Formula 1 Grand Prix, 2009! Having last been there in 2006, we finally decided to to there again, this time on K1 Platinum grandstands! We went with http://www.wheelsforfun.com.sg/ again. Here's an expansive view of turn 1 at 17mm focal length.
Drivers' parade!!
I opted for a slightly different angle for the turn1 this time. Instead of a full 'frontal' shot of the main straight, I chose to take the cars turning into turn 1. Here we have Nico Rosberg leading Jensen Button into turn 1!
A panning shot of Jensen Button of Brawn GP. Ross Brawn has proven to be a legend in Formula 1 with his tactics and technical skills with various teams over the years (Benetton, Ferrari, and Honda, which was bought over and now it's Brawn GP team!)
A nice lady amongst the green green seats of the grandstand. The amount of shelter provided by these grandstands were no match to the rain and wind which were to bombard the circuit on race day.
Kimi Raikonnen leading fellow Finlander Hekki Kovalainen.
The wifey and I.
Fellow Kimi fan!
We couldn't see/find any Brawn GP mechandise, and this was the only fan I saw who had the Jensen Button apparel!
Nelson Piquet.
Impending wet conditions saw the photo and video crew wiping out rain gear for their equipment.
It was a real treat to be in Turn 1, with a large screen TV in a corner and I had audio commentary as well via noise-shielding ear-buds, I could hear that Kimi was going to overtake Fernando Alonso, and from the screen, Kimi overtook Fernando at the final turn, and we could see and cheer him as he comes back around turn 1. This was the most enjoyable F1 ever in terms of enjoyment of the race. Kimi was to finish disappointingly as Ferrari decided to put him on full wet tyres even before rain fell hard.
Nakajima fans.
Mark Webber of Red Bull Racing makes a classic passing move on Fernando Alonso by slip-streaming the Renault on the start-finish straight and plunging down the inside of Fernando. The Renault late-braking cause the inner wheel to lock-up and alas it was too late and Mark had the corner covered!
It was ~6pm, it was dark, it was raining. The safety car almost came to a standstill to collect the leading car (Jensen Button), while almost the entire field was skating around on the wet wet track. We could feel the rain on us as the wind blew the rain into the sheltered grandstands. I love this shot, the race was in disarray, Felipe Massa kicking up a spray in the very dark conditions, with the safety car scrambling to make sense of the field.
The race was red-flagged a within another lap or so, this was 6:10pm, all cars were back onto the start-finish grid. Usually, the stewards will wait for the situation to improve to re-start the race. Fans were already booing at this stage, as >20laps of the race were left and it looked impossible for a re-start given the rapid loss of light in the rain-soaked evening. Audio commentary and video footages at this point kept the 'race' going for us as we had video and audio interviews from several drivers and team bosses regarding the handling of the situation.
It was 6:52pm, 8 minutes more to the end of the 2 hour limit of each race, when reached, will render the winner of the race as the highest placed driver when the race was stopped. Here a dramatic shot of Jensen Button being told of the conclusion that the race had been cancelled good and he was declared the winner. The dark surroundings with many fans leaving in the background shows the plight of this grand prix. The FIA and Malaysian F1 authorities will probably agree to never have a race start at 5pm local time ever. If this is so, then we have just witnessed live, one of the most dramatic races in Formula 1 history! I love F1!
