Basic terms of royal races. "Sochi Autodrom": boxes, guest houses, press Paddock Club Formula 1

No entrance for unauthorized people

First of all, we warn you: if someone believes that you can get into the paddock by some roundabout ways or, for example, with fake passes, then you are in for a fiasco. First, to get started, you still need a ticket that allows you to go to Olympic Park, well, then the command “do not let go” will be clearly executed by the guards. There are few passes to the paddock, and the system is the same for all Grand Prix: from different parties installed arches with turnstiles. You lean on the pass, the system shows your photo and gives the go-ahead - and only in this case you can go further. But there is no additional security check: after all, you have already been examined by security during the passage to the territory of the autodrome.

We went inside - and immediately a feeling of euphoria. Team members in company uniforms scurry back and forth, motorsport stars working for the BBC, Sky or other TV channels are preparing for live broadcasts, some combat racer will quickly slip out of the guest house into the pits ... Mechanics wash tires, honored guests, accompanied by team representatives, inspect neighborhood. In short, here it is - the inner life of Formula 1!

Without trucks, but with houses

It should be noted that outside of Europe the paddock of formulaic tracks does not look quite the same as, for example, at the Spanish or Hungarian Grand Prix. As many people know, in the case of the “near” stages, teams send an armada of trucks to the circuit: some of them form pompous (or not so) motorhomes, others simply line up in a neat row and serve as a workplace for engineers.

So, Sochi is too far from the bases of the teams to send trucks here. So you will not see heavy trucks in the Sochi Autodrom paddock. How to do without them? Yes, it’s very simple: at all the “distant” Grand Prix, special guest houses have been built on the tracks, which become both motorhomes and offices. By the way, a year ago, your correspondent was even able to take a look at the second floor of the Toro Rosso house with one eye: the fact is that the engineers who had already started work could not cope with the local sockets. While this minor problem was being solved, it was possible to make sure: the office is comfortable, the team members do not have to huddle.

Well, at the first stage of the team house - a place to communicate with the press, as well as a canteen for employees. For the elite - a buffet. Well, somewhere in the depths of the floor - a few more rooms that the team can adapt to their needs.

I take everything with me

There are no trucks, but this does not mean that the teams travel light to the distant stages: in spite of everything, various equipment is sent in advance in huge boxes for each Grand Prix. For example, it is clear that on the spot no one will look for wrenches or urgently make bulk purchases of laptops - everything you need to work with cars both on the pit lane and next to it is taken with you.

In general, you need to understand that when the teams arrive at the track, they get at their disposal empty boxes and hospitality areas - except perhaps with signs that indicate the names of the teams and the names of the pilots. Tables, chairs, all kinds of utensils - team logisticians should take care of all this in advance. And that's all that is connected with "hospitality" at Suzuka, when the organizers reasonably noted: until the debt for last year's Grand Prix is paid off, we will not give you the keys. Well, at least they let me work in the pits.

Lodges, halls and cafes

If for some the paddock is a zone of intense work, then for others it is a place where you can watch the Grand Prix with great pleasure, enjoying the beautiful view and all kinds of dishes. No, no, we are not talking about journalists, but about visitors to the paddock club. Having received an invitation

from some company that rented a box, the lucky ones, after receiving small gifts and champagne, go to the box already at the entrance, where they have the opportunity to watch the races. True, there is one caveat: do not confuse the paddock club and the paddock itself. Despite the similar names, a pass to one of the places does not mean a free pass to the second. That is, a visitor to the box without the necessary pass will not be able to get out for a walk along the command houses, and, for example, a journalist, no one will be allowed to drink champagne in the box - to each his own.

However, there is no need for reporters to complain at Sochi Autodrom either: they have an excellent dining room at their disposal, where there are salads and fresh pastries - a rare occurrence for Formula 1. For example, at the recent Belgian Grand Prix, it was necessary to choose from sandwiches and instant soup (although in bad weather, Spa and he went with a bang).

In general, the current state of the Sochi track brings with it a number of advantages: huge press centers (no crowding, several halls), no less huge boxes (joy for teams, sponsors, organizers and everyone else), comfortable working conditions. In short, hardly anyone from the world of F-1 can make claims against the organizers. Therefore, it is only a matter of ensuring that Sochi Autodrom is completely saturated with the formulaic spirit, which it has been doing since last October.

