From Cricket Fan to F1 Enthusiast: My Unforgettable Experience at the Singapore Grand Prix 2023

Growing up in India, cricket was the only sport that captured my attention. However, during the COVID-19 lockdown, with nothing much to do, I stumbled upon Formula 1 and found myself hooked. Watching the Netflix series "Drive to Survive" opened my eyes to the strategic and thrilling world of F1, and I became an avid follower of the races.

My newfound passion led me to a remarkable opportunity – attending the Singapore Grand Prix in 2023. The event was nothing short of spectacular, living up to its reputation as a sport of luxury. Thanks to a fellow F1 enthusiast, I had the chance to experience the exclusive 'Twenty 3 Hospitality Package' in the paddock.

One of the perks of this premium pass was access to Michelin-starred restaurants within the seating area. However, my culinary adventure left me a bit disappointed. As I sampled dishes that looked more like art than food, I couldn't help but agree with Shaquille O'Neal's sentiment about Michelin-starred cuisine – it tasted like shit.

This is something made out of duck meat. It was chewy and had no taste

This one is some sort of fish i guess, filled with green sauce. The sauce had a very strong taste. I could not feel the taste of meat at all

This one is chicken. I can't remember the last time I had to search for chicken in a dish such small

Now, this one was disgusting of all. This is some sort of sushi, covered with raw fish meat. You see the small greenish thing on top of that. Those are fish eggs, FISH EGGS!! Bloody hell. Who in the world eats fish eggs? Apparently a few people do and they call them Caviar.

The highlight was the Cranberry juice, which stood out as the only enjoyable part of the Michelin-starred dining experience.

Undeterred by the culinary letdown, I ventured into the lively crowd outside, where there was another stall serving street food which offered delicious alternatives. Armed with meat sticks, I headed to the terrace to enjoy the qualifying rounds.

The excitement reached its peak when, during the qualifying rounds, I witnessed a million-dollar moment – an F1 car crashing into the barriers. The sound and sight of the crash were simultaneously terrifying and exhilarating. Recording the incident, I couldn't help but marvel at the intensity of the sport. The surprises continued as both Ferrari cars secured pole positions while Max faced disqualification in Q2.

Returning the next day to a different stand for the race, the live experience was a sensory overload, with the deafening sound of the race cars adding to the thrill. The race itself was a nail-biter, with Mercedes making a strategic move by pitting for fresh tires in the final laps. The chase towards the end, with George in a Mercedes almost overtaking Lando in a McLaren, culminated in a dramatic crash. Carlos Sainz of Ferrari claimed the top spot, followed by Lando Norris from McLaren in P2 and Lewis Hamilton from Mercedes in P3.

As the race concluded with a breathtaking fireworks display, I couldn't help but feel fortunate to have witnessed an F1 race live, complete with a memorable car crash and an unforgettable chase. It was an experience that solidified my newfound love for Formula 1, transcending the boundaries of my cricket-centric upbringing.