We've spent the last 4 nights in Milan, and the best part of the last 4 days attending the Italian Formula 1 GP.
The event was just an incredible spectacle. The Italians are so passionate about F1, and in particular their precious Ferrari team and Fernando Alonso. They turned out in droves. Also in cars, scooters, bikes and I think what one guy was driving was a street sweeper.
The racing was absolutely awesome. Seeing and hearing those cars come down the straight and into a corner at completely stupid speeds fulfilled every boyhood dream I'd had about being a part of such an event.
To summarise the race: Vettel won. He never looked like not winning. He started first and just got further and further away from the pack as the race went on. You'd see Vettel go past and then just be waiting, looking down the straight for everyone else. Alonso got off to a good start and planted himself in 2nd, much to the delight of the Italians, and Webber spent the entire race battling with Massa for 3rd, and then Allonso for 2nd. Webber stayed right with Alonso the entire time, but couldn't manage to get past. Still, it was a very proud moment to see Webber up on the podium at Monza for his last time. All of the 6 aussies at the track were extremely excited.
To summarise the race: Vettel won. He never looked like not winning. He started first and just got further and further away from the pack as the race went on. You'd see Vettel go past and then just be waiting, looking down the straight for everyone else. Alonso got off to a good start and planted himself in 2nd, much to the delight of the Italians, and Webber spent the entire race battling with Massa for 3rd, and then Allonso for 2nd. Webber stayed right with Alonso the entire time, but couldn't manage to get past. Still, it was a very proud moment to see Webber up on the podium at Monza for his last time. All of the 6 aussies at the track were extremely excited.
I think even Fee had fun when the main race was on. If not she was doing a good impression of being excited for me. We were both kitted out in our team redbull shirts, this made it interesting when we got lost trying to find our grandstand and ended up in one of the camping areas, being yelled at by drunk Italian Ferrari fans.
Fee and I have now had our dose of Italian crowds for quite some time, but everything went relatively to plan despite the seemingly complete lack of organisation by the Italians. Basically they couldn't organise d'roota ina di brothelli, if you'll excuse my Italiano. This meant you needed to know where you were going, and how to get there, as it was extemely unlikely that there would be a sign or something to point you in the right direction. If you ever want to see thousands of confused tourists, Monza on race weekend is the perfect place to go.
While we're on the topic of tourists, I feel the poms deserve a special mention. There was probably as many Brits at the F1 as there were Italians, and while most were perfecty fine, my goodness we encountered some whingey bastards. Here are some of my favourite quotes from poms over the last few days:
"These trains are ridiculous, its not like home." Really? Italian trains aren't exactly like those in London? oh I'm so sorry, I'll tell Italy that right away.
"Stop pushing me." (lady in a massive crowd of people trying to get onto a train). See, thing is love, you're in a crowd. A huge crowd. Sometimes, you might get pushed a little bit.
"I hate getting wet." (as a tiny shower starts, and he puts up his enormous golf umbrella, annoying half the crowd)
"You're in my seat." (To an Italian man, during a practice session, when there were literally thousands of other seats free)
Anyway, enough whinging about poms. We are currently hurtling towards Venice on the train. More later. Arrivederci!
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