The 2024 season of Formula 1 reached its epilogue with the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The final race that crowns the champions and closes the curtain on another exciting year of racing. McLaren triumphed in the Constructors’ World Championshipwinning the title in the competition that evaluates the overall performance of the teams thanks to the results obtained by their drivers during the entire season. A result that the British team had lacked for over two decades and which marks an important chapter for the team. Lando Norris’ victory in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix it was the decisive piece for McLaren’s success, consolidating its position at the top of the standings.
On the driver front, the World Championship had already been decided, with Max Verstappen of Red Bull which won its fourth consecutive title, demonstrating unquestionable superiority throughout the season. Against the breathtaking backdrop of the Yas Marina circuit, with the sun setting, the drivers gave their all to make their mark on the final race weekend. And the tennis champion arrived unexpectedly in the Abu Dhabi paddock Jannik Sinner, great fan of Formula 1, named «Friend of Formula 1» last year. The Grand Prix confirmed the magic of Formula 1: a mix of adrenaline, strategy and twists, which once again this year kept millions of spectators glued to the screens until the last corner.
Our first time in the paddock of the Italian Grand Prix (Monza)
There is a unique charm that envelops the Italian Grand Prix in Monza. The “Temple of Speed”, with its legendary asphalt and grandstands full of passionate fans, is much more than a circuit: it is a sacred place for those who love Formula 1. Arriving at the Autodromo Nazionale for the first time means immersing yourself in a an experience that goes beyond the race.
The atmosphere is electric from the first step into the paddock. The roar of the single-seaters cutting through the air during free practice makes every part of the body vibrate. This is where you understand how intense and fast Formula 1 is, a sensation that is difficult to perceive and describe unless you experience it live. Like an electric shock. Then flags from the stables, needless to say there are many red Ferrari ones, then hats, gadgets of all kinds and the public walking inside the paddock moving with the same amazement in their eyes as Alice in Wonderland. There are people of all ages, many children, enthusiasts and even those who, like us, find themselves walking among engineers (including many women), mechanics, giant wheels that are moved from one side to the other. We arrived at the Monza Autodromo together with the team BWT Alpine which on the occasion of this Italian stage officially presented its new motorhome. A three-story structure designed by the famous designer Philippe Starck. A multifunctional space, imagined and created to become the beating heart of the team during the European Grands Prix. Partners, guests, journalists and team staff are welcomed inside.
On the day of qualifications we watched, after wearing headphones, the tire change inside the BWT Alpine garage. When the Formula 1 car enters, more than twenty technicians move in perfect synchrony and in just a few seconds disassemble and mount the tyres. Nobody makes a wrong move. Some support the machine using front and rear lifts, while others perform quick checks. An instant that tells the essence of the speed and precision of this sport.
In Monza, thanks to BWT Alpine, we were able to meet an iconic figure of Formula 1 who this year, with Alpine, returned to the world of single-seaters, as many had hoped for some time. We’re talking about Flavio Briatoreformer Renault team principal, with whom he won two world titles with Fernando Alonso, who returned to the world of Formula 1 as executive advisor for the Alpine team. He will deal with “high-level areas of the team”, including talent recruitment, driver market strategies and evaluation of the existing structure.
«In fact I find that not much has changed in this world over the years», says Briatore from the BWT Alpine motorhome that welcomed us for the day. «Perhaps the different teams talk to each other less than before, now the big manufacturers have entered, a lot of money and therefore it has become much harder. There are 24 grand prix, there are people who risk losing their families because with all these races it means you are always traveling around the world, you are never at home. Coming back was a mix of emotions even though I never really left Formula 1. Having responsibility for a team as before is different, also in terms of time. There were several things that were concise, such as my son now going to boarding school so he is no longer home every day. Let’s also say that this return to Formula 1 also gives me a hand so as not to be at home alone». Then the passion and the feeling with the people who animate the Alpine team. “THEor I don’t need a salary, I’m here for passion and feeling. I would never have done it in another team, Luca (De Meo, CEO of the Renault group, ed) made me return to Formula 1. Even though I feel the responsibility of this role, I also think that I haven’t lost the instruction booklet, I know what I have to do to make the team competitive. On a personal level, I am rejuvenated with this return and I know that I can make my best impact here.”
When the sun goes down on the Monza circuit, we are walking inside it. The garages prepare for the next day’s race, the drivers concentrate, the public begins to leave the racetrack. But some wait in line along the road with signs and t-shirts of their favorite drivers. They await them in the hope of selfies but also a look, a wave of the hand. It’s the magic of Formula 1, a sport that is preparing to write a new chapter in its history in a few months. Here, in the triumph of the competitive spirit, stories of pure determination, boundless passion and adrenaline (the healthy one) are told.
Source: Vanity Fair
I’m Susan Karen, a professional writer and editor at World Stock Market. I specialize in Entertainment news, writing stories that keep readers informed on all the latest developments in the industry. With over five years of experience in creating engaging content and copywriting for various media outlets, I have grown to become an invaluable asset to any team.
