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 Formula 1 schedule, post-Covid, has undergone a revamp with all the on-track activities getting pushed to later in the day. The schedule changes mean that fans can have a more relaxed start to a Saturday.

Even with a relaxed schedule,  Saturday at the 2024 F1 Austrian Grand Prix was action-packed. The F1 Sprint was followed by Qualifying for the main race on Sunday. 

The memories from the weekend were captured with the Sony RX10 IV and the Samsung S24 Ultra.

Welcome to the Saturday Experience!

En route to the Circuit :

Saturday kickstarted with meeting an F1 Legend in Juan Pablo Montoya! Who can forget his battles with the Schumacher Brothers and Kimi Raikkonen!

The Paddock Club wasn't open yet but the Pit Lane walk was!

Shots from the Pit Lane Walk :

Systems Checks on Albon's Car ( Video Link ) :

The Scuderia Ferrari Garage getting ready for the day on Saturday morning :

Systems Checks on Carlos Sainz Jr's Car ( Video Link ) :

As I walked back to the entrance, I had the opportunity to meet team personnel from the Visa Cash App RB F1 Team , who were allowing fans to click pictures with the team's Steering wheel.

With the Visa Cash App RB Steering Wheel :

The Paddock Club opened for the day and it was time to have a quick bite before the F1 Sprint got underway.

Enjoying some croissants, coffee and an appetizer before the F1 Sprint :

The Pit Lane opens and the drivers head out for sighting laps :

The mechanics wheel the drivers to their respective grid slots. Stills from the Grid :

The Countdown Clock runs down as the drivers get ready for the Sprint Formation Lap :

The Mechanics run to clear the grid before the start of the Sprint Race.

F1 Sprint Race Formation Lap ( Video Link ) :

The drivers had to undergo another formation lap due to a technical issue on the track

2nd Formation Lap ( Video Links ) :

With the Sony RX10 IV :

With the Samsung S24 Ultra :

Video Links for the F1 Sprint Race Start :

With the Sony RX10 IV :

With the Samsung S24 Ultra :

Shots from the F1 Sprint :

Chequered Flag after the F1 Sprint :

Max Verstappen won the F1 Sprint from Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris. Carlos Sainz Jr and Charles Leclerc were P5 and P7 for Ferrari, respectively.

Time for some lunch :

The Club Suite almost full during lunch!

I had signed up for two off-track activities with the Paddock Club Expert Hosts as guides and it was great to interact with some, who already race in various series across Europe.

Mohan Ritson, a British-Indian ADAC GT4 Racer who is also an expert host in the F1 Paddock Club :

The first off-track activity was the Photo Safari where the guests got escorted to turn 4 to watch some action from the F2 Sprint Race.

Driving up to turn 4 gave us some beautiful views of the track :

The F2 cars navigating Turn 4 during the Sprint Race :

An amazing experience at the Photo Safari :

Video Links of the Racing at Turn 4 :

With the Sony RX10 IV :

With the Samsung S24 Ultra :

I returned to the Paddock Club and it was time to complete my lunch :)

Enjoying some desserts :

The 2nd off-track activity was a visit to the Support Race Paddock where the experts took us through the garages of the teams in F2 and F3.

Stills from the visit to the Support Race Paddock :

As I walked back to the Paddock Club, I met Former F1 World Champion Emerson Fittipaldi who was entering the Paddock in the afternoon :

It was now time for F1 Qualifying!

The lull before the storm! Getting ready for Qualifying :

The Drivers emerge from the Garages for the start of Qualifying :

Shots from Q1 :

The Scuderia Ferrari Drivers flying during Q1 :

Alexander Albon, Lance Stroll, Valtteri Bottas, Logan Sargeant & Zhou Guanyu were eliminated at the end of Q1.

Time for Q2 :

The Ferrari drivers continue pushing in Q2 :

Daniel Ricciardo, Kevin Magnussen, Pierre Gasly, Yuki Tsunoda & Fernando Alonso were eliminated in Q2.

The top ten shootout commences!

The final push for the Ferrari duo!

Max Verstappen bagged pole position from Lando Norris and George Russell. Carlos Sainz Jr and Charles Leclerc were P4 and P6 for Ferrari, respectively.

The Ferrari mechanics wheeling Sainz's Ferrari from the Parc Ferme to the Garage :

It was time for the guests to go downstairs.

The final pit lane walk of the day beckons :

Shots from the 2nd Pit Lane Walk :

Old F1 Cars going full pelt at the F1 Legends Parade :

The F1 Legends Parade ( Video Link ) :

Post the Pit Lane walk, I decided to spend some time walking through the paddock :

I got the chance to meet some racing fraternity!

