2018 Abu Dhabi GP was the last race of the season and I had the opportunity of attending the same. 2013 was the last time I flew to the UAE for F1. It also was my last journey of the Old Terminal of Mumbai International Airport.

The Outbound Journey was on 22nd November 2018 and the Return Journey on 27th November 2018.

 

Mumbai - Dubai ( Emirates Business ) ( 22nd November 2018 ) :

Packed and ready!

Emirates have revamped their Chauffeur services with the introduction of the BMW 520d Luxury Edition for ferrying its guests to the airport :

Shots of the Lounge :

The View of the Airport..mesmerizing :

The Business Class onboard Boeing 777-300ER, not the upgraded version this time :

The Menu onboard :

Preparing for Takeoff :

Takeoff Video Link :

Lunch, Paneer Makhani and Chocolate Mousse Cake :

The Descent into Dubai :

Touchdown Dubai International Airport :

Landing at Dubai ( Video Link ) :

Another BMW 520d Luxury Edition for pickup at Dubai Airport :

Dubai - Mumbai ( Emirates Business ) ( 27th November 2018 ) :

The Chauffeur Service to the airport :

The Business Class Lounge, Classy as ever :

A lipsmacking spread in the Lounge :

The New Business Class onboard the Boeing 777-200LR. This is a 2 class Boeing which has Business and Economy Class only.

Time for Pushback :

Taxiing to the Runway :

The Onboard Cameras :

Prepare for Takeoff :

Takeoff from Dubai ( Video Link ) :

Bye Bye Dubai, see you next time :

The Dinner Menu :

A spread of small bites in the Boeing 777-200LR

Dinner Service, Paneer Butter Masala, Chocolate and fig Mousse Cake :  

Landing at Mumbai in the evening :

Touchdown in Mumbai ( Video Link ) :

Another BMW to ferry me home :

It was a great experience flying with Emirates in 2018. A Big Thank you for their Hospitality! Looking forward to many more memories and Journeys in 2019!

My annual trip to the Belgian GP was a little different from the earlier trips. My college friends decided to accompany me to Europe for a 3 nation tour, their first to the Schengen States of Belgium, Switzerland and France. One of my friends accompanied me while a couple left for Europe a few days earlier than us.

This trip also gave me the opportunity to try the New Boeing 777-300ER with a revamped First and Business Class.

We flew out on 18th August 2018 and left Brussels on 29th August 2018.

Mumbai - Brussels ( First Class ) ( 18th August 2018 ) :

The Bags ready for the journey :

The Check-in formalities done and it was time to enjoy the lounge. Since I am a Gold Member of Emirates, my friend was allowed to accompany me.

Some shots of the Lounge at Mumbai International Airport :

Enjoying the Services of our lounge. Mumbai International Airport offers complimentary massage service for the guests :

Food, food and more food!

It was 3 am and time for boarding for our flight to Dubai.

The First Class Suite onboard the A380, top notch and prepped as always :

Preparing for takeoff, the onboard cameras doing a fine job :

Takeoff Video Link :



The Breakfast menu :

Green Pea Poha and Cappuccino for Breakfast :

Touching down at Dubai International Airport :

Landing Video Link :



Inter Terminal Transfers and Security Checks done, we made our way to the nearest First Class Lounge at Dubai to relax and grab a bite.

A time of Relaxation and refreshing ourselves in the lounge.

It was then time to board our flight to Brussels!

The latest edition of the First Class Suite onboard the New Boeing 777-300ER is a class apart and a winner! Emirates currently flies the new configuration to Brussels and Geneva and will slowly expand to other routes as well. The updated First Class boasts of a lot of new features - Fully enclosed First Class suite with full height privacy screens, seats designed by Mercedes Benz, Virtual Windows, Bigger LCD Screens, Bowers and Wilkins headsets, Binoculars and Dine on Demand service with Video Calling facility. Video calling is quite a cool feature, you can make a call to the Flight Steward and interact, taking the definition of "Room Service" to a whole new level. In-flight showers aren't available though.

The view of the Suites from the front of the aircraft. Quite artistic I must say :

Preparing for takeoff :

Bound for Brussels :

Video Link :



The Breakfast and Lunch menu onboard :

The Flight Map :

You simply can't stop taking pics of this beautiful suite :

Chicken and Lemongrass Consomme, Prawns with Garlic and Coriander and Chocolate Ricotta Pudding for Dessert!

The First Class also has Virtual Windows for aisle seats, the cameras relay live feed onto the Screens to give the aisles a window seat feel.

The bed is made. Time to rest!

Afternoon siesta done and it was time to land into Brussels International Airport :

Video Link :



Mercedes S500 to pick us up at the airport!

Brussels - Mumbai ( Business Class ) ( 29th August 2018 ) :

A Mercedes E250 to ferry us back to the airport :

The Atomium, one of the highlights of Brussels made in Chocolate by Neuhaus :

Not much on offer in the lounge. Passable. Its a common lounge catering to a number of airlines. Hope to Emirates have one of their own soon.

The Seats in Business Class, designed by Mercedes Benz, a bit narrower but equally comfortable :

Takeoff Video :



Whats for dinner?