Apex- point on inside the turn through which the racers try to pass. This is the "peak" of the turn, the turning point of the trajectory. The place where the turn begins to end, no matter how strange this phrase may sound. To "catch" the correct apex means to exit the turn by top speed. At the moment of passing the apex at the helm is the maximum angle.

Boxes- in fact, a complex of garages. Inside the boxes there are cars in between races. In normal races, pit stops take place in front of the pits, but in Formula E, instead of refueling and changing tires, the driver replaces the car, so the racers drive inside the "garages". All the work of the team on settings, adjustments and repair of fireballs is carried out in the pits. The boxes are located along the pit lane, one after the other.

Paddock- a special place that serves to deploy teams and stay high-ranking personalities.

Bolide (electro-bolide, ebolide)- in general, this is a kind of celestial bodies. Fast, loud and beautiful variety. Fireballs fall very beautifully, cutting through the atmosphere at great speed. And in Russian-language racing terms, a racing car or even a motorcycle is usually called a car. In the English-language press, such a term, if present, is extremely rare. In on an electric course, and therefore they can be called electric cars or "ebolides" (from the author).

Grand slam - a rare statistical achievement of a racing driver. To "receive" the Grand Slam, several conditions must be met at once:

leadership from starting lights to checkered flag;
the best lap in the race.

From these conditions, the conclusions follow: in order to take the Grand Slam, the driver must first win the qualification, and then the race. At the same time, he hopes that not a single rival will be ahead of him for a single second. And also drive one of the racing laps as quickly as possible. The Grand Slam is rare. No points are awarded for it, and only devoted sports fans follow this indicator. However, in some motorsport classes (particularly in Formula E and in various youth series) small in the race. F1 doesn't have that.

battle circle- should not be confused with the best (fastest) lap. A normal lap that the rider has driven with full dedication. However, in the qualifying mode, the battle circle is one of those in which the pilot tries to show best result(as opposed to the warm-up lap and return to the pits lap).

Fast lap (best lap)- In fact, the "fastest lap" would be more correct. In racing mode, this is the lap that the rider completed in the shortest time compared to his rivals, or the best lap compared to his other laps. In qualifying, a quick lap is a slightly different term. This is the circle that the rider goes at the highest possible (combat) pace, trying to show the best result. According to the results of the qualification (according to the best of the fastest laps), the alignment at the start of the race is determined.

Double- a situation when at the finish of the race the first two places are occupied by the pilots of the same team. Sometimes a double is the achievement of a driver who takes pole position and wins the race (cf. hat-trick, grand slam).

indoor park(fr. parc ferme): a specially designated area on the circuit, where there is a special regime for racing cars, excluding their maintenance, except as specifically indicated in cases and procedures. The cars are transferred to the closed park immediately after the races (races and, in some series, qualifications) for a technical inspection, the purpose of which is to make sure that the cars comply with the requirements of the technical regulation.

Qualification- competition of participants before the race, which determines the position of the riders on the starting field. Normally, the qualification is that the riders drive one or more laps around the track, not competing directly with each other, but trying to show the best best time passing the circle.

Classification- the final protocol, which indicates the pilots who have completed at least a certain percentage of the race distance (for Formula 1 - at least 90%).

racing flags- Flags describing the situation on the track. These flags are at the disposal of all course marshals. As a rule, the marshals independently decide whether to show the flag in a particular situation (with the exception of the red flag - it is allowed to show it only on the signal of the chief judge).

checkered flag- the flag that is shown to the riders at the finish line.
yellow flag- danger warning. Shown if there is a source of danger on the track: working people, a stopped car, debris. In the zone of yellow flags, riders are required to drive without overtaking at a speed at which it is possible to go around an obstacle.
Red flag- stop the race. Riders are required to slow down to a safe speed and bring the cars to the parking lot.
green flag- start of the race. Race restart. the danger has passed. Cancels the effect of the yellow flag.

Cockpit(English cockpit) - an open cockpit of a racing car into which the racer climbs from above (for example, in Formula 1).

Commissioners (stewards, marshals)- attendants of the race. Their task is to signal pilots with warning flags, evacuate crashed cars, ensure the cleanliness of the track and safety. As a rule, the team of commissioners serves all the races on a particular track, and not all the tracks of the series.

Lollipop- a sign with which the mechanics at the pit stop give commands to the rider. So named because of its appearance similar to candy on a stick.

lollipop(English lollipop - lollipop) - a person who holds a lollipop on a pit and gives orders to the entire team of mechanics serving the pilot's car

best lap- the fastest lap in the race, that is, the lap that some pilot (the author of the best lap) drove in the shortest time among all the riders and all the laps in the race.

