Sundays are the most exciting and tense days of any race weekend. The show-stopper, or the main event, the Grand Prix , takes place on Sunday. Everything else that unfolded over the previous two days suddenly becomes irrelevant! Points are awarded on Sunday, and the day begins early for fans and team personnel.

The Sunday Experience at the 2024 F1 Belgian GP was captured with the Sony RX10 IV, DJI Osmo Pocket 3 and the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra.

It was an early morning start for us on Sunday. We had to check out of our hotel in Hasselt since we intended to return to Brussels on Sunday night. 

Driving to the circuit :

The traffic en route, even during the early hours was humungous, and after navigating through it, I barely made it in time for the Carlos Sainz Jr interview in the Paddock Club. As I rushed to the Ferrari F1 Club, the Spaniard had already arrived and our MC James Towers was interviewing him.

Carlos Sainz Jr in the Ferrari F1 Club :

After Sainz's departure, I settled into my seat and wanted to indulge in some savouries & sweets.

Croissants for Breakfast :

A glorious Sunday morning at the races!

The final legends parade of the weekend, featuring some classic F1 cars!

Sunday is when the Paddock Club gets visited by several drivers, sometimes at overlapping time slots. I had to be picky about who to meet and since Red Bull Hospitality was next to us, decision-making was easy.

A moment with Daniel Ricciardo, Visa Cash App RB F1 Team.. unfortunately, the Honey Badger got forced out of the sport. This might be my last memory with him :(

There was a lull before the final pit lane walk and I had a 90-minute gap to Fred Vasseur's visit to the Ferrari F1 Club. I used it to visit the Fan Zone with my friend.

Getting out of the Paddock Club to go to the Fan Zone :

After a long walk, I finally reached the Fan Zone.

Stills from the Fan Zone :

Beautiful views of Raidillon :

Unfortunately, I got delayed at the Fan Zone and missed meeting Mr. Fredric Vasseur. Also, due to the non-availability of a shuttle, I had to walk back to the Paddock Club. More cardio!

A stricken Porsche being taken back to the support race paddock :

As I came through one of the tunnels to the support race paddock, I met Victor Martins, who had completed his Formula 2 race and was headed home from the track.

Victor Martins, Alpine Academy F2 Racer :

It was time for the final pit lane walk of the day and as I entered the Pit lane, I met another Alpine Academy Driver.

Sophia Floersch, Alpine Academy and F3 Racer :

Stills from the final Pit Lane Walk of the weekend :

The Scuderia Ferrari F1 Team practising pit stops :

Video Link of the Pit Stop Practice :

Carlos Sainz Jr's Car undergoing system checks before the race ( Video Link ) :

Post the pit lane walk, I rushed back upstairs.

Time for a quick lunch before getting a vantage point for the race :

The buildup to the race begins. Drivers getting wheeled to their respective grid slots :

Stills from the grid :

The Red Bull top brass and drivers getting ready for the GP :

The Doohans! Father-son duo on the grid :

Drivers getting suited up for the race start :

Carlos Sainz, Game face on!

Counting down to the formation lap as the grid is cleared of all non-essential personnel :

Formation Lap ( Video Links ) :

With Sony RX10 IV :

With DJI Osmo Pocket 3 :

Race Start ( Video Links ) :

With Sony RX10 IV :

With DJI Osmo Pocket 3 :

Shots from the race :

Towards the end, I walked to the Viewing Terrace which was above the Parc Ferme & the Finish Line. It also offered views of the Bus Stop Chicane.

Shots of the Bus Stop Chicane :

Chequered Flag after the race ( Video Links ) :

With Sony RX10 IV :

With DJI Osmo Pocket 3 :

Right above Parc Ferme, great to see the drivers lining up at the weighbridge :

Interviews of the Podium finishers :

Right after the interviews, the team offered me the opportunity to attend the Podium Ceremony from Pit Lane. I rushed down and after a mega sprint, I was just in time to witness the celebrations!