The Flight Map with Satellite Views :

Live TV, a feature on Emirates Flights :

Crisps and Ginger Ale, Broccoli Soup, Roast Chicken with Pistachio Stuffing and Chocolate Delice for Dessert :

Nearing touchdown at Dubai :

Landing Video Link :



Dubai International Airport :

The Plane is parked a fair distance from the Terminal building so we are picked up by a bus :

Enjoying services of the lounge while we wait for boarding :

Business Class, a slightly older aircraft this :

The lunch menu :

Some shots while taxiing to the Runway :

Up in the air, homebound :

Takeoff Video Link :



Nuts and Ginger Ale followed by Dhingri Paneer Methi Masala and Badami Halwa!

Hovering above Mumbai :

Landing at Mumbai :



Back in the Bay!

I must say that Emirates have a winner with the new Boeing 777-300ER Offering. It simply is a class apart when you compare it to rival airlines on similar sectors. I hope to see the new plane on my other journeys too. Once again, the hospitality onboard Emirates was flawless and being a Gold Member makes the experience even more special.

It isn't just "Fly Better" with Emirates...Its "FLY THE BEST"!

My Business Class Experience to Dubai in November follows shortly...so watch this space!

I believe I belong to the club of "Self-appointed" Emirates Airlines Ambassadors! July 2012 was the first time I had the opportunity of flying with the airline and as they say..the rest is history. The quality of service has been impeccable, the staff always welcoming and one always yearn for more at the end of each journey. 

Frankfurt was the first destination I flew to with the airline in 2018. I stayed in Mannheim ( since I was attending the F1 German Grand Prix ) for the first leg of the trip and then in Frankfurt.

The First Leg of the Journey was in the Airbus A380 with switching of planes at Dubai. The return leg was an Airbus A380 until Dubai and then the Boeing 777-300ER to Mumbai.

The Outbound journey was on 18th July and return journey on 27th July.

Let us go back in time and refresh our memories!

Mumbai - Frankfurt ( First Class ) ( 18th July 2018 ) :

The Bags ready for the Journey :

My ride to the airport ( Emirates Chauffeur Service ), the Mercedes C Class in its final few months of service with Emirates :

All Airport formalities completed briskly and it was time to enjoy the services on offer in the lounge!

An elaborate menu :

The Lounge!

Time to binge. First Class fliers have the privilege of ordering from an A-La-Carte Menu as well :

Both legs were in the Airbus A380 and this was my First Class Private Suite, so comfortable!

Emirates have revamped the goodies, amenities and accessories on offer. Bowers and Wilkins headphones offer amazing audio quality!

Breakfast menu onboard :

Heading towards the runway for takeoff :

Takeoff Video :

Coffee, Poha and some Idli ( Rice Cakes ) for Breakfast :

The Emblem of Emirates glowing in the First Class Cabin :

Landing into Dubai :

Landing Video :

Dubai International Airport in the early hours of the morning, busy onground and in the terminals :

Security check complete, inter-terminal transfer done and it was time to catch up on some sleep in the lounge :

The First Class Suite on the Airbus A380. So Beautiful!

The Aerobridge withdraws as we get ready for pushback :

The busyness of the Airport in the morning. Emirates flights flying to multiple destinations across the world :

ICE, Emirates in-flight entertainment system offers onboard camera feed on all flights :

Takeoff from Dubai :

Video Link :

The Breakfast and Lunch menu. Dine on demand service offered in First Class :

I was in the mood for an early lunch, placed my order and then decided to head to the Onboard Lounge at the back of Business Class.

Snacks on offer in the Onboard lounge :

Small bites on offer in the Onboard Lounge :

Lunch, Carrot and Ginger Soup, followed by Chicken Cacciatore and Pear and Chocolate Crumble :

Bon Apetit!

I had a good rest and was woken just in time before landing :

Touchdown in Frankfurt ( Video Link ) :

Frankfurt International Airport on a beautiful summer afternoon :

A BMW 730Ld to take me to Mannheim from Frankfurt, Emirates has top class cars for transfers in Europe :

Frankfurt - Mumbai ( First Class ) ( 27th July 2018 )

The Audi A8L to ferry me to the airport! Luxury is an understatement for this car :

Frankfurt Airport is a busy but efficient airport. Check-in, Security and Immigration was a breeze and I had the chance to relax for sometime in the lounge :

Some more stunning shots of the First Class Suite, my seat up until Dubai :

A relatively empty First Class enroute to Dubai, a rare scenario :

The Flight Map being displayed on ICE, Emirates On board Entertainment system :

Preparing for Takeoff :

Takeoff from Frankfurt ( Video Link ) :

Some shots of the Onboard Lounge again :

Ginger Ale and some crisps before the start of Dinner Service :

The Dinner Menu :

Roasted Tomato Soup, Roasted Chicken and Deconstructed Black Forest Cake for Dinner!

A hearty meal and it was time to head to bed. I would eventually be woken 45 minutes before touch down in Dubai. It was a short but very comfortable siesta.

Nearing touchdown at Dubai :

Landing at Dubai ( Video Link ) :

Dubai International Airport :

A couple of shots of the lounge just before leaving for boarding :

The Dubai-Mumbai leg was on a Boeing 777-300ER, frankly speaking I find the First Class Suite in this a bit more comfortable than the one in A380.