Lance Stroll, Aramco Aston Martin Racing F1 Team :

Mike Krack, Team Principal, Aston Martin Racing F1 Team :

Liam Lawson, Reserved Driver for Red Bull Racing :

Alexander Albon, Williams Racing F1 Team :

Nicolas Todt, Charles Leclerc's Driver Manager :

The day drew to a close and it was time to head back to Graz :

I have also compiled a Vlog about my Saturday Experience, which is live on my YouTube channel!

Vlog about the Saturday Experience ( Video Link ) :

It was an amazing day at the Red Bull Ring, a truly action-packed Saturday. Sprint Saturdays are frenetic and the teams and drivers are tested to the hilt thanks to the solo practice session that they had the previous day.

Once again, a big thank you to the hosts of the Scuderia Ferrari F1 Team for their hospitality and for giving me another memorable Saturday at the races.

The Sunday Experience follows shortly after!

After an eventful and hectic Friday, it was time for our entourage to prepare for all the action lined up for Saturday! Sadly, despite several attempts, my camera hardware failed and I was restricted to using my Samsung S23 Ultra for the rest of the weekend. Apologies for the lack of photos, but I tried to capture as many memories as possible from the Saturday.

An early morning start allowed us to bypass the traffic that got built up later in the day.

Enroute to the circuit :

The Paddock packing was relatively empty when we arrived and the teams were still gearing up for the day ahead!

The Paddock looks beautiful on Saturday morning :

While there was silence on the track, we decided to head over to the Fan Village to check out everything on offer at the inaugural race.

Walking over to the Fan Village, some stills of the Village, honestly an underwhelming experience :

As the MotoGP Qualifying neared, we decided to head to the grandstand that we had access to to watch all the action!

Views from the KTM Grandstand, a panoramic view of some iconic turns from the circuit :

Q1 underway :

Raul Fernandez and Alex Marquez qualified for Q2 but Marquez had a high-side at turn 5 that injured his ribs. The incident ruled the Spaniard out of the race weekend.

Video Link of Q1 :

Time for the top 12 shoot out in Q2 and the results would decide the grid for both the Sprint and the Race!

Marco Bezzecchi bagged the pole position from Jorge Martin and Francesco Bagnaia. Joan Mir and Marc Marquez qualified P5 and P5 for Repsol Honda respectively.

Returning to the Paddock after an intense qualifying session :

On returning to the Paddock, we had the opportunity to meet more riders :

Darryn Binder, Husqvarna Intact GP, Moto2 :

Raul Fernandez, RNF Aprilia MotoGP :

Around 2 in the afternoon, we got told by our hosts in the Honda Hospitality that we would be on a garage tour soon.

Visiting the Repsol Honda garage was very special for me. As a fan of the team for more than 2 decades, it was an emotional experience. 

The RC213V up-close! It hadn't been the quickest machine, but the bike in its trademark orange livery looked as stunning as ever!

Photos with the Marc Marquez's ride!

We were then escorted to Marcquez's cubicle in the garage and it was such a humbling experience to sit in his seat! A place where several riders and former champions have sat in the past!

Returning to the HRC Hospitality from the garage we could see the skies get overcast :

Meeting more Motorsports Fraternity!

Razlan Razali, Team Principal, RNF Aprilia MotoGP :

Jaume Masia, Leopard Racing, Moto3 :

We decided to stay put during Moto3 qualifying due to rain hitting the circuit. Thankfully, the downpour was not for long, and we were able to walk across to the stands to watch some Moto2 action.

Moto2 Qualifying underway :

Due to the downpour earlier in the day, the FIM and Dorna called for a joint meeting with the riders, and it was unanimously decided to have an extra practice session on wet tyres to enable teams and riders to gather data ( should there be another downpour ).

Stills from the extra Practice session :

With the practice session, it was time for the first-ever Bharat GP Sprint Race!

Video Link of the Formation Lap before the MotoGP Sprint :

Shots from the First ever MotoGP Sprint in Bharat :

Video Link of the MotoGP Sprint Race Start :

The Sprint is done and the riders return to the pit lane after receiving the accolades of the crowds :

Jorge Martin won the Sprint from Francesco Bagnaia & Marc Marquez. Joan Mir crashed out of the Sprint in the other Honda.

As dusk approached, I had the chance to meet some more riders and get selfies and signatures from them!

Aleix Espargaro, Aprilia Racing, MotoGP :

Johann Zarco, Pramac Racing, MotoGP :

What an experience ( more entertaining than F1 ) at a MotoGP Saturday! The sprint race concept is much better than the ones witnessed at an F1 event and track activities come thick and fast! 

I also published a Vlog about my Saturday Experience on my YouTube Channel!

Video Link : 

Thank you to Repsol Honda Racing for having us over the weekend and thank you to everyone who made MotoGP of Bharat a reality! The Sunday experience follows shortly!

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!

Thankfully, I was able to meet more drivers during this time!

