re: 2023 Formula 1 season Thread

My review of the Spanish Grand Prix:

1) It was awesome.

2) We sat at turn 5 but had a great view of the main straight (a DRS zone) into turn 1. We saw plenty of overtaking.

3) We sat GA. It was incredibly crowded and we had to sit on an improvised "seat" we dug into the side of a hill.

4) Once the race got closer, people started outright ignoring the security guards regarding standing in restricted areas. At that point it was a free for all and everyone was standing. Not the biggest deal.

5) I know I am going to sound like a big pussy, but dadgum everyone in Spain smokes. All the smoke combined with the dust in the air made it a coughing fest.

6) If I could do it again, I'd buy a seat (non-GA) at turn 1.

7) The most booed driver was Esteban Ocon. The Spanish haven't forgiven him for wrecking Alonso a while back. Apparently they have long memories.

8) There isn't any beer in the circuit. It's strange and I didn't like it at first, but it was nice to be sober during the race so I could really enjoy it.

9) Concessions and bathrooms were sparse and every line I saw and/or stood in was long. I eventually started peeing in the woods where I could find them.

10) If you take the train from and to Barcelona, get there very early and leave early if you can too. It's going to be very crowded. Just accept that and be patient. Fortunately, though, all of the cafes and stores in Montmelo (where the circuit is located) sell all the food, drinks, and beer you could want should you have to wait.

11) I really appreciate how the beer stands at Montmelo didn't price gouge the race attendees. A 16 oz draft Estrella Damm (pretty much all they had) was 3 - 4 Euros. Y'all already know how expensive that shite would be back home.

12) There was a rowdy tailgate by gate 4 where a food vendor was selling tasty food and cold beers. Unlike their counterparts in Montmelo, they charged concession prices. A 32 oz beer was 10 or so Euros.

13) It took us about 25 minutes to walk from the circuit to the Montmelo train station.

14) You will not get phone reception inside the circuit.

15) Alonso was the favorite of the circuit, but there were a lot of Hamilton and Max fans. I only saw one other person wearing HAAS stuff, and I attempted to high five her and start a "USA! USA!" chant. She was British though, so she did not oblige. frickin' wanker.

16) You can bring a bag/ice chest into the circuit. On qualifying day, the security guard barely searched our bag. But on race day, they went through it thoroughly, even checking to see if our Pringles can was already opened and storing beer. Still, though, I saw some people who managed to sneak in some beers.

17) When we were walking back to the train station after the race, a guy who was rolling a cigarette and who had a European-style elbow crutch (which appear to be in style over there as I saw a bunch of young people with no walking issues using them) offered us cocaine and weed.