The year was 2001. I was playing the F1 2001 game by EA Sports as Mika Hakkinen in the McLaren, and during the presentation of the grid, I came across a Kimi Raikkonen in a Sauber Petronas, in the lower half of the field.  An instant connection got formed that day. Little did I know that this young Finnish Racer would leave a lasting impression on my life and race for almost two decades in F1.

Hailing from Espoo in Finland, Raikkonen had already impressed Peter Sauber during a private test in 2000. The youngster had completed only 23 single-seater races and competed only in Formula Renault after his karting days. So impressed was Sauber with Raikkonen's showing at the test that he left no stone unturned in securing him a super licence and an F1 drive in 2001.

After his exploits at Sauber, which established him as the next Finnish superstar, he switched to McLaren in 2002, becoming the team's new "Flying Finn". Those were the years of men like Ron Dennis, Martin Whitmarsh and Nobert Haug at the helm, locked in intense battles with Michael Schumacher, Jean Todt and Ross Brawn, who were at Ferrari.

Those years at McLaren had a lot of highs, but also several lows for Raikkonen. Although the cars were title challengers every alternate year ( 2003 and 2005 ), they were highly unreliable. Raikkonen lost out on two world titles, retiring from the lead due to mechanical failures several times. During his stint at McLaren, I struggled to keep up with the racing due to my academic commitments. But when I did watch a race, my eyes searched for the "RAI" in the classification. Hopes arose when he was in the top 3 and sunk when he retired. Whatever was the result, accessing McLaren's site to read what transpired in the race ( including the top brass' assessment ) became a ritual. 

Who can forget the famous victories that Raikkonen had with McLaren, Malaysia 2003, Spa 2004 & 05, Monaco 2005 and Suzuka 2005, to name a few! There was no lack of talent, yet the machine wasn't doing Raikkonen justice. I began to wonder if he would ever emulate his compatriot Hakkinen and win a title at the misfiring McLaren. 

Then came the big move in the latter half of 2006. Speculations were rife that Schumacher, the most successful driver of the sport, would walk away at the end of the year, and Raikkonen was his recommendation to Ferrari. The confirmation came through after the Italian GP, and the Finn would don the Scuderia overalls in 2007.

Having been a McLaren fan even before Hakkinen, I had to choose between Raikkonen and the team. I chose Raikkonen and am glad that I did!

Despite a slow start at Ferrari, Raikkonen slowly began to get to grips with his new car. He looked all but out of title contention against McLaren's protegee and rookie Hamilton. However, Hamilton's retirement at Shanghai took the title battle to the season finale in Brazil. 

I still remember that Sunday night. Preparing for my engineering exam, which was the next day, I was buzzing with excitement about the possibility of Raikkonen getting crowned Champion. Something in me told me that he would win. Ironically, McLaren and Hamilton hadn't suffered from any mechanical issues that year. The race got underway, and Hamilton's gearbox malfunctioned! With the Briton languishing at the back of the pack, Raikkonen was suddenly in contention for the title! Ferrari completed a swap of positions during the pit stops to give Raikkonen the lead. As soon as Raikkonen crossed the finish line to victory, Ferrari confirmed that he was World Champion, having won it by one point!!

I was ecstatic in my living room, the tensions of an exam forgotten. Finally, all the heartaches of the previous five years ended! Kimi Raikkonen was an F1 World Champion!!

In 2008, Ferrari chased a development plan contrary to what Raikkonen desired, and the latter had to play a support role to teammate Massa's title fight. The title decider was in Brazil once again, and Hamilton didn't falter this time. 2009 saw a regulations overhaul and the big guns faltered against Brawn GP and Button, who romped to the World Title. A stellar drive by Raikkonen gave Ferrari its only win in Belgium. The Finn got called "The King of Spa" after his famous victory!

With Alonso eyeing a seat in a top team after his unceremonious exit from McLaren at the end of 2007, Ferrari seemed a possible destination. The negotiations proved successful, and Ferrari cut short Raikkonen's contract. The Finn got replaced for 2010 and failed to secure a drive in the sport!

He left F1 to pursue a career in Rallying with a short stint in Nascar. I was gutted with the news and couldn't keep up with his racing career elsewhere. With Raikkonen out of F1, I lost interest in the sport, unable to watch the races with the same passion. My sporting interests slowly began to shift to Moto GP and Football. Although I did attend the inaugural Indian GP in 2011, I couldn't imagine F1 without Raikkonen... 

Come 29th November 2011. I was in my office going through some sports-related news on a couple of websites. Suddenly, I came across an article that read, "Raikkonen returns to F1 in 2012 with Lotus"!!

The Iceman was back, in F1, on a two-year deal! That day, my love for the sport got reignited. More importantly, with my academic and educational commitments complete, I got presented with the opportunity of travelling to F1 races, something I wouldn't pass up considering that it was only a two-year deal for Raikkonen. And so began my journey to meet my hero in person!

Malaysia, Silverstone, Singapore, India, Nurburgring, Monza, Abu Dhabi were the races I got to be at, meeting Raikkonen on a few occasions. 

Raikkonen's stellar performances at Lotus F1 left the team at the brink of bankruptcy. The Finn went on to record two wins and thirteen podiums during his two-year tenure. His performances attracted the attention of an old employer, and for 2014, the Finn rejoined Ferrari! In his words, "I am coming home".

His second stint at Ferrari lasted five years that had Alonso and Vettel as codrivers. Strategic bungles and misfortunes played spoilsport more often than not. There were many memorable performances, and 2018 was Raikkonen's strongest year that included victory at the Circuit of the Americas. During his time at Ferrari, I attended races at the following venues - Hockenheimring, COTA, Austria, Belgium, Spain, Hungary, Abu Dhabi.

Although many media personnel declared Raikkonen a spent force, the Finn still had more to give to the sport. In 2019, he made an unthinkable return to Sauber F1 ( rechristened to Alfa Romeo Racing ), his first employer in the sport. In 2019, I followed Raikkonen to Canada, Belgium and Suzuka.