Shots from the Podium Ceremony :

Video Link of the Podium Celebrations :

George Russell produced a masterclass to snatch victory from Lewis Hamilton with a one-stop strategy. Lewis Hamilton and Oscar Piastri completed the podium. Although Russell won the race, he got disqualified after failing to reach the minimum weight requirements mandated by the FIA! We didn't receive this news until a lot later.

As a result, Lewis Hamilton inherited the win. Oscar Piastri got promoted to P2 while Charles Leclerc bagged P3. Carlos Sainz Jr finished P6 in the other Ferrari.

The pit lane after the race and the ceremonies are done :

Met Esteban Ocon, Alpine Racing F1 Team as I walked back to the Paddock Club :

Fans being escorted from the Pit Straight after the post-race track invasion :

It was time to say goodbye to the Paddock Club and the hosts who have become amazing friends!

The hosts of the Scuderia Ferrari F1 Team :

We still had time before heading back to Brussels and thanks to my friend Greg, we got the opportunity to spend some time in the Paddock!

Welcome to the F1 Paddock, again!

Getting to meet some motorsport fraternity as they headed back home!

Lando Norris, McLaren F1 Team :

Mr John Elkann, Chairman of Ferrari and Fiat :

Valtteri Bottas, Stake F1 Kick Sauber :

Yuki Tsunoda, Visa Cash App RB F1 Team :

Carlos Sainz Jr, Scuderia Ferrari F1 Team :

After 45 minutes, the guests got ushered out of the paddock as the team personnel commenced tearing down the motorhomes to ship them back to their respective bases for the summer break!

Taking in the sights of Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, one last time :

Time to head back.. to Brussels!

My Vlog about the Sunday Experience is also live on my YouTube Channel!

Vlog Link about the Sunday Experience on my YouTube Channel :

It was an amazing experience at the 2024 F1 Belgian GP. My college friend Gautam accompanied me, making this race more special! A big thank you to the Scuderia Ferrari F1 Team and their hosts for their kindness and hospitality over the weekend!

The Paddock Club Diaries series will return in 2025 ( God willing ). Thank you for your support and love!

Day 2 of the 2024 Belgian Grand Prix began with rain clouds greeting us over the skies of Hasselt. As we walked to the car park, a downpour started and that set the tone for the day ahead.

On-track activity didn't commence until later, however, we left from Hasselt at 8 in the morning to avoid traffic snarls into the circuit. 

Thankfully, en route to the circuit, the rains stayed away.

Driving to Spa-Francorchamps :

Once into the Paddock Club, I was craving a bite having eaten nothing since morning.

Binging on some Croissants and Pain au Chocolat paired with a Cappuccino :

The weather over the circuit was very cloudy and the heavens opened for a downpour.

A rainy start to Saturday. The weather played spoilsport all day!

The Ferrari F1 Club filling up slowly with guests :

The F3 Sprint Race was the first event of the day and it turned out to be a contest in wet conditions.

Chequered Flag is waved at F3 Sprint Race ( Video Link ) :

After the F3 Race, multiple drivers visited the Paddock Club for interviews and meet & greets with their respective team guests!

Yuki Tsunoda giving an interview in the Red Bull Hospitality :

Charles Leclerc visits the Ferrari F1 Club for a Q&A :

Charles Leclerc interview in Ferrari F1 Club ( Video Link ) :

After the visits, the meal service commenced & it was time to enjoy the latest culinary offers by DO & CO!

Enjoying lunch :

Love the desserts in the Paddock Club, but these chocolates top the charts!

Unlike Austria, the Belgian GP was a traditional race weekend and it was time for Free Practice 3.

FP3 underway :

Max Verstappen was the quickest in FP3 from Oscar Piastri and Pierre Gasly. Charles Leclerc was P6 while Carlos Sainz Jr didn't set a time for Ferrari. The weather and the constant rain restricted running for a lot of teams.

After FP3, I had the opportunity to visit the paddock. The weather remained gloomy with a slight drizzle.

Going for a quick walk through the paddock :

The weather forced several Paddock Club guests to stay indoors and not participate in what would be the only Pit Lane walk of the day. 