Valtteri Bottas, Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake :

Sophia Floersch, Van Amersfoort Racing, Formula 3 :

Oscar Piastri, McLaren F1 Team :

Lando Norris, McLaren F1 Team :

Jerome d'Ambrosio, Development Driver at Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team :

I made my way back to the Ferrari F1 Club, to prepare and grab myself a vantage spot for the start of the F1 Sprint Race.

The grid being readied for the F1 Sprint :

The mechanics rolling the cars & the drivers into the respective grid slots :

The Ferrari mechanics doing the same :

Building up to the formation lap :

Drivers returning from their loo breaks, game face on!

As the cars got readied on the grid, the heavens opened and a downpour hit the track.

The teams had to bring out their gazebos to cover the cars on the grid. The race start got delayed.

Video Link :

The rain relented and it was time to go racing!

The Grid ready for the Formation Lap ( Video Link ) :

The track was quite damp and the stewards decided to begin the F1 Sprint behind the Safety Car.

Video Link ( shot with Sony RX10 IV ) :

Video Link ( shot with Samsung S23 Ultra ) :

Video Links of the Cars running behind the Safety Car

Shot with Sony RX10 IV :

Shot with the Samsung S23 Ultra :

Finally, the Safety Car got called into the pits and it was time to go racing. However, by then, many drivers deemed it safe to switch to the intermediate tyres. Several drivers pitted at the Race start while some ( most importantly Verstappen ) chose to do one full lap on the wet tyres before making a decision.

Video Link of the F1 Sprint Start :

The move to pit on the opening lap of the Sprint yielded dividends for Oscar Piastri who jumped Verstappen after everyone pitted for intermediate tyres. However, a crash brought out the Safety Car again & the field got bunched up, negating Piastri's advantage built from the earlier stop.

Safety Car Deployed ( Video Link ) :

After the track got cleared racing resumed and as expected, Verstappen powered past Piastri to retake the lead of the F1 Sprint.

Video Link :

The drivers battling it out in the F1 Sprint :

The cars returning to Parc-Ferme after the F1 Sprint :

The Chequered Flag is waved at the end of the F1 Sprint & the drivers return to the Pit Lane ( Video Link ) :

Max Verstappen won the F1 Sprint from Oscar Piastri and Pierre Gasly. Gasly, like Piastri, benefitted from the early stop and jumped the Ferrari duo of Carlos Sainz Jr & Charles Leclerc who finished 4th and 5th, respectively.

With the F1 Sprint done, the organizers decided to entertain the remaining crowd with a display of some F1 cars from the yesteryears. Loud, uncensored and still brutally quick!

The classic F1 cars doing some track time!

After the classic cars show, it was time for the final activity of the day - the Paddock Club Pit Lane walk!

Selfies from the Saturday evening pit lane walk :

Shots from the evening pit lane walk :

Stills captured with the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra :

Stills from the Scuderia Ferrari F1 Team garage on a Saturday evening :

I got to meet some more people from the Motorsports Fraternity during the Pit Lane walk.

Friends and mechanics from the Scuderia Ferrari F1 Team! 

Jason Cozzetto, one of the senior mechanics at Alpine F1 Team :

Tiffany Cromwell, Australian Road & Gravel Cyclist & Valtteri Bottas' partner :

With the Pit Lane walk done, we were allowed access to walk on the track and get some selfies. Meanwhile, the parade was practicing for the pre-race ceremony.

Walking around La Source and enjoying the views from the tarmac!

After spending some time in and around La Source, I walked over to the F2 Paddock and then further on to the makeshift garages set up for the F1 vintage cars.

The classic racecars from yesteryears, so beautiful!

As I walked back to the entrance of the Paddock Club, I met a charismatic and very elderly gentleman who is as passionate as any of his younger colleagues!

Mr Fritz van Amersfoort, the founder, Team Principal & F3 Team Manager for Van Amersfoort Racing :

Finally, it was nice to get a selfie with Pietro Fittipaldi, Reserve Driver for Moneygram Haas F1 Team :

Goodbye from Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps :

As I walked back to the Taxi stand to take my ride back to the hotel in Aachen, my heart was full of joy. Although I had a physically tiring and body straining day, I didn't experience any mental fatigue! It was just a wholesome Saturday, difficult to describe in words.

Once again, a Big Thank you to the Hosts of the Ferrari F1 Club for all their love and hospitality on the Saturday. 

The Sunday experience follows soon!

It was an early morning start to the Saturday at the 2023 Spanish Grand Prix. Although the circuit is close to the city of Barcelona, the access roads to the circuit suffered from massive traffic jams. Eventually, I had to ditch my cab and walk more than a mile to make it to the Paddock Club entrance.

Enroute to the Circuit :

The Views on Saturday morning :

The decision to walk turned out to be the right one as I made it in time for the Charles Leclerc interview in the Ferrari F1 Club.

Video Link to the Interview :

A Selfie with Charles Leclerc!

