Formula 1: The Dutch Grand Prix experience, from the eyes of a fan

As a passionate Formula 1 fan, attending the Mobil 1 Supercup race was an unforgettable experience! The adrenaline-pumping action, with overtakes galore and some friendly driver-to-driver contact, had me on the edge of my seat. The sight of those giants tearing around the track at speeds reminiscent of the F1 Academy cars was truly awe-inspiring!

At the Dutch Grand Prix, which was my second time experiencing a Formula 1 race (with the Miami Grand Prix in May being my first), I had an idea of what to anticipate as I entered the venue.

It was unexpectedly abundant the amount of sand found there, considering the proximity of the area to the beach.

An oceanside track meant hills and dunes all around, with lots of wind.

Friday

Yesterday was quite a busy day for me. I arrived at Amsterdam airport mere hours before FP1 started, and in a hurry, I deposited all my belongings at the hotel and immediately headed towards Zandvoort. Fortunately, I managed to get there exactly when the cars were leaving the pit lane and hitting the track.

From my front-row seat, I had an unobstructed vantage point that offered an incredible view of the race. The powerful V6 engines roared as they whizzed past, their noise pulsating through the air. This stretch was a DRS zone, meaning the cars sped by so swiftly it was challenging to capture them on film.

I kept a keen watch for Lewis Hamilton and George Russell, two drivers I admire greatly, as it was thrilling to witness them speed past me. The W15’s paint job appeared stunning from my vantage point. When Max Verstappen whizzed by in his Red Bull, there was a deafening cheer from the spectators, many of whom were dressed in orange or Red Bull apparel.

After FP1 ended, I chose to venture around, since there were about three hours until the next practice session. As soon as I stepped out of the grandstand, I noticed long queues for beer and limited walking space. Given Heineken’s popularity, originating from the Netherlands, and its affordability, I opted to join the queue and grab a drink myself.

Subsequently, I navigated towards the fan area and discovered numerous appealing sights. The queue for a snapshot at the podium replica was brief, so I headed over. Additionally, there were miniature champagne bottles lined up on every step, providing me with an excellent opportunity to snap some memorable photos.

Instead of waiting in the lengthy lines for sim racing and pit stop challenges earlier in the week, I decided to give it a go later during the weekend due to their extensive queues. The fan area was impressively large, featuring a massive tent brimming with various food options and merchandise. On one side, a substantial stage attracted fans for question-and answer sessions with certain team principals – unfortunately, I missed that event, but I did catch Christian Horner answering questions on a nearby big screen.

Due to the heavier rainfall, we all hurriedly donned our ponchos since umbrellas weren’t permitted on the premises. It proved challenging to stay completely dry, even with a poncho. The ground was mostly sand or dirt, causing my shoes to get very dirty. When I returned to my hotel, I had to spend some time cleaning them up thoroughly.

During the second practice session, upon returning to my seat, I noticed on the large screen that vehicles were emerging onto the track with rain tires. The majority of drivers were using intermediate tires, while a small group opted for full wet ones.

Despite the track appearing slick due to rain, intermediates proved more effective. It was thrilling to watch the water spray erupt from the tires as each racer zoomed past on the straight. The Mercedes stood out in this race, their speed bringing a broad grin to my face. Watching my favorite team perform better than most others filled me with a delightful sense of joy.

As we reached the halfway mark of the session, the sun emerged, and the wind noticeably decreased. Many cars returned to their pits, switching to soft tires. Despite this, Mercedes continued to perform impressively, which filled me with optimism for qualifying and the race. Similarly, McLaren demonstrated exceptional speed, having brought a substantial upgrade package to Zandvoort.

Saturday

With a clearer grasp on the best public transit options from Amsterdam to Zandvoort, I arrived at the track with extra time. As an ardent Formula 1 Academy enthusiast, attending their morning qualifying session was non-negotiable for me. Unfortunately, the circuit is quite a trek from the train station, about 30 minutes, which left my legs feeling weary upon reaching my seat.

In this scenario, I’d rephrase it like this: I anticipated Abbi Pulling would be up front once more, but my support was primarily for Doriane Pin, who represents a Mercedes-backed racing academy. Navigating Formula 1 Academy qualifying can be tricky since they employ a single qualifying round to establish the starting grid for both of their main races.