Stills from the pit lane walk :

As I walked back to the Paddock Club, I met Michael who was a guest of Accenture in the Paddock Club. He had visited my videos on YouTube to learn more about the Paddock Club Experience. It always encouraging to meet people who follow and appreciate content!

Getting ready for a mixed-weather Qualifying session :

Some Stills from Q1 :

Nico Hulkenberg, Kevin Magnussen, Yuki Tsunoda, Logan Sargeant and Zhou Guanyu were eliminated in Q1.

Stills from Q2 :

Alexander Albon, Pierre Gasly, Daniel Ricciardo, Valtteri Bottas and Lance Stroll got eliminated in Q2.

Shots from Q3 :

Max Verstappen went the quickest in Q3 but due to an Engine change, he incurred a ten-place grid penalty. As a result, Charles Leclerc inherited the pole position from Sergio Perez and Lewis Hamilton. Carlos Sainz Jr qualified P7 in the other Ferrari.

The top 3 Qualifiers in Parc Ferme :

After Qualifying, it was time for the Formula 2 Sprint Race and the weather threatened to jeopardize running. After a delay, the FIA issued a green light for the race.

The build-up to the F2 Sprint Race begins!

F2 Sprint Race Formation Lap ( Video Link ) :

The F2 Sprint Race is a go!

F2 Sprint Race Start ( Video Link ) :

Unfortunately, the rain worsened and the race got red-flagged due to conditions. Eventually, the FIA decided to call off the F2 Sprint and half points were awarded to the top 5 finishers.

A premature end to the F2 race was the end of on-track activities for Saturday and it was time to say goodbye to the Paddock Club. I walked to the Paddock Parking area hoping to meet some more motorsport fraternity.

Yuki Tsunoda, Visa Cash App RB F1 Team :

Sergio Perez, Oracle Red Bull Racing F1 Team :

Team Trackhouse Racing Team Manager Mr Davide Brivio!

The rains intensified again and I had to rush to the Paddock Club parking and eventually drive back to Hasselt :

My Vlog on the Saturday Experience is live on my YouTube Channel.

Vlog about the Saturday Experience at the 2024 Belgian GP :

Barring the atrocious weather, it was another enjoyable Saturday at the races. Thankfully, no more rain was predicted for the rest of the weekend and Spa remained true to its promise!

A Big Thank you to the Hosts of the Ferrari F1 Club and the Scuderia Ferrari F1 Team for hosting me! The Sunday experience follows soon!

The Belgian Grand Prix remains one of the most iconic races on the F1 Calendar. Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, the venue for the Belgian Grand Prix is also the longest track on the calendar and a must-visit for any motorsport fan. Visiting this circuit has become like an annual pilgrimage for me and there was no hesitance in attending the 2024 Belgian Grand Prix when the opportunity presented itself.

The event was held from the 26th to the 28th of July in 2024, right before the summer break for the series. My dear friend Gautam ( who currently resides in Belgium ) also decided to accompany me for the weekend. As a childhood motorsport fan, it was his first F1 experience.

We stayed in Hasselt and had the luxury of driving to the circuit and back throughout the weekend. 

Memories from this race commence with the Friday Experience and the entire experience was shot with the Sony RX10 IV, DJI Osmo Pocket 3 and the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra.

Enroute to Spa-Francorchamps :

The Race Passes! We had to drive to the team hotel in Spa to collect the race passes for the weekend. Funnily enough, the team member mentioned my name incorrectly on the envelope!

After navigating through some traffic, we finally reached the parking and I walked over to the Paddock Club.

Welcome to the Ferrari F1 Club :

Views from the Paddock Club :

Coffee and Croissants for breakfast :

After a quick coffee to kickstart my Friday, it was time to head down for the Pit Lane Walk.

Shots from the first pit lane walk of the weekend :

The Scuderia Ferrari F1 Team Garage, Charles Leclerc taking a special child around his car :

Systems Checks on Valtteri Bottas' Car ( Video Link ) :

McLaren F1 Team Pit Stop Practice ( Video Link ) :

Visa Cash App RB F1 Team Pit Stop Practice ( Video Link ) :

As we returned to the Paddock Club, it was time to listen to some insights from Oliver York.

