The latest post in the "Paddock Club Diaries" Series takes us to the Circuit of Hungaroring for the Hungarian Grand Prix. The Circuit is a 45 minute drive from Budapest and I must say a lot of passionate fans attend the Race. The Race Weekend was from 22nd July to 25th July. I had the privilege of being a guest of the Scuderia Ferrari F1 Team over the weekend and this post documents the Friday Experience.

Enroute to the Circuit :

Shots of Hungaroring :

I reached the Paddock Club and the Pit Lane Walk was going on :

Some Selfies with the GoPro :


Friday Morning Pit Lane Walk ( Video Link ) :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QyTyB1f7HVo


Jenson Button's McLaren Honda Being Fired up before FP1 ( Video Link ) :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KBbcjIA0YxY


The Paddock Club is pretty small and definitely not as big as some of its European counterparts :

The View of the circuit from the Ferrari F1 Club :


The Pit Walls are full of personnel before the start of Free Practice 1 :

Shots from Free Practice 1 :


Scuderia Ferrari F1 Team in FP1 :


Ferrari Pit Stop Practice during FP1 ( Video Link ) :



I had the Opportunity of visiting the Garage during the session and upload 2 selfies via the Scuderia Ferrari handle :

Lewis Hamilton led from Nico Rosberg, Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen, the Mercedes having a comfortable lead over the Ferrari duo.


Post FP1, we were joined by Ferrari's Development Driver Marc Gene in the Suite :

Marc Gene Interview ( Video Link ) :




Some shots of the Ferrari F1 Club :


The Paddock on Friday afternoon :


It was soon time for the GP2 Practice Session :


The Menu for Friday :


Time to Binge on some great food :


A Quick Lunch and it was time for the 2nd Pit Lane Walk of the Day :


Shots from the Scuderia Ferari F1 Garage :


I had the opportunity of meeting Mr. Dave Greenwood, Kimi Raikkonen's Race Engineer and had a healthy chat about the season so far :


Scuderia Ferrari firing up before FP2 ( Video Link ) :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPc0ySdw0Nc



John Booth, Ex Marussia and now with Scuderia Toro Rosso :

Beat Zehnder, Team Manager of Sauber F1 Team and an old friend of Kimi Raikkonen :


Free Practice 2 commenced after the Pit Lane Walk and here are some shots of the same :


Scuderia Ferrari F1 Team in FP2 :


Kimi Raikkonen returning to Pits in FP2 ( Video Link ) :




Sebastian Vettel returning to Pits in FP2 ( Video Link ) :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqdRWfEvYDM


Scuderia Ferrari Pit Stop Practice in FP2 ( Video Link ) :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4uW28auw6NY


Williams Racing F1 Pit Stop Practice in FP2 ( Video Link ) :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8EDlTILUX4w



Chequered Flag :

Drivers returning to the Pits :

Nico Rosberg was fastest followed by Daniel Ricciardo and Sebastian Vettel. Max Verstappen, Hamilton and Kimi Raikkonen completed the top 6.


Jock Clear, Senior Performance Engineer of Scuderia Ferrari F1 visiting the Ferrari F1 Club for an interview :


Jock Clear Interview in the Ferrari F1 Club ( Video Link ) :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3F4XVyoA3rg


Shots of the Paddock on Friday Evening after both the Practice Sessions :


David Croft, commentator of Sky Sports F1 :


Some Exotic Cars occupying the Parking Spaces of the Paddock Club :


Returning to the Hotel :


It was a great Friday at the 2016 Hungarian Grand Prix. A Big Thank you to Edge Global F1 for all the arrangements done for the Weekend. Thank you to Scuderia Ferrari F1 Team and the Hosts of the Ferrari F1 Club for the Hospitality shown to me and all their graciousness!

Saturday and Sunday posts to follow soon!