Post the interview, I went downstairs to spend some time in the F1 Paddock :

I got the opportunity to meet some icons from the motorsport world!

2016 F1 World Champion and now a presenter, Nico Rosberg!

Ex-F1 Driver and Dakar Legend, Carlos Sainz Sr :

Mr Peter Sauber, the man who was instrumental in bringing some iconic drivers into the sport with his team Sauber F1 :

Spanish Racer Carmen Jorda :

I spent most of my time in the Scuderia Ferrari Garage during FP3 but witnessed Sargeant suffer a retirement in the session.

Verstappen was the quickest in FP3, from Perez and Hamilton. Sainz and Leclerc were P4 and P7 for Ferrari, respectively.

Lunch! Again, an amazing spread and the desserts give one a sugar rush!

Post-lunch, it was time for the Formula 2 Sprint Race. Jack Doohan's car had to go through some urgent repairs on the starting grid.

The drivers and cars are ready for the F2 Sprint :

F2 Sprint Race Formation Lap ( Video Link ) :

F2 Sprint Race Start ( Video Link ) :

Shots from the Sprint Race :

The track dried and the drivers switched to the Dry Tyres for the remainder of the Sprint.

Isack Hadjar Pit Stop ( Video Link ) :

Safety Car Period ( Video Link ) :

Race Restart after Safety Car ( Video Link ) :

Frederik Vesti won the F2 Sprint from Theo Pourchaire and Victor Martins. Jack Doohan finished in P5.

Chequered Flag ( Video Link ) :

The Sprint Race ended and it was time for the Formula 1 Qualifying session.

The teams and drivers inspecting track conditions before the start of Qualifying :

The cars line up at the end of the Pit Lane as the light goes green for Qualifying :

Shots from Q1 :

The session got red-flagged due to an excursion across the gravel for Albon, but soon enough, the track was fit for racing again. The Drivers lined up at the end of the Pit Lane to wait for the lights to go green :

Shots from the final attempts in Q1 :

The Scuderia Ferrari Drivers return to the garage :

Hamilton was the quickest in Q1 from Norris and Russell. Sainz was P4 but Leclerc got eliminated, which was a shock for everyone at Scuderia Ferrari.

Some Stills from Q2 :

Chequered Flag to signal the end of Q2 :

Verstappen topped Q2 from Norris and Sainz. Perez and Russell were the two shock eliminations in that session. The Mercedes duo also had a coming together, which resulted in some damage to Hamilton's car.

Shots from Q3 :

Verstappen bagged pole position from Carlos Sainz Jr and Lando Norris. 

Cars coming into Parc-Ferme post Qualifying :

The Top 3 Drivers giving Interviews post Qualifying :

The Paddock Club closed shortly after Qualifying but like Friday evening, the guests had the option of doing another Pit Lane Walk or being a part of the Paddock Club Track Truck Tour. I chose the latter as the expert hosts of the Paddock Club took us around for a lap of the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.

Some stills from the Paddock Club Track Truck Tour :

Video of the Tour of the Circuit :

F1 Academy Driver and an Expert Host in the Paddock Club, Nerea Marti :

Shots from the 2nd Pit Lane Walk of the day :

Met some more stars, from Motorsports and beyond!

Latvian Basketball Players - Kristaps Porzingis, Zanis Peiners and Rihards Ozolnieks :

Portuguese and Barcelona FC Footballer, Joao Felix!

Manchester United and English Footballer, Mason Mount :

Portuguese and Benfica FC Footballer Hugo Felix :

Logan Sargeant, Williams Racing F1 Team :

World Number 3 in Tennis, Daniil Medvedev :

Serge Gnabry, Bayern Munich FC and German Footballer :

Kevin Magnussen, Moneygram Haas F1 Team :

Mick Schumacher, Reserve Driver for Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team :

Chelsea FC and England Footballer Ben Chilwell :

Martin Whitmarsh, Aston Martin Group CEO & a man who accomplished so much in the 2000s with McLaren Mercedes :

Ex-F1 Driver and 2012 Spanish GP Winner Pastor Maldonado :

George Russell, Mercedes Petronas AMG F1 Team :

Arthur Leclerc, F2 Driver for DAMS Racing and Charles Leclerc's brother :

I bid goodbye to the Circuit but it was time to head for dinner with some friends, who would be joined by some mechanics from the Scuderia Ferrari F1 Team.

En route to a dinner with friends, both new and old!

An evening to remember, La Familia! It was great catching up with the ones who actually worked so hard to bring success to drivers and teams over the years. The mechanics are the true heartbeat of any team and it was amazing to interact and share a meal with the trust legends of F1.

It had been a long but memorable Saturday. My day began in the early hours of the morning but ended equally late at night. I also did a Vlog on my YouTube channel documenting my experience on Saturday.

