2011 F1 Malaysian Grand Prix

Formula One Straight From the Pit Grandstand

8-10 April, 2011

It has been days since the Malaysian Grand Prix and only now, I can upload my blog

I was so exhausted and i still can feel bodyaches all over when i woke up this morning. Plus i haven't got back my usual chirpy voice. But that's OK coz am still enjoying the deep mature voice I acquired from cheering for Vettel on Quali and race day.

Since I've started lamenting on bodyaches and lost voice already, I might as well share our misfortunes over the weekend.

Day One:
This shortness of luck started during our departure from Singapore, Changi Budget Terminal. Our flight was retimed from 6:20AM to 6:45AM. Its awful that Tiger did not notify its passengers. During these wee hours of morning, time is precious because sleep is wonderful. One of my colleagues slept only for two hours just to catch this flight. Then much to our dismay McDo cash registers were not working so waited for sometime to be able to buy bfast. The worst part is when we lost track of time and when we looked for our checkin counter, it was already closed and we were almost not allowed to board. Whew! While others are sleeping, we are running. Thats how er started our day.
After that early morning mishap in Singapore, adventure awaits in Malaysia. After depositing our luggages in LCCT, we looked for a shuttle that will get us to Sepang without needing to go to KLIA which we found in an instant. But much to our surprise, the shuttle bus alighted us opposite Sepang circuit where we have to cross an eight-lane super highway with waist-high barriers that serves as hurdles in our sprint. Then we have to walk by foot for what seemed like 3kms to get to SIC main entrance. However, this unluckiness seems to halt once we were inside the grandstands. Eventhough, Friday is free sitting, diamond grandstand was almost empty during FP1, to my delight I was able to take photos without other cameras or arms or backs blocking my view.
Then later on day one, we had the much awaited public pit lane walk and as a bonus Kamui Kobayashi and Sergio Perez are still there giving autographs.
All is well until we reached KL. We were able to rent a taxi that would drive us from Sepang to LCCT for us to pick our luggages then drive us all the way to KL Sentral for 110RM. Another mishap happened when were on a different cab and can't find the address where we will be staying. The hot-tempered driver dropped us at a wrong condo and even shouted at us when we are hesitant to alight. Sigh! Whattaday! That sums up our day one.

Day Two:
Day two started out well with a nice breakfast prepared by my colleagues friend where we are staying. We are able to go to Batu Caves and have a one-hout cab tour in putrajaya without any hassle. We are some minutes late on Qualifying-Q1 but thats fine. I even thought day two was perfect when Vettel out-drived Hamilton to get pole position. I was shrieking with delight because early on, i was a bit nervous if Vettel will be able to secure pole position. His recorded lap times during practice sessions weren't great. He was only rank 5 on his best lap time during practice. But again my doubts were put to an ease when he gained his 2nd pole position of the season. This would give me some assurance that even if it will rain on Sunday, he'll have advantage being the race leader.
Day two however will not end without our share of unhappiness. We had to queue for more than an hour to be able to board the SIC shuttle busses that would take us to KLIA where we will be catching our train back to KL Central. With this, we are not able to buy chocolates and other "pasalubong" stuff from Mydin. We weren't able to eat decent dinner as well. But our day did end well when we are able to watch up close the Earth, Wind and Fire concert in KLCC.

DayThree:
If vettel did not win the Malaysian Grand prix, our day three would e a pure misfortune.
We started our day getting fried under the sun queueing for the Driver's autograph signing but which ended in vain. Then we ended our day getting baked on a sauna-bus and gettin refrigerated on the plane back to singapore. Malaysia hosting F1 for quite some time now should have controlled the transportation and traffic flow better. On saturday, there are few buses. On sunday, sure they doubled or trippled the number of buses but should have not used buses with broken airconditioning units. There was heavy traffic jam so it took us almost two hours just to get to kLIA from sepang. Normally, it would only be a 20-minute ride. Worst part is, for more than an hour we almost died of suffocation inside the double-deck bus. And then once again, we almost miss our flight back.

With these series of unfortunate events, i lost 3kilos in just 3 days.

