By Sunday, the excitement was incredible. Everything that had gone before was all leading to this, the opening race of the 2011 F1 season, and we honestly still had no idea who would win. It was wide open for anyone, or at least it seemed so.
Another early start thanks to the GP Advantage as we were treated to a main straight walk, several hundred metres which would soon play host to what is probably the most expensive motor race ever. With each car costing millions to assemble, and most drivers paid handsomely to drive them (though not all – Narain Karthikeyan’s sponsors reportedly pay HRT upwards of US$9m to allow their driver to race), it is quite a privelige to wander up the straight.
Naturally, the first place grid spot and finish line were mobbed with people, but it afforded an incredible view down towards turn 1 – that which the drivers would have in just a few hours time.
With time to relax, we chilled out in the vodafone vantage point, comparing our reflexes to those of Lewis Hamilton. I’m unfortunately some way behind him – while I managed 93 “reflexes” per minute, Lewis was way ahead on 144 or so. This consisted of hitting the lights on a TV screen as they hit up, which does lead me to believe that F1 drivers would be really good at those arcadey games where you have to bop worms with a big foam hammer.
Relaxing in the vodafone hammocks to watch the first F5000 race, I have frankly no idea who won. A handful of the cars showed their age and simply broke down at the side of the track, while the varying levels of restoration on the cars meant that racing was never really close.
The drivers parades followed soon after, including the celebrities. The camera man up the cherry picker seemed particularly determined to attract the attention of one female celeb, constantly yelling her name from 80 feet in the air until he caught her attention to wave. I’m fairly sure he cheered when she waved back.
The celebs had their final race in the Lexeesus (or something), before the fourth and final speed comparision test proved once and for all that a Formula 1 car is very, very fast. The final score was three wins for the F1 car, one for the V8, and none for the road car.
The F1 drivers parade was followed by some more aerial acrobatics, and our first welcome sunshine of the weekend. The Qantas flyover signalled that the F1 was about to start, before they went off for their afternoon of racing!
And it was incredbile. The atmosphere, the sound, the odour of petrol, all contributed to it. With Vettel crossing the finishing line, a mass track invasion ensued as we alll tried to reach the podium. I may not have had the best vantage point, but I saw the champagne fly.
I just want to clear up as well – the BBC accused us of booing Vettel as he was given his trophy – we were actually booing the man who gave him his trophy, the Melbourne mayor who has publically admitted that he thinks the F1 is too expensive and doesn’t want it in his city. He isn’t a popular figure.
From there, it was a stroll back around the track to see one of my absolute favourite bands in a free concert, The Living End. They played some of their biggest hits, as well as a little taster of what we can expect on their next album, which sounds very promising. Rock’n'Roll!
The train journey back was a relaxing end to a high speed, high intensity weekend of racing, overtaking, strategy and fun, and I’ve definitely got the bug now. Europe had better not lose any more F1 races.
And finally, my favourite overtake of the weekend. Competing for third spot or so, Giaan Rooney was pushed out wide on turn 15, and was forced to cut the pit lane entry. Deciding she wanted that podium, she simply ran her competitors off the road, causing the first minor crash. Skip to 12 minutes in to see Sav Rocca take home the chequered flag and Rooney pulling her audacious move.
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5 comments
dad says:
April 25, 2011 at 7:05 pm (UTC 10 )
Some questions;
Who was the celebrity that the man in cherry picker was shouting at?
What did the Qantas flyover consist of, was it a massive plane?
Now you have the bug for F1 does this mean you will get a job or am i to expect some good begging?
Some comments.
I bet you made a good booing noise.
Jealous that you saw Living End again.
You had no chance on the reflexes test, I have seen how fast students move, unless the police are after you at a demo you are slower than a sloth.
That photo of 1st grid spot is a record for number of heads you have cut off in one photo.
boromadloon says:
April 26, 2011 at 1:37 am (UTC 10 )
I don’t know who the celeb was. There isn’t a list of them in the programme, and I didn’t recognise any of their names anyway. She looked like a weathergirl or something.
The Qantas flyover consisted of a Boeing 747 (painted to commemorate the race) flying low over the circuit just before the race began. It turned, and crossed over the main straight a few times.
I’ll try to get a job, but England isn’t exactly overflowing with jobs!
I did way better than some people on the reflexes thing. I didn’t see many people score higher than me.
Mam says:
April 26, 2011 at 10:05 pm (UTC 10 )
What a fantastic experience you’ve had. Must be ranked near the top of the list of all you’ve done since you travelled down under.
Excellent that it ended with the Living End. That must have been fab.
So, where will your next F1 be?
Barbara says:
May 3, 2011 at 5:55 pm (UTC 10 )
Hi Tom,yet another fantastic read!I reckon you have a great future as some kind of reorter.Maybe a travel journalist,a real talent.Would also like to agree with your comments on automatic cars, can’t imagine what kind of people would own up to liking them!!I have had similar experiences as you when driving them.Glad to hear that you to have been bitten by the F1 bug, a support group maybe needed! for us parents of course!!!well done ,again and enjoy your remaining time in ‘oz’, xxxxxxx
Barbara says:
May 3, 2011 at 5:57 pm (UTC 10 )
sorry,that of course should read ‘reporter’.I don’t have a future as one as you can tellxxx