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

As I reminisce about my incredible day at the Monza Grand Prix, I find myself still overwhelmed by the unparalleled exhilaration and adrenaline that coursed through me. The memories I made will forever be etched into the fabric of my life, and I can’t help but feel grateful for this once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Over the past weekend, I watched the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort, and afterward, I traveled to Monza in Italy for the Grand Prix there.

For the weekend, I found an excellent vantage point; it was situated near the Parabolica, just prior to the start-finish line.

Since I was eager to immerse myself in the local culture and explore the attractions around, I opted to extend my stay in Milan.

Friday

On Friday morning, I arrived at Milan by airplane, leaving me short on time to reach the racetrack. Regrettably, I had to skip Formula 3’s early morning practice session due to this. Nonetheless, I managed to make it to the entrance gates precisely when Formula 2’s practice session was about to start.

Originally, I felt a bit annoyed towards the staff because they made me discard my water bottle due to its large size. This seemed puzzling to me, as I’s because it was permitted attractably, it had been allowed at Zandvoort without any problems. Consequently, I ended up havingto buywater on the premises and useitforthe restoftheweekend.

I was thrilled to witness Formula 2 vehicles racing on the track, as it was my inaugural visit to Monza. The prospect of observing the budding stars of Formula 1 zoom past me was simply astonishing. Among all, I eagerly anticipated seeing Kimi Antonelli, Oliver Bearman, Jak Crawford, Gabriel Bortoleto, and Isack Hadjar in action.

Before Formula 1’s initial practice session began, a short while passed, so upon seeing the waving checkered flag, I headed towards the fan area (which was fortunately nearby), and satisfied my hunger after a long trip. Given the length of my voyage, I was in dire need of a boost. To my delight, the fan area in Monza proved topped up to be quite spacious and stretched outdoorspace, and it proved to be far superior to the one in Zandvoort.

After enjoying some marvelous gelato, I felt like taking another selfie atop a replica podium. As I stepped out of the attraction, I heard shouts and saw crowds running towards a big stage in the park. Following the crowd’s lead, I also headed towards that area.

Approaching the stage, I spotted some folks in orange and green uniforms – it turned out they were conducting driver interviews. Initially unaware, it was then that I realized this was where drivers were being questioned. First up were drivers from McLaren and Sauber, followed by those from Alpine and Aston Martin. Let me tell you, Lando Norris had everyone in stitches! As he exited the stage, a spectator tossed a tiny plush toy dog at him. Catching it effortlessly, Norris grabbed a microphone and quipped, “I’m going to name this one Max”, causing an eruption of laughter from the audience.

With FP1 set to get underway for Formula 1, I quickly made my way back to the grandstand. Despite having seen all of these cars just last weekend, I was still full of excitement. With Logan Sargeant having been replaced just a few days prior, I knew all eyes would be on Franco Colapinto. Transitioning from Formula 2 up to Formula 1 in just a matter of days is no easy task.

Furthermore, I kept a keen eye on Kimi Antonelli during the practice session. Given it was his debut in Formula 1 and rumors suggest he might race for Mercedes next season, my expectations were high. However, the Italian speedster showed great pace at the Speedway Temple, but an unlucky crash on his following lap triggered a red flag.

Antonelli collided at Parabolica, causing me to watch him veer off course, yet I could no longer follow the W15 as it impacted the safety barriers. George Russell’s wreckage clearly upset him, and I found myself concerned about his preparedness given that he will be taking Lewis Hamilton’s place in 2025. In fact, this would mark a significant change for Mercedes, as they have not signed a rookie driver in many years.

Although several individuals chose to depart, I decided to remain seated since the Formula 3 qualifying round was about to start soon. Unbeknownst to me, however, this turnout to be the last race of the Formula 3 season, as the title contest was still in full swing.

Due to the scorching and muggy Italian weather, combined with my exhaustionized energy from jetting around draining, I found myself nodding off in the stands, even with the roaring engines of cars speeding past. Surprisingly quick, Formula 3 qualifying heats are divided into two teams of 13 minutes apiece. Remarkably, most racers managed to finish four laps within this brief timeframe.

After the last meeting ended, I moved towards the shady spot because I was soaked in sweat even though I was just sitting. Not long after, Formula 2’s qualifying session started, and I recognized that this series was also in a tight race for the championship, with several drivers still in the running.