Going to sepang and seeing Sebastian win and having my own photo of him on the podium is however worth all the bad things that happened to us.

Old Blog From FB #4

Exhilaration of Speed

Thursday, March 24, 2011 at 2:03am

can almost hear the engines roarin' and the tyres burnin'... yea it's F1 mate!

After more than a week's delay on its commencement due to the cancelled Bahrain GP, Formula 1 2011 season will kick-off a day from now in Melbourne, Australia.
And 10 days after the Oz GP, F1 goes to Malaysia! Where I and my two girlfriends will be up for an exhilaration of speed and sight right infront the pits. With a couple of night's sleep to count, i should have started finalizing our Malaysian frolic itinerary. But sadly, Sepang circuit have been dilly-dallying the final programme. Still there's no date & time for the Driver's Autograph signing and for the rumored public pit-lane walk. It would be such a drag if we're walking up the stairs of Batu Cave when we should be queing for the pit-lane walk. Or if we're still in KL buying "pasalubong" stuff when it's time for the driver's autograph signing. Its like shopping for an item with freebies but not getting the freebies. Out of luck we already wasted one freebie - The Rain Concert! Our grandstand ticket allows us to watch the concert for free at zone A(nearest to the stage) but apparently Rain concert will start only at 20:45 contrary to the earlier announced that it will start immediately after the race. Race ends at 18:00. We're all soo dreamy on the thought of seeing Rain in person only to realize that we can only dream dreams. We needed to be at the airport by 21:00 which is the same time Rain concert starts. wtf! I just hope there'll be a driver's autograph signing or public pit lane walk. Or else our ticket worth 1,100MYR is without add-ons. But nonetheless, the thrill of experiencing up close the sound of speed and the blur of motion is worth the ringgits. As the Singapore GP slogan reads "Nothing Else Comes Close"
But before the F1 MY GP at Sepang, lets all brace ourselves for the gleaming Aussie GP at Albert Park, Melbourne.

Good Luck Webber! Score for your people.
Viel Glück Vettel! I'll always love... to be your fan!
and Ganbatte Kamui! Give a little joy to Japan!

(-:

Old Blog From FB #3

F1 2010 Season Finale

Tuesday, November 16, 2010 at 9:57pm

Sebastian Vettel did it!!! WooHoo!

He is now the youngest F1 World Champion!
Congratulations Seb!
Congratulations Christian Horner, Adrian Newey, Mark Webber, Helmut Marko, DC and the whole RBR!

I wrote a blog right after the race last Sunday but which wasn't posted on the net coz I ran out of internet connection. So this is a bit late already.
I was on vacation and went back to my home province in the Philippines. Knowing that it was a GP weekend, I was looking forward to watch F1 at night. And I assumed they got Star Sports back home since they have cable tv. When I was about to watch qualifying, I found out they only got Solar sports which unfortunately didn't air F1. It was airing a Pacquiao weigh-in session. (Hey, Congrats to PacMan btw.) Then internet connection was very slow since they only use prepaid connection with the plug&play USB. I cant connect though streaming and so I got no choice but watch or rather "read" from the Formula1 Live Feed. I planned to look for resources to watch the F1 season finale after my vacation, just to see how they all looked. But got some luck when I arrived at HongKong yesterday. Touchdown at the hotel, I turned on the TV and viola!, Star Sports was playing an F1 replay. However, the commentators are all Cantonese. I can't understand a word they were saying but am still elated that finally I was able to watch. It already started and was at lap 22 when Alonso was already having a hard time behind a Renault. Too bad i wasn't able to watch the poor pitstop call where he actually lost it all. But aside from that, I guess he can't race that well under extreme pressure. Instead he did some mistakes allowing Petrov to retain a gap. At Interlagos, he had a hard time overtaking William's Nico Hulkenberg and this time at Yas Marina he wasn't able to pass by Renault's Petrov at all. Making him lose 4 points to Vettel in the Driver's Championship battle. A sad day for Ferrari.

