F1 2018

[Badgers]

So...

I arrived at Whiytleberry Hall Hotel in the morning. Had some breakfast Mimosa's and got picked up in a minibus with tinted windows and air-conditioning.



Only took about 15 minutes to be in the Paddock Club to pick up passes and have photos taken.



I missed out on the podium photo

 

[Badgers]

I was in the Ferrari sponsor Marlboro Philip Morris IQOS Lounge which was pretty decent. Better than most team lounges (tobacco buys a lot of favour) but a bit too corporate, even for my liking.



It was nice having a free bar and food being brought round on silver platters but not really my thing. Got great views from the Paddock Club though and the smoking area is literally the best in the world could see the cars leaving the pit lane and the racing cars coming into Abbey



The noise (as we know) is incredibe but when Grosjean went off it really made me jump. Hardly a 'big' impact by F1 standards
but it made me gasp a bit and loads around me me scream

 

[Badgers]

Did some 'networking' nonsense and watched FP1 from the posh cunt ledge.

 

[cybershot]

Got great views from the Paddock Club though and the smoking area is literally the best in the world could see the cars leaving the pit lane and the racing cars coming into Abbey

View attachment 140466

Looks like tobacco buys you the best view as well.

 

[Limejuice]

the smoking area is literally the best in the world could see the cars leaving the pit lane and the racing cars coming into Abbey

A fume with a view?

 

[Badgers]

Then the 'struggle' started

For some reason the big tobacco man likes me so I got lunch with the Ferrari engineers and a load of models in the Ferrari motorhome





I can't remember the one I was having lunch with but she was the model girlfriend of a Wimbledon player. Told me she was sick of football players coz they woz 2 thick innit

 

[Badgers]

Looks like tobacco buys you the best view as well.

That is the only reason I smoke

 

[Badgers]

So anyway...

The 'paddock passes' are for toffs and such but I did honestly have the full set for the day. Access to all team lounges and pit lane The green one got me in the Ferrari garage (no photos allowed) which was the best thing I saw

 

[Badgers]

It was an experience that you can't really buy. Could just walk into any of the team 'suites' and was overlooking the pit late all day.

Did I mention Marc Gene giving a presentation on technology in the sport?

 

[weltweit]

Seeing Hamilton drive past 2/3 of the field from the back just highlighted how much better his car is compared to most of the rest. He didn't so much as overtake as just easily drive past them.

 

[Badgers]

Not sure if I said I met Christian Horner very briefly?

 

[Badgers]

Pretty sure I did not mention bumping into Alonso queuing up to get in the VIP area? I nodded at him and he signed the Ferrari shirt I was given in their VIP lounge. Nice of him to do so I mentioned I was a Woking lad and McLaren fan he patted me on the back

 

[Badgers]

 

[Badgers]

Also I grabbed a spare so shout if you want one?



Regards

Badgers

#classtraitor

 

[cybershot]

Pretty sure I did not mention bumping into Alonso queuing up to get in the VIP area? I nodded at him and he signed the Ferrari shirt I was given in their VIP lounge. Nice of him to do so I mentioned I was a Woking lad and McLaren fan he patted me on the back

The guy is doing wonders in that car. McLaren would be up shit creek without him. I know lots of retirements today helped but still. Such a shame to have such a talent essentially wasted for the past several seasons.

 

[cybershot]

I can't remember the one I was having lunch with but she was the model girlfriend of a Wimbledon player. Told me she was sick of football players coz they woz 2 thick innit

Did you whip out your mensa card or was she more interested in your pay slip?

 

[Limejuice]

Not sure if I said I met Christian Horner very briefly?

After a long, long liquid lunch...

Badgers: "Hey Chris! How's Geri? And how many of the other Spice Girls did you get to shag before... Chris? Chris? Well he's a rude bastard!"

 

[Badgers]

This is the best Scalextric I have ever seen

 

[Badgers]

 

[Badgers]

 

[weltweit]

Ferrari accused of cheating by an enraged Lewis Hamilton as F1 title fight gets dirty at British Grand Prix

 

[spitfire]

Ferrari accused of cheating by an enraged Lewis Hamilton as F1 title fight gets dirty at British Grand Prix

oooooh.

I'm not convinced they'd do that TBF but that's showbiz!

 

[Limejuice]

The fact that Ferrari and Mercedes are so close in performance suggests that they're going to be in proximity on the track, trying to fill the same bits of tarmac. Tiny errors of judgement or timing turn into big bumps. It's racing.

 

[Limejuice]

Guten Morgen, everyone.

It's the German GP this weekend.

Exciting times - Vettel leads Hammy by 8 points; Ferrari leads Mercedes by 20 points. Methinks Toto and co will be keen for a good show.

The UK timings are:

Fri 20 July
FP1 - 10.00
FP2 - 14.00

Sat 21 July
FP3 - 11.00
Qual - 14.00

Sun 22 July
Race - 14.10

Vroom!

 

[Badgers]

Looking forward to this one

Just read that Lewis has signed for another 2 years with Mercedes rumoured to be £40m making him the highest paid British sportsperson. Not really a surprise but good to see the lad in a top car for a couple more years

 

[Limejuice]

BBC say that Hammy will earn no less than £30m and up to £40m depending on bonuses.

I bet he doesn't even have to buy his own Magic Tree air fresheners.



Lewis Hamilton: Mercedes driver agrees £40m-a-year deal until 2020

 

[Badgers]

 

[Limejuice]

It's a shame Danny Ric has to replace so many parts he'll have to start the race in Belgium.

 

[Badgers]

Caught the end of quali on the radio yesterday which was not ideal not sure if I can get on a mates Sky Go for the race so might need a stream not ideal but gotta see the race

 

[Limejuice]

The race could be fun.

We have Danny Ric starting from the back and Hammy at P14. I hope we'll get some overtaking.

With all the pressure on Mercedes, it's a race where Botty can show Toto and co he fully deserves the new contract they've just signed.

Ferrari will be licking their lips too.