This week the F1 world headed to India where the teams, drivers and media were joined by a host of wildlife as they made Delhi their home for the weekend. The teams have been busy tweeting this week, in particular Lotus, who have had a special guest with them… Find out who it is in this week’s F1 Timeline…
What the drivers have been saying:
Heikki Kovalainen has been doing some training in Abu Dhabi out on the circuit:
@H_Kovalainen: Good cycling session at Yas Marina Race Circuit, lots of people out cycling or running. pic.twitter.com/Nklu1GbH
Kamui Kobayashi sounded like a man without a race seat in 2013 on Tuesday:
@kamui_kobayashi: Last my 4race this season will do my best as much as possible. Unfortunately my plan next year is not fix yet but of course will do my best
@kamui_kobayashi: And try to get my dream. It’s feel so high wall but this chance give me opportunity to be a even stronger my self
@kamui_kobayashi: One day if I need help from supporter of course it will be very helpful and please keep support me it will help a lot!!
Meanwhile, Alonso was more cheerful as he celebrated his 1,000th tweet:
@alo_oficial: Mi tweet número 1000 es para….TODOS los fans! My 1000th tweet is for all the fans..! #twitterAlo #forzaferrari pic.twitter.com/RABh1yZM
Mark Webber arrived in India on Wednesday and was held up in traffic:
@AussieGrit: Backmarkers. #blueflagsboys http://twitpic.com/b70hn2
Kovalainen had a curry on Thursday night:
@H_Kovalainen: Good indian curry for dinner tonight, lets see how we feel tomorrow!
For this weekend’s race, Alonso had a personalised pillow on his hotel bed:
@alo_oficial: Normal Friday testing and adapt setup to the circuit! Now at the hotel some rest .., by the way, I will take this home pic.twitter.com/v7DOuGCy
What the teams have been saying:
Lotus were in America last Sunday visiting the Circuit of the Americas:
@Lotus_F1Team: Check out that hill… #COTA pic.twitter.com/WNaLOB83
They remembered Moto GP’s Marco Simoncelli on Tuesday:
@Lotus_F1Team: 1 year ago today the motorsport community lost a fantastic talent; No. #58 Marco #Simoncelli… Never Forgotten #SuperSic pic.twitter.com/GhzrEtFO
On Wednesday they were in India, and they shared some photos from their travels to and from the circuit:
@Lotus_F1Team: Guess you could say this takes the definition of ‘road hog’ to a whole new level… #IndianGP pic.twitter.com/ZWIA7VEU
@Lotus_F1Team: Stunning sunset here as we head back to the hotel for the evening… India is beautiful. Roll on the weekend #IndianGP pic.twitter.com/0hINvLj5
The teams were out walking the track on Thursday:
@WilliamsF1Team: And onto the longest straight on the calendar – an awesome 1.12km #WilliamsTrackWalk pic.twitter.com/dFzOUhdq
@Lotus_F1Team: #HolyCow! Seven-wide along the main straight! Expect KERS and DRS slip-streaming any moment http://twitpic.com/b7609g
@Lotus_F1Team: Looks like @clubforce are the fastest track walkers so far, they totally mullered out of turn three to the straight http://twitpic.com/b76115
@Lotus_F1Team: So @clubforce headed straight to the pits, no completed lap, making @Lotus_F1Team the Track Walk Grand Prix winners! http://twitpic.com/b768cr
Later that day, Williams were at the drivers’ autograph session:
@WilliamF1Team: The drivers now signing autographs at #IndianGP. They’re going to need a lot of ink with that queue! http://yfrog.com/occrymjj
Red Bull’s spy was keeping himself entertained on the Indian roads:
@redbullf1spy: Who needs TV when you have the roads of India for entertainment? Man driving moped; lady on back of moped holding goat. The goatacycle.
