Spa GP Preview and Tom Wilkinsons Paddock Life

The wait is finally over, it has been a long 4 weeks but Formula 1 returns to the theatrical, exciting and thrilling Spa circuit. There isn't a better place to kick start the second part of this fascinating season. Lets dive into this magnificent race circuit.

The Facts.
Lap: 7.004 km
Race Laps: 44
Lap Record: 1:47.263
S Vettel (2009)
2012 Winner: Jenson Button
Race Date: 25.08.2013
Safety Car – Likely
Weather – Always Changeable
Tyre Allocation – Medium & Hard
DRS Zones: Pit-straight and between turns 4 and 5.
The Circuit.

We arrive in Spa to the news that Daniel Ricciardo the man chosen to replace Mark Webber. There was much speculation about who will take the Red Bull seat, many linking Kimi Raikkonen and some even linking Fernando Alonso to be the Australians replacement. Many people say Ricciardo is the right man, and I personally would agree. Although lets be honest, it would have been tremendous to see either Raikkonen or Alonso in the same car as Vettel.

The Spa-Francorchamps circuit is located in the heart of the Ardennes forest, It's a theatrical and rather dramatic backdrop. With plenty of twists, turns and hills this place always provides a dramatic race. One only has to mention a number of corners to bring back memories, such as Eau Rouge, Pouhon, Blachimont and La Source, the place is full of history. Spa has hosted a Grand Prix since 1924, it's one of the most popular circuits among drivers and fans. Although the circuit has changed rather dramatically, the character and challenge remains much the same. Spa returned to the F1 calendar in 1983 after the original 14.9 km circuit was deemed too dangerous and hosted it's last race in 1970. The current layout of the circuit has been altered in a number of ways over the years, mainly around the Bus stop chicane. Spa is the longest circuit layout on the F1 calendar and one of the most enjoyable to drive. It is a long and flowing race track. Plenty of challenging high speed corners, long straights this is a real race track.

You can follow all the action from Spa right here at Driving For Pleasure. Follow me on Twitter @TomWilkinsonF1 for the Live action and all the latest news.

You can catch my full Qualifying and race reports online here at Driving For Pleasure. This is your one stop shop for Formula 1 in 2013.

Paddock Life a special feature by Tom Wilkinson

Our Formula 1 expert analyst Tom Wilkinson is a regular visitor to the paddock on race weekends, and after much demand, he tells the inside line on paddock life.

Formula 1 is so beautiful, glamorous and working in the paddock is easy right? Well it's actually rather difficult with long hours, but I wouldn't change it for the world. I've been a visitor to the F1 paddock for 6 years now, but I still take that gasp of breath as my pass bleeps through the turnstiles and the world of Formula 1 awaits. I've loved this sport since I was 5 years old, working in Formula 1 was always a dream, walking into the paddock is simply that dream coming true. But just like you, I am a fan of the sport. Many of my Twitter followers have asked me to tell them my experiences, so here you go folks.

My first paddock visit was in 2008 at a tyre test at Silverstone. I was invited by a McLaren team sponsor, and invited into the garage. It was an incredible first experience as it was just a week before the British Grand Prix. Talking to Heikki Kovalinen who was driving that day was incredible, and that's where my aim to become a journalist began. But it's quite strange, it felt natural approaching people I saw on TV and simply asking questions. Walking through the paddock I saw Felipe Massa, I simply went up to him, and asked simply how does the car feel. He replied, then I asked another question, by this time there was a crowd around us, I genuinely felt like I was a TV presenter or something, such an incredible feeling. I then had a paddock tour on Qualifying day in 2009 with Williams, that was just fantastic going inside the garage during FP3. Actually being in a garage on a race weekend, it was an unforgettable experience, but then they have all been unforgettable experiences.