I had made elaborate plans for 2020, but then the world got hit by the Pandemic COVID-19. 2020 was the first year since Raikkonen's return to F1, in which I failed to be at a live race. The Pandemic continues to deny me the chance of attending a race in 2021, and with Raikkonen announcing that he would walk away from F1 at the end of the season, I am hoping and praying to be at Abu Dhabi for the final race.

Raikkonen remains the most successful Finnish driver in F1 and also Ferrari's last Champion. He might not be the one with the most victories or championships, and probably his career statistics might look uninspiring to many. For many, Raikkonen was even past his prime. However, no one can disagree about the legacy he has built in the sport.  

Drivers ( current and past ) praised him for being a fair yet hard racer. Those who knew him as a teammate appreciated his uncomplicated and straightforward attitude to life and racing. A man of few words, Raikkonen spoke his mind, rarely adhering to PR generated responses, was apolitical and focussed only on what unfolded behind the wheel. Those who had worked with Raikkonen as race engineers or mechanics acknowledged his ability to understand car setups. His feedback and suggestions were precise, reminiscent of Schumacher as per Andrea Stella. Whatever be the situation, Raikkonen was always committed to the cause and the betterment of his team. He was one of those drivers who didn't spend time at a simulator before heading to a new circuit, a born racer, like an Alonso or Vettel or Hamilton, a breed rarely seen nowadays. 

To the world, he still looks demotivated, disinterested and ice-cold in his behaviour. But those who got to know him up close or to those who saw him live life from close quarters, Raikkonen is a man full of joy, love and care, focused on his professional commitments. With the arrival of a partner in Minttu Raikkonen, his life became more fulfilling, and now with kids like Robin and Rianna, Kimi has his days full of daddy duties. Priorities change with time.

2021 has been the year of retirements, with Moto GP legend Valentino Rossi calling it a day and Anthony Davidson leaving WEC. Retirement is inevitable for every athlete, and as a fan, you always hope for one more year. At 42, his age is catching up with Raikkonen, and although he hasn't lost his competitive edge ( as evident from his consistent results for Alfa Romeo ), a time comes when one has to stop. It isn't easy to compete with the best drivers on the planet for two decades, but Raikkonen managed to ace it with aplomb. 

For me, I am still struggling to accept Raikkonen's absence from the grid in 2022. In the past, without Raikkonen, F1 wasn't likeable anymore. 

"Kimianks", a term made with Kimi and initials from my name ( Ankush ),  became my identity on all social media platforms for the past two decades. Thanks to Raikkonen, I had the privilege of going to some of the most stunning race tracks, getting close to the action and sharing my passion with like-minded fans. Lotus F1 ( now Alpine F1 ), Scuderia Ferrari and Alfa Romeo Racing had been kind enough to give me enhanced access and the pleasure of watching my hero up close, sharing their joys in the times of celebrations, for which I shall always be thankful. 

The life lessons that Raikkonen has taught me are invaluable - being transparent and straightforward in your profession, celebrating without inhibitions, valuing family above everything else and maintaining a close circle of confidants.

I take this opportunity to thank the Raikkonen family ( his parents, siblings, wife and kids ) for all the support provided to Kimi over the years, from the humble beginnings at karting to acing it in the F1 world. A big thank you to his Physical Trainer Mark Arnall for keeping him fit and healthy throughout his career. It has been such a glorious training career for Mark, having trained the likes of Hakkinen and Raikkonen during their tenures in the sport. To the Robertsons and Mr Sami Visa, thank you for taking care of his contractual and sponsorship obligations. And finally, thank you to every team member that has been part of Raikkonen's journey through F1, at Alfa Romeo Racing F1, McLaren F1, Scuderia Ferrari F1 and Lotus ( Alpine F1 ). 

As the Iceman bid adieu to the sport at Alfa Romeo's farewell party at Hinwil in Switzerland, I, as a fan, knew that an incredible journey was coming to an end. It has been a blessing to be called a Kimi Raikkonen fan over the past two decades, and I shall remain a fan, admirer and a fanatic for life.

The journey hasn't ended yet, and two races remain before the curtains close on an illustrious career. I still garner hopes of being at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. I am praying that I get see Kimi Raikkonen race one last time and say my farewells in person.

There is so much more to say, so much more to process, and words can never do justice to the journey I have had as a fan of the ICEMAN, the Flying Finn, KIMI RAIKKONEN!

Here are some of the memories I cherish with Kimi :

Like he said, on the day of his retirement, "This is it"... profound words... probably, for me too, this might be it...

Thank you, Kimi, thank you. Wishing you and the family the very best for the future and pray for the Almighty's blessing and grace on your life, always!

Hopefully, we shall meet again, someday!

To Kimi Raikkonen, an F1 Racer, an F1 World Champion, a Legend.. Thank you for everything! Thank you!

Championships are won by consistency and more importantly, consistently winning. It was no surprise that we saw Michael Schumacher dominate from 2000 to 2004. 

Red Bull too have portrayed a similar consistency and have won 3 championships on the trot. 2013 too has seen them score big whenever the opportunity has presented itself and one can say that pegging back their lead would demand a herculean task from the rest.

Ferrari and Lotus F1 have played catchup after having their fair share of success this season. Lotus F1 has seen a sudden loss of form recently and I would like to explore the reasons behind this.

1) James Allison leaving the team.

James Allison had been a fantastic addition to the Enstone based team. Respected within the Formula 1 Fraternity, James was instrumental in the championship winning years of Ferrari from 2000 to 2004. He also enjoyed success during the Benetton days. His departure on the Spanish GP weekend left everyone in shock and the team seemed to have lost direction after his departure. They put up a brave front and Kimi finished 2nd in the race. Grosjean suffered suspension failure and retired from the race. Grosjean had a big shunt in final practice in Monaco and tailgated Ricciardo putting both out of the race and earning a 10 place grid penalty for the Canadian GP.  Kimi would have finished in the Top 6 at best but contact with Perez left him on a damage limitation drive and he finished 10th in Monaco. Canada saw him struggle in Qualifying. The Race was riddled with multiple problems for him and 9th was the best he could manage. Grosjean couldn't maintain his strategy and a 2nd stop bumped him out of the points. 