My Suite for the last leg of the trip :

The Lunch Service on offer :

Taxiing to the runway :

Up in the air, homebound :

Video of the Takeoff :

Paneer Tikka Masala and Shahi Tukra for Lunch  :

The Dubai Mumbai flight only lasts 2 hours and 50 minutes. A hour of slumber and we were on our final approach into Mumbai.

The Final Approach :

Touchdown Mumbai :

Video Link :

It was a great experience flying with Emirates to Frankfurt! I would like to thank Emirates for their hospitality.

The new Boeing 777-300ER will feature in the next post of the Flying Diaries..so watch this space!

2018 was the equal-longest season in the history of F1. It was also the year when HALO was introduced ( a safety feature added for open cockpit racing ) not just for F1 but also for the feeder series. 2018 also saw a new alliance between McLaren F1 and Renault ( as engine suppliers for the team ). Sergei Sirotkin, Charles LeClerc were the new kids on the block. 

How did the season pan out? Was a New driver and team crowned Champions at the end of 2018 or was status quo maintained?

Lets have a quick look.

Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team 

Mercedes AMG F1 are the best in the business since the Turbo Era. However the competitors are quickly catching up and creating a more level playing field. 2018 was a classic example of the same. Ferrari were the fastest in the Pre-season testing and had the upper hand in the first half of 2018. However uncharacteristic mistakes coupled with strategic errors allowed Mercedes to close in on them and eventually take the lead in both the Drivers' and the Constructors' Titles. The Team in Brackley worked round the clock to reduce the performance deficit over the season and their efforts did pay off. 

Lewis Hamilton's flawless drives got them the wins, his pole lap in Singapore ( the team's bogey track ) was one of the highlights of the season. Valtteri Bottas was presented with a couple of good opportunities for a victory but luck and team orders didn't go his way as he played 2nd fiddle for the majority of the season. Lewis Hamilton was playing catch up up until Germany, post which he simply moved into another gear. Hamilton won 11 races and 6 podiums on his way to the title. Bottas failed to win a race but finished on the podium in 8 races. Hamilton ended the season on a mammoth 408 points while Bottas finished in 5th with 247. Mercedes took home the Constructors' crown yet again! Lewis Hamilton was now a 5 Time World Champion!

Scuderia Ferrari F1 Team :

Ferrari was the team to beat in 2018. The year that promised a lot became yet another season of "what could have been". I have begun to think that the team has forgotten the way of winning championships, a drought that continues from 2007 ( Drivers' ) and 2008 ( Constructors' ). Incidents on track, Driver errors, Strategic howlers by the pit wall marred the performances and eventually cost the team top honours. Some updates introduced later in the year were a disaster, points were lost and this turned the tide in the Drivers' Title fight. 2018 revealed that Sebastian Vettel can also buckle under pressure and make mistakes. 

Vettel won 5 Races and bagged 7 podiums to finish P2 in the standings with 320 points. Kimi Raikkonen had a very strong 2018, as successful as his championship winning year in 2007. He finally won a race since Australia 2013 at the US GP in Austin in fine fashion. His 11 podiums helped him reach 251 points and P3 in the Championship. Scuderia Ferrari finished P2 in the Constructors' with 571 points. 

If Ferrari wants to pose a serious challenge to Mercedes in 2019 then they must ensure that everyone operates within their designated fields / professions and the decision making process must not be interfered with. The Power struggle within the team didn't help matters either. The passing away of the FCA CEO Mr. Sergio Marchionne was a big loss for the team as well. 

It was a much better year in terms of performances, however "yet so near..yet so far". Charles LeClerc steps in to partner Vettel in 2019. It will be interesting to see how they get along as team-mates and whether they can bring back the glory days or not.

Red Bull Racing F1 Team :

Red Bull Racing finished P3 in the Standings with 419 Points. It was like a lonely season for them with no competitor to challenge for P3 and the Top 2 teams in a league of their own. Red Bull attributed a lot of blame to Renault power for their performance deficit in 2018. Will it change after their switch to Honda in 2019? Lets see. 

Max Verstappen missed P3 in the Championship by 2 points. The Dutchman was the recipient of a lot of bad luck in the first half of the season but he won in Austria, benefiting from the retirements suffered by the Mercedes duo. He drove flawlessly to win in Mexico the cooler temperatures and higher altitude allowed the Renault to perform better. He also finished on the podium 9 times, a fantastic feat nonetheless. Daniel Ricciardo struggled on the other hand, specially after the announcement of his decision to leave Red Bull for Renault in 2019. The Australian bagged 170 points with wins in China and Monaco, the latter redemption for the Pit Stop fiasco that robbed him victory in 2016. He didn't finish on the podium in the other races, something he will be looking to improve in 2019. P6 in the Standings does not justify the talent of the man.

Red Bull will be backing Verstappen in 2019 as Gasly ( Ricciardo's replacement ) finds his feet. Hopefully we will have a great contest!

Renault Sport F1 Team :

Renault Sport F1 was P4 in the Standings at the mid season break and they maintained their momentum till the end of the year. It wasn't smooth sailing with Haas F1 breathing down their necks but the Enstone based team prevailed.The disparity with the Top 3 Runners was huge but their ability to beat customer teams with faster engines will serve as good encouragement in 2019. 