Sauber noticed their reserve driver, Esteban Gutierrez, who stepped in for an ‘unwell’ Sergio Perez during FP1, was receiving quite a bit of media attention:
@OfficialSF1Team: There is quite some media interest in our reserve driver pic.twitter.com/F1v3FOud
McLaren shared some photos from practice on Friday:
@TheFifthDriver: DRS-button: @jensonbutton blasts out of the garage. Looks quick! pic.twitter.com/UDbWjb62
@TheFifthDriver: And here’s @lewishamilton leaving the garage. FP1 session very busy now! pic.twitter.com/LWOVGHX0
This weekend, Lotus were joined by Mini Kimi:
@Lotus_F1Team: Hey dude, where’s my car? #HolyCow #MiniKimi http://twitpic.com/b7fzs1
@Lotus_F1Team: And here’s our official Invisible Car driver… Who else but #MiniKimi #HolyCow http://twitpic.com/b7hi2t
Planning a trip to a GP soon, and going on the pitlane tour? Then this is your checklist on what to take:
@redbullf1spy: Stuff to pack for pitlane tour: camera, check; autograph book, check; tabla drum, check; pantomime horse, check… pic.twitter.com/NiRLdV4O
Marussia passed an interesting place on their way to the circuit on Saturday:
@Marussia_F1Team: Buddh Morning! S-hazy start to the day again as we get stuck into pitstop practice. Passed a place called ‘Cow World’ on the way *intrigued*
Excuse the pun from McLaren:
@TheFifthDriver: Don’t forget to stay #Tooned for qualifying! pic.twitter.com/c9MrSuqC
The Lotus Twitter feed was being monitored by a special guest on Saturday evening:
@Lotus_F1Team: Mini-Kimi is keeping an eye on our twitter feed… #holycow http://instagr.am/p/RSWVnmrk_F/
@Lotus_F1Team: Before we leave the track, Mini-Kimi took the chance to contemplate tomorrow… #holycow pic.twitter.com/OMdnXkoo
Red Bull’s spy met a giant caterpillar in the pitlane this morning…
@redbullf1spy: I’ll give you 3 guesses which side of the tape this fella wants to be on…. pic.twitter.com/58LtNENQ
Red Bull’s pre-race rave in their garage attracted some Indian guests:
@redbullracing: Come and dance with us in our garage! #IndianGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/fO4bVpqR
Lotus had a live cartoon during the race:
@Lotus_F1Team: Kimi is trying to get past Felipe… #F1LiveCartoons #HolyCow pic.twitter.com/wexrQOBV
Red Bull’s spy had this to say after the race:
@redbullf1spy: Vettel wins! Rocky does the crazy frog, Seb yelps like he’s just sat on an ants’ nest – just like old times.
In case you missed a rare occurrence, here’s McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton being interviewed on the grid:
@TheFifthDriver: Here’s @lewishamilton conducting his first-ever official grid interview with SKY’s @MBrundleF1! pic.twitter.com/Q5WnZlvl
What the media have been saying:
Christmas came early for Autosport’s Pablo Elizalde on Tuesday:
@EliGP: Again, Merry Christmas http://instagr.am/p/RHt4Wwkx6z/
According to Will Buxton, Kimi Raikkonen is responsible for the ‘quote of the year’:
@willbuxton: Quote of the year? Kimi, do you like Indian food? “Well yeah. If it’s like it is in Europe.”
Natalie Pinkham has jumped on the Mini Kimi bandwagon:
@NataliePinkham: Mini Kimi @Lotus_F1Team pic.twitter.com/5QgePOu8
Jake Humphrey got caught in a traffic jam on Friday:
@mrjakehumphrey: Our traffic jam companion…wonderful country. Love it here…pic.twitter.com/QSjjmuIN
Sky Sports shared this photo of Natalie Pinkham:
@SkySportsF1: When in Rome/Delhi for @NataliePinkham…pic.twitter.com/eUou5eUL
During the race, Kate Walker was trying her hardest to spice things up:
@F1Kate: Woah, we’re half-way there. Woah-oh, livin’ on a prayer (that this race will get more exciting).
@F1Kate: Congratulations to Sparky Zzzzettel for being the only man ever to win the Indian Grand Prix. Again.
And that’s it for this week. Join me again next week for the Abu Dhabi GP edition…