In a tight race across the board, I eagerly anticipated Antonelli grabbing pole position in front of his hometown crowd. Meanwhile, Oliver Goethe was a driver to keep an eye on, as he stepped up from Formula 3 to fill the gap left by Colapinto. The qualifying session was nothing short of exciting, with the top 20 drivers barely a second apart.

three months, and by the period I made it back

Saturday

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On a somewhat cooler note compared to Friday, it was still blazing hot. In the gap between FP3 and Formula 2’s sprint race, I splurged on an ice-cold brew and plopped myself down on a comfy beanbag under some tents designed for fans. I found this fan zone addition incredibly thoughtful, as it was something new to me in Zandvoort and Miami.

As the sprint race for Formula 2 got underway, spectators flocked to the stands, and the excitement continued to escalate. Unfortunately, Kimi Antonelli sustained damage at the start of the race, which dashed any chance he had of placing high in the competition.

Oliver Bearman, on the other hand, was on a very impressive drive to secure the win. Some of the overtakes he made resulted in lots of cheers from the crowd. In my head, I was thinking that he will fit in well with Haas next season. Whether he does well with Esteban Ocon as his teammate is another conversation. Isack Hadjar’s struggles continued, and his championship lead was slowly slipping away.

Approximately an hour before the start of Formula 1’s qualifying session, I opted to explore the fan area. Given its expansive size, numerous racing cars were exhibited, such as those used for Formula 1 Hot Laps and show cars from past Formula 1 generations. It was quite fascinating to lay eyes on Max Verstappen’s early Formula 1 vehicle, specifically a 2016 Toro Rosso model displayed there. A variety of vehicles from the 80s and 90s were also present, including Minardi, Renault, and BMW-Sauber, among others.

Returning to the Parabolica grandstands as qualifying commenced, I was optimistic about Mercedes’ strong performance in FP3, anticipating a pole position or at least a spot on the second row. However, Lando Norris’ exceptional speed throughout the session swiftly dampened my expectations.

1 – In Q1, the British racer stood out as the one who completed a lap within 1 minute and 20 seconds.

Regrettably, Mercedes enthusiasts were let down as Russell ended up in third place, while Hamilton settled for sixth. Ferrari supporters weren’t thrilled to see Charles Leclerc in fourth and Carlos Sainz Jr. in fifth. McLaren’s front-row lockout left everyone speechless, given their consistent speed. It came as a shock to many when Red Bull secured a fourth-row lockout, placing Verstappen in seventh and Sergio Perez in eighth. All fans, except those supporting Red Bull, cheered at the sight of the three-time world champion starting lower than expected.

Sunday

The starting time for the Formula 3 feature race was 8:35 a.m., which didn’t fit into my daily plans. Waking up that early for it wasn’t an option for me. Yet, I managed to arrive on time for the Formula 2 feature race. As I approached the racetrack, I could hear the audience roaring in support of Leo Fornaroli, who had just been crowned champion of Formula 3.

During the formation lap, I eagerly watched as the 22 F2 drivers gradually passed me by, wishing for a successful and undamaged race for Kimi Antonelli. As the lights turned green, the camera moved to capture the fierce battles among the cars trying to gain positions at the first chicane. A plume of smoke emerged after some drivers collided, triggering the swift deployment of the safety car. Following another incident, a second safety car was needed soon after, prompting several drivers to pit their vehicles.

In a remarkable turn of events, Gabriel Bortoleto moved up the ranks on the leaderboard during the race after making an optimal timing in boxing. Starting from 22nd position on the grid, he demonstrated exceptional speed with his newly installed tires and swiftly maneuvered his way through the competition. Eventually, Bortoleto took the lead in the race. On a contrasting note, Isack Hadjar struggled during the weekend, sliding down the rankings and missing out on points, which was not the desired outcome for the French-Algerian driver.

Toward the finish line, Kimi Antonelli displayed outstanding driving skills, capped off by a stunning pass on teammate Oliver Bearman. Meanwhile, Bortoleto clinched his second feature race win this season, reducing his championship deficit against Hadjar to just 10.5 points.

Before the Formula 1 driver parade began, I found myself with some spare time. To make the most of it, I chose to find some shelter and recharge my phone. En route to the cozy beanbag chairs, I paused for a moment to purchase a glass of the renowned Ferrari champagne. For the subsequent hour and a half, I relaxed, enjoyed the champagne, and listened to music.