The Recent spate of bad results could point to a certain unrest within the team. James brought a stability to the team. The Same could be said for the trio of Jean Todt, Ross Brawn and Nigel Stepney for Ferrari or the quartet of Ron Dennis, Adrian Newey, Martin Whitmarsh and Nobert Haug for McLaren Mercedes.

"Ferrarigate" saw Nigel Stepney leave Ferrari, Jean Todt and Ross Brawn too left for other endeavours.The Team made several errors in Stepney's absence who was in charge of trackside operations. It took some time for the Team to recover and they are yet to win a championship since 2007.  Martin Whitmarsh is the only one left in the McLaren team with Ron Dennis taking a more passive role and they have had similar experiences since 2008.

One might say that James Allison isn't the sole deciding factor and this cannot be denied. However his contribution and sheer presence was assuring for a team which is smaller in size and has limited resources to work with.

Nick Chester, his replacement has big shoes to fill. Unlike James, Nick was permanently stationed in Enstone but is now trackside and it would intriguing to see how he handles such a challenge.

2) Sponsorships and Finances :

A report suggested that the Team posted a record loss in the 2012 season. The Team performed well last season and left many bigger spending teams red-faced. The Team has got some new entrants in sponsorships and it would be wrong to quote figures without proper knowledge. However in the aftermath of a loss posted, it seems logical to offload some personnel and cut back costs. This could be one of the major reasons for Allison's departure. Holding onto Kimi Raikkonen might also be a big ask for the 2014 season. The Team would really hope to be in Championship winning positions to attract more sponsors and earn the vital money that one gets after finishing higher in the championship.

3) Dent to the Charge :

The Team enjoyed being 2nd in the Constructors leading into the Spanish GP but the results of the last 2 races have meant that the Competitors have closed in and they are now 4th in the standings at the end of the Canadian GP. The Financial constraints have also meant that upgrades have been hard to come by. It can be said that the last two races ( Monaco and Canada ) weren't best suited for the car but no points for Grosjean and only 3 for Raikkonen meant that even damage limitation couldn't be achieved.The Team would hope to hit back at Silverstone and they must as any more slip-ups would leave them with too much to do at the business end of the season.

The Driver's Championship too has seen Raikkonen being demoted to 3rd after the Canadian GP. He trails leader Vettel by 44 points. We still have 12 races to go but I do not foresee Vettel dropping too many points from hereon. It might be premature to say that Raikkonen is out of contention but the team must ensure that no more mistakes are made in the upcoming races to keep him in the hunt. The disappointment would be evident for the Finn as he has had only one victory to show for his efforts.

Kimi Raikkonen would have the opportunity to break Michael Schumacher's record of consecutive points finishes in Silverstone. Grosjean too must iron out errors and ensure strong finishes in the points to aid the team in the Constructors' Battle. 

Hopefully the team might prove its doubters wrong and produce a resurgence. The Team has won championships in the past and a comeback would only spice up the battle at the front of the grid.

3 weeks until Silverstone, a lot of questions to be answered. F1 please come back soon.

Common Kimi Raikkonen!! Common Romain Grojean!! Common Lotus F1!!

The Formula 1 Fraternity returned to the Middle East after completing the Races of the Far - East.

The Turn-Around time was very short for the teams as the Race at Abu Dhabi is only a week after the Indian Grand Prix.

"We shall fight to the end, we shall not give up." These were the words of Fernando Alonso who knew that his chances of a 3rd World Championship were fading fast.

"The Twilight Race" has its own aura and is a popular destination for Formula 1 Fans.

The Circuit at Yas Marina delivered a Race which definitely deserved a place in the History Books!!

FREE PRACTICE :

FP1 saw Ma Qing Hua feature again for HRT while Valtteri Bottas got some Track time instead of Bruno Senna ( Certain Rumours gathering pace ). Jules Bianchi replaced Paul di Resta during FP1. Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button were the Pace - Setters in FP1 while Sebastien Vettel and Fernando Alonso slotted into 3rd and 4th Respectively. Max Chilton too was given a run and was 22nd at the end of the session.

FP2 was pretty straightforward barring a spin by Karthikeyan. The Times were coming down as the track grip increased. Vettel dethroned Hamilton to go fastest but the McLarens looked sharp. The Lotuses looked the part too with Grosjean and Raikkonen 6th & 7th.

FP3 saw everyone stay on track as Hamilton continued the McLaren Domination with Button while the Red Bull duo of Vettel and Webber stayed in touch of the leaders. Alonso was a distant 8th and his chances of qualifying strong seemed a distant dream.

QUALIFYING :

Q1 saw Hamilton, Rosberg and Webber as the fastest 3 of the session. Q1 didnt spring any surprises as the usual backmarkers were relegated.

Q2 saw the ouster of Schumacher, Hulkenberg, Perez, Di Resta, Senna, Kobayashi, Ricciardo. Hamilton was closely followed by Webber and Vettel.

Q3 would be one of the most exciting Qualifying Sessions ever. Raikkonen set the early pace but it was quickly eclipsed by Hamilton and Vettel. Lewis Hamilton's time couldn't be challenged and Alonso's title hopes took a big hit when he couldn't improve his overall 6th Fastest time. Webber went 2nd fastest while Maldonado produced a stunning lap into 3rd only to be dumped down to 4th as Vettel slotted into 3rd. Raikkonen, Button, Alonso, Rosberg, Massa, Grosjean completed the top 10.

However it wasn't over. Vettel's car came to a stop under the Yas Hotel after being instructed by the team to do so. The resut of this action would add a different dimension to the Title Race!

Red Bull and their engine partner Renault announced that the German had been excluded from qualifying as he did not have required amount of fuel left in his tank to be tested by officials. The result was that Vettel was sent to the back of the grid - but Red Bull opted to make set-up changes before the race, which meant that Sebastian Vettel had to start from the pit lane

A very big decision by the Stewards !! Let us see how the race unfolded!