My professional work in the paddock began only recently, after my Silverstone visits many people asked me to write about it. One of the first things that takes your breath away as you walk into the paddock is the new Silverstone Wing. It is a quite spectacular building. Walking through towards the media centre you walk past the FIA motor homes with some lovely looking plants outside, Pirelli have their setup just a little further down too. The Pirelli trucks are quite something, they have a textured carbon fibre effect which I was rather impressed with. As you arrive in the centre of the paddock, the Red Bull energy station towers above you. If it looks big on TV, you should see it in reality, it is a sight to behold. They do lovely hot chocolate inside too but I'll get to that later.

The Media Centre is the main place to be during a race weekend, my desk just by one of the main doors towards the back of the room. Why the back? Because all the FIA Communications are based their, and it's a much shorter walk. The media centre is a modern and simple room, sadly without any windows. All the information you could possibly want during the race is right where you are sitting. There are 5 TV screens, all with different information available including world feed TV, timing screens, weather info and race control information. Hundreds of screens hanging from above throughout the whole room. It is a huge room with 5 different entry doors, I'd say you could easily fit 250 people in it. Walking in is a special feeling, seeing all the great people you recognise from the TV. Martin Brundle followed me in and put his hand on my shoulder and said, “mind out new boy”. I turned around and said hello, we had a nice talk. Such a surreal moment in my life, Martin is my F1 broadcasting hero, and he made time for me, how special that was. I was sat opposite Peter Windsor and Alan Henry, I was talking to Will Buxton quite a lot during the weekend. Jennie Gow was often talking to me, James Allen, Jonnie Herbert, Damon Hill, Sir Jackie Stewart, Ted Kravitz, David Croft, Ant Davidson the list goes on. What struck me most was the time these great people had for me, a young journalist starting out. I was nobody compared to these people, but they had so much time for me it was very encouraging.

I also met several people I know from Twitter, which was always something I looked forward to. Rosie Baillie was one of them, a fantastic up and coming journalist. She approached me in the paddock on Thursday, we had a great time talking F1 and discussing the race weekend ahead. It was great to share the experience with people who have the same level of interest and knowledge. Philip Horton was another journalist I met through the weekend, we had to share the pain together on Thursday morning of waiting for the paddock passes to arrive. It was quite good actually having a joke with each other, it was good fun.

Working in the paddock is very tiring. My hotel was about 40 minutes from the circuit, knowing what the A43 can be like, I wanted to be early. I left the Hotel at 6:30am every morning, arrived at the circuit in good time to start work. I left the circuit around 7pm most days. All my equipment, notebooks, IPad, keyboard, camera and so on was all in my case. I was well prepared every day which was absolutely critical, fail to prepare, prepare to fail as they say.

You don't need lunch in your bag, you can get it all for free in the paddock, Rosie, Philip and I often enjoyed a Ferrari breakfast most mornings. It was out of this world, the most gorgeous orange juice, fresh fruits, and crispy pancetta on creamy scrambled eggs. This was breakfast the Italian way, it was excellent. We sat at a carbon fibre table with carbon chairs too, an IPad fixed to every table with all the Ferrari history and information at your finger tips. What is just incredible, it was all free. I dread to think how much it would have cost in a posh restaurant. Red Bull also did breakfast, but it was my choice for lunch, a choice of 3 meals every day with a drink. The hot chocolates at Red Bull are fantastic, made fresh with cream on top too. Talk about living the dream.

All in all it is a fantastic experience and I enjoy it immensely, however it is hard work and long hours. What you always have to remember, there are so many people who would love this opportunity. It makes you realise how lucky you are to have a Formula 1 Media pass, and full paddock access.

My F1 Paddock advice.
Ask yourself this question, what is everyone doing in the paddock? The answer is simple, Formula 1 related work the same as you. If you want to know something, just approach them and ask. Everyone is busy in the paddock, but don't be shy, if you don't ask you'll get nowhere. Simply dive in and do your job the best you can. But the first rule is this, be prepared, plan what you want to do and have backups. Schedules will change, so you need a plan B all the time. Organise interviews with people, I did that with Bernd Maylander. Ask the right people to organise it, I'd advise you choose smaller teams first as they are more likely to say yes. But most of all, enjoy it as a fan as well as a journalist. It is a truly special place.