Nico Hulkenberg and Carlos Sainz Jr. finished P7 and P10 respectively. Hulkenberg finished in the points in 11 races, P5 in Germany being his best result. Sainz finished in the points on 13 occasions with P5 in Baku being his best result. Hulkenberg was the best of the rest or as the media terms it the B Championship. A Podium still eludes him. Sainz switches to McLaren with Renault roping in the services of Ricciardo. Renault has the funding as a works team and are expanding their R&D on war footing. 2019 will be fun. Go Renault!!

Haas F1 Team :

Haas F1 once again proved to be the strongest Ferrari customer team. Achieving P5 in the Constructors' standings is a big achievement; a potent chassis coupled with a fantastic powertrain the main reasons. Gene Haas will be hoping to go one better next year. The Team finished on 93 points. The Team also have the FIA to thank who stripped Racing Point of their points up until the Hungarian GP, else they would have been leapfrogged. ( Elaborated later )

Kevin Magnussen scored the majority of the points for the team, finishing in the points in 11 races with P5 in Bahrain and Austria being his best results. He was P9 in the Championship with 56 points. Romain Grosjean's travails with the braking system didn't seem to end as he suffered from many non - finishes and struggled to find the right setups at most of the races. He only had 7 finishes in the points with P4 being his best effort at the Austrian Grand Prix. The Frenchmen scored a total of 37 points in P14, an underachiever in all honesty. A lot will be expected of him in 2019 considering the amount of experience he has racing in F1. 

The battle in the midfield is always a case of fine margins, the team has to iron out the issues and ensure both drivers finish well to bridge the gap above.

McLaren Renault F1 Team :

McLaren began 2018 with a lot of hope..a hope that their switch to Renault power would address their performance issues and put them on the road to recovery. Sadly it was anything but that. Renault power was the saving grace wherever it could be but the design flaws in the car were magnified on most tracks. McLaren were left red faced on most occasions as the car suffered from reliability and performance issues and failed to bring home the expected results. It became quite evident to the world that it wasn't Honda to blame entirely for McLaren's miseries but their chassis design. 

Fernando Alonso did what Fernando Alonso does best, extracting every ounce of performance out of the car. His best finish was P5 in the opening round in Australia. He finished in the points at 8 other races and P11 in the Championship with 50 points. The Spaniard made no secret of the criticism of the car over the course of the year. It also led him to the decision of taking a sabbatical from the sport. The Double World Champion had not seen a race victory since 2013 and a podium since 2014. We wish him the best in his future endeavours and hope to see him on the grid again! Stoffel Vandoorne had a mediocre 2018. He was unable to beat his team-mate in Qualifying and finished in the points in only 4 races. P16 with 12 points, a horrendous year for the Belgian. 

The team ended the season in P6 on 62 Points, better than where they were in 2017 but not where they hoped to be. 

They have a lot of work to do in 2019.

Racing Point Force India F1 Team :

Racing Point Force India, ( now Racing Point F1 ) saw a change in ownership over the mid-season break. The Team name changed from Sahara Force India to Racing Point with Vijay Mallya and the Sahara group selling their team assets to a consortium of businessmen lead by Lawrence Stroll, Lance Stroll's father. Perez even sued Force India, sending the team into administration before they were acquired by the investors. The consequence of the acquisition was that the team lost all the points scored up until the mid-season break i.e. up until Hungarian GP and had to enter the season as a new entrant. The team scored a total of 52 points from the Belgian Grand Prix and had their points been retained, they would have finished P5 in the Championship with 111 points ahead of Haas F1. The Drivers were allowed to retain their points. 

Sergio Perez and Esteban Ocon weren't the best of mates and there was a fair bit of rivalry between the two. Incidents between the duo on track also cost the team some valuable points, specially vs McLaren F1. There was even news about Ocon being replaced in season by Lance Stroll from Williams but better sense prevailed and the Frenchman was allowed to continue racing. Sergio Perez was P8 in the Championship with 62 points grabbing a P3 once again at Baku, Racing Point's favourite track. Esteban Ocon had 10 finishes in the Points with P6 being his best finish in Monaco, Austria, Belgium and Italy. He finished P12 in the Championship with 49 points. 

2019 promises a lot, will the investors be repaid for their efforts? We shall see.

Alfa Romeo Sauber F1 Team :

Sauber F1 Team was on the rise since the start of 2018. Their results improved with each passing race and they finished on 48 points and P8 in the Constructors' at the end of the year. The Team has also benefited from a faster Ferrari engine in 2018. Charles LeClerc spearheaded their challenge with points finishes in 14 races and P6 was his best finish ( Baku ). He had 39 points to his name at the end of the year. Marcus Ericsson in comparison massively under-performed and finished in the points in only 6 races, P9 being his best finish. Sauber F1 will be thankful for LeClerc and for what he achieved since a better finish means more money to use for next year. 

Sauber is now Alfa Romeo F1, so hopefully they wont be as cash strapped as they were at the end of 2017.