Mixed (intermediate rubber)- tires of special composition and design, which allow the race to be carried out in a wet track or light rain. Mixed tires are a middle ground between slicks, designed for completely dry tracks, and rain tires, which are used in heavy rain conditions.

Monoclass- a class of auto racing in which cars of only one particular brand are allowed. These include, for example, A1 Grand Prix or Formula Rus.

Non-stop- tactics of pit stops, consisting in the absence of those. Currently, it is practically not used.

Pace car (safety car, safety car)(Amer. English pace car, English safety car) - a special car that goes to the race track in emergency cases in order to reduce the speed of the peloton. This usually happens in the event of an accident with one of the cars, when it takes time to remove dangerous debris from the track. During the presence of the safety car on the track, pilots do not have the right to overtake either each other or the pace car (with the exception of cases specifically stipulated in the rules), and therefore they are forced to adhere to the relatively slow pace of the latter.

Peleton (peloton)- many cars participating in the race.

Pilot (racer)- race car driver

pit lane(English pit lane) - part of the race track, on which the boxes of the teams participating in the race are located. Pit stops are made in the pit lane. Usually, when entering the pit lane, the rider is required to slow down according to the restrictions of this racing series.

Pit stop(eng. pit-stop) - stopping the car in the pit lane, during which the car can refuel, change tires, make repairs, etc. according to the needs of the pilot and the rules of this racing series.

Podium- the first 3 places at the finish of the race, the pilots who took these places, as well as the platform (three levels in height), on which the pilots ascend. Usually the cups are awarded to the drivers on the podium and then the riders have a champagne shower.

Pole position (pole position)(eng. pole position) - the first position on the starting grid. It is occupied by the driver who won the qualification. In auto racing, the term comes from horse racing. The distance for running on the hippodrome is often marked with poles. The start can be given from different points, but the end of the race always comes at the finish post. Since the racetrack is an oval, the horse that stays closest to the center of the oval runs the shortest distance. Thus, the pole-position is the best for running. And in races, respectively, the first position on the starting grid becomes one.

Driving through the pit lane(English drive-through) - one of the penalties that a racer is punished for breaking the rules. Its meaning is that the driver drives along the pit lane, with the speed limit adopted in this racing series. Softer than stop and go. In Formula 1, it is given for crossing the white line in the pit lane and for speeding in the pit lane.

Warm-up lap- in qualifying and in the race, the lap that the rider completes in comparatively slow pace and trying to heat the rubber tires to the optimum temperature. If, after the warm-up lap, you must immediately go to the battle circle, the value of the warm-up lap is to accelerate at the finish line in order to start the battle circle as quickly as possible.

Free practice (practice)- races that are held before the qualification and the race, allowing riders to get acquainted with the track, try out the car and prepare it for the race.

Slicks(English slicks) - absolutely smooth tires that do not have grooves or other elements that slow down the movement. In auto racing, slicks are used in most cases. The shape of the slicks is a smooth torus and is optimal for traction on a dry asphalt track. In the rain and on dirt roads, tread tires are used.

Slipstream (drafting)(English slipstream) - driving directly behind another car, in a swirling zone. Air resistance decreases for both the rear rider and (to a lesser extent) the front rider. Slipstreaming is an important part of oval racing tactics, as it allows you to save fuel and delay the pit stop, or accelerate and overtake. The disadvantage of slipstream riding is severe understeer.

ground effect(English ground effect) - an effect in which an area is created under the bottom of the car reduced pressure air, which increases downforce. The higher the class of cars in the series, the stronger influence ground effect on the overall speed of the car. In Formula E, the ground effect is practically not important, here is a relatively primitive aerodynamics. In F1, the ground effect plays a very important role.

Splash and dash(English splash-and-dash - literally “splashed and jerked”), splash and go is a very short pit stop, on which a little fuel is poured into the car (without changing tires). May occur, for example, with a slight lack of fuel (eg Mika Häkkinen at the 2001 Hungarian Grand Prix).

Start from a place(English standing start). The fireballs are lined up on the starting grid in accordance with some order (usually - according to the results of the qualification). The start takes place from a place and is given with the help of a traffic light or in another way (rarely).