British Karting Champion, Former F4 driver and now an expert host, Oliver York visiting the Ferrari F1 Club and explaining about the F1 Steering Wheel :

The Scuderia Ferrari F1 Wheel, Explained by Oliver York ( Video Link ) :

It was now time for the first practice session of the weekend.

Shots from Free Practice 1 :

The Scuderia Ferrari F1 duo during FP1 :

Practice Starts after Free Practice 1 ( Video Link ) :

Max Verstappen was the quickest in FP1 from Oscar Piastri and Alexander Albon. Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz Jr were P6 and P9 for Ferrari, respectively. 

Time for some lunch, shortly after FP1 :

After FP1, the team granted me access to visit the F1 Paddock.

Spending some time in the Paddock :

The time in the Paddock was fruitful as I met a couple of F1 Drivers.

Nico Hulkenberg, Moneygram Haas F1 Team :

Triple World Champion Max Verstappen, Oracle Red Bull Racing F1 Team :

Shortly after, it was time for the 2nd Practice session of the day.

Free Practice 2 underway :

 The Scuderia Ferrari duo during FP2 :

Lando Norris was the quickest in FP2 from Oscar Piastri and Max Verstappen. Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz Jr were P4 and P5 for Ferrari, respectively.

The Ferrari F1 Club was finally shut for the day ( after FP2 ) and it was time to say goodbye!

Enjoying some ice cream before leaving the Paddock Club :

Post the contract activities, I took my friend Gautam for a quick tour of the support race paddock.

A walk through the support race paddock :

The F1 Classic Car garages :

As we walked back from the support race paddock, we got invited over by our friends to hop onto one of the trucks for a tour of the circuit onboard one of the trucks. As always, touring Circuit de Spa Francorchamps is an amazing experience.

Stills from the Track Tour from one of the trucks :

Video Link to the Paddock Club Track Tour :

The pit lane shut and unfortunately, we couldn't visit the garages for the 2nd Pit Lane Walk of the day. Nevertheless, we walked down to the parking area outside the paddock to meet some more F1 Fraternity!

Formula E Champion, ex F1 Racer and Racing for Peugeot in WEC, Stoffel Vandoorne :

Hollywood Legend Brad Pitt!! or Mr Sonny Hayes ( his character in the F1 film ) :P

We left the circuit at 830 pm to return to Hasselt and arrange for some dinner!

Returning to Hasselt :

I also published my Friday experience as a Vlog on my YouTube Channel.

Vlog about my Friday Experience at the Belgian GP :

It was an amazing Friday at the Belgian Grand Prix and a big shout-out to the Hosts of the Scuderia Ferrari F1 Team and Philip Morris for their hospitality and attention!

The Saturday and Sunday experiences follow shortly!

The Belgian Grand Prix is my favourite race on the F1 Calendar. Travelling to Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps feels like a pilgrimage now! The circuit is one of the classic tracks with F1 history galore and is popular amongst drivers and fans. Nestled in the Ardennes forest, Spa's inclement weather and old-school layout ensure that a fan gets his cardio workout!

As always, the experience of a race weekend begins with a post in "A Gallery of Memories" series!

These are memories from the 2024 F1 Belgian GP!!

Nico Hulkenberg, Moneygram Haas F1 Team :

Triple World Champion Max Verstappen, Oracle Red Bull Racing F1 Team :

Formula E Champion, ex F1 Racer and Racing for Peugeot in WEC, Stoffel Vandoorne :

Hollywood Legend Brad Pitt!!

Yuki Tsunoda, Visa Cash App RB F1 Team, selfies over two days :

Sergio Perez, Oracle Red Bull Racing F1 Team :

Team Trackhouse Racing Team Principal ( MotoGP ), Mr Davide Brivio :

Daniel Ricciardo, Visa Cash App RB F1 Team :

Victor Martins, Alpine Academy F2 Racer :

Sophia Floersch, Alpine Academy and F3 Racer :

Esteban Ocon, Alpine Racing F1 Team :

Lando Norris, McLaren F1 Team :

Mr John Elkann, Chairman of Ferrari and Fiat :

Valtteri Bottas, Stake F1 Kick Sauber :

Carlos Sainz Jr, Scuderia Ferrari F1 Team :

The hosts of the Scuderia Ferrari F1 Team :

As I flew back to Mumbai from Brussels onboard Emirates, I spotted what seemed to be a legendary footballer from the yesteryears in the First Class Lounge. I wasn't mistaken!