Scuderia Toro Rosso F1 Team :

Toro Rosso had a very mediocre 2018. Honda power and its reliability issues are to blame ( to some extent ). The team scored only 33 points in 2018 and finished P9 in the Championship, losing P8 to Sauber post the mid season break. The Red Bull B Team will have to pull up their socks if they want to bring any respectability to their tally in 2019. Pierre Gasly performed well enough to warrant a seat in the A Team for 2019. Brendon Hartley not so. The Frechman scored in 5 races and P4 was his best finish ( Bahrain ). Brendon Hartley struggled all year round with mechanical failures, incidents and setup issues. He only managed 4 points in 2018, 9th in the US GP and 10th in Baku and Germany. 

Toro Rosso will be hoping for a better outing in 2019.

Williams Martini Racing F1 Team :

Williams, a name that is well known in the annals of F1. The team is now a mere shadow of its former glory days. Its truly a sad situation within the team, be it the lack of finances, sponsors or direction in terms of development. The progress curve stagnated for the team in 2018. The results were poor, even though a top man like Paddy Lowe was added to the management. The team also said goodbye to Rob Smedley who decided to call it a day on his career and spend time with his young family ( for now at least ). Sergei Sirotkin and Lance Stroll were the drivers hired for 2018 ( pay drivers purely ) and the funding they carried helped the team last the year. 7 points was all they could conjure, best being 8th for Lance Stroll in Baku. 

Williams need a revamp for 2019. They need to become appealing again and ensure their driver portfolio boasts of that too. We wish them well.

A lot has happened over the course of 2018.  

I had the opportunity of attending 3 races - Germany, Belgium and Abu Dhabi and I must say that Liberty Media should be commended for revitalizing F1 as a sport and modernizing it. They also improved Fan interaction and involvement.

We said goodbye to Fernando Alonso, a legend of the sport, his absence will definitely leave a void. Esteban Ocon, Stoffel Vandoorne, Brendon Hartley, Sergei Sirotkin and Marcus Ericsson will not be on the grid in 2019. Charles LeClerc was a revelation and the Tifosi will hope to see a new champion in Scarlet Red in 2019. 

Kimi Raikkonen finally won a race again and can bow out of Ferrari with his head held high! 

McLaren started strong hoping the trend would continue into the season..sadly it didn't, Sahara Force India were already in the red ( financially ) and hoped to weather the storm..the management couldn't; Ferrari was the fastest car on the grid and they hoped this would be the year of top honours..sadly it wasn't.

The last day of the 2018 F1 Season had finally arrived. The Championships were decided, however there was still a race to be won. Everyone was really excited about the Sunday. The Season ender is really a spectacle to behold. Everyone was looking forward to seeing their families again, enjoying the winter break and spending Christmas and New Year. There were farewells as well with some moving on to greener pastures while some taking a sabbatical from the sport. This would be the last time we would see Fernando Alonso in a F1 Car ( probably ). Marcus Ericsson, Esteban Ocon, Brendan Hartley, Sergei Sirotkin, Stoffel Vandoorne would also not feature on the 2019 grid. Pierre Gasly would race for the last time for Toro Rosso, Charles LeClerc for Sauber & Kimi Raikkonen for Ferrari likewise.  

A lot happened over a Sunday..a lot..time to relive that day!

The Drive to Abu Dhabi :

The F1 Village. A lot has changed since Liberty Media took over...

The Paddock and the Yas Viceroy on a beautiful Sunday Afternoon :

Brother bonding between Fernando Alonso and Carlos Sainz mascots :

GP3 Race 2 Start ( Video Link ) ( was just in time for it ) :



F2 Sprint Race Formation Lap ( Video Link ) :



The F2 Sprint Race Start was aborted after a car stalled on the grid ( Video Link ) :



F2 Sprint Race Start ( Video Link ) :



Some Photos from the F2 Sprint Race :

The Elaborate Lunch Menu :

Food, food and some Mousse!!

Sebastian Vettel was the driver guest for Sunday and the team principal would follow shortly after.

Sebastian Vettel looking forward to a good race and an even better winter break!

Video Link to the Interview :



Maurizio Arrivabene, the Team Principal joined us shortly after Seb left and he was at his talkative best! Bless him.

Maurizio Arrivabene Interview ( Video Link ) :



My dear friend being honoured for her loyalty and love for the team. She attended 14 Races in 2018!! Quite a feat! 

My Friend and our Do&Co ( the Hospitality partner in F1 ) Host Nil Mas saying goodbye to the World of F1 and heading out to Hospitality at Moto GP. 

Believe me..a lot of tears were shed that day..tears of joy, tears of sadness..

The Accolades distributed, the Thank yous said, it was time to head down to the Pits for a quick visit to the garages before the teams get down to serious business.

Shots from the Final Pit Lane walk :

There were goodbyes between the mechanics as well..Abu Dhabi tends to be an emotional race for fans and personnel alike.

Jack Aitken! 

Final set of Photos with the GoPro Hero 5 from the weekend :

The cars roll out of their respective boxes for sighting laps before the race :

Scuderia Ferrari mechanics lining up as Kimi Rolls out of his box for the final time ( Video Link ) :



The Grid kids make their way through the Pit Lane :

Kimi Raikkonen in a light mood, enjoying some moments with the family before business commences :

Media and guests all engrossed at the grid :

The Drivers gather at the front of the Grid for the National Anthem as well as for meeting the FIA Delegates and Circuit Organizers :

The Iceman putting on his gear, donning the Scuderia Red..one last time :

Will Smith being briefed about the Formation Lap Start procedure :

The Final preps before the Timer runs out for the Formation lap :

Will Smith the man flagging off the cars for the Formation Lap :

Video Link : 



The Mechanics running back to the pits as the cars complete the Formation lap :

The Race Start ( Video Link ) :



Shots from the Race :

Safety Car Period ( Video Link ) :



Race Restart after Safety Car ( Video Link ) :



Max Verstappen Pit Stop during the Race ( Video Link ) :



Kimi Raikkonen suffered a mechanical failure, a complete shutdown on all systems on his car and came to a halt at the start finish straight. The Team ran through some system resets but to no avail. It was a disastrous end to the race, his stint with Ferrari and also left me absolutely gutted..