RACE : 

At the start of the parade lap, Pedro de la Rosa stalled on the grid in his HRT which caused him to have to start from the pits behind Sebastian Vettel. When the race began, Hamilton led into the first corner, while Kimi Raikkonen passed Mark Webber and Pastor Maldonado to take 2nd. Contact between Bruno Senna and Nico Hulkenberg caused the Force India driver to retire from the race. During the first lap, Fernando Alonso overtook both Button and Webber. Paul di Resta, Romain Grosjean and Nico Rosberg also had damage and headed into the pits. Meanwhile, up front, Lewis Hamilton reported that he had got cold tyres as Kimi Raikkonen tried a bold move around the outside of the McLaren driver. It didn't pay off, though, and Hamilton retained the lead. While this was happening, Vettel took some slight damage to his front wing as he had made contact with Senna while attempting to overtake. ( Lap 3 ). The German was already upto 16th.

On Lap 5, Romain Grosjean made a move on Nico Rosberg at Turns 8 and 9, but ended up with a puncture on the right front which made contact with Rosberg's front wing. Both drivers had to pit - Grosjean for a set of tyres and Rosberg for a new nosecone.

Four laps later, on Lap 8, Rosberg and Narain Karthikeyan were involved in a collision. Karthikeyan braked due to a steering problem, causing Rosberg who was right behind him to crash into him, bringing both out of the race but unharmed, and sending out the safety car. During the safety car period, when Daniel Ricciardo was weaving and braking, Sebastian Vettel was unaware, and he swerved to avoid the Toro Rosso and hit the DRS board at the side of the track, causing more damage to his front wing. Red Bull soon gave the instruction to fit a new front wing on Vettel's car, along with a set of soft tyres. It was the call Vettel was hoping to avoid. Vettel rejoined the field 21st and last.

Vettel tried a move on Grosjean at the end of the long straight, but the Frenchman fought back and retook the position. Vettel didn't give up through and slotted down the inside at the next corner. This time, there was no way back for Grosjean Sebastian Vettel however was told to let Romain Grosjean past to avoid a penalty. Vettel crossed a white line, and went onto the blue part of the track during the overtake. He let Grosjean past only to retake the position a couple of corners later.

On Lap 20, the race leader Lewis Hamilton slowed to a halt as a technical issue with his McLaren put him out of the race. Kimi Raikkonen inherited the lead as a result. No safety car was required as he had parked his car in a safe position. On the next lap, Fernando Alonso managed to overtake Pastor Maldonado with the assistance of DRS. On lap 23, while attempting the same move on Pastor Maldonado, Mark Webber made contact with the Williams, causing him to spin and lose places to Button, Felipe Massa and Sergio Perez, dropping the Australian from 4th to 7th. By this time, Sebastian Vettel had fought his way up to 10th place. Lap 24 saw Jenson Button pass Pastor Maldonado for 3rd.

Lap 24 witnessed something hillarious. The Lotus team told Kimi Raikkonen that he had a five second lead over Fernando Alonso in 2nd. The Finn repliesd: "Leave me alone I know what I'm doing!"

Mark Webber tried a move on Felipe Massa but there was contact and Webber was forced off track. Massa spun the car as he hit the gas. ( Lap 26 )

Alonso pitted on lap 29 and rejoined in 6th just behind Vettel. Webber received a Radio Message a Lap later : "Mark, if Sebastian gets a run, don't fight him,"

By lap 31, Vettel was up into second, about twenty seconds behind Kimi Raikkonen, and his subsequent pit stop on lap 37 put him down to 4th. Inspite of a slow pitstop Red Bull managed to get him out before the train of cars from 5th to 11th.

Kimi Raikkonen pitted on Lap 32 and the Finn rejoined the track in the lead, ahead of Sebastian Vettel and Fernando Alonso.

Drama continued on lap 39 as Paul di Resta and Sergio Perez tried to overtake Romain Grosjean. Perez ran wide, and when entering the track again, he collided with Grosjean who then collected Mark Webber, taking the Lotus and Red Bull out of the race and earning Perez a ten-second stop and go penalty. This sent out the safety car once more.

McLaren told Jenson Button that Fernando Alonso had struggled on the restart so he should do his best to get close at the restart. Button acknowledged the message but added: "He's very quick in a straight line, very quick." ( Lap 41 )

Kimi Raikkonen's race engineer Simon Rennie ( I have had the privilege of meeting him a couple of times, great guy ) reminded him to keep warming his tyres ahead of the restart to which the Finn snapped back: "Yes, yes, yes, yes. I'm doing it all the time. You don't have to remind me every second." ( Lap 42 )

This is what Formula 1 lacked!! Sheer Entertainment from the ICEMAN!!

In the closing laps, Fernando Alonso put in quick laps to catch Kimi Raikkonen but the latter maintained the gap to around a second. Vettel took advantage of the safety car to close up to Jenson Button and get past on lap 51. Raikkonen after immense pressure managed to do just enough to hold off the Ferrari to win the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, his first win in 2012, ahead of Fernando Alonso and Sebastian Vettel.

Kimi Raikkonen punched the air as he crossed the line to take Lotus's first victory in their current guise.

Kimi Raikkonen, Fernando Alonso and Sebastien Vettel were the podium finishers. Jenson Button, Pastor Maldonado, Kamui Kobayashi, Felipe Massa, Bruno Senna, Paul di Resta and Daniel Ricciardo completed the top 10.

This was his First Victory since the Belgian GP 2009. The Iceman had proved all the doubters wrong as he made more than just a fantastic return to Formula 1.

The Lotus Team went beserk in the Pit Garage and I shouted my lungs out at home!!

The Iceman Deserved it! The Team Deserved it!! They had shown great character the entire season with the limited resources that they had!

The Win had finally come, albeit slightly late. A Win is a Win though!

Sebastien Vettel too produced a stunning drive to climb upto 3rd from the back of the grid, a feat that speaks volumes of the Racer in him. Fernando Alonso would be disppointed as he would have hoped that the gap would be considerably less at the end of the weekend.

On a Personal Note, I am really glad that Kimi Raikkonen got a win under his belt in his comeback year. He has also been the only driver to finish all the races, not to forget that he has finished in the points in all the races except one.

He consolidated his Position ( 3rd ) in the Championship too with the full 25 points. Lewis Hamilton was left to rue what would have been after having the perfect weekend up until that point.