Meeting Brazilian Football Legend, also a legend for FC Barcelona and AC Milan, Ronaldinho!!

Although the weather played spoiled sport on Saturday, it was great to capture selfies with some from the Motorsport Fraternity. A Big Thank you to the hosts of the Scuderia Ferrari F1 Team who entertained me over the weekend.

The Paddock Club Diaries follows shortly after, and this might be the last post for "A Gallery of Memories" in 2024.

Post-covid, airline travel has become an expensive affair. The prices shot up, thanks to fuel surcharges & other miscellaneous expenditures. It became a logical choice for travellers to have extended holidays.

2023 was a year where I travelled extensively ( domestically ) and had the opportunity to visit Europe twice, first for the Spanish Grand Prix and 24 Hours of Le Mans and then for the Belgian Grand Prix. 

The two trips were less than a month apart & the second trip was for almost three weeks! Once again, I chose to fly to Brussels and use my friend's home as a base to explore the unexplored cities from the European continent!

My outbound flight was on 13th July and my return flight was on 2nd August. Thankfully, with my miles upgrade, I had the luxury of flying in First Class on both my journeys!

Time to revisit the memories from the past!

Mumbai - Brussels ( Emirates First ) ( 13th July 2023 ) :

Bags packed and ready!

The Chauffeur was ready to ferry me to the airport :

After a brisk check-in, security and immigration, it was time to relax in the lounge. The view was amazing as always! 

The binge journey begins :

Not many guests in the lounge in the morning :

It was soon time to board the flight to Dubai.

Shots of the First Class Suite for the first leg to Dubai :

The pushback begins :

Taking off from Mumbai ( Video Link ) :

Bye Mumbai, see you in 3 weeks!

The menu onboard, quite diverse for a short flight :

Being selective about my dietary demands :

Coco Jalila chocolates always elevate the dining experience :

After 2.5 hours, we were hovering over Dubai, preparing for touchdown :

Welcome to Dubai, the hub of Emirates :

Landing at Dubai International Airport ( Video Link ) :

An escorted buggy service to make my transit through Dubai seamless!

After breezing through security, time for some unwinding in the First Class Lounge :

A two-hour layover and it was time to board the Game-Changer Boeing 777-300ER to Brussels!

My seat :

The pushback begins!

Taxiing to the runway :

Taking off from Dubai bound for Brussels ( Video Link ) :

Up up and away! Brussels here we come!

Time to watch Minions!

The menu for the flight :

Have always been a fan of movie snacks onboard Emirates :

An extensive fare for lunch en route to Brussels :

The views from above are so beautiful, all thanks to the Almighty!

Time for a quick nap! Love how comfortable the bed is!

Hovering over the city, as we make our final approach :

 Touchdown Brussels :

2023 was a special year for motorsports lovers. Besides Formula 1 having its longest season, the World Endurance Championship celebrated the 100th year of racing in Le Mans. Also, later in the year, India would host the inaugural MotoGP of Bharat. 

Ever since I received the news that it was the 100th year of Le Mans, I drew plans to be a part of the event. Considering how expensive it has become flying in and out of Europe, I also tried to merge an F1 weekend with the WEC event. Finally the itinerary got set and I would travel to Europe to attend both the F1 Spanish Grand Prix and the Centenary Edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans in what would be one of my longest trips to the continent!

As always, Emirates was the choice of airline ( thanks to the perks of Skywards Gold ) and although its been an year since this travel got completed, this blog post is about revisiting those memories from this legendary trip!

My outbound journey was on 27th May and the return on 13th June. I upgraded myself from Business to First ( with miles ) for the Dubai - Brussels and Brussels - Dubai legs.