Cars that they own tend to be significantly less fast than Formula 1 vehicles, being more akin to Formula 4 models instead. However, despite their speed, the four-cylinder turbocharged engines generate an impressive sound as they roar past on the straightaways.

Leading significantly in qualifying, Pulling and Pin appeared to have a considerable advantage over their competitors. In the first race, the British driver clinched pole position, edging out Pin by more than one-tenth of a second. The pole position for the second race, however, was incredibly tight, with Pin narrowly defeating Pulling by only 11 thousandths of a second.

1. After a quick succession, Formula 1’s third practice run took place under wet conditions, where many drivers chose to limit their participation, completing just a few laps. In an unfortunate incident, Logan Sargeant experienced a severe crash that ignited a fire in the FW45, prompting the immediate deployment of the red flag.

In the majority of our session’s duration, the marshals were busy cleaning the racetrack. Since there was no crane available, a track vehicle was utilized to transport the Williams onto its platform and return it to the pit lane. As a result, I had an up-close vantage point to observe the heavily damaged car as it passed by me.

Before the qualifying commenced, I found myself with a bit of spare time, which I spent heading towards the sim racing exhibit. Luckily, the queue was brief, and I couldn’t wait to give it a try. The format consisted of 15 racers completing three laps in each event, with the swiftest competitor receiving an award at the conclusion.

When it was my go, I wasn’t sure what lay ahead since it was my inaugural time in a simulator. The encounter felt dreamlike as the steering wheel bore a striking resemblance to those found in Formula 1 vehicles. I assumed managing the car would be less challenging and more akin to playing on my PlayStation 5, but I was mistaken. Manually shifting gears and applying the brakes appropriately proved challenging, and navigating the vehicle necessitated turning the steering wheel almost a complete circle of 360 degrees.

As a gamer, I veered off course occasionally, luckily avoiding any penalties. My final lap, though, was my finest moment, but I was still trailing behind the leader by around six seconds. It became apparent during the race that some of my opponents were seasoned sim racers, explaining their exceptional skills on the track.

Following that, I strolled over to the F1 Academy pit lane, eager to catch a peek at the whizzing machines and maybe even run into a few drivers. Most of them seemed to be out and about, but Jessica Edgar was huddled with her crew in her vehicle, tinkering away.

I swiftly resumed my position, since a large group was trying to get back to the stands, and there were only about fifteen minutes left before qualifying started. Almost all seats were occupied by then. As predicted, Q1 unfolded with Sargeant, both Sauber drivers, Esteban Ocon, and Daniel Ricciardo being eliminated.

In a turn of events that left me stunned, Q2 turned out to be the moment when the stage was set for high-stakes drama. To my amazement, both Aston Martin drivers, Lewis Hamilton and Carlos Sainz Jr., found themselves on the sidelines. As a fan, I had expected nothing less than a strong performance from the British driver given how swiftly his W15 had been all weekend.

After the majority cheered for Verstappen earlier, there was stunned silence following Q3, as few unexpected events unfolded. The notable exception was Lando Norris outperforming Verstappen to claim pole position by more than three-tenths of a second – an impressive gap that left everyone in awe, particularly at the Dutch driver’s home event. Knowing George Russell finished fourth gave me some comfort, as it aligned with his anticipated performance for the British driver.

Despite the fact that the F1 Academy’s first race was scheduled immediately after, it appeared that inclement weather was approaching, so I swiftly headed towards the train station. Upon my return to Amsterdam, I found out later that the race had been postponed due to the weather conditions, regardless.

Sunday

Initially, the first Formula 1 Academy race was scheduled for 8:30 a.m., however, I found that too early for my preference, so I opted to catch some additional sleep instead. I managed to arrive on time for the second race that commenced at 10:45.

With Doriane Pin leading the pack, my expectations were high, especially considering Abbi Pulling’s successful conversion of her pole position into a win during the initial race. True enough, just like Abbi, Doriane converted hers, securing her first victory since the race held in Jeddah.