This truly was the Best Race of the season.. it had it all - The Controversies, the Incidents, the Safety Cars, the Retirements, the Stunning Drives, the Fantastic Overtakes, the Hillarious Radio Messages and at the end of the day, A WORTHY WINNER!!

Lets indulge and savour the celebrations through some stills post-race!

ALL HAIL KING KIMI!! THE ICEMAN COMETH!! and the ICEMAN KNOWETH WHAT HE DOETH!!

The Formula 1 season is now coming to a close. I have had the privilege of being at 3 Grand Prixs and the Indian Grand Prix was the 4th and Final Race I would be at.

Once again I was a guest of the Lotus F1 Team. A Big Thank you to God and my Dad for their support and for understanding my love for Motorsport.

A Big Thank you to www.excluvsivegp.com too for all the arrangements and making the experience really memorable.

Lotus F1 Team didn't have many guests this year and a Team Suite couldn't be organised. We were accomodated in the Club Suite near the entrance of the Pit-Lane ( 3rd Floor ). It eventually turned out to be a Blessing in Disguise as the Suite was shared by 5 other teams... so the chance to meet other Drivers was bright.

I won't write more.. let the Pictures say it all. ENJOY!!

Jerome D'Ambrosio - Lotus F1 Reserve Driver :

Lotus F1 Team Pit-Crew ( Celebrities in their own Right )  :

Star Sports Presenter Sanjeev Palar ( Engine Block Fame ) :

Sebastien Buemi ( Red Bull Racing Team's Reserve Driver, Ex-Toro Rosso ) :

Johnny Herbert ( Ex-F1 Driver, 3 time British GP Winner ), Simon Lazenby, Sky Sports Presenters. I Love Sky Sports Formula 1 HD. Best Coverage of F1 Races!

Bernd Maylander ( Formula 1 Safety Car Driver ) : 

Chris Goodwin ( Ex Co-Commentator with Steve Slater for Start Sports ). Remember listening to him when I was a newbie in the Worldwide followers of Formula 1. Fantastic Presenter. Now he manages Bruno Senna ( Nephew of the Late Great Ayrton Senna ) :

David Coulthard ( Ex - McLaren Mercedes, Ex - Red Bull Racing, Now a BBC Co-presenter ). Mika Hakkinen's tem-mate. Was a fan of Mika until his Retirement in 2002 and subequent replacement by KIMI. ( Jake of BBC getting Wired-up for the post-qualifying show ) : 

Daniel Ricciardo ( Scuderia Toro-Rosso Driver ) :

Pastor Maldonado ( Williams F1 Team Driver, Catalunya GP Winner ) :

Bruno Senna ( Williams F1 Team Driver, Nephew of the Late Great Ayrton Senna! ) :

Valtteri Bottas ( Williams F1 Team Reserve Driver ). Another Finn in F1. Had a nice chat. Might support him once Kimi Retires..

Timo Glock ( Marussia F1 Team Driver ) :

Charles Pic ( Marussia F1 Team Driver ) :

Harbhajan Singh ( Indian Cricketer, 400 Scalps to his name!! Fantastic Player ) :

Martin Brundle ( Ex - F1 Driver, Now a Co-Presenter for Sky Sports F1 ) :

( L to R ) - Oliver, Fleur, Mable ( Lotus F1 Team ). Thank you Guys for all the Love and Hospitality. Shall Cherish this all my Life!

Once again a Special Thanks to www.exclusivegp.com for all the efforts and all the arrangements done.

Stay Tuned.. More to Come!

MONZA, ITALY - The Mecca for Ferrari Fans. The Land of the Tifosi. Great Motorsporting History!

Formula 1 arrived here with the title race wide open. The Fastest Race on the Calender promised to deliver a great weekend and it definitely did.

The Italian Grand Prix was the Last European Race of the Calender and the last 7 races are all "Fly - Aways".

Two DRS Zones ( same as 2011 ) ensured that a lot of overtaking would feature in the race! However DRS was shortened this year . The first DRS zone, located on the straight between the second Lesmo corner and the Variante Ascari, was shortened by 50 meters, while the DRS zone on the front straight was shortened by 5 meters.

Ferrari Powered and Mercedes Powered cars would have an advantage against the Renault Powered Engines ( Better Horsepower ).

Teams have to run the lowest downforce setup and Straight line speed is what counts over clean aerodynamics.

PENALTIES :

Another Race dominated by Penalties Galore!

Lotus F1 driver Romain Grosjean received a one-race ban for his involvement in the first-lap incident at the Belgian Grand Prix He was replaced by the team's test and reserve driver, Jerome d'Ambrosio

Pastor Maldonado received a ten-place grid penalty for jumping the start of the Belgian Grand Prix and causing an avoidable accident with Timo Glock.

Paul di Resta was also demoted five places for an unscheduled gearbox change on Saturday morning, his second gearbox penalty of the season.

FREE PRACTICE :

Ma Qinghua became the first Chinese driver to take part in a Grand Prix weekend when he drove Narain Karthikeyan's HRT in the first free practice session on Friday morning. Valtteri Bottas drove Bruno Senna's Williams F1 in the same session, while Jules Bianchi took Paul di Resta's place at Force India.

Mercedes AMG driver Michael Schumacher was fastest in the first practice session, Jenson Button and Nico Rosberg completing the top 3. Jerome d'Ambrosio finished the session 15th. Pastor Maldonado and Fernando Alonso suffered technical problems and Stopped on the Circuit.

Lewis Hamilton was the fastest driver in the second session, edging out Button and Alonso. Alonso had another disrupted session with a series of technical problems surrounding the gearbox and brakes that limited his time on the circuit. Schumacher went off-track and finished the session in 10th. He was highly-critical of the speed bumps placed around the Variante della Roggia chicane, claiming they were a safety hazard that could result in serious injury if a driver hit them at speed.

Hamilton was once again fastest in the third session, just one thousandth of a second ahead of Alonso. Paul di Resta finished the session third, while Sebastian Vettel suffered a loss of power on his final lap and pulled over at the Roggia chicane. The Red Bull RB8 was consistently one of the slowest cars through the speed trap. This circuit was the one where the Red Bulls would be the weakest.