Video Link :

Thank you to the Scuderia Ferrari F1 Team and the Hosts at the Ferrari F1 Club for an action-packed, memories-filled Saturday at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. There was joy in seeing Carlos Sainz Jr end up on the front row of the grid for the race but also sadness about the mechanical issues that Charles Leclerc suffered, which hampered his progress in Qualifying.

However, Sunday was a new day and the day that mattered! The Sunday Experience follows soon!

Saturday is Qualifying day on an F1 weekend and when the feeder series like Formula 2 and Formula 3 have their Sprint Races. An action-packed Saturday translates into an early morning start and it isn't easy to get out of bed after a late Friday night.

Thankfully, I had rested well and was able to stick to my schedule for the day!

Enroute to the circuit :

Good morning, Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps :

Taking the Polestar shuttle to the Paddock Club :

The view of the Paddock on a cloudy Saturday morning :

Overcast conditions to begin the Saturday proceedings :

Some Coffee and Croissant to kickstart the day :

Carlos Sainz Jr visits the Ferrari F1 Club for an interview on Saturday morning :

Video Link of the Interview :

The menu for today :

Oliver Bearman took the win in the first F3 race of the weekend. Shots from the Parc Ferme :

Video Link of the Parc Ferme Celebrations :

The Podium celebrations followed shortly after :

Video Link of the Podium Celebrations after the F3 Sprint Race :

Lunch is served :

The first pit lane walk on Saturday :

Some shots with the Samsung S22 Ultra :

The Scuderia Ferrari F1 Team garage, looking regal as ever :

Felipe Drugovich, the MP Motorsport driver who eventually became the F2 Champion this year :

A Selfie with Arthur Leclerc, Prema Racing!

Emerson Fittipaldi, Double World Champion and a legend of F1 :

Caio Collet, MP Motorsport F3 Driver and Alpine Driver Academy :

Theo Pourchaire, Sauber Driver Academy and ART Grand Prix Formula 2 Driver :

Walking through the support Race Paddock and you discover some classics :

Time to capture some stills from FP3, just after the La Source hairpin :

Shots from FP3, from the comfort of the Ferrari F1 Club :

The Scuderia Ferrari F1 Team running its program in FP3. With Charles Leclerc starting at the back of the grid due to engine penalties, all hopes were on Carlos Sainz Jr to deliver in Qualifying as well as on Sunday.

Post FP3, the drivers lined up on the grid to practice their race starts :

Practice Starts at the end of FP3 ( Video Link ) :

The cars and the drivers return to the pit lane at the end of Free Practice 3 :

Post FP3, I decided to visit the garages housing the F1 Classic Cars and what a treat it was to behold these beauties, up close and personal!

It was then that I spotted a famous racer from Colombia chatting outside the F2 dining area.

So happy to see Tatiana Calderon back in F2 with Charouz Racing :

Soon enough, it was time to head back to the Paddock Club for the start of Qualifying.

Some stills from Qualifying. I had the privilege of being in the garage for Q2 and Q3.

Despite a mistake on his final run, Carlos Sainz Jr inherited the pole position, thanks to Verstappen's grid penalty. While Verstappen got bumped down to P14, Leclerc started P15.

As I walked back to the Paddock Club, I bumped into Zhou Guanyu from Alfa Romeo F1 Orlen. 

Zhou Guanyu, Alfa Romeo F1 Orlen Team :

Post Qualifying, the guests in the Ferrari F1 Club had the opportunity to meet Mattia Binotto, the Team Principal for a quick Q&A :

Mattia Binotto Interview in the Ferrari F1 Club ( Video Link ) :

As Mattia Binotto said goodbye to us, it was time to enjoy the F2 Sprint Race and post that I had the opportunity of seeing a couple of the podium finishing cars up close :

Once again, just like in Hungary, I met my hero, the Legend! Mick Doohan, 5-time Moto GP World Champion, again! 

Meeting those from the F1 Fraternity didn't end there. From there on, met a plethora of people!

Jack Doohan, Mick Doohan's son, who finished P2 in the F2 Sprint Race :

Stoffel Vandoorne, Reigning Formula E World Champion :

Nyck De Vries, reserve driver for Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team :

Andrew Shovlin, Trackside Engineering Director, Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team :

James Vowles, Chief Strategist, Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team :

Nicholas Latifi, Williams Racing F1 Team :

Jost Capito, CEO and Team Principal, Williams Racing F1 Team :

Frederic Vasseur, MD, CEO and Team Principal of Alfa Romeo F1 Orlen Team :

Andreas Seidl, Team Principal, McLaren F1 Team :

Otmar Szafnauer, CEO and Team Principal, Alpine Racing F1 Team :

Lando Norris, McLaren Racing F1 Driver :

Peter Bonnington, famously known as Bono, Lewis Hamilton's Race Engineer :

Time to say goodbye to Spa Francorchamps and head back to the hotel. It had been a long day!