Then what happened to Mark? A lot of his fans must've been disappointed as I myself (thou not a fan) was. But it was overlaid by overwhelming happiness for the Sebi-win. I can't understand why on earth can't Mark find the right grip on the most important qualifying race this season. It seems that he forgot the race was a championship decider. He wasn't able to pull off the overtaking stunts he did in Singapore. Where was he when Alonso run wide? It's one chance missed since it was exceptionally hard to pass Alonso with Petrov just right infront of him. Better luck next year for him. For sure RBR will again deliver the fastest car and both driver's will again be given equal opportunities.

Then there goes Lewis Hamilton. He was driving like crazy. He was fighting with Vettel for the fastest lap and Horner looked a little worried and I guess one reason was him. He seemed furious and fast. And he is now accusing Kubica for preventing him to win. But whether Kubica helped Vettel or not, what happened was just right after the unpredictable Renault engine failure in Korea.

Robert Kubica and Vitaly Petrov; the Renault drivers who did a significant role in the championship race.
Thanks to Kubica for holding Hamilton behind him for some time.
Then bigger thanks to Petrov, he proved he has the capability to keep top WDC contender, Alonso trailing behind. I am not sure if this will win him a seat for next year's season but I am sure he must've won some smiles from the red bulls and angry faces from Ferrari camp. He just contributed to making Alonso the biggest loser!

And now the new youngest F1 World Champion, Sebastian Vettel!

He lead a wondrously clean race from pole to chequered flag. I was a little worried with Hamilton attacking but the gap was well managed. Kudos Sebastian! I was so so happy that my eyes were hot with tears but forced myself to stop as I realized was only reading thru live feed commentary. LOL! Then when I was watching the replay (in a language that I cannot understand), my eyes were wet once again when I saw Horner and Newey hugging each other and when Vettel on the team radio was crying and managed to say something like "unbelievable... thank you boys..." in between silent sobs. It was his moment of a lifetime. I believe he'll win more WDCs but the maiden will always be special. His mum and dad were there and at that moment they must've been the happiest and super proud parents in the world. Seb proved clear that he can be a winner and not a crash kid.

What happened in Abu Dhabi was a fantastic season finale for an amazing season mostly dominated by RBR. And for Vettel, it should have been a winning streak from Suzuka to end if not for the hapless engine failure in Korea. Nonetheless he prevailed against all odds.

Kudos to Vettel and RBR! It was a fantastic season.

See you next year! Good Luck!

Old Blog From FB #2

IMHO: F1 2010 WDC

Friday, November 12, 2010 at 3:36pm

Who should lift the F1 2010 WDC Trophy this Sunday?

Like Christian Horner, my straight answer would be, "a red bull car & a red bull driver!"
But honestly, I want Sebastian to win!
He had a very unlucky season opener in Bahrain and Australia so a very lucky season ender in Brazil and Abu Dhabi would just be right.
If not for the engine failure in Korea, it should be him and not Alonso leading the Drivers championship as they race in Yas Marina this Sunday. He shouldn't have been bombarded by questions of whether he'll be willing to help Mark achieve his own WDC dreams. If lets say the "1.VET; 2.WEB; 3.ALO" scenario does happen, I agree with Massa that Vettel of course as part of the team will give way to Webber. Eventhough Seb teased the press and told them to wait up till race day, it was pretty obvious from his statements. That he knew what team he is racing for and that decisions will depend on where Mark and Fernando are. Everyone, should take note however that such decisions wouldn't be easy for Seb. It would have been easier if they are friends and if all those things they've said have been left unsaid.
This is the reason why I like Mark less. Being the older and more experienced, I expected Mark to support Seb and be more mature but on the contrary, he has been very vocal to the media of his angst and on his rivalry with Seb, that off-track they can't be buddies. He was so childish with the "Not bad for a Number2 driver" winning radio message. And he was kinda unfriendly leaving Suzuka in a flash when his teammate was savoring an extraordinary win. And just recently in Brazil, he seemed so desperate in (reportedly) saying that he doesn't have the emotional support of the team.
Mark should believe in himself more. Believe that he can win it if he really strives for it. To savor trully a championship, he should expect nothing from no one but himself. He is a great driver but he must learn to stop voicing favouritism issues and learn to concentrate on the race more. Like in a family, it was likely for mum & dad to have favourites but this doesn't mean that the other siblings weren't provided with equal oppurtunities.