Upon resuming my seat during the parade, I’d estimate that roughly 95% of seats in my section were occupied, and around 80% of spectators donned red, showing their allegiance to Ferrari. Despite a delay in the appearance of the truck carrying all drivers, the crowd enthusiastically cheeredally cheer for any vehicles passing by, and it appeared that those drivers truly valued the support.

The truck carrying all 20 drivers came into view, and everyone immediately stood up and pulled their phones out. As it came closer, I had a great view of everyone. Despite sitting quite far up in the grandstand, my view of the drivers felt closer than the ones I had in Miami and Zandvoort.

Standing there, I couldn’t help but feel a bit bewildered when the ramps of that truck unfolded, revealing an unexpected scene. However, the mystery quickly unraveled as both Ferrari drivers gracefully stepped down, causing quite the stir. To my utter amazement, they chose to stop right in front of where I was standing, picking the most perfect spot on the entire track!

Approximately an hour and a half before the start of the formation lap, I took some time for lunch and looked for a shady spot to wait until the Grand Prix commenced. The hours leading up to 3:00 p.m. felt endless, yet my anticipation grew with each passing moment. As the Italian national anthem began playing in the background, it was time for me to head back to my seat. By the time I returned, only a few minutes remained until the formation lap. When the appointed time arrived, there was a hush over the crowd as the camera focused on the famous Rolex clock, and its minute hand moved steadily.

Overwhelmed by anxiety, I watched as all twenty vehicles passed me during the warm-up lap. Although the initial chicane had undergone minor adjustments, I couldn’t shake off the feeling that collisions were imminent. As the lights started to dwindle and finally went out, the spectators erupted in joyous cheers once more.

I had hoped that George Russell would overtake Oscar Piastri and Lewis Hamilton would overtake Carlos Sainz Jr. However, Russell had contact going into the first turn and took some damage to the end plate of his front wing. I knew right then and there it would hurt his chances of a podium finish. Hamilton, on the other hand, did quite well at the start.

During the Grand Prix, Franco Colapinto received numerous applause due to his skillful overtaking moves. It was no surprise to me when Piastri overtook Lando Norris on the initial lap, and soon after, Charles Leclerc moved past Norris. Leclerc exhibited impressive speed throughout the race, but Piastri maintained a commanding position at the front.

Unfortunately for Mercedes supporters, both Hamilton and Russell opted for a two-race pit stop approach, which eventually ruled them out of reaching podium positions. However, as the race neared its conclusion, it seemed unclear how, but Ferrari’s single pit stop strategy proved successful, ultimately placing Leclerc ahead of the Australian driver.

Despite Piastri demonstrating remarkable speed and narrowing the gap significantly on Leclerc, it ultimately wasn’t sufficient for victory at Monza. Instead, Ferrari emerged triumphant in their home race. As the final lap approached, spectators flocked toward the barrier, eager to capture close-up footage of Leclerc as he sped by. The crowd erupted into cheers as Leclerc crossed the finish line. Although I’m not a Ferrari supporter, the electrifying atmosphere made it an unforgettable experience.

On my exit from the impressive grandstand, preparing to depart, an extraordinary event was on the verge of unfolding. A considerable number of individuals were simply gathered before a gate, and it took me a while to decipher the reason. I eventually deduced that spectators would likely be allowed onto the racetrack to approach the podium.

As a devoted fan, I seized bygones and I’s concert tour of legendary track circuit raceway-a-lifetime opportunity, I rushed as fast as I could when the gates were opened. In one hand, I clutched my phone, while in the other, I carried my bag, making my way around the Parabolica. Regrettably, I must admit that more times than Logan Sargeant did this past weekend, I had to stop and take a closer look.

Overwhelmed by the sheer spectacle of being on a Formula 1 track, with a sea of people lining the start/finish straight. In the chaos, I sought any opening to squeeze through, eventually finding myself standing behind the podium. Yet, even from this vantage point, I could still see the drivers popping open champagne bottles as the Italian fans sang their national anthem with unmatched pride and jubilation. Such an extraordinary moment, I simply had to capture it all on camera.

As fans departed from the racetrack, numerous individuals were taking photos, removing Rolex signs from the walls for keepsakes, gathering small pebbles as souvenirs, and marking their places with pens. In the back of my mind, I sensed that this would likely be the best Grand Prix I’ve ever witnessed. Italian fans bring an enthusiasm like no other, and I was just so happy to be present.

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2024-09-04 13:09