The Saturday Vlog from the Belgian Grand Prix on my Youtube Channel :

I headed back to Hasselt around 10 pm. This was the longest that I had ever been at a race track. It was a fulfilling day meeting drivers and F1 personnel, besides interacting with fellow fans during those hours. 

With Carlos Sainz Jr starting in P1, things looked encouraging, most of us hoped to see him secure his 2nd win of the season. 

Thank you to Edge Global Events for organizing the race passes, as well as to the hosts of the Scuderia Ferrari F1 Club for giving me yet another memorable Saturday at the races!

The Raceday experience follows shortly after this, so watch this space!

The Hungarian Grand Prix gets held at Hungaroring, close to the capital Budapest. Although it isn't too far from the city, hailing a taxi to the circuit is a cumbersome process and I learnt my lesson the hard way on Saturday morning. After several attempts, I could finally hop into a taxi with a couple of Dutch friends, but the delay meant that I would miss out on meeting Carlos Sainz Jr in the Ferrari F1 Club when the Spaniard visited.

 

Enroute to the circuit on Saturday morning :

I finally reached Hungaroring and it was already time for the Pit Lane walk.

Shots from the first pit lane walk of the day :

As I made my way back to the Paddock Club, I had the opportunity of meeting a couple of people from the F1 fraternity.

F2 Driver and Reserve for Williams Racing, Roy Nissany :

David Coulthard, ex-McLaren F1 Driver and Presenter :

The skies were overcast and rain was a certainty.

The Paddock and the drivers getting ready for action on a wet Saturday!

The view before the Final Practice session of the weekend :

Shots from Free Practice 3 :

As soon as FP3 got over, I headed to the food stations to grab some lunch.

The menu for Saturday :

Time to enjoy some goodies on offer in the Paddock Club :

With lunch done, it was time to get prepped for Qualifying.

The Pit Walls get ready for the start of Qualifying :

Drivers roll out of their pit boxes to get on the track for the start of Qualifying.

Shots from Q1 :

The Scuderia Ferrari drivers pushing hard in Q1.

Yuki Tsunoda, Alexander Albon, Sebastian Vettel, Pierre Gasly and Nicholas Latifi got eliminated at the end of Q1.

Shots from Q2 :

Leclerc and Sainz at it in Q2 :

Sergio Perez, Zhou Guanyu, Kevin Magnussen, Lance Stroll and Mick Schumacher were the next lot of drivers to drop out of Qualifying. Perez's failure to make it into Q3 was a major upset.

The final top-ten shootout, time for Q3 :

Will the Ferrari duo come out on top?

George Russell took an unlikely pole from Carlos Sainz Jr and Charles Leclerc. Max Verstappen, the Championship Leader, could only manage P10. It seemed like Red Bull was on the back foot. This was Ferrari's race to lose.

Post Qualifying, Mattia Binotto, the Team Principal joined the guests in the Ferrari F1 Club for a quick Q&A :

Video Link of the Interview :

Mattia Binotto, Scuderia Ferrari F1 Team Principal :

I decided to walk to the Paddock Club entry and enjoy a moment with some trophies on display!

Take some photos with the Race Winning, Drivers' and Constructors' Championship Trophies!

I signed up for the Photo Safari that took Paddock Club guests to turn 5 to allow the latter to have a closer look at the cars. We had the opportunity of visiting the spot during the Formula 2 Sprint Race.

Some Selfies taken at the Photo Safari :

The drivers battling during the F2 Sprint race :

Video of the view from turn 5 at the Photo Safari :

Returning to the Paddock Club and taking more stills from the F2 Sprint race :

The Paddock Club shut shortly after the F2 Sprint Race but there was still a pit lane walk on offer for those wanting to visit the garages on Saturday evening.

Shots from the 2nd and final pit lane walk of the day. It bore a deserted look as most of the guests had left the track. All the cars were under wraps, waiting for Raceday.

As I bid adieu to the Paddock Club, I went down to the Support Race Paddock in the hope of meeting Mick Doohan, Jack Doohan's father. Mick Doohan had been my first Motorsport hero and I didn't want to miss the opportunity of meeting him. Jack, an Alpine Academy and Uni Virtuosi Driver had won the F2 Sprint race and it was befitting to wish Mick on his son's success.

I waited for his arrival and was surprised to bump into the podium finishers from the F2 Sprint Race.

Enzo Fittipaldi and Juri Vips after finishing on the podium in the F2 Sprint Race :

Jack Doohan, the Winner of the F2 Sprint Race! I got to meet the son too!

After a long wait, night fell on the F2 paddock and distraught, I finally gave up the hope of meeting Mick Doohan. As I headed back up the bridge, I made one final glance to the entry. To my surprise, I saw the outline of a man in a white t-shirt walking with three people towards the Paddock Club parking. I couldn't follow their route since they went through the race track. I decided to leg it to the parking and as he was entering his vehicle, I shouted "Mick Mick!" It was really Mick Doohan! 

