th Place.


Q3 would be a closely fought session and once gain it was a duel between the Red Bulls and the Mercedes AMG Petronas teams.


Shots from Q3 :


Lotus F1 Team in Q3 :

A Red Bull was on pole and it was Mark Webber! The Australian pipped his team-mate to finish fastest in Q3.

Kimi Raikkonen did well to qualify 5th while Romain Grosjean qualified in 7th Place. It was a great session for Lotus F1 Team until a couple of hours later news emerged that Kimi Raikkonen was Excluded from the Qualifying Session!!!!

Kimi's car had floor damage and failed a floor deflection test. The Result was his 5th Position being snatched from him and the Finn had to start last. So much effort down the drain...


Post Qualifying, Romain Grosjean joined us in the Suite for a Quick Q&A and Autograph session

A Moment with Romain Grosjean :

His departure also signaled the closure of the Paddock Club for the day.

The Yas Marina Hotel at night :

The F1 Village at Night :

It would have been a great day had it not been for Kimi's Disqualification from Qualifying.

Nevertheless, I would like to thank the Lotus F1 Team for all the Hospitality shown to me.

A Big Thank you to Oliver Anderson, Anita Nyers, Francois Puentes, Anne-Charlotte Remy and Fleur Foster for taking such good care of me.

The Sunday too was very different. Experience coming soon...