Flying start(eng. rolling start). The fireballs line up on the starting grid according to some order, then they follow the pace car for a circle. They have no right to overtake each other or the pace car. Shortly before the end of the lap, the pace car turns into the pits, and the riders continue to drive without overtaking until the end of the lap. After the car crosses the starting line, the race begins, in particular, permission is given to overtake. Four races started in Formula 1: Spa 1997, Spa 2000, Interlagos 2003 and Fuji 2007.

Starting line- a straight line, at the intersection of which the pilot begins the passage of the circle. Often the starting line coincides with the finish line.

finish line- V circuit racing a straight line, at the intersection of which the rider is considered to have completed the circle. Crossing the finish line after completing the last lap of the race, the driver ends the race. Crossing the finish line by a car is considered crossing it with the front of the car. In circuit racing, the finish line usually coincides with the starting line.

Starting field (starting grid)(eng. starting grid) - a place on the starting line, where the riders line up before the start of the race. The order of places on the starting field (arrangement) is determined by the results of the qualification. The configuration of the starting field will be determined by the regulations of the various racing series and the technical capabilities of the circuit. As a rule, participants car racing arranged in two columns. In this case, the owner of the pole position is located in the immediate vicinity of the start line, the rider who showed the second result in qualifying takes place on the other side of the track, a few meters back from the first position - and so on. In some forms of motorsport, drivers are arranged in threes abreast and/or staggered.

stop and go(English stop-and-go - “stop-and-go”) - a fine that a rider is punished for breaking the rules. The pilot enters his boxes, stops there (usually for 10 seconds) and continues to move. In Formula 1, it is imposed for cutting corners, intentional collisions and other gross violations of the rules.

Hat trick- the achievement of the rider who won the qualification and the race, and showed the best lap time during the race (cf. grand slam).

chicane- sequence of turns.

Hairpin- a sharp turn of less than 180 and more than 90 degrees, connecting two straight lines.

Esca- a bunch of turns in the shape of the Latin letter S.

Electronic village -

Fan-Bust(fan-bust, push-to-pass) - a short-term increase in the power of the car in the race (). Boost is given to 3 pilots with the most votes from the fans.

VIP passes for Formula 1. The place is called "Paddock-club". Can be compared to a VIP box on football stadium, only it's something bigger and 100 times cooler!

"The entrance to a special world - inside of Formula 1 - is the Paddock club!!"

The paddock club is a complex of premises located directly on the pit lane above the garage boxes of the Formula 1 teams. This allows you to see racing cars, the work of teams during pit stops as close as possible to you, almost at arm's length (well, perhaps a little further away).

Buying a ticket-pass in the Paddock-club you get access to the holy of holies, to the elite club of Formula 1 and you have the opportunity to see life royal races from within!

"view from the VIP-balcony of Paddock-club"a - you see - the usual stands on the other side, and this VIP balcony - right above the garage boxes - you see the pit stops during the race! And you see the command bridges, from where the leadership of each team controls the race"

You will be prompted:

Special pass for driving your car to a special parking lot on the territory of the autodrome or in the immediate vicinity of the autodrome (issued for 4 people. We drive you to the entrance to the paddock club, even if you have arrived only one / one)
Accommodation at served tables for 6 persons in an air-conditioned area;
Video monitors with a formulaic picture;
Delicious food from the chef;
Non-alcoholic drinks (without limitation);
Alcoholic drinks (without limitation);
Access to the lounge area with soft sofas;
Daily (!) excursions to the pit lane along the garage boxes of all Formula 1 teams. On Friday - between the first and second practice. Saturday before qualifying. Sunday - before the race;
If you spend time not only at the table, then you can take pictures and get autographs from the riders;
While walking along the pit lane - you will be able to take pictures next to racing cars and spoilers and casings laid out near them;
You receive nice gifts and souvenirs every day;
You will be able to see the pit stops during the race right below you, this will happen;
You can walk during the race along the entire length of the balcony above the boxes while drinking champagne;

"Leonid Novozhilov, FORMULASPORT project manager, walking along the pit lane near the Ferrari garages."

"Boxes Ferrari. View from the pit lane".

The cost of one VIP pass to Paddock club for all three days: 220,000 rubles (Singapore 388,000 rubles). For many Grand Prix, such "tickets" end 2-3 months before the event. This is especially true for the Monaco Grand Prix, the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and the Singapore Grand Prix.

"Children especially manage to run everywhere and see everything! FORMULASPORT tourists in the Paddock Club at the 2013 Malaysian Grand Prix."