As much as I am rooting for Seb to win, I'd be just as happy if Mark will. As long as its from RBR's paddock, it'd be worth celebrating. Seb still got great years ahead of him while Mark only got until next year. Thus this would be Webber's best time to win. A WDC trophy securely in his hands before he retire would be an amazing achievement for himself, his family and his fans.

This Sunday, on the 2010 F1 finale in Abu Dhabi, everything is yet to be known as four driver's battle for the World Driver's Championship!

And I am praying for Seb and Mark.
May the Best Man win!

Good Luck Red Bull Racing! ^_^

Old Blog From FB #1

RBR's Hapless Korean GP

Monday, October 25, 2010 at 1:57am

The first F1 Korean Grand Prix was a catastrophe for the RedBulls. All the team efforts had been in vain with zero points to carry back to Milton Keynes.

Luck has played a big part for Alonso to win and for Hamilton to get P2.
Strong drivers who have been very unlucky are in this order:
3. Mark Webber
2. Nico Rosberg
1. Sebastian Vettel

Mark paid a hefty price by making a mistake on the kerb at turn 12. It was a very challenging track with all the conditions - its new, its wet, its very slippery and drivers got a poor visibility. The chance of making a blunder was next to inevitable. And yes, a lot of drivers have spun early and made mistakes. Some of them however were lucky enough to finish such as Kovalainen and Kobayashi but for Mark, it was a total disastrous day. And the sad thing about it is that he can't blame anybody but luck and himself.

Second unluckiest man at Yeongam was Nico Rosberg. He got caught when Mark spun. I was thinking, if only he hadn't overtook Hamilton on lap 18, then it would have been a Webber-Hamilton crash again. And Hamilton would still be 4th behind Vettel on the WDC standing.
Nico has been scoring modestly this season but recently, he's having his share of successive DNFs as well. It was not his fault, but sad to say, accidents have victims.

The unluckiest man award goes to Vettel. His free practice sessions weren't great and being 16th on FP3 was his lowest this season and yet he magically was able to pull it off and get P1 in qualifying.
Then come race day, all has been running pretty well for him. Getting splashes of water only from the safety car on the first 17laps, he had the advantage of visibility. He drove perfectly and clearly didn't waste his pole position. With only ten laps remaining and a good lap time, 25points of P1 was on his way. But then luck once again played with this young talended german and poof! out came the smoke from his car as his engine fails. His race was over!

Such was not really a failure but a clear example of cruel catastrophe in racing. And such is life.
But Vettel knew in his mind and in his heart that he did the best he can. And by doing everthing right and knowing that, makes him a winner still and with this I am sure that he will bounce back.

With two races remaining, I am not losing hope on him.

Viel Glück!!!


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Race Details:
October 24, 2010
Yeongam Circuit, South Korea
55 laps/Wet Track

got Ross and flowers on my birthday…

I guess you came to read my blog because of the catchy title. You are curious who gave me the flowers. And who is Ross. Well, I wont reveal it yet for you to continue reading and annoying yourself with my grammar.
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This is my longest running birthday ever.
Greetings came a week early and ended a week late.

I cant find the right words now but I deeply appreciate those smss, calls, emails, messages, cards and gifts that you gave me.

