I wasn't going to the British Grand Prix, but ...

[Spie]

... I think I may have just changed my mind.

Dear Mr & Mrs Proudfoot,

On behalf of ***********, I am delighted to invite you to an exciting event around the 2014 Formula 1 Santander British Grand Prix.

Together with motorsport legend, Sir Jackie Stewart, you will enjoy exclusive hospitality in the heart of Buckinghamshire and an exciting Formula 1 experience at the Silverstone Circuit.

July 4:

Individual arrival and transfer to Hartwell House Hotel.
Evening cocktail reception hosted by Sir Jackie Stewart and dinner at Octagon Dining Room, Hartwell House Hotel.
July 5:

Helicopter transfer to Silverstone Circuit to experience the Formula 1 Qualifying.
Dinner hosted by Sir Jackie Stewart, at his private home - Clayton House.
July 6:

Helicopter transfer to Silverstone Circuit for the 2014 Formula 1 Santander British Grand Prix.
Individual departures.

I hope you will be able to join me.

Yours sincerely,

The GP bit is nice, especially now we can chat trackside but dinner with Jackie Stewart at his place I just can't wait

 

[Spie]

Does it cost 4 figures or 5?

It's free

 

[Spie]

Wait a minute.. wait a minute... weren't you very much in the "F1 is dead to me" camp just a few weeks ago because they aren't loud enough anymore?

Tongue firmly in cheek

 

[Spie]

The race will be nice (if a bit quiet ) but the chance to meet Sir Jackie is something quite special. Not only was he 3 times world champion but if you look back at his performance he wasn't just a bit quicker than others, he was in a different league. All this at a time when cars were basically death traps and winning races just meant driving as fast as you can. Balls of steel spring to mind.

 

[Spie]

It's free

Of course nothing in this world is really "free". It's all paid for somehow.

Just had confirmation of the program and looks like we are in Mercedes AMG Petronas hospitality on race day including the usual pit lane and garage tours. There's also a visit to their motorhome on practice day.

I have no emotional connection to the Mercedes team, but at least they are riding high right now so there should be a good vibe.

All I really want is a pic with Nicole

 

[Spie]

Thanks folks. May post a few pics live if I get the chance

 

[Spie]

How was this then - did you have fun?

It was a great weekend. Met Lewis Hamilton, Carol Vorderman, Sir Jackie Stewart and believe it or not Prince Harry! Yes I have photos with all of them but I'm not posting them here

Highlight was definitely dinner at Sir Jackie's house and looking at his F1 car collection. What an amazing man he is.

The racing was OK but the hour delay wasn't great. What surprised me was the universal condemnation of this years engine and regulation changes. Nobody (except Mercedes) likes them at all and the general consensus across the board is that they have been a huge mistake and will be changed in the near future. That probably means 2016.

It was great to be at the British Grand Prix again. It was just a shame that much of the atmosphere was missing. The engines sound simply awful and I didn't meet a single person who thought otherwise.

 

[Spie]

You do kind of get used to the drone of the new engines. Then you hear last year's Red Bull car in the Legends parade and you realise just how much is missing.

 

[Spie]

By any chance Spie, were you driving south from Silverstone today in convoy with lots of other shiny cars? Saw a couple of 599s with a few Lambos, Maseratis etc all cruise past!

Not me, sorry. I flew back to Switzerland today.

Leaving aside the engine debate the investment in facilities at Silverstone in recent years is amazing. The Paddock Club suite is now one of the best in the world in my opinion which is probably why it was so well attended on race day.

Back to the cars, the nose cones look OK up close and they really are incredibly complex in design.

There was a tangible air of despair in the Ferrari garage. Everyone is down and they know they are so far from where they need to be. I think this season has already been written off.

 

[Spie]

Glad you had a good time

Boo! at not posting photos though

Thanks

OK here's a taster, not the best quality, taken from our table.

 

[Spie]

Awesome

The dude in the cap is Jude Law btw

 

[Spie]

The track and facilities at Silverstone over the last 3-4 years have improved greatly, Bernie was right to get a deal done to extend, on the basis of the work needed to bring it up to date. Still a bit of work needed here and there, but it is a circuit to be proud of now.

Everything I saw was impressive. In fact it looks like a brand new circuit.

The thing I always remember about Silverstone was terrible traffic in and out. Has that aspect improved too?

 

[Spie]

Busy flying in?

The heliport was mad busy but everything is run tightly and you never wait more than 5 mins before boarding. Quite impressive organisation.

 

[Spie]

+1

I was so disappointed with the new sounds, and when I heard GP2 it reminded me why and like you say the RBR in the legends parade just showed how dull the current engines are. Such a shame.

I didn't expect to hear criticism from some of the team staff. Publicly everyone is saying the changes are good. Privately it's a different story.

 

[Spie]

We also expect members to behave respectfully and not launch personal or abusive attacks on other members.

 

[Spie]

Regarding the new engines as I said earlier I was surprised that there was almost universal acceptance within the leading teams that something has to be done. There is an air of inevitability that things will change in 2016.

 

[Spie]

About just the noise of them?

The general feeling is the cars don't sound as impressive anymore and there is a concern this will affect popularity. Fuel flow isn't popular but isn't so much of an issue.

GP2 sounds awesome compared to this year's V6s and that's the wrong way round really.

 

[Spie]

I know you don't like the new noise, but I expect in a few years loud engine noises like that would become associated as being old engine tech. It's all about turbo whistles and whines I wouldn't mind if they were a touch louder but I think they sound more interesting than just being plain loud.

People love loud cars, but not just because they are loud (although some are), but because they sound awesome too. A German flat 6, an American V8, an Italian V8 or an Italian V12 - they can all be loud be they all have their own character too. I think saying the F1 V8s were just loud isn't doing them justice. You should have heard the crowd cheer at Silverstone this weekend when the RBR V8 did a lap. Everyone said the same thing - "that's what an F1 car should sound like".