This year, FORMULASPORT tourists were in the "Paddock Club" at the Malaysian Grand Prix, the British Grand Prix, the Hungarian Grand Prix. And also our people will fly to the Paddock club at the Singapore Grand Prix and the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

To book passes in the Paddock club, call me personally, Leonid Novozhilov, FORMULASPORT project manager at: +7 985 997-94-37 or send an email to [email protected]

"Paddock-club. Chef".

"Fernando Alonso in the Paddock-clube. If you hurry up, there are many chances to get an autograph and take a photo for memory, not only with Alonso, but with everyone you" watch and catch ".

"Paddock. Formula 1 drivers gathered together before the parade of pilots. If you stand in right place while walking down the pit lane, they will all pass you at arm's length."

"On every trip I drive and accompany a small group of tourists from 4 to 12 people. Maximum 15-17 people. Look at the joyful faces of tourists traveling with FORMULASPORT to Formula 1!"

Tour dates in 2020: upon request.

What is the Formula 1 Paddock Club? Paddock Club is not only an opportunity to see the world of Formula 1 from the inside, but also a great chance to meet your business partners in an informal setting.

The Paddock Club is usually located in the pit lane, above the Formula 1 team garages, allowing you to see the racing cars as well as the work of the teams during the pit stops as close to you as possible. Every day, drivers, past champions and team engineers come to the Paddock Club to chat with guests. Here you can learn a lot of interesting things about the behind the scenes of Formula 1 racing.

Giant screens installed in the Formula One Paddock Club allow you to watch all the action taking place on the track, as well as keep track of the time the drivers complete the track. You can go out to the terrace or stay in the lounge.

The best chefs in the world work for Paddock Club clients. The bar with champagne, fine wines and an unlimited range of drinks is open for you throughout the day. There is also coffee, ice cream and desserts.

Among the spectators of the "royal races" there is a special caste - the inhabitants of the "Paddock Club". To join their ranks you need to pay 5 thousand dollars! I found out who these mysterious people are and for what exactly they are spreading such huge money.

01. This is what a ticket to the Paddock Club looks like, which includes three badges: on the days of practice, qualification and race. Naturally, I myself did not pay $5,000 for a pass to the VIP lounge. The company gave me the ticket Exness is the new sponsor of the Infiniti RedBull team.

But if quite frankly, then in the photo there is a pass Sergei Doli . I wanted to watch the race from the usual stands, so I had a ticket to the Paddock Club only on the day of practice :-)

02. Formula 1 has a complex and strict access system. The ability to get into certain zones costs a lot of money, so the "hares" will not pass.

03. At each checkpoint, the staff has detailed instructions who to skip and who not:

04. In the parking lot for spectators who have bought tickets to the Paddock Club, there are the following cars:

05. Login:

06. From the usual stand, which is located opposite the paddock, you can see the garages of the teams where the cars are serviced. Above them are the halls:

07. At the entrance we are again met by turnstiles:

08. The interior of the elite hall looks modern. White sofas, tables, huge plasma screens broadcasting Formula 1:

09. On the day of practice, people are bored. I don’t know how it was during the race, but the races do not cause much interest among the audience:

10. Most often, the inhabitants plunged into an iPhone, or into a dream:

11. Given that the sun is hot outside, and the thermometer is +35, the air-conditioned paddock seems ideal. Although the spirit of the race is not felt. At least that was the case during the test session.

12. All spectators are given champagne and a package with the Formula 1 program:

13. Spectators of Paddock Club do not suffer from hunger! The staff took care of the variety of snacks and sweets :-)

14. I was interested to see people who bought tickets for $5,000. Look:

15. They all naturally like to drink:

16. I also sat on the sofa and tried to look at the race through the eyes of a paddock inhabitant:

17. VIP guests have the opportunity to feel like the winners of the Malaysian Grand Prix:

18. Or try your hand at the simulator:

19. The most ardent fans do not sit on sofas, but watch the pit stops that occur under their feet.

20. View like this:

21. Willy-nilly looked out for cars of the Infiniti RedBull team. It is still pleasant that the young Exness team managed to get to the international level in five years and become a partner of the royal racing team. You may call it petty sycophancy, but I am proud. After all, usually in our country, motorsport is financed by giant corporations, often owned by the state.

22. After the races, the pilots are waiting for an autograph session. I'm not so pushy, so I went to write posts for you, my beloved readers :-)

Tomorrow is the Chinese Grand Prix! Wait for the detailed report!

Yours sincerely,