The Formula 1 schedule, post-Covid, has undergone a revamp with all the on-track activities getting pushed to later in the day. The schedule changes mean that fans can have a more relaxed start to a Saturday.
Even with a relaxed schedule, Saturday at the 2024 F1 Austrian Grand Prix was action-packed. The F1 Sprint was followed by Qualifying for the main race on Sunday.
The memories from the weekend were captured with the Sony RX10 IV and the Samsung S24 Ultra.
Welcome to the Saturday Experience!
En route to the Circuit :
Saturday kickstarted with meeting an F1 Legend in Juan Pablo Montoya! Who can forget his battles with the Schumacher Brothers and Kimi Raikkonen!
The Paddock Club wasn't open yet but the Pit Lane walk was!
Shots from the Pit Lane Walk :
Systems Checks on Albon's Car ( Video Link ) :
The Scuderia Ferrari Garage getting ready for the day on Saturday morning :
Systems Checks on Carlos Sainz Jr's Car ( Video Link ) :
As I walked back to the entrance, I had the opportunity to meet team personnel from the Visa Cash App RB F1 Team , who were allowing fans to click pictures with the team's Steering wheel.
With the Visa Cash App RB Steering Wheel :
The Paddock Club opened for the day and it was time to have a quick bite before the F1 Sprint got underway.
Enjoying some croissants, coffee and an appetizer before the F1 Sprint :
The Pit Lane opens and the drivers head out for sighting laps :
The mechanics wheel the drivers to their respective grid slots. Stills from the Grid :
The Countdown Clock runs down as the drivers get ready for the Sprint Formation Lap :
The Mechanics run to clear the grid before the start of the Sprint Race.
F1 Sprint Race Formation Lap ( Video Link ) :
The drivers had to undergo another formation lap due to a technical issue on the track
2nd Formation Lap ( Video Links ) :
With the Sony RX10 IV :
With the Samsung S24 Ultra :
Video Links for the F1 Sprint Race Start :
With the Sony RX10 IV :
With the Samsung S24 Ultra :
Shots from the F1 Sprint :
Chequered Flag after the F1 Sprint :
Max Verstappen won the F1 Sprint from Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris. Carlos Sainz Jr and Charles Leclerc were P5 and P7 for Ferrari, respectively.
Time for some lunch :
The Club Suite almost full during lunch!
I had signed up for two off-track activities with the Paddock Club Expert Hosts as guides and it was great to interact with some, who already race in various series across Europe.
Mohan Ritson, a British-Indian ADAC GT4 Racer who is also an expert host in the F1 Paddock Club :
The first off-track activity was the Photo Safari where the guests got escorted to turn 4 to watch some action from the F2 Sprint Race.
Driving up to turn 4 gave us some beautiful views of the track :
The F2 cars navigating Turn 4 during the Sprint Race :
An amazing experience at the Photo Safari :
Video Links of the Racing at Turn 4 :
With the Sony RX10 IV :
With the Samsung S24 Ultra :
I returned to the Paddock Club and it was time to complete my lunch :)
Enjoying some desserts :
The 2nd off-track activity was a visit to the Support Race Paddock where the experts took us through the garages of the teams in F2 and F3.
Stills from the visit to the Support Race Paddock :
As I walked back to the Paddock Club, I met Former F1 World Champion Emerson Fittipaldi who was entering the Paddock in the afternoon :
It was now time for F1 Qualifying!
The lull before the storm! Getting ready for Qualifying :
The Drivers emerge from the Garages for the start of Qualifying :
Shots from Q1 :
The Scuderia Ferrari Drivers flying during Q1 :
Alexander Albon, Lance Stroll, Valtteri Bottas, Logan Sargeant & Zhou Guanyu were eliminated at the end of Q1.
Time for Q2 :
The Ferrari drivers continue pushing in Q2 :
Daniel Ricciardo, Kevin Magnussen, Pierre Gasly, Yuki Tsunoda & Fernando Alonso were eliminated in Q2.
The top ten shootout commences!
The final push for the Ferrari duo!
Max Verstappen bagged pole position from Lando Norris and George Russell. Carlos Sainz Jr and Charles Leclerc were P4 and P6 for Ferrari, respectively.
The Ferrari mechanics wheeling Sainz's Ferrari from the Parc Ferme to the Garage :
It was time for the guests to go downstairs.
The final pit lane walk of the day beckons :
Shots from the 2nd Pit Lane Walk :
Old F1 Cars going full pelt at the F1 Legends Parade :
The F1 Legends Parade ( Video Link ) :
Post the Pit Lane walk, I decided to spend some time walking through the paddock :
I got the chance to meet some racing fraternity!
Lance Stroll, Aramco Aston Martin Racing F1 Team :
Mike Krack, Team Principal, Aston Martin Racing F1 Team :
Liam Lawson, Reserved Driver for Red Bull Racing :
Alexander Albon, Williams Racing F1 Team :
Nicolas Todt, Charles Leclerc's Driver Manager :
The day drew to a close and it was time to head back to Graz :
I have also compiled a Vlog about my Saturday Experience, which is live on my YouTube channel!
Vlog about the Saturday Experience ( Video Link ) :
It was an amazing day at the Red Bull Ring, a truly action-packed Saturday. Sprint Saturdays are frenetic and the teams and drivers are tested to the hilt thanks to the solo practice session that they had the previous day.
Once again, a big thank you to the hosts of the Scuderia Ferrari F1 Team for their hospitality and for giving me another memorable Saturday at the races.
The Sunday Experience follows shortly after!