QUALIFYING :

Nico Hulkenberg failed to set a lap time when his car stopped on the circuit during the first qualifying period. As he was unable to get the car restarted, he was not allowed to take any further part in qualifying. His entry to the race depended on a special dispensation from race stewards, which was subsequently granted. Q1 saw no other surprises.

Q2 saw the exit of Webber, Maldonado, Perez, Senna, Ricciardo and D'Ambrosio. Maldonado was demoted to 22nd after serving his Penalty.

Q3 dealt a big blow to Ferrari's hopes of a victory at their Home Race. Alonso who had topped both Q1 and Q2 headed out with Massa and Failed to set a competitive time in the First Run. The last run left him languising in P10!! It was later revealed that the Anti-Roll Bar had broken on Alonso's Car. This explained the lack of pace.

Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button made it a McLaren Mercedes 1-2. Massa qualified 3rd. Paul Di Resta was 4th but was demoted to 9th for a gearbox change. Schumacher, Vettel, Rosberg, Raikkonen, Kobayashi, Alonso completed the top 10.

RACE :

Everybody got a clean start into the First Turn. Massa jumped Button and almost overtook Hamilton into the First Corner. Button tried to retake the position after 2nd chicane but failed.

It was a brilliant start from Fernando Alonso who jumped upto 7th from 10th.

Hamilton built his lead over Massa while Vettel took the help of DRS to shoot past Schumacher into the First turn ( Lap 4 ). Rosberg and Senna banged wheels with the latter going over bumps. Alonso was now challenging Schumacher for 5th position. Senna went off-track again on Lap 8 while challenging Di Resta and lost a position to Webber in the process.

Lap 9 saw the First Retirement. The rear end of Jean-Eric Vergne's Toro Rosso suddenly stepped out on him as he was braking for Turn One. The car spun around, bumped across the kerbs and sleeping policemen with a heavy impact on landing.

Paul Di Resta was now going backwards ( Lap 11 ) as he complained of tyre degradation. Schumacher too came under intense pressure from Raikkonen. 

Schumacher pitted on Lap 16 and it was clear that he was on a Two Stop Strategy. Button closed in on Massa and passed him on Lap 19, the latter complaining of Telemetry Issues.

Massa pitted on Lap 20 but got stuck behind Ricciardo on his exit.

Sebastian Vettel and Fernando Alonso pitted together on lap 21 from 4th and 5th respectively. A brilliant stop for Ferrari made him rejoin almost side-by-side with the Red Bull driver. They both exited the pit-lane just behind Felipe Massa who was trapped behind the slower Toro Rosso.

Felipe Massa finally overtook the Toro Rosso of Daniel Ricciardo to give himself some breathing space on Lap 22. Vettel almost hit the back of the Toro Rosso as it suffered from lack of Traction out of the Corner.

Jenson Button pitted on Lap 23. The Team struggled with one of the wheel-nuts and he was delayed. However the Quick in-laps ensured that he rejoined the track just ahead of Massa.

Hamilton pitted on lap 24 and Sergio Perez who had started the race in 12th on Hard Tyres was now leading the Race!

Kimi Raikkonen made a move on Nico Hulkenberg's Force India in the first corner for eighth place. ( Lap 25 )

Meanwhile Fernando Alonso and Sebastian Vettel battled it out. Alonso tried a move down the outside at Turn One. Vettel then squeezed the championship leader onto the grass at the first Lesmo corner.  The Spaniard got off the gas and eased back on track. He was quite frustrated on the Radio.

Lap 28 saw Hamilton retake the lead from Perez, the Mexican still to pit for medium Tyres ( Options ).

Alonso finally succeeded and passed Vettel on Lap 29. The incident earlier between the two was under investigation by the Stewards.

Lap 31 turned out to be the most interesting lap. Perez made his only stop and emerged 8th. Vettel was given a Drive-Through Penalty for pushing Alonso onto the grass. Then it all changed for one of the McLaren Mercedes.

Jenson Button lost Fuel-pressure in his car and retired on Lap 33! His Car simply came to a stop as he lost drive. A Potential 1-2 lost. Kimi Raikkonen and Sergio Perez battled and the Finn had to dig deep to hold his place. However the latter muscled his way past on Lap 36. Massa Received the following Radio Message on Lap 37 : "Think about how you're going to manage the tyres. Think about how you're going to manage the tyres, Felipe. Fernando is behind."

Hockenheim 2010 anyone??

Schumacher was down to 11th after his 2nd pitstop. Alonso passed Massa who hardly put up a fight after being told that his team-mate was 0.9 seconds behind ( Lap 40 ). A lap later Vettel went past his team-mate Webber into 6th position and was closing in on Kimi Raikkonen.

On Lap 43 Mark Webber was informed that Sebastian Vettel had a car problem which might stop him suddenly. Meanwhile, Sergio Perez was taking chunks out of the Felipe Massa's lead.

Perez overtook Massa on the backstraight just before Parabolica on Lap 44. This move might just change the driver lineup for Ferrari next year. Massa drove brilliantly but Perez seemed simply better. Perez was now closing in on Alonso and passed him without fuss using DRS around the outside at Ascari. ( Lap 46 ).

Lap 48 saw another big retirement. Sebastien Vettel was asked to stop his car immediately and retire from the race. Radio Message : "Stop the car, we must save the engine."

Perez was slowly closing in on Hamilton but catching him would be difficult considering the remaining number of laps. Mark Webber suffered a big spin on lap 50 as he came out of Ascari hit the kerbs and lost the backend. However a couple of laps later he was cruising to the pits into retirement after suffering massive flatspots. The Red Bulls had scored NO Points!!!

Lewis Hamilton had done a flawless race losing his lead only for his Pitstop. The Victory also revived his championship hopes.

Sergio Perez produced a Fine Drive to finish 2nd after having started 12th!! Fernando Alonso gave the Tifosi something to cheer by finishing 3rd.

Massa, Raikkonen, Schumacher ( who was charging up the field ), Rosberg, Di Resta, Kobayashi, Senna completed the Top 10.

Alonso now had a 37 point lead ( 179 points ) over Lewis Hamilton ( 142 Points ) and KIMI RAIKKONEN's Consistent performances helped him to jump up into 3rd at 141 points.

