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Paddock Club Diaries - 2018 Abu Dhabi GP - Day 2

It was a relatively early start to the morning from Dubai since the Pit Lane Walk on a Saturday is always an interesting affair. Some teams indulge in pit stop practice while some spend time in setting up cars for FP3. The crowd turnout for the first pit lane walk of the day is also pretty low.

Enroute from Dubai :


Shots from the Pit Lane Walk :


Scuderia Ferrari Mechanics warming up and doing their practice pit stops :


Scuderia Ferrari Mechanics warming up ( Video Link ) :




Scuderia Ferrari Team Pit Stop Practice ( Shot with Nikon B700 ) :




Shot with Samsung Note 9 :



Some more shots :


Time to take the GoPro out and indulge in some selfie love :


The Stands and the atmosphere building up for the Qualifying. It was also time for the First Race of the Weekend for the GP3 Series :


GP3 Race 1 Formation Lap ( Video Link ) :




GP3 Race 1 Start ( Video Link ) :




A New Addition to the Hospitality experience in the Paddock Club was the GO Karting Faceoff. The Yas Marina Circuit has a karting track and guests could sign up for a session of karting and have a piece of racing themselves. I finished P5.


I headed back in time for a hearty meal.

The Menu for today :


Lunch, lets dig in :


Photos from FP3 :


Chequered Flag :


Practicing Grid Starts :


Daniel Ricciardo's stricken Red Bull returning to the pits..


Lewis Hamilton was the fastest from Kimi Raikkonen and Sebastian Vettel. I also had the opportunity to be downstairs in the garage at the end of the session and roam the paddock after that.


The Paddock :


I also had the opportunity to meet people from the F1 Fraternity!

Gerhard Berger, ex F1 Driver :


Former Team Principal Flavio Briatore :


Lando Norris, McLaren Renault F1 Reserve Driver :


Reigning F2 Champion George Russell :


The Boss, CEO of Formula One Group :


Rami Raikkonen, Kimi Raikkonen's elder brother :


7 Time Nascar World Champion Jimmie Johnson!


Billy Monger :


I returned to the Paddock Club and it was time to get ready for Qualifying!

Shots from Qualifying :


I spent a lot of time in the Garage and after Q3 had the opportunity to visit Parc Ferme!


Lewis Hamilton grabbed pole from Valtteri Bottas who ensured a front row lockout for Mercedes. Sebastian Vettel was P3 and Kimi Raikkonen P4...not a bad place to start for the Iceman.


The Post Qualifying Interviews underway : 


The Media, Photographers and the FIA Personnel taking up their positions for the Parc Ferme formalities :


The Mechanics taking the cars to the FIA Weigh Bridge for Scrutiny Post Qualifying :


The Top 3 Finishers posing on Parc Ferme :


The Pole Position Award presented to Lewis Hamilton :


My Favourite place!


We made our way back to the Suite and the time of Kimi Raikkonen visiting the guests there was nearing!

Some great artwork of the Iceman :


The Iceman Kimi Raikkonen is in the House!


Kimi Raikkonen Interview ( Shot with Nikon B700 ) :




Shot with the Samsung Note 9 :




Raikkonen left to return to the comfort of the Team Building while we prepared to see the start of the Formula 2 Feature Race. 

Nicolas Latifi got taken out at the start, his car badly damaged. Indian Racer Arjun Maini was the driver that drove into him unfortunately.


Safety Car Period in F2 Feature Race ( Video Link ) :




F2 Feature Race Restart ( Video Link ) :




F2 Feature Race Pit Stop ( shot with Nikon B700 ) :




Shot with the Samsung Note 9 :




I made my way to the shared Hospitality Area as the Suite shut for the night and there were some great sights to behold

The Yas Viceroy Hotel..glittering in the Night sky :


Veg Panini anyone?


Time to head back..what an amazing sight to behold :


It was a great Saturday Experience at the Yas Marina Circuit and hopes of a strong end to the season by the Ferrari duo was high. I made my way back to Dubai thankful for the opportunity and privilege of being a guest of Scuderia Ferrari F1 Team. 

Sunday Experience to follow soon...