Mumbai - Brussels ( Emirates First ) ( 27th May 2023 ) :

Brussels - Mumbai ( Emirates First ) ( 13th June 2023 ) :

To the disembarkation gate :

Heading home from the airport with Emirates Chauffeur :

It was a great experience on Emirates in the mixed class. Yes, the disappointment of not having the Gamechanger Suite on the return journey remained but the service more than made up for its absence.

The Flying Diaries makes a return soon, with another journey to Brussels, which was just 3 weeks later!

The last day of the 2023 Belgian Grand Prix had finally arrived. Unlike, the rest of the weekend, Sunday saw better weather & clearer skies. I had an early start to the day as I tried to beat the morning traffic into the circuit.

Enroute to the circuit :

Walking over to the Paddock Club :

Starting my day with Cappuccino and Croissants as always!

Sunday morning views of the track. The F3 Race got underway with a rolling start :

F3 Feature Race Formation Lap ( Video Link ) :

The F3 Feature Race is a go & what a cracker of a race this was!

F3 Feature Race Start ( Video Link ) :

As the F3 race carried on, I decided to visit the fan village.

Walking over to the F1 Fan Village :

The F1 Fan Village, full of activity!

Shots of Raidilon from the Fan Village :

I returned to the Paddock Club and the Ferrari F1 Club Hosts arranged for me to go to the Photo Safari for the start of the F2 Feature Race.

We got escorted to the support race paddock which offered views of Eau Rouge and Raidilion :

The Safety Car comes into the pits and the F2 Feature Race resumes :

F2 Feature Race Restart ( Video Link ) :

Shots from the Feature Race :

Jack Doohan produced a stunning comeback to win the feature race from P11. 

Shots from the celebrations in Parc Ferme :

While the celebrations carried on in Parc Ferme, we had Ferrari's star driver join us in the Ferrari F1 Club.

Charles Leclerc in the Paddock Club!

Charles Leclerc Interview in the Ferrari F1 Club ( Video Link ) :

Going down to the Paddock for some more selfies!

Nico Hulkenberg, Moneygram Haas F1 Team :

Papa Perez! Mr Antonio Perez Garibay :

Hannah Schmitz, Principal Strategy Engineer for Oracle Red Bull Racing F1 Team :

Frederic Vasseur, Team Principal, Scuderia Ferrari F1 Team :

The vintage cars getting ready for the Drivers' parade. My friend drove Leclerc around the track :

Shots from the final pit lane walk of the weekend :

The Scuderia Ferrari Garage before the race :

The Ferrari mechanics warming up with some pit stop practice :

Scuderia Ferrari F1 Team getting ready for the race with Pit Stop Practice ( Video Link ) :

Diego Ioverno, Sporting Director at Scuderia Ferrari F1 Team :

Jack Doohan! It is always a pleasure to meet him, he is a thorough gentleman & an even better racer :

Time for a quick lunch before gobbling down some chocolates as desserts :

The grid getting ready for the main event of the weekend :

The drivers emerge from the pits for their sighting laps :

The drivers getting rolled by their mechanics into their respective grid slots :

National Anthem time :

The F1 Grid before the start of the Race ( Video Link ) :

The Air Force giving the fans an acrobatic display :

The grid gets clear of all non-essential personnel :

Formation Lap time :

Video Link of the Formation Lap :

The drivers navigating the Bus Stop chicane on the Formation lap :

The five red lights illuminate and as they went out, the 2023 Belgian Grand Prix was a go!

Race Start ( Video Link ) :

Lap 1 ( Video Link ) :

Shots from the race :

The Scuderia Ferrari F1 Team working hard to extract the maximum from the weekend :

Max Verstappen won the race from Sergio Perez while Charles Leclerc was P3 for Ferrari. A mechanical issue caused Sainz Jr to retire from the race.

Charles Leclerc patiently answering questions by Martin Brundle on Parc Ferme :

The Red Bull Duo having a mini post-race debrief :

Waiting for the top 3 to appear on the podium :

Leclerc, Perez and Verstappen are all smiles as they made their way to the podium :

The trophies being lifted by the Podium finishers :

Time for some champagne!

