F1 Fever - Highly Contagious!

MANILA, Philippines - The wheel – one of mankind’s greatest inventions. Ever since man figured how to put an axle through a wheel some 8,000 years before Christ, human life would never be the same. This discovery would later pave the way for breakthrough activities of many eras – such as transporting materials for the Egyptians, chariot racing for the Romans and modern-day-man’s, er... Formula 1?

And why not? Is it not one of the most popular car racing championships on the planet? Has it not practically become a culture, with F1 groupies following after the racing legs all over the globe, like gypsies? I must say, it has become a powerful fascination indeed.

Formula 1 racing, more fondly known as F1, has gone a long way since its humble beginnings in the late 1940’s. Taking its name from the official “formula” or sets of rules that every participating car should abide by, the race has grown out of its core European popularity and has now become a global sensation, with official racing circuits slowly spreading out of Europe and trickling into Africa, the Americas, and now even more into Asia.

It is such a treat then, that Filipinos now have greater access to witnessing some of these powerful races live, with the help of the proximity of some of these racing circuits, and the budget-friendliness of Asia. I, for one, have had the pleasure of attending my first live F1 race in Sepang, Malaysia last April 10, 2011, and the experience was nothing less than epic.

Although I personally fancy the F1 World Championships, what I can say is that one need not be a big F1 fan in order to appreciate the adrenalin-rush and energizing chaos that can only be experienced live, at ground zero! The frenzy of die-hard fans, all dressed up in funky costumes... The chorus of yelling crowds, waiting for a driver’s miscalculation to happen... They all conjure a strangely addicting sense of excitement, awakening a primal human instinct that must have been in us ever since the days of ancient Roman Chariot Racing.

And let us not forget, the trademark almost-eardrum-shattering engine sounds of the vehicles traveling at speeds of up to 360kms/hr … They almost make you ponder whether people are truly masochistic beings. Ear plugs of course, were valuable as water at the race site itself, and were one of those things that you would dare not forget to bring.

Of course part of the F1 spectator experience is also going through the array of official merchandise shops that lead to the circuit proper... All overflowing with ecstatic fans, wrestling to get themselves that perfect-sized Ferrari (or what not) shirt that would cost them an arm and a leg (and maybe an ear, too). The best piece of advice I could give here though, is to wait until the race is over. Because more often than not, the merchandise go on sale, and you could still get your souvenir for only a leg, less the arm. And if they still have your size, that is.

It was a comfortable victory for Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull) in the 2010 Sepang F1 Race, finishing 3.261 seconds clear of McLaren driver Jenson Button. It was, however, a surprise finish for Renault driver Nick Heidfeld, who came in third – but of course you already knew all that. What you probably don’t know yet, is the magic that is personally witnessing the highest class of single-seater auto racing sanctioned by the FIA (Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile), as opposed to watching them from your TV sets.

Formula 1 is truly an art of its own, and I think is one of those things that you might like to add to your bucket list. With highly accessible Asian circuits such as the one in Sepang, Malaysia, it should no longer be difficult nor unreasonably expensive to watch a race. Now my friends, you have no excuse. I’ll race you to catch the next one!