Thanks thanks to Amie, Ces and to Kaye most especially, your gifts are expensive (hirap mapantayan hahaha). You made me feel special.
Thanks much to Amie who really spent hours making me a birthday video. It was my first time to receive sumthing that I have been doing for others. I am deeply touched for all the efforts and by how you see me as friend. Thanks also for the footage on ate Joan, te Elma and te cynths.
Thanks to ate joan, te elma and te cythia for the funny and touching video coverage. I miss you all. I miss doing the laundry with Biyang and te joan and te Cynthia. And I miss your cooking te elma. Hahaha.
Thanks to Anna who gave out my number to the SG-SFC community. My celphone hadn’t stopped receiving messages for the whole morning. This txt-ing thing surprised me.
Thanks also to Moomai who greeted me on email with lots of CCs. You’ve put color to my ultra-plain and tiring citi-email.
Thanks to all who greeted and gave their birthday wishes to me on email, friendster, ym, sms, call, whatever technology that is. Thanks to those people in SFC who doesn’t even know and yet bothered to follow Anna’s instructions and txted me. I am truly thankful that you spent a little of your time to think of me and my birthday.
Thanks to Tim and Ma’am Beng. My ex-team leads who never fail to remember my birthday. I am sincerely grateful.
Thanks to the custom clapping of IM++ team to those who celebrate birthday. At least for a nick of time I was the center of attraction. I planned to bow and make a speech but too bad I was rushing to Marina @ that time.
Thanks to Es, Sha, Marjoe, Tala, Anali, Che, Anna, Jeng, Jess, Louie, Amie and Kaye for those touching messages on the card you gave me. Special thanks also to the “across the miles/ocean/country” card that Eva sent. Your messages and views of me sent to tears. If Kaye see me now, she might think that I got retrenched already.
Thanks Es, Sha and Kaye for the birthday cake surprise. My birthday would be incomplete without that cheesecake.
Thanks to Bong for cleaning our mess and acting as a father and friend to me and amie when everyone got drunk. Thanks to Louie also. You won. Last girl standing. I salute you sis! Next time lets not play luck game anymore because for sure losing streak is on me.
Thanks to Anna, Amie, Jeng, Jess and Louie for giving me flowers and giving me Russ. I was a quite surprised when I received the call for the flowers. I thought I am goin’ to get fired from Citi already. But when I saw the flowers, I know it came from you guys. Thanks also for giving me lil’ cuddly russ. (to all: Russ is a bear. Not at all a human male specie). Thanks thanks thanks.
Thanks to those who came celebrate my birthday with me at different location… different time. It reminded me that I have real great friends.

My heartfelt thanks to all of you. Truly you made my birthday special.

God is really an awesome God. My birthday wish was simple. I prayed that on my birthday, I will feel that I have friends. I didn’t expect how all these friends would do these things that really made me feel accepted.. feel cared.

Through all of you, I felt the graciousness, awesomeness and love of the Lord.
Thank you for all those things you did for my birthday. It made me realize that no matter how busy I am to notice your problems; no matter how late I am on households; no matter how timid I am to get out of my shell; no matter how harsh I am in talking to you; no matter who I am, you accepted me as a friend. For that I am forever grateful.

And for all of these I praise and thank the Lord our God.

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Now you know the flowers didn’t come from a guy. And ross was just a bear. Hahaha. Did I trick you? Well, why do you help me in finding my real ross? Hahaha. Just kidding.