Podium Celebrations ( Video Link ) :

Mohammed Bin Sulayem, former Rally Driver and Current President of the FIA :

Some dear friends from Belgium, such a blessing to know them!

Selfie time in the paddock :

As I was walking around the Paddock, a gentleman and his grandson walked up to me and told me that they were at the race this weekend due to my Vlogs from 2022! They loved how well I had documented my experiences at the races and it helped their decision-making for a visit to an F1 race :

Jamie Chadwick, development driver at Williams Racing F1 Team & the triple-world champion in the now defunct W Series :

Daniel Ricciardo, Scuderia Alpha Tauri F1 Team :

Timo Glock, ex-F1 Driver and now a commentator for German TV :

Carlos Sainz Jr, Scuderia Ferrari F1 Team :

The Paddock is getting dismantled as the teams leave for the summer break :

Until next time, Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps!

I also made a Vlog about my experience from Sunday, sharing the YouTube link here :

It had been a memorable weekend at the Belgian Grand Prix. Thankfully, the FOM decided to extend the Belgian GP contract till 2025 and I hope to see this track on the F1 calendar for several more years. Once again, a big thank you to the Paddock Club team for their hospitality over the weekend. A special mention to the hosts in the Ferrari F1 Club who always make me feel welcomed and a part of the team, whichever race I am at.

There is another special experience to come from 2023, so watch this space!

Saturdays on an F1 weekend are the longest, mainly because of the number of activities lined up for Paddock Club guests. Although Aachen is closer to the circuit than Hasselt, it was still an early start to the Saturday for me. Having left from Aachen at 730 am, my friend and I reached the circuit around 845 am, just in time for Carlos Sainz Jr's visit to the Paddock Club ( more on that later in the post ).

Lets revisit the memories from the Saturday at the 2023 Belgian Grand Prix!

En route to the circuit on Saturday Morning:

As soon as I entered the Paddock Club, I rushed across to reach the Ferrari suite and thankfully, Sainz Jr hadn't arrived yet!

Carlos Sainz Jr visits the guests in the Ferrari F1 Club :

Video Link of Sainz' interview in the Paddock Club :

Shots of the Suite reserved exclusively for the Scuderia Ferrari Team guests in the Paddock Club :

And suddenly the weather changed at Spa-Francorchamps :

Gloomy weather called for some hot breakfast!

Kick Starting the day with some coffee and croissants :

After my coffee, I went downstairs to spend some time in the Paddock but the rain played spoil sport. Nevertheless, I got a selfie with Esteban Ocon from Alpine F1 Team :

Soon enough, it was time for Sprint Qualifying, better known as the Sprint Shootout!

Sprint Shootout gets underway :

Scuderia Ferrari F1 Team during the Sprint Shootout :

Shots from Parc Ferme post Sprint Shootout :

Max Verstappen was the quickest from Oscar Piastri and Carlos Sainz Jr. while Charles Leclerc was P4 in the other Ferrari.

Post the Sprint Shootout, I was hungry & wasted no time in having an early lunch.

Enjoying some lunch, the chocolates were so good!

Post the Sprint Shootout, the guests had the privilege of enjoying an interview with the team's new Sporting Director ( announced on the weekend of the Belgian GP )

The newly-appointed Ferrari Sporting Director, Mr Diego Ioverno briefly joined us in the Ferrari F1 Club :

Video Link of his interview :

The action was relentless as now it was time for the Formula 2 Sprint race on the track!

The F2 cars line up on the gird for the Sprint :

F2 Sprint Race Formation Lap ( Video Link ) :

Due to a car stalled on the grid, the F2 cars had to go around for a second formation lap.

Video Link :

F2 Sprint Race Start ( Video Link ) :

Shots from the F2 Sprint :

Some closeups of Jack Doohan!

& then we had a Safety Car period due to an incident!

Back to flat-out racing!

Celebrations in the Parc Ferme for Enzo Fittipaldi, Theo Pourchaire and Dennis Hauger. Jack Doohan finished a fine P5.

After the F2 Sprint Race, I got some time to spend in the Paddock before the Formula 1 Sprint.

Walking through the paddock, the sun was out again!