EG writes: James Major is the online sports editor at The Times. He travelled to Montmelo as a corporate guest but watched the race as an ordinary punter sitting in the stands. (I tried to get him a pass for the paddock but failed!). Here are his impressions of the value for money side of it, the racing and the crowd. Completing the job, James has filed his best pictures at the end(click on images to enlarge).
James Major writes: With only the 1992 British Grand Prix under my belt - I watched Nigel Mansell storm to victory on a terrific day at Silverstone in 1992, paying ??5 for entry - I approached the Spanish Grand Prix as an F1 novice. Let me know whether you agree with my first impressions of the "Formula One Experience"...
Cost
Wow. I was glad I wasn't paying. My ticket for grandstand access for the three days was '406. That's about ??320, $630 or 15,000 roubles.
Bernie Ecclestone is 24th in this year's Sunday Times Rich List with a wealth of ??2,400million and now I've got a better understanding why.
They were excellent seats - right opposite the Ferrari garage and start-finish line - but I wouldn't fork out that amount of my own money to go.
Still, 132,600 people - the crowd on race day in Barcelona - voted with their feet so it's difficult to see any downward pressure on pricing anytime soon.
An assortment of other prices:
Lunch in the Aramark "Gourmet Grill" - '45
- Including a plate of paella-style rice, a barbecued chicken leg, a paper-thin slice of pork, a few chips, a greek salad, a small tub of ice cream and a bottle of mineral water. It was all cold - the bits that were supposed to be and the bits that weren't - and not particularly gourmet.
A large beer: '12. Cold, fizzy, refreshing, expensive.
A bottle of mineral water: '3. Cold, wet, expensive. And with no lid - was this so people couldn't throw the lid, the full bottle or just had to buy more water?
Cuisine
See above.
Alternatives: Bring your own picnic. Recommended.
A selection of sandwiches and bocadillos.
And that's about it.
Glamour
Toyota win hands down for their commitment to pit-lane glitz.
Revisit the picture above.
Crowd and atmosphere
There were two big bands of supporters: those supporting Alonso and the hordes that follow Ferrari around the world (plus a few partying Finns). In the grandstand, there were the cheers for Alonso and jeers and a few gestures for Hamilton, but none of the unpleasant behaviour many had feared. I'd be interested in hearing from anybody who was up on the hill and scattered around the track - what was your experience? I saw no evidence of any racism. There was an eager buzz of anticipation all around the circuit and the crowd - a real mix of the sexes - was clearly having fun.
The racing
Loud, fast and impressive. The prices are high but the product is strong. The race was a bit of a procession and Kimi Raikkonen didn't much look like losing for most of the weekend, but there was plenty of drama and skill. When Heikki Kovalainen slammed straight into the tyre wall there was also a stark reminder of the risks the drivers take.
We were sat slap bang opposite the Ferrari garage and, as impressive as anything, was the precision with which everybody operated. The movements of cars in and out of the pit lane was like a well-choreographed dance.
Qualifying was good. Hamilton was quickest on the final lap of the third session but it was difficult to have any real idea of the strength of his time. It all became apparent as driver after driver came inside his mark, relegating him to fifth on the grid. The Spanish went mad when Alonso - who appeared to be running light on fuel - seized pole, with celebrations tempered a little moments later when Raikkonen went quickest.
On Sunday, there was a brief moment when it looked as if Hamilton could mount a late challenge on Massa, but it became apparent quickly that Ferrari's No 2 was putting the final touches to an excellent weekend for the Scuderia.
In summary
An excellent weekend, but at prohibitive cost. Go and see it for yourself, but if you're strapped for cash, consider yourself warned.
James Major went to the Spanish Grand Prix courtesy of Grandstand Motor Sports Tours