The Ferrari guests have their eyes affixed on the race proceedings.

I got to meet Steve Robertson, Kimi's Manager since his Formula Days..was an enlightening chat!

The top 3 finishers line up on Parc Ferme one last time in 2018. Lewis Hamilton took victory from Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen. Hamilton, Vettel and Alonso indulged in some doughnut display on the start finish straight after the race.

Presenting to the fans their Podium Finishers of the 2018 Abu Dhabi GP :

The Trophy Presentation :

Time for Champagne..oops..no its Rosewater!  

Photo Op time with the Top 3 finishers!

The Podium Celebrations ( Video Link ) :



The mechanics ready to take the cars out of Parc Ferme :

I said goodbye to my friends and hosts at the Ferrari F1 Suite, a few other goodbyes to mates from the Paddock Club and I headed downstairs to the Paddock for a final walk around before heading home..I was glad to meet more people from the world of Formula 1!

Victoria Verstappen, Max Verstappen's sister :

Tatiana Calderon! So nice to meet her..hope to see her next year at Alfa Romeo!

KIMI RAIKKONEN!! 

Pierre Gasly, all the best with Red Bull in 2019 :

FIA Steward and ex F1 Driver Alex Wurz :

Ex-Real Madrid Footballer and Spanish Footballer Michel Salgado!

Toni Vilander! Always a pleasure to meet him.

Esteban Ocon..hope to see him on the grid in 2020 :

Marcus Ericsson, all the best in your future endeavours :

Sergio Perez, Racing Point Force India F1 Team :

Fernando Alonso, the Matador! We will miss him in 2019.

Minttu Raikkonen! Such a pleasant lady to speak to!

Peter Sauber, the supremo of the Sauber F1 Team :

The Fastest Pit Stop Award being awarded to the boys at Red Bull Racing F1 Team :

Taking in the sights of the F1 Paddock one last time in 2018 :

Good bye Yas Marina and Yas Island...until next time.

It was a great experience being at the 2018 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. It wasn't the ideal farewell for Kimi Raikkonen with the car's mechanical failure but nonetheless he had a really decorated career at the Scuderia. He still remains Ferrari's Last Champion!

My loyalties shift to the Alfa Romeo Racing F1 Team now and I would like to thank the folks at Scuderia Ferrari from the bottom of my heart for all the love and hospitality showered upon me since the past 5 years. I have made some great friends and the experiences that I carry with me, I shall cherish until my last breath. A big thank you to Edge Global Events for giving me a memorable 2018 and always ensuring a hassle free and professional experience with them. I hope to continue the association going forward. 

This brings me to the end of the Paddock Club Diaries in 2018. 2019 promises to be equally exciting and I can't wait to get back on my travels to the races!

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...

Kimi Raikkonen said Farewell to the Scuderia Ferrari F1 Team at the end of 2018 as he headed to Sauber F1 Team up until 2020. The news broke out in September and there was enough time to plan for being at the final race of the Iceman with the team. 

I was at Abu Dhabi when Kimi did his final race with Lotus F1 and would repeat the feat again. Here is a quick look at how the Friday experience panned out.

The Race Passes for the weekend :

Enroute to the Circuit. I was staying in Dubai, so the drive to Abu Dhabi was about 90 minutes :

The best way of entry into the circuit is through the Yas Viceroy Hotel and then through the Water Taxi service which drops you near the tunnel which goes under the circuit to the Paddock area :

2 Cars from the Pirelli Hot Laps experience. A man spent 25000 GBP for a Hot Laps Experience with Max Verstappen on Thursday! Wow!

The Stands quite empty on a Friday Afternoon :

The Ferrari F1 Suite with a slightly different layout, this one was Air Conditioned and thankfully so :

The first order of the day was Free Practice 1.

Red Bull Racing Team practicing Pit Stops ( Video Link ) :



The Pit Walls busy during FP1 :

Chequered flag to signal end of FP1 :

Practice Starts at the end of FP1 :

Returning to the Pits :

Max Verstappen was the fastest in FP1 from Daniel Ricciardo and Valtteri Bottas.

Lunch service :

We were joined by Scuderia Ferrari Development Driver Marc Gene during lunch for a quick Q&A :

Video Link to the Interview :



Pit Lane walk on Friday :

Charles LeClerc!

Emilia Bottas, Finnish Olympian Swimmer and Valtteri Bottas' wife.

We returned to the Paddock Club and it was time for Free Practice 2 :

Chequered flag :

Time to do some practice starts :

The boys returning to the pits :

Max Verstappen returns to the Pits after FP2 ( Video Link ) :



Valtteri Bottas was fastest from Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo.

