2016 is the longest season in F1 with 21 Races. Plans were drawn early in the year for me and Spain, Monaco & Hungary remained the European Circuits that I still needed to be at. Spain & Hungary were the ones chosen for this year and I couldn't wait to be at the Circuit De Catalunya in Montmelo, a 40 minute drive from Barcelona.
First Up, The Circuit is a must do for every fan. Its easiest to get to in terms of access and I got to meet practically everyone from the grid!
This should be the longest "Gallery of Memories" to date.
Photos shot with GoPro Hero4 Black, Samsung Note 5 by a new Friend Mr. Toni Mengibar!
Ok so here goes!
Nick Chester, Renault F1 Team Technical Director :
Mahaveer Raghunathan! The First Indian to be racing in GP3, the Support Series :
Jock Clear, Senior Performance Engineer at Scuderia Ferrari :
Romeo Bonucchi of Scuderia Ferrari :
Jean-Eric Vergne, Reserve Driver for Scuderia Ferrari :
Mario Isola, Pirelli's Racing Engineer :
Karun Chandok :
Carlos Sainz!
Federica Masolin from Sky Italia :
Antonio Boselli from Sky Italia :
Bob Fernley from Sahara Force India :
Moko, one of Kimi's Closest Friends :
Jennie Gow from BBC F1 :
Sir Frank Williams, Founder & Team Principal of Williams F1 Racing Team :
Alex Lynn, DAMS GP2 and Williams F1 Development Driver :
Franz Tost, Team Principal of Scuderia Toro Rosso :
Simon Rennie, Racing Engineer for Red Bull Racing F1 :
Carlos Sainz Jr., Scuderia Toro Rosso Driver :
The Honey Badger! Daniel Ricciardo of Red Bull Racing F1 :
Monisha Kaltenborn, Team Principal for Sauber F1 Team :
John Booth, Scuderia Toro Rosso ( Formerly team principal for Marussia )
Paddy Lowe, Executive Director of Mercedes AMG F1 Team :
Felipe Nasr of Sauber F1 Team :
Cyril Abiteboul, MD of Renault Sport F1 Team :
Alain Prost, The Perfectionist :
Max Verstappen of Red Bull Racing in his debut weekend for his team :
These were photos from Saturday Evening. Now for those from Sunday!
Piero Ferrari, Son of founder Enzo Ferrari :
Does this man need an introduction? Kimi Raikkonen! Scuderia Ferrari F1 Team!
Marcus Ericsson, driver for Sauber F1 Team :
Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes AMG F1 and 3 time World Champion!
Sergio Perez, driver for Sahara Force India F1 :
Nico Hulkenberg, driver for Sahara Force India F1 :
Nico Rosberg, one of the fastest guys on the grid driving for Mercedes AMG F1 Team :
Valtteri Bottas, Williams Martini Racing Driver :
Felipe Massa, Williams Martini Racing :
Jolyon Palmer, 2014 GP2 Champion & Renault Sport F1 Team Driver :
Esteban Ocon, Reserve Driver of Renault Sport F1 :
Daniil Kvyat, formerly a Red Bull Racing driver and now a Scuderia Toro Rooso Driver ( felt he was wronged ) :
Jenson Button! McLaren F1 Team Driver :
Double World Champion and McLaren-Honda F1 Racing Driver, Fernando Alonso!
Romain Grosjean from Haas F1 Team :
Esteban Gutierrez of Haas F1 Team :
Michael Latifi, Nicholas Latifi's ( DAMS GP2 Racer ) Brother :
Paul Hembery, Motorsport Director of Pirelli!
Maurizio Arrivabene, Team Principal of Scuderia Ferrari F1 :
Sebastian Vettel, 4 time World Champion and Scuderia Ferrari F1 Driver :
Ferrari achieved a double podium with Kimi Raikkonen finishing 2nd & Sebastian Vettel 3rd. However we couldn't get photo opportunities with the Trophy.
However I bumped into Mark Arnall ( Kimi Raikkonen's Physio ) who obliged with a quick selfie with the packed trophy!
Spanish Arts Administrator & Podium Interviewer for the Spanish GP Placido Domingo :
Nicolas Todt, FIA President Jean Todt's Son :
Eric Boullier, Racing Director of McLaren F1 Team :
Britta Roeske, Sebastian Vettel's PR :
Pascal Wehrlein, Manor F1 Racing Driver & Mercedes Development Driver, a really nice guy!
Stoffel Vandoorne, 2015 GP2 Champion & McLaren F1 Reserve Driver :
Susie Wolff, Formerly Test Driver for Williams F1 Racing and Mr. Toto Wolff's wife :
Toto Wolff, Executive Director of Mercedes AMG F1 Team :
Christian Horner, Team Principal of Red Bull Racing F1 :
Rio Haryanto, Race driver for Manor F1 Team :
Hosts from the Scuderia Ferrari F1 Club :
Dani Clos, Driver of now Defunct HRT Racing F1 Team :
Made New Friends over the weekend : Darren, Toni, Chris, Maurizio & Roberto
It had been a great weekend at the Spanish Grand Prix. Ferrari getting a double podium was the Icing on the cake! Ofcourse there is the disappointment of not being able to hold the Trophies like the Podiums in 2013 for Lotus F1 in Nurburgring & India but Kimi is performing well and that is important.
I would like to thank Scuderia Ferrari for their Hospitality in the Scuderia Ferrari F1 Club and a Big Thank you to Edge Global Events for all the arrangements made for the weekend!
This was by far the Best weekend ever as I got to meet so many from the F1 Fraternity. This post is just the beginning. There is more on the way!
Watch this space!