VETTEL - ALONSO INCIDENT :

Alonso had closed in on Vettel and tried a move on the outside of the First Lesmo Corner. Vettel held the racing line trying to get the best traction out of the Corner. Vettel would have seen Alonso right behind him in his mirrors and left racing space. However that racing space dwindled as Alonso finally out of tarmac was pushed onto grass. 

According to me it was a Simple Racing Incident and Alonso's Rant is unjustified. Rather he should have taken it in his stride. Ferrari is known to influence decisions and the Stewards' decision here is Questionable. 

MASSA - ALONSO Situation :

"Fernando is faster than you" - Hockenheim 2010. Fernando was the driver challenging for the Championship and Ferrari deemed it fit to use such a transmission to change the result of the race to favour Alonso's Title Bid.

This Race the Transmission was slightly different but the end result same.

"Think about how you're going to manage the tyres. Think about how you're going to manage the tyres, Felipe. Fernando is behind."

Massa has been talked about a lot this season. Experts have felt that he has lost his drive and is a mere shadow of himself after his accident in Hungary in 2009.

However if Fernando claims to be the driver he is, I would prefer seeing Real Racing between the two rather than an easy capitulation by Massa caused by Ferrari's Coded Transmissions. Someone else might not accept this the way Massa does. Alonso is a great driver and is the best driver on the grid this year according to me. He just has to live up to his reputation.

With the European Races over, its now time to head to the "Monaco of the East", The Only Night Race on the Calender - The Singapore Grand Prix.

I shall be at the event. I hope you join me too!!  

SUNDAY :

Sunday was D-Day. The Day I was really looking forward to.

I reached Silverstone early braving all the Traffic Snarls and the torrential rain that came with it.

I passed the F1 Village on my way to the Paddock Club. Sky Sports was very enthusiastic about Batman - The Dark Knight Rises and Showcased the Batmobile :

I Reached the Suite and Preparations were in full swing ( on track ) for the start of one of the Support Races ( GP 2  ). A couple of F1 Reserve Drivers seemed to be quite interested.

Lotus F1 Team had ensured that they would give the best of the Goodies to the Guests today.

It was almost 10 am. As usual I had a nice chat with the Team Members at the Suite. It was now time for the Arrival of the Man I admire in Formula 1. The Flying Finn, The Iceman, The King of Spa are some of his nick-names. The Clock ran down and I couldn't wait to see my hero upfront. And then he arrived. I quickly got into the queue ( Thanks to the Table's Proximity to the Stage ). Then I cherised the Moment. The moment that I could treaure for a lifetime. Today I met KIMI RAIKKONEN!!! He obliged many with autographs and left to start preparations for the Race.

Kimi's Departure was followed by the Final Pit-Lane Walk of the Weekend. One of the Porsche cars ( From the Support race ) being rolled out of our way.

This is also the Time when the Big Boys of the Media go to work. Sky Sports had their team ready to start the Pre - Race Show. ALAN McNISH and MARTIN BRUNDLE were the       Co-hosts.

I also the met the Man I had met in Malaysia. Some might remember him. JOHNNY HERBERT!!

A Great Gesture by the LOTUS F1 TEAM.... RESPECT!!

McLaren Mercedes have had bad pit-stops all through the season. Well some Extra Practice would do them no harm

The Stands were full as the Fans waited to catch a glimpse of their F1 Stars.

The Drivers Spending time Together before Leaving for the Driver Parade.

AHEM AHEM

I have Learnt to respect this Man more and more. He has a great heart, is approachable and I would love to know this man better. My efforts to meet him over the weekend finally bore fruit on Sunday as I got to spend a few Minutes with him. Friends..... MICHAEL "HERBIE" BLASH ( FIA Deputy Race Director ).

As I made my way back up the Pitlane, I got the chance to share a moment with TONY FERNANDES ( CEO - AIR ASIA, TEAM PRINCIPAL - CATERHAM F1, CHAIRMAN - QPR FC ). Also got a quick picture of Nobert Haug ( Mercedes AMG Petronas ) and another near the Pit-Box of the Lotus F1 Team.

ROB SMEDLEY ( Felipe Massa's Race Engineer ) arrived a bit early and mingled with the fans. Great Guy. Martin Brundle smiled for the Shutterbugs. Got Introduced to a couple of people too. Some Marshalls know how to dress up for the Race!

The Lights that Signify the Start and End of Sessions :

Red Arrows - The Highly Acclaimed Aerobatic Team. The Pride of the RAF.

Final Checks before the Big Event.

We Returned to the Suite and were soon joined by MR. ERIC BOULLIER ( TEAM PRINCIPAL -LOTUS F1 TEAM ). He answered a few questions and did a quick review of the Team Performance so far ( which has been more than just Commendable ). A moment with The BOSS!!

Very Rarely does Food take a back-seat in my life. But Today was different. Here is a quick peek at what was the served. The Food - LIP SMACKING and the Hospitality Impeccable!

All the Guests then Hurried to the Balconies to witness the Start of the Race. Silverstone has changed in its Track Layout since 2011. Alonso, Webber, Schumacher started in the Top 3. However it didn't stay the same at the end of the race. Mark Webber was victorious. Alonso and Vettel completed the Podium.

KIMI RAIKKONEN finished 5th ( set the Fastest Lap of the Race )

ROMAIN GROSJEAN finished 6th ( a Fine drive after being pushed back to 22nd due to the incident with Paul Di Resta )

Lotus F1 Team has been running a competition on all three days rewarding the guest who predicted the name of the Driver who would set the Fastest Lap Time of the Session. I supported Kimi to do it & the Flying Finn didn't disappoint. I won a pair of Romain Grosjean Autographed Racing gloves!! Thank you Lotus F1 Team and Thank you Kimi!!

The TEAM that made this weekend more than just Memorable ( L to R : Gaby Mills, Matt Johnson & Gary Rosewell ). A Special Thanks to Gary for the experience of being right there during the Saturday Practice Session.

THE ENTIRE TEAM THAT TOOK CARE OF US ON THE WEEKEND!! MET ALL OF THEM. GREAT PEOPLE. HOPE TO MEET THEM AGAIN... SOON

As I bid Farewell to the Suite and to New Friends I had made, A Couple was gracious enough to take me down to the LOTUS F1 TEAM Motorhome!!