FP2 ended and it was time for Qualifying for the Formula 2 Feature race :

Post Qualifying, all those who had signed up for the Paddock Club Track Truck Tour made their way downstairs for a tour of the track :

Taking in the sights with the GoPro Hero 5 Black :

A Final Walk of the Pit Lane in the evening before heading back.

It was a great day at the Abu Dhabi GP and I would like to thank Scuderia Ferrari F1 Team for the Hospitality extended to me. A Big Thank you to Edge Global Events for organizing the passes and ensuring an enjoyable weekend.

I had the privilege of attending 3 races in 2018. I always desired to be at Kimi's final race with Ferrari and the 2018 Abu Dhabi GP was to be his last before his switch to Sauber F1 Team. 

The weekend experience begins with the Final "Gallery of Memories" post from 2018.

Charles LeClerc, Sauber F1 Team :

Emilia Bottas, Olympic swimmer for Finland and Valtteri Bottas' wife :

Gerhard Berger :

 

Flavio Briatore!

Lando Norris, F2 Driver who will graduate into F1 with McLaren for 2019.

George Russell, Current F2 Champion and Williams Racing driver in 2019 :

Billy Monger :

Chase Carey, the F1 Supremo :

Rami Raikkonen! ( Kimi's elder brother )

7 Time Nascar Sprint Champion Jimmie Johnson!

Jack Aitken, ART F2 Racer and a protegee of the Renault Sports Academy :

Steven Robertson, Kimi Raikkonen's Manager :

Victoria Verstappen, Max Verstappen's Sister :

Minttu Raikkonen, Kimi's wife! It was an honour to meet her!

KIMI RAIKKONEN!!

Tatiana Calderon, Sauber F1 Team Reserve Driver :

Fernando Alonso, McLaren F1 Driver and a Living Legend of the sport. We shall miss seeing him in 2019.

Esteban Ocon, Racing Point Force India F1 Team :

Marcus Ericsson, Sauber F1 Team. All the best to him for his endeavours in 2019.

Sergio Perez, Racing Point Force India F1 Team :

Toni Vilander, presenter for CMore F1 :

Michel Salgado, ex Real Madrid & Spanish Football Team defender :

Peter Sauber, the boss of the Sauber F1 Team and the man who got many talented drivers into F1 :

Pierre Gasly, Scuderia Toro Rosso F1 Team, will be in the A team in 2019 :

Alexander Wurz, ex F1 Driver and now a Steward :

The Paddock Club Diaries from the 2018 Abu Dhabi GP follow soon after. Watch this space!

Sunday had arrived. The hard work on Friday and Saturday would come to naught if Sunday wasn't a fruitful day for teams and drivers. Sunday is the D Day in F1. A lot can happen on a Sunday. Sebastian Vettel in P2, Kimi Raikkonen in P6...how enjoyable was our Sunday? Time to have a quick recap.

Enroute to the circuit :

A lot of companies offer supercars or even race spec cars for track days at Spa, some were on display.

Supercars on display near the circuit :

A Misty start to the day :

The day begins with the GP3 Race 2. I had the opportunity of being at the end of the Pit Lane and witnessing some Practice Starts. 

Video Link :



GP3 Race 2 Start ( Video Link ) :



The second order of the day was the Formula 2 Sprint Race. 

Cars lining up on the Grid for the start of the F2 Sprint Race :

Race Start ( Video Link ) :



Shots from the F2 Sprint Race :

The Sprint race ended and it was time to welcome the team principal Maurizio Arrivabene and Sebastian Vettel to the Suite for Interviews.

Maurizio Arrivabene Q&A :

The Video Link to the Interview :



Sebastian Vettel in the Ferrari F1 Suite :

I missed Vettel's Interview since I was away in another area getting a photo with Bottas and Seb turned up before his allotted time.

Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes AMG F1 Team :

Meanwhile there was some activity happening ontrack too!

A Vintage Ferrari F1 car doing the rounds around Spa :

A friend of mine was kind enough to offer me a spot on the Gold Tour - The Paddock Club Truck Tour which follows the F1 Drivers' Parade Lap on Sunday. You must receive a Golden Ticket in the F1 Race Programme on Sunday to be eligible for the experience.\

Some great pics from the Sunday Paddock Club Truck Tour :

We made it back to the Club and there was still time for a final walk of the Pit Lane.

Shots from the Final Pit Lane Walk of the weekend :

The Drivers getting ready for the National Anthem at the front of the grid :

Counting down to the Formation lap :

Time to roll out for the Formation lap :

Formation Lap ( Video Link ) :



The Mechanics rushing back to their Pit boxes to prepare for any eventuality during the opening lap :

The 5 Red Lights illuminate and as they go out, the 2018 Belgian Grand Prix is a go!

The Video Link to the Race Start :



Safety Car Period ( Video Link ) :



Shots from the Race :

Kimi Raikkonen was one of those affected from the first lap shunt and suffered from the DRS Rear Wing Flap Failure. His car also had a lot of floor damage and he couldn't continue racing. Sebastian Vettel jumped Lewis Hamilton at the start and the latter could never mount any challenge after that. Ferrari took a deserved win, Lewis Hamilton in P2 and Max Verstappen in P3, leaving the Fans in the "Orange Stand" in a very joyous mood.