What followed was a brief and amazing exchange, followed by a picture clicked by Jack Doohan! This truly was a dream come true. I am still getting goosebumps as I type this! 

Meeting my hero, the man who made me fall in love with Motorsport. Got me hooked on Moto GP. Mick Doohan!

It was finally time to head back to my hotel and process all that had transpired on the Saturday!

Like the Friday Experience showcased in a Vlog on Youtube, here is the link for the Saturday experience :

A big thank you to Scuderia Ferrari F1 Team for hosting me over the weekend and being a part of these memorable days of my life. The Raceday experience follows suit shortly, so watch this space!!

Saturday on a Grand Prix weekend features the last Free Practice Session, FP3 and Qualifying for F1. Its shortly followed by the Feature Race in F2. This was a Saturday that we can never forget..

An early start to the day helped us beat some traffic to the track.

Enroute to the Circuit from Hasselt :

We were also in time for the Saturday Morning Pit Lane Walk.

Shots from the Pit Lane Walk :

The Alfa Romeo Racing F1 Team Garage :

Kimi Raikkonen's Alfa Romeo being Fired up before FP3 ( Video Link ) :

A beautiful morning in the Paddock :

Healthy Breakfasts anyone?

It was then time for Free Practice 3 and I found a nice place to shoot some pictures of cars going up Raidillon :

I made my way back to Turn 1 ( La Source ) and met Porsche Carrera Cup Drivers on the way while going through the Support Race Paddock.

Dylan Pereira, Supercup Porsche Carrera Cup Racing Driver :

Some more shots of the cars coming out of La Source Hairpin :

Alfa Romeo Racing F1 Team during FP3 :

Charles Leclerc was fastest in FP3 from Sebastian Vettel and Valtteri Bottas. Kimi Raikkonen and Antonio Giovinazzi were P8 and P9 respectively.

A Quick Lunch in the Motorhome :

Timo Glock, Ex-F1 and DTM Racer :

The Motorhome, a busy place during Lunch :

Heikki Kulta of Finnish Press :

It was also time for the 2nd Pit Lane walk of the day. 

The Alfa Romeo Racing F1 Team Garage!

I headed out to the La Source hairpin stand after the Pit Lane Walk to meet my friend and long time Kimi Supporter Zakria!

Qualifying got underway soon after. Shots from Q1 :

Alfa Romeo Racing F1 Team during Q1 :

Charles Leclerc was the fastest in Q1 from Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen. Both the Alfas made it into Q2!

Shots from Q2 :

Antonio Giovinazzi's car suffered a mechanical failure in Q2 and couldn't set a time. He would eventually start the race in P18 after serving the penalties incurred for the parts change. Charles Leclerc was the fastest from Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton. Kimi Raikkonen made it into Q3.

Shots from Q3 :

Charles Leclerc took Pole from Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton. Kimi Raikkonen qualified a commendable P8 ( effective P6 after Ricciardo's and Hulkenberg's penalties ).

Ferrari were ecstatic after locking out the front row!

Post Qualifying celebrations :

Taking the Cars to Parc-Ferme :

I made it back to the paddock to unwind for a bit before heading home.

Mark Webber and David Coulthard, highly successful Racers in F1 and beyond :

Brett Arnall, Mark Arnall's brother and my friend Kimi Raikkonen fan Jane Bleach :

During the F2 Feature Race, a massive crash happened just after Raidillon. Young Drivers Anthoine Hubert and Juan Manuel Correa were involved in the incident. The Race was red-flagged and later cancelled. Both were rushed to the Medical Centre. 

Inspite of their best efforts, Anthoine Hubert didn't make it. We were shocked and shaken after hearing the news. True Motorsports is dangerous but a talent who was only 21 was taken away from us, in the cruelest way possible. Words fall short to describe the mood in the Paddock. Everyone rallied around the near and dear ones of this Renault Program young driver. It once again showed how closed knit the Racing Community. Juan is still under treatment and after a couple of critical surgeries is on a rough road to recovery. All of us shed tears, all of us were one...all of us..

As we head back to Hasselt, our hearts were heavy, our senses numb, we still didn't want to believe this to be true..but such is life..

This incident reminded us that racers sacrifice their all to live their dreams, to race, to enthrall, to entertain, to give us memories that will be etched in the hearts of us fans forever and yet, all it takes is a moment, one instance to end it all. This Sport unites us..as one big family..fans and racers alike..we race as one, we win as one....and in the times of mourning we mourn as one..There is an old saying "life goes on"..for Anthoine's Family, life would never be the same again..

May his soul rest in peace..

The legacy of Anthoine Hubert lives on..

The Sunday experience follows next.. 

Its an early start on Saturday for the teams with Pit Stop Practice followed by the final free practice of the weekend and Qualifying. Qualifying determines the starting order / grid for the race on Sunday. Alfa Romeo had a tough Friday. Did their fortunes improve on Saturday? Were Ferrari able to capitalize on their pace advantage and come out on top on Saturday?

