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Formula 1 Race Day Tips



Watching the F1 Grand Prix live in the race circuit provide the adrenaline-rush to your system. Formula One exemplifies speed, glamour, flair, passion, resounding noise and the frenzied pit activities starting from practice day to race day. For a newbie F1 fanatic, watching the race cars in the circuit needs all the pointers to enjoy F1.

Going to the race circuit is the primary issue for most F1 fan during the race week. Traffic, parking space and transportation will be some major considerations most especially on race day. If you are a visitor to the place, book to a hotel that offers race packages for their guests. The package often includes transportation and paid seats in the grandstand for excellent viewing. Local residents will have to deal with traffic problems and parking space for their vehicle. There are other alternatives to reach the circuit. However, each Grand Prix circuit has its own rules and guidelines for visitors over the weekend. Here are some travel options that can be considered in watching the Grand Prix.

There are circuits that provide free or shuttle buses for a fee from bus stations and local towns to the circuit. There is no advance booking for this transportation. Some race circuits can be reached by public transport. Private vehicles can be used in going to the circuits where most of these offer parking spaces and facilities. However, private vehicle owners should consider checking whether there are car pass to be purchased from the event organizers. Traffic can be very slow due to the influx of visitors and fans most especially on race day. Some circuits have helipads to accommodate helicopters. Other circuits are close to local airports that provide shuttle services to customers directly to the event. One should also remember to be patient enough to allow ample time to exit the circuit after the race. A lot of people will also be going out of the circuit after the race.

Food and drinks are very important to bring along while watching the race. There must be ample supplies since food carts, mobile catering vans and stores in the circuit offer higher prices compared to supermarkets. The events on the race track should not be missed because you are busy buying for your food. Most circuits allow alcohol to be sold and consumed while watching the race. Yet, only plastic cups or bottles are allowed instead of glass bottles. Most race events are posted with signage on guidelines on alcohol and liquor intakes. Event security personnel are everywhere to control the crowd.

The weather can be unforgiving while watching the race most especially on race day with lots of spectators. Always check on local weather forecast before leaving your homes and hotels. This will give time to bring along covers. Grandstands provide protection from the heat of the sun or rain. In hot weather, it is very important to bring sunglasses, hats and sun cream protection for the skin. Waterproof gears are needed in rainy weather to avoid getting wet. In some circuits, the use of umbrellas are prohibited or with restrictions most especially in the grandstands. Log in to most F1 websites where you can find weather forecasts from practice to race day.

It is important to have a personal documentation of the Grand Prix especially on race day. Pictures, digital images and video of the race must be captured in colors using your cams and video recorders. However, there are circuits that set limitations in issuing cameras and video during the race due to legal and copyright issues. The race events have sponsors and exclusivity to some media outfit for news, videos and images of the race. Professional cameras and video cameras are prohibited to be brought along the circuit. Compact and sleek cameras are mostly allowed to the venue. Try checking with the Grand Prix organizer for any guidelines on photography and video.

Seating arrangements for the event are not major problems if you have tickets in the grandstand. However, general admission tickets have its own established areas for spectators to 'set up camp'. This is where the camper-type spectators can pitch tent but limited in comfortable seats. Fold-up camping stools are worth using in this areas.

These tips on watching Grand Prix races live in the circuit will surely make your time with Formula One worth remembering till the next race day.

Hamilton Wins 2010 Turkish Grand Prix; Webber Leads Drivers’ Championship After Accident

Lewis Hamilton wins the 2010 Turkish Grand Prix at Istanbul Park after a major collision between the Red Bulls of Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel. It is also a remarkable McLaren 1-2 finish with Jenson Button taking second place way ahead of RBR's Mark Webber after 58 laps of high-octane race among the two top constructors.

RBR's Mark Webber now leads the driver's championship standing with 93 points accumulated ahead of McLaren's Jenson Button 88 points. Turkish Grand Prix winner Lewis Hamilton is now at third place with 84 points to his name after seven Grand Prix races. McLaren Mercedes is now leading the Constructors' Championship with 172 points over Red Bull's 171. Ferrari is trailing at third place with 146 points.

The Red Bulls dominated the race early on with Mark Webber leading the pack and fending off several attempts of McLaren's Hamilton and Red Bull teammate Vettel to take the lead. However, after getting past Hamilton, Vettel attempted to pass his teammate Webber down the back straight of Lap 39. Vettel spin off the track and damage his right rear tire. Vettel crashes into Webber and the German is out of the race. The pit crews of Red Bull are as gloomy as the dark clouds over the race track after watching the accident of their cars. The McLaren's of Hamilton and Button take the lead after the collision of the two Red Bulls.

Before the race starts, the Red Bulls are priming up for another RBR finish in the podium by leading the grid with RBR's Webber in the front row with McLaren's Hamilton in second place. Red Bull's Vettel is in third place with McLaren's Button rounding up the second row of the grid. Both Red Bull's RB6 made great runs during the qualifying race despite some mechanical problems in Webber's car. Red Bull changed the roll bar before the race starts. Red Bulls' Australian Webber qualified for the pole position by clocking 1'26.295 ahead of McLaren's Hamilton who came in 1'26.433. Another Red Bull German-born driver Vettel round up the third position in the grid with a 1'26.760 qualifying time and British driver Button in fourth place.

The Red Bulls made a great start off the grid with Webber and Vettel leading the group into the first corner. But Hamilton made an excellent move in Turn Four to lead past Vettel and closing in Webber with 0.7 time gap between the two cars.

The McLaren teammates have also their anxious moments of hitting each other car in Lap 49. Hamilton and Button have a tight race through the final complex and going into turn one. Button made a pass around the outside of Hamilton into Turn 12. Hamilton was able to hold his line and exit out of the final corner to keep a tight line in Turn One and regain the lead.

Mercedes' Michael Schumacher has smoke coming off the back of his car on the starting grid but finished the race in fourth place. This is his best finish since his retirement and in a new F1 car. Schumacher's teammate Nico Rosberg came home in fifth place with his new Mercedes' chassis. Renault's Robert Kubica was in sixth spot with Ferrari's Felipe Massa and Fernando Alonso took the seventh and eight positions respectively. Adrian Sutil in a Force India-Mercedes finished ninth. Kamui Kobayashi of Sauber-Ferrari earned his first driver and team's first points of the season.

Lotus drivers Jarno Trulli and Heikki Kovalainen both retired with hydraulic failures to their cars in Laps 32 and 33, respectively. The HRT F1s' of Brunno Senna and Karun Chandhuk also retired from the race due to mechanical failures.

The 2010 Turkish Grand Prix turns out to be a race among teammates and their opposing teams. It will be another exciting F1 race in Grand Prix Du Canada on June 13, 2010.