Parc Ferme and Sebastian Vettel takes the win, a comfortable win for the Scuderia Ferrari F1 Team :

Celebrations and Interviews before heading to the Podium :

Parc Ferme Celebrations ( Video Link ) :



Podium Celebrations :

Video Link :



Photo Session time :

Time to take the chariots back to their pens!

Friends..Family!

A Moment with the Hosts at Ferrari ( always smiling and welcoming ) and Julia from Red Bull :

I got an opportunity to head down to the Paddock post race and meet and interact with some F1 Fraternity!

Antii Kontsas, Sebastian Vettel's Physio :

Noemi de Miguel, Presenter for Movistar F1 :

Sir Franz Tost, Scuderia Toro Rosso Team Principal :

Mark Webber, ex F1 Driver and Channel 4 Co-Presenter :

Marcus Ericsson, Sauber F1 Team :

Charles LeClerc, Sauber F1 Team :

Pierre Gasly, Scuderia Toro Rosso F1 Team :

Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull Racing F1 Team :

Carlo Santi ( Kimi's Race Engineer ) and Carlos ( handling Engine Data ) from Scuderia Ferrari F1 Team :

The Paddock Packing up for Monza which was the weekend later. 

I made my way back to Aachen, thankful to the Lord for the experiences I experience in life. Yes I was massively disappointed with the result for Kimi but the day was very memorable nonetheless. 

Once again, Scuderia Ferrari had showered me with world class hospitality. Edge Global Events didn't put a foot wrong and ensured a hassle free weekend for me. There is nothing more that I could have asked for from these wonderful people!

The "Paddock Club Diaries" from 2018 will conclude after the Abu Dhabi GP ( Season ender ) experience. So watch this space!

Spa - Francorchamps is one circuit where a spectator loves the early mornings. I love the mist that settles around the Ardennes offering a cold yet blissful view. I headed out from Aachen at 630 in the morning to behold this.

Enroute to the Circuit :

The Sun breaking through the morning mist...this is the Beauty of Spa!

I missed the early morning Pit Lane Walk thanks to the traffic coming into the circuit.

The Paddock Club opened its doors for the guests and it was time to look forward to an exciting day ahead of Practice and Qualifying!

Coffee and Croissants to start the day :

I decided to head down to the F1 Village for some shopping and had a chance to meet Paddy Lowe briefly.

Paddy Lowe of Williams Martini F1 Racing Team :

The F1 Village, one of the Best Villages in the year. There is such buzz about the place :

I returned from my shopping spree and I had the privilege of being on the F2 Tour and visit the MP Motorsport Garage.

MP Motorsport F2 Car Systems check ( Video Link ) :

Some more shots of the F2 Paddock, a lot more access and easier to meet drivers and team personnel :

I also had the chance of meeting fraternity from GP3.

Callum Illot, Scuderia Ferrari Academy Driver in GP3 :

Jean Alesi, ex Ferrari F1 Driver :

The tour ended and I rushed back just in time for FP3.

Shots from Free Practice 3. 

Sebastian Vettel topped the timesheets from Kimi Raikkonen and Lewis Hamilton. FP3 ended and it was time for the second pit lane walk of the day.

The second Pit Lane walk of the Day :

I also got a Paddock Pass thanks to Ferrari and went for a stroll in the Paddock.

The local hero and McLaren F1 Driver Stoffel Vandoorne :

Toni Vilander, Cmore F1 co-presenter and a close friend of Kimi Raikkonen :

Felix Rosenqvist, Mahindra Formula E Racer and Porsche GT Racer!

Belgian Air Force practicing for the Fly Past on Sunday :

Lunch :

It was soon time for Qualifying. I was able to capture shots only from Q1 since I spent the next two sessions in the garage.

Kimi Raikkonen was fastest in Q1 while Sebastian Vettel topped Q2. However the weather changed drastically and it started pouring in Q3. Shockingly Ferrari fueled Kimi for only one timed lap and as the rain eased off towards the end of the session, the Iceman was stuck in the garage and dropped from P2 to P6 on the grid! Lewis Hamilton took pole from Sebastian Vettel and Esteban Ocon! The latter was a huge surprise as Racing Point timed it right with their lap. Kimi was livid, distraught and going through a range of emotions. Ferrari had messed it up again :(

Post Qualifying, Ferrari's Reserve driver Antonio Giovinazzi came for a quick Q&A :

The Interview ( Video Link ) :

Kimi Raikkonen followed soon after. He was not in a very good mood and understandably so..

Kimi Raikkonen Q&A ( Video Link ) :

Formula 2 Feature Race follows soon after qualifying and is one of the most exciting support races of a F1 weekend.

Time for the Formula 2 Feature Race :

Feature Race Start :

I decided to walk back to the Taxi Stand and as I passed through the Support Races Paddock, I saw a couple of interesting things.

Now that is one way to deck up a Segway! 

Tadsuke Makino, Russian Time F2 Driver :

Time to head back to Aachen :

It was a great day at the Belgian Grand Prix. There was immense disappointment with the strategic error made by Ferrari with Kimi Raikkonen but all was not lost. Sunday is what mattered...

Once again thank you to Scuderia Ferrari and Edge Global Events for the amazing hospitality. The Sunday Experience follows soon!