The Pirelli - PZeros. All Compounds were used this weekend.  Another Photo just before entering the Motorhome.

Hospitality in the Motorhome is World - Class. Some more shots of the Mobile Motorhome.

 I also had the Opportunity to have a quick chat with one of KIMI RAIKKONEN's ENGINEERS

( FORGOT HIS NAME... LOTUS F1 TEAM need some help here )

The Motorhomes of all the teams. Its Just Amazing to see how good teams are in Assembling and Dismantling all these.

I made new friends. A Special thanks to the Couple for their graciousness!! Thank you Eddie Sir!!

Its Amazing how quickly Friends are made. Great to meet them!!

Well what follows now might make people envious of me... SORRY

KIMI RAIKKONEN Autographed the Visor of his Mini-Helmet :

The Racing Gloves autographed by  ROMAIN GROSJEAN :

The Mini - Helmet and the Gloves :

I didn't have time to Take Photos of all the Goodies.. :

Finally I want to THANK GOD & My Parents for Fulfilling my Dream.

A BIG THANK YOU to the LOTUS F1 TEAM for Bringing back KIMI RAIKKONEN into the WORLD of FORMULA 1. F1 isn't the same without KIMI. I had a great weekend. Thank you for all the Hospitality!

THANK YOU www.exclusivegp.com for giving me an experience that I would never forget. FRIENDS If you want to have experiences such as mine, www.exclusivegp.com are the guys that can make it happen.

NOW FOR SINGAPORE AND INDIA!!!

"The Iceman", "The Flying Finn", " The King of SPA" , These are some of the names given to the man who made it to Formula 1 after just 23 races in the Formula Renault Series! - A Jump many considered too dangerous for Formula 1. His Monosyllabic Answers and Expressionless Face make him a nightmare for media; but as a McLaren Mercedes' pit crewmember said "Outside He is a different guy, an introvert, but when He gets behind the wheel, his character changes completely! He is focussed and has so much knowledge about his car.. Its simply Astonishing!"

The man is from Espoo, Finland , the 2007 Formula 1 World Champion KIMI RAIKKONEN!! 

Well lets have a quick look at his Formula 1 Career :

Peter Sauber, Owner of Sauber Formula 1 team signed him for the 2001 season amidst opposition from many critics because of Kimi's Racing Inexperience. However the Finn didn't disappoint achieving four points-scoring finishes and eight finishes in the top eight. Completing the year with 9 points, Räikkönen, along with teammate Nick Heidfeld, helped Sauber to what was then its best result of fourth place in the constructors' championship.

Ron Dennis a long admirer of Finnish Drivers considered him a worthy replacement for the retiring Double World Champion Mika Hakkinen and signed Kimi in 2002, Ferrari also being a prospective destination.

2002 - 2006 saw him complete 5 seasons with McLaren Mercedes. The Woking Based team however suffered from unreliability which cost Kimi dearly in the Championships. He finished 2nd in 2003, two points separating him and the winner Michael Schumacher. 2005 could have been his year but poor reliability and component failures forced him to finish 21 points behind Fernando Alonso - Youngest Formula 1 champion in 2005. McLaren Mercedes struggled in the other season inspite of having quick cars.

Kimi finally made the much anticipated switch to Scuderia Ferrari in 2007 taking the place of the 7 time Formula 1 World Champion Michael Schumacher. However Kimi never let the disappointments of the previous seasons trouble him as he clinched his maiden Formula 1 Championship in the last race in Sao Paulo ( Brazil ) winning by a solitary point from Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso.

2008 & 2009 saw him struggle again. The first half of 2008 was fruitful with Kimi getting a couple of victories but Tyre Temperature issues troubled him in the second half. 2009 witnessed many changes most notably Kinetic Energy Recovery System ( KERS ). Ferrari opted to use it though it was optional and struggled throughout the season. He however did win His Favourite GP of Spa Franchorchamps in Belgium winning 4 times in the last 5 Belgian GPs earning the title "THE KING OF SPA" .

2010 saw him leave Formula 1 for Rallying. Ferrari replaced him with Fernando Alonso.

After a couple of mediocre seasons in Rallying with the Citreon B Team, rumours were ripe of Kimi's return to Formula 1 when he was spotted at Williams' Oxfordshire factory during the Singapore GP weekend. However the talks failed and just when all hope seemed lost, Lotus Renault surprised us all. 

The Announcement came on 29th November 2011 with Lotus offering the Finn a 2 year contract.

2012 is going to be an amazing season featuring 6 Formula 1 Champions - Sebastien Vettel ( Youngest Double World Champion - 2010 & 2011 ), Fernando Alonso ( 2005 & 2006 ), Lewis Hamilton ( 2008 ), Jenson Button ( 2009 ), Kimi Raikkonen ( 2007 ) & Michael Schumacher ( 1994, 1995, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 ).

Kimi Raikkonen will have to settle in quickly to challenge his Close Friend Vettel's Crown.  Although experts are having mixed reactions about his return, underlining Schumacher's performances as a reference, I feel Kimi when given the right car is more motivated to win than anyone else on the grid. In his words "Only I know what is going on in my mind" goes to prove that the Finn wants to prove his worth again. The 2nd Highest Sportsman in 2009 knows how to accomplish the task at hand.

He will have to first build Renault, using his Formula 1 expertise and making them the team that they were in 2005 & 2006. Renault knows that guys like Raikkonen, Alonso are born racers and I am sure this move won't backfire. Kimi has enjoyed his preliminary testing in Valencia and has said he is more motivated than ever. Alonso has welcomed his friend's return to Formula 1. “Kimi’s return is certainly a very great news for all of us, not only to Formula 1, but also for the spectators, for people who love the races, because he is a very talented driver. I have always respected him and a driver you can trust racing wheel to wheel,” 

His return has aroused the Formula 1 passion for supporters like me. We hope to see King Kimi back on the podium soon and Hopefully even lift his Second World Title. 2012 Season Bring it on!!

Till then Adore the Man in his new Avatar!!

Photo credits : www.lotusf1team.com