Time truly flies when one is at a Formula 1 weekend and before I realized, Sunday was already here! It was Raceday and I decided to leave sooner to ensure a timely arrival at the circuit. Although the circuit is close to the city of Barcelona, the traffic situation along with the narrow access roads, more than doubled the travel time!
How indulging was race day at the Spanish GP? How did the home heroes fare? Here is a quick recap with some stills from Sunday, shot with the Sony RX10 IV and Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra.
En route to the circuit. The traffic situation worsened on Sunday and I had to walk for 2 km to make it to the Paddock Club.
Finally, at the Paddock Club entrance :
The view of the circuit on Sunday Morning :
Starting the day with some Coffee and Croissants :
Post Breakfast, it was time to enjoy the action on track with the F2 Feature Race :
F2 Feature Race Formation Lap ( Video Link ) :
F2 Feature Race Start ( Video Link ) :
Shots from the F2 Feature Race :
Oliver Bearman won the Feature Race from Enzo Fittipaldi and Victor Martins. Jack Doohan finished in P6.
Right after the Feature Race, I had the opportunity to visit the Fan Village and I made the trek down to enjoy the atmosphere there :
I returned just in time to the Ferrari F1 Club to attend Carlos Sainz Jr.'s interview. The home hero had a front-row start and hoped to put pressure on Verstappen in the race.
Shortly after Carlos Sainz's interview, Team Principal Frederic Vasseur visited the Ferrari F1 Club :
Video Link to this Interview :
A Selfie with the Boss!
I decided to have lunch before the Pit Lane Walk on Sunday :
The Final Pit Lane Walk of the weekend :
Some shots with the Samsung S23 Ultra :
Post the Pit Lane Walk, it was time to grab a vantage spot for the Race Start! Shortly after I reserved my place, the Pit Lane got opened and the drivers headed out of their garages for sighting laps :
The mechanics wheeling the cars to the grid :
The grid is a hive of activity before the formation lap :
Famous faces, mostly footballers, gracing the F1 Spanish GP grid :
The drivers gathering for the National Anthem :
The drivers run back to relieve themselves before getting into the car :
The grid emptied of all non-essential personnel as the clock ran down to the formation lap start :
Time for the Formation Lap :
Video Link :
The 5 Red Lights went out and the Spanish GP was a go!
Video Links to the Race Start :
Shots from the Race :
The Scuderia Ferrari F1 drivers pushing throughout the race :
Charles Leclerc pitting during the Race ( Video Link ) :
The Pit Walls are busy with strategy calls :
Max Verstappen won the Spanish GP from Lewis Hamilton and George Russell. Carlos Sainz Jr could only manage P5, while Charles Leclerc was P11.
Video Link of the Chequered Flag at the end of the Race :
Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 personnel celebrating a double podium :
The drivers returning to Parc-Ferme after the race :
Post-Race Interviews of the Podium Finishers:
The gates open to allow the fans to enter the track and get close to the podium celebrations :
After my farewells to the hosts in the Paddock Club, I went downstairs to spend some time in the Paddock :
I got to meet some motorsport personalities during my time in the Paddock.
Mark Webber, Multi-race winner in F1 and a WEC Champion :
Sergio Perez, Red Bull Racing F1 Team :
Nice to meet Billy Monger, racer turned presenter :
SHAKIRA!! No Introduction is needed!
Patrick Kluivert, Dutch Footballer who played for FC Barcelona :
Randy Mamola, a Moto GP Legend. He is such an amazing man to talk to about racing in general :
Liam Lawson, Red Bull Racing Reserve Driver, now driving for Scuderia Alpha Tauri F1 :
Andreas Seidl, Sauber Motorsports CEO :
David Coulthard, an F1 legend and currently a commentator & Red Bull Racing Ambassador :
Christian Horner, Team Principal, Oracle Red Bull Racing F1 Team :
Extreme E and Rally Racer Christine GZ :
Valtteri Bottas, Alfa Romeo Stake F1 Team :
Andrew Shovlin, Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Trackside Engineering Director :
Peter Bonnington, the man who says those famous words as his race engineer - "Ok Lewis, it's Hammer time!"
George Russell, Mercedes Petronas AMG F1 Team :
As I exited the circuit, I spent a moment at an Ayrton Senna memorial :
Returning to the city after a hectic Sunday :
I have also shared my Sunday Experience on my YouTube channel.
Video Link :
Although Scuderia Ferrari F1 failed to achieve a better result despite a promising weekend, it was still a fighting display by both Carlos Sainz Jr. and Charles Leclerc.
Thank you to the Scuderia Ferrari F1 Team and the Hosts of the Ferrari F1 Club for all the hospitality and care shown to me over the weekend. It was truly a memorable weekend, yet again! I am thankful to the Almighty for the privilege to attend these events and meet some famous people from the motorsports world and otherwise!
The Paddock Club Diaries will make a return soon, with experiences from the 2023 Belgian GP weekend. However, before that, I have to document my experience from the Centenary Race of the 24 Hours of Le Mans!
Excited to share about the WEC Weekend... soon!