In the thrill of the race, I found myself steadily climbing through the ranks, a testament to Bianca Bustamante’s impressive speed. It wasn’t hard to see why spectators adored her – she was truly captivating. Fortune smiled upon me when I crossed paths with her in Miami, and it became crystal clear as to why she is almost universally admired as the standout driver in the F1 Academy.

On the weekend, I finally got a chance to catch my eyes on the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup race. This massive series had no less than 28 cars lining up, making for an action-packed experience. The race didn’t disappoint, offering plenty of overtakes and a sprinkle of collisions among drivers. A few safety cars were even deployed, leading to some unfortunate DNFs (Did Not Finish). The cars in this series seemed quite substantial, with speeds comparable to the Formula 1 Academy cars I’ve seen before.

After the driver’s procession commenced, I remained in my spot, brimming with anticipation. What followed was an exhilarating experience as I got to see all 20 drivers at a close range. Their float was adorned with a breathtaking array of thousands of blossoms. Incredibly fortunate, I captured up-close shots of George Russell, Lando Norris, Nico Hulkenberg, and Max Verstappen.

Hurrying towards the F1 Academy paddock, I aimed to snap photos and meet drivers. The area was bustling, and each team started dismantling their garages. Once more, Bianca Bustamante attracted the largest crowd; she seemed to be guiding some lucky fans with garage passes on a tour. I waited my turn for her autograph and picture, finding it unbelievable that she’s younger than me yet shining so brightly in the spotlight.

The Al Qubaisi sisters were also present in their garage, yet there wasn’t a large gathering. I was fortunate enough to snap a photo with both of them and had an enjoyable chat with Amna. Despite having a challenging weekend, the driver born in Virginia expressed great enthusiasm for the F1 Academy’s upcoming race in Singapore. She shared that street circuits are her preferred tracks.

As the race neared its start, my excitement level skyrocketed! Every stand was packed full, and each chair sported Dutch flags. The pre-race lap brought a thunderous cheer, with the tune of Max Verstappen’s theme music echoing around.

With every race car settling onto the track, me, a die-hard fan, could feel the electrifying atmosphere all around. The camera homed in on the iconic Rolex clock as its hands hit 3:00 PM, and on the lights that blinked on, starting their countdown.

As soon as the lights dimmed, a deafening cheer erupted from the crowd while every vehicle accelerated swiftly. Lando Norris once more surrendered his lead at turn one, and I couldn’t help but chuckle. It consistently amazes me that he has never managed to maintain the lead into the first turn when starting from pole position.

I hoped Lewis Hamilton would gain numerous positions in the race, but his initial position was 12 due to a three-place grid penalty for obstructing Sergio Perez during qualifying. However, he advanced to 14 once Alex Albon was disqualified from qualifying because of an illegal floor design.

In today’s competition, being one of the three racers initially equipped with softer tires, I was anticipating numerous passes from the seven-time world champion. To my delight, Hamilton delivered an outstanding performance on those soft tires, managing to secure a place in the scoring zone. Remarkably, he even managed to make his softer tires last longer than some drivers who had started on medium tires.

Amid a sea of Verstappen supporters, I leaped exuberantly when Russell outpaced Oscar Piastri during the first lap. Not long after, Norris regained control and maintained his dominance, steadily widening the distance between him and the local hero.

When Lewis Hamilton and George Russell from Mercedes opted for harder tires, the situation turned challenging. They struggled to maintain speed, and it was unfortunate to see Russell losing his podium position after being overtaken.

In the closing stages of the race, they both opted for softer tires in an attempt to boost their speed. Unfortunately, neither driver managed to overtake Sergio Perez. The Silver Arrows ended up in 7th and 8th place – a result I wasn’t anticipating. Truthfully, I had been expecting them to perform better given their impressive form leading up to the summer break.

Overwhelmed by Norris’s second career victory with a massive 22+ seconds lead, I must admit I was taken aback. It struck me as rather peculiar that the two races I’ve ever attended just happened to be the first two wins for the British driver. This weekend at Monza, I’ll be there, so it would be intriguing if Norris clinches another victory. Perhaps I bring him luck!

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2024-08-27 17:33