Short Story: Greatest Education

Once upon a time there live a very kind couple, Maria and Roberto. They were both merchants and were living a decent life in the suburbs of San Diego. They owned a large vineyard and a plantation of sugar. Hundreds of workers were employed and were given respectable lives inside the hacienda.
Many people look up to and loved Maria and Roberto not because of their richness or power but because of their good deeds. They regularly donate to churches and charities but more to that, they help educate the poor and find appropriate jobs for them.
Despite the richness and honor, the couple cannot be completely happy. Something very important is lacking in their life. Maria was barren.
It was a curse. Before Roberto met Maria, there was Simeonette. She was a nice looking woman but practiced witchcraft and black magic. She deeply fell in love with Roberto. She did everything she can to make Roberto feel the same way at her. However, Roberto wanted them to be nothing more than friends.
When Simeonette heard that Roberto is going to marry Maria, she was full of grief and fury. She cursed them never to have baby of their own. That Maria could never get pregnant.
Years passed, Roberto and Maria lived a happy and peaceful life. Simeonette was very displeased. She will never be contented until the couples’s lives were in shambles.
As she was planning to do something wicked, she saw a vision that she would die really soon. Devastated with the vision, Simeonette was raging with fury. She devised an iniquitous plan.
One night when Maria was not at home, she disguised her. Copied her appearance and everything. Then slept with Roberto.
Before Simeonette died, she gave birth to a good-looking baby boy, she named Nikita. She brought the baby boy to the hacienda of Roberto and Maria. And she put a curse on the baby that never would he love his new parents Maria and Roberto. And that he would also bring misfortune.
When the good couple saw the baby lying on a basket at their doorstep, they welcomed him at their home. They tried looking for the baby’s real parents until they gave up and raised the baby, as their own.
They provided Nikita everything he wanted. They showered him love only parents give to their real children.
Nikita however grew up strangely. His eyes were so cold. When Maria would hug him and kiss him, he was so distant. Never did he call his parents mama and papa or mom and dad.
When he would do something bad he would never admit his mistake and say, “I’m sorry.” He also never learned how to say “Thank you”.
At grade school, a week would not pass without Nikita starting a fistfight with his classmates. He was also rude to his teachers. He was a student with a nasty habit of putting other people into trouble. The only reason they kept him in school is because of Roberto and Maria.
The couple was very sad. They however did not blame Nikita or force him to harsh punishments.
When Nikita finished grade school, a great fire devoured their vineyard. At the same time sugar business dropped in their region.
Years passed, still sugar business never got up. They no longer have a vineyard. No more workers. They never was able to recover their business. They lost a vast amount of money and land trying to start on something new. But luck wasn’t on their side. What they don’t know is because of the curse Simeonette casted long time ago.
They were doomed to poverty when Nikita finally graduated college. Maria and Roberto were very happy because despite of everything they were able to give Nikita good education and a bright future. Roberto was working in the oil mines. While Maria was able to produce a small amount quilting and knitting robes and jackets.
Months after the graduation, Nikita packed his bags and went to the city to find a life of his own.
At that time, Maria and Roberto were already old. They even grew older. Maria was filled with sorrow when Nikita left. And she got sick.
At the city, Nikita was enjoying his freedom and never thought of his parents. Until one day, a group of thugs got all his money and possessions and beat him near to death.
Nikita’s wild world stopped. And he fell asleep.
Scenes of his life were flashed back to him. Scenes from his childhood when Maria gave him everything he ever wanted. Scenes wherein Roberto trained him to stand like a man. Not once was there a scene wherein his parent caused him pain.
After the scenes from his childhood, he was transferred to world full of dirty street kids stumbling on foods in the garbage. He saw kids with parents who abuse them, little kids who were working for money.
After all the scenes were flashed, a bright light blinded him and a voice started talking. He told Nikita that all the years that passed in his life. He was blinded by a curse laid by his real mother. He was made less human because one very essential emotion of man was taken out of him. The voice said that he must learn what that emotion is.
Nikita woke up at the hospital. It was still so white like his dream. But he heard a man crying. The lady that lies next to his room died of childbirth. But her relatives got the babies and reared them as their own kids.
When Nikita went out of the hospital, he saw a man carrying a child with a very big head. A hydrocephalous kid. The man was crying as he was asking for money from passers by. A paper hung on his neck that reads “For the operation of my beloved Kevin”. People who pass by him give money to the extent that his bags were full of it.
Nikita could not understand. Why are these people helping out each other? Why do his parents rear him when he was not of their own?
He was walking in turmoil when he heard a kid tell his mother, “I love you, Mama” when his mom bought him an ice cream.
Love? Nikita was blank. Was is love? Was it because of love, people are helping one another? Was it because of love, Maria and Roberto raised him?
He realized then, it was love that is lacking in him.
With this, he went back to his home in the suburbs. He has to see his parents. He has to tell them sorry and tell them that he could now love them.
But when he got to their home, it was locked. Nobody was there.
He doesn’t know where to go. But his feet brought him to an old hospital. At a fully packed smelly ward, he saw his mother, Maria. She was so small underneath the hospital sheets. She aged ten times the last time he saw her. And for the first time, Nikita’s heart ached.
He went near to his mother’s bed. He cried and said, “I love you, mama.” Maria heard this and woke up. She smiled. Then she cried. At long last, she was given a son.
Roberto saw Nikita and rushed to them. When Nikita saw his father, Roberto he said, “Papa, forgive me.” “I am so sorry, please let me love you back.”
Maria and Roberto hugged their son and a gray fog from Nikita’s body went up. The curse was lifted.
Loving and being loved is the emotion that conquers all. It was Maria and Roberto’s love the greatest education Nikita had because he himself learned how to love.