The organisers had built a new Paddock Club facility for the circuit ( spending around 20 million Dollars! ), so it was nice to be a part of this inaugural weekend.

Lets have a quick recap of how the day unfolded.

Enroute to the Circuit :

The Boat Ride to the Paddock Club :

The Boat drops the guests right outside the entrance of the Paddock and sure enough you meet a lot of famous faces in F1.

Nicholas Latifi, Rokit Williams Racing F1 Team Reserve Driver 

Brendan Hartley, Reserve Driver for Scuderia Ferrari F1 Team :

Lance Stroll, Driver for Racing Point F1 Team :

Coffee & Croissants anyone?

Shots from FP3 ;

Alfa Romeo Racing during FP3 :

The Pitwalls of all teams hard at work :

Cars returning to the Pits after FP3 ( Video Link ) :

Sebastian Vettel was fastest from Charles LeClerc and Lewis Hamilton in FP3. Antonio Giovinazzi and Kimi Raikkonen were P15 and P16 respectively.

Shortly after FP3 it was time for Lunch and the Pit Lane walk of the day.

Lunch, truly a global affair!

The Pit Lane Walk before Qualifying :

Selfie time with the GoPro Hero 7 Black :

Alfa Romeo Racing F1 Team Pit Stop Practice ( Video Link ) :

After a quick visit to the Pit Lane, I rushed back upstairs to be in time for the Podium visit. F1 Experiences takes its guests behind the scenes for a quick visit to the Cool Down Room ( a place where the top 3 Drivers are weighed and unwind after a gruelling race before heading out onto the Podium ).

The winner on the Top Step of the Podium. Since the Paddock Club has been revamped in Montreal so no one else has stood here before. We were among the first.

The View from the Podium. The area would be packed by Photographers, team members and fans after the race on Sunday!

Time for Qualifying! Shots from Q1 :

Alfa Romeo Racing F1 Team during Q1 :

Chequered Flag :

Kimi Raikkonen was knocked out in Q1 :( a big big disappointment. The Alfa just wasn't quick enough. Giovinazzi scraped through in 15th. Sebastian Vettel was fastest in Q1 from Charles LeClerc and Valtteri Bottas.

Q2 underway :

Antonio Giovinazzi during Q2 :

Kevin Magnussen crashed on his final run in Q2. He did go through Q3 but would take no further part.

Giovinazzi finished in P13. Max Verstappen didn't make it to Q3 either and that was a big surprise. Lewis Hamilton was fastest in Q2 from Valtteri Bottas and Sebastian Vettel. 

Q3 underway :

And that is the end of Qualifying :

Sebastian Vettel grabbed pole from Lewis Hamilton and Charles LeClerc. Finally Ferrari had something to cheer about on Saturday.

Cars returning to Parc-ferme  for Post-Qualifying Interviews :

Sebastian Vettel in great mood at the Scuderia Ferrari F1 Suite :

Pierre Gasly, Aston Martin Red Bull Racing F1 Team :

Nice to see Memorabilia, Posters,Car displays and even Ice Hockey in the Paddock Club. Adds to the Ambience and brings a different kind of freshness and vibe.

Some Stills from the Porsche Cup :

It was time to say goodbye to the Paddock Club and hang around for a bit downstairs. The decision turned out to be quite fruitful, evident from the pictures that follow!

Sergio Perez, Sportpesa Racing Point F1 Team :

Matia Binotto, Team Principal for Scuderia Ferrari F1 Team :

Mr. Lawrence Stroll, Billionaire & Lance Stroll's Father :

Daniel Ricciardo, Renault Sport F1 Team :

Alexander Albon, Scuderia Toro Rosso F1 Team :

Cyril Abiteboul, Team Principal for Renault Sport F1 Team :

Christian Horner, Team Principal for Aston Martin Red Bull Racing F1 Team :

Adrian Newey, The Guru of Aerodynamics and Chief Technical Officer for Aston Martin Red Bull Racing F1 Team :

Otmar Szafnauer, Team Principal for Sportpesa Racing Point F1 Team :

Nico Hulkenberg, Renault Sport F1 Team :

Francois, a dear friend from Renault Sport F1 Team :

Paul Ripke, Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team official photographer :

Robert Kubica from Rokit Williams Racing F1 Team :

Guenther Steiner, Team Principal, Haas F1 Team :

Zak Brown, CEO of McLaren Racing F1 Team :

Back to the Hotel :

It was an enjoyable Saturday in the Paddock Club ( barring the Qualifying result for the Alfa Romeos ofcourse ). It would be a Long Sunday Afternoon for Kimi & Antonio but all hope wasn't lost for a good points finish. Once again thank you to Edge Global Events for organizing the passes. 

Sunday Experience up next!