Sunday had arrived and it was the day of the 2015 Austrian Grand Prix! I was really looking forward to being at the First European Race this year!
As Always the day started early.
Enroute to the circuit :
Passing through a town near Spielberg :
The circuit was abuzz with activity and the paddock parking was slowly filling up with Supercars :
I chose to take the Underground Tunnel enroute to the Paddock Building and bumped into an old friend Andy Stobart - Press Officer for Lotus F1.
I reached the Ferrari F1 Club and it was soon time for the GP2 Sprint Race :
Shots from the Sprint Race :
It was early in the morning and the stands were empty. However every seat had a flag to form a Giant Austrian Flag :
Chequered Flag for the Sprint Race :
Video Link for Chequered Flag at the end of the GP2 Sprint Race :
Photos from Parc Ferme :
Rio Haryanto celebrating his victory :
GP2 Mechanics awaiting the podium celebrations :
GP2 Drivers on the podium :
Davide Valsecchi conducting the podium interviews :
Video Link for the Gp2 Podium Interviews :
FIA Representative discussing with the Mechanics :
GP2 cars standing on Parc Ferme :
Mark Sutton, one of F1's top photographers at work :
The Porsche Supercup :
Shots of the GoPro Hero4 Black :
We were joined by the Ferrari Boss Maurizio Arrivabene in the Suite. His message was clear : "We are here to race, not to holiday"
A moment with the boss :
Video Link for Maurizio Arrivabene's Interview :
Mr. Arrivabene left and within minutes we were joined by Sebastian Vettel!
Video Link for Sebastian Vettel's Interview :
A Rider performing stunts during the pre-race performances :
Drivers Track Parade Photos :
I had a quick lunch before I head down for the Final Pit Lane Walk of the Weekend :
Shots from the Pit Lane Walk :
With Jacques Villeneuve & Davide Valsecchi :
Mark Arnall ( Kimi's Physical Instructor ) :
With Ferrari Team Personnel :
The Red Bull Ring has a Special Feature called the Legends' Parade where F1 Drivers from the yesteryear take to the track in the machinery they used to race in :
Video Link for the Legends Track Parade :
The Skies too weren't quite as the Air Force and Navy strut their Stuff in the sky :
Red Bull too joined the party with a Brilliant Air Show. Video Link :
The Grid before the Grand Prix :
Scuderia Ferrari F1 cars rolling to their grid slots for the preparation of the race. Maurizio Arrivabene spent more time at the back of the grid with Kimi than at the front :
Shots from the GoPro Hero4 Black. The Widescreen does wonders.
Martin Brundle during his Grid Walk on Sky Sports F1 :
Drivers readying their protective gear :
Counting down to the start of the Grand Prix :
Video Link for Countdown to the Formation Lap, Shot with the GoPro Hero4 Black :
The Start of the Formation Lap :
Video Link for the Start of the Formation Lap, Shot with the GoPro Hero4 Black :
Mechanics Running back to their garages :
Cars rolling to their Grid Slots at the end of the Formation Lap. Used the GoPro Hero4 Black :
The Race got underway and Kimi Raikkonen suffered a major accident with Fernando Alonso. The Hopes of seeing the Iceman race live..dashed..I was distraught.
The incident brought out the Safety Car.
Video Link for the Safety Car Period, Shot with the GoPro Hero4 Black :
The Race Restarted after a few laps. Video Link :
Shots from the Grand Prix :
Video Link for the Pit Stop for Felipe Massa :
The lone Ferrari of Sebastian Vettel :
Sebastian Vettel was running third until he had a very slow Pit Stop and a problem with the right rear tyre's wheelnuts. The Loss of time cost him 3rd place. Video Link :
Halfway through the race, I made my way to a spot above the podium and got some more shots, albeit from a different location :
Sebastian Vettel hunting down Massa :
Nico Rosberg took the Chequered Flag and Victory. Lewis Hamilton finished 2nd. He served a 5 second penalty for crossing the white line while exiting the pits. Felipe Massa held on to take the final podium position. Sebastian Vettel finished 4th for Scuderia Ferrari.
Chequered Flag :
Video Link for the Chequered Flag, Shot with the GoPro Hero4 Black :
Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton on Parc Ferme, Video Link :
Nico Rosberg celebrating his win, Lewis and Massa join in.
Pastor Maldonado and Felipe Nasr on Parc Ferme :
Podium Finishers entering the podium, Video Link :
The Podium Finishers :
Video Link for the Podium Celebrations :
Gerhard Berger conducting the Podium Interviews :
Mechanics participating in the celebrations below the podium :
The Crowd all over the track and trying to get a glimpse of their favourite drivers post race :
The Paddock now in "Packup Mode" :
Shots with the Paddock in the background :
The Ferrari F1 Club Hosts :
The Sky Sports F1 Team wrapping up the Post Race show :
Shots from a silent Paddock :
Some more shots of the circuit while leaving :
Allan McNish, Ex-Formula 1 Driver, 3 time Winner of 24 hours of LeMans with Audi and FIA WEC Champion ( 2013 ). He is now a top TV Pundit and does Commentary for F1 Races on BBC / ITV.
Christian Danner - former race car driver, TV Commentator for RTL Germany and consultant to number of German Companies in F1, notably Allianz. He has a regular feature in the DHL F1 show in India.
Returning from the Circuit :
I would like to thank Scuderia Ferrari and the Ferrari F1 Club for all the Hospitality shown to me.
A Big Thank you to Edge Global Events for all the arrangements made by them for me over the weekend. They ensured I had a memorable experience. A Special Mention for Mr. Rory Haworth for all his efforts leading up the event.
Sony HX400V was brilliant while the GoPro Hero4 Black ensured that I was a part of all the action.
It wasn't the best Sunday in terms of results for Kimi. However I got to meet so many people and made new friends.
My Next trip takes me to the Ardennes where Spa Francorchamps is situated. I hope to see Kimi, the King of Spa have a better outing there.
There are a couple more posts scheduled to come over the mid season break. So watch this space!