A party with 121,667 smiles

Yesterday was a day to remember. After two years where fans didn’t fill the Circuit stand to watch F1 (in 2021 only 1,000 lucky people entered the main grandstand because of the Covid-19), yesterday was more than a day of racing. It was a day of liberation, of celebration, of joy, and more than ever, for the fans who filled the stands, it was a return, now, to normalcy. The Catalan track of passion for F1 was filled with 121,667 souls leaving a very clear and strong message: the ‘Great Circus’ is once again a mass phenomenon. There is no minority.

In recent years, with the Spaniards far from victories and a clear dominance of Hamilton and Mercedes, it seems the F1 fire is gone. Only the craziest (in a good way) of F1 went to a Grand Prix Friday. And this year, the main stand was filled with more than 54,000 spectators from day one. Just a preview of what’s to come. That number rises over the next two days until it reaches what was experienced yesterday.

I don’t know how to describe it. It’s a strange feeling for all those who are dedicated to this sport, and those who have dedicated their lives to narrating about it, to see that F 1 is once again part of people’s lives. A few years ago, the person who wrote these lines had tickets to give away, but on his WhatsApp list he had a hard time finding who it wanted. Instead, this year I received a lot of messages “Do you have a ticket?” “They’re tired,” he replied with pleasure. And the memory of Alonso’s golden years with Renault and Ferrari, with record figures on the stand (140,700 in 2007, but with another stand configuration), is a past full of nostalgia.

No one imagined that in 2022 that would happen again. And the best of all: with a spectacular increase in interest from the Spanish public and, above all, the youngest.

The ’55’ stand

Young people are reviving F1 as the greatest show in the world thanks to the Netflix series, the great last season and their passion for talents close to their age. But the main point is that another Spaniard is fighting back on top. The illusion of seeing Sainz in Ferrari is overwhelming. He proved this by selling 3,000 tickets for his grandstand in the two -hour month before the GP. And there came the Madrilenian before the race on ‘Drivers Parade’.

“If possible! Yes, you can!” fans shouted as the pilot raised his arms to collect their romance, threw shirts and promised he would give everything for them.It was hard for him to start third, but he wanted to try.

The pilots were scared. From 8 a.m. there were queues already to get into the track and despite the heat (37 degrees), his spirits were overwhelming. “is incredible. It’s only two hours and they’re giving it their all. I hope to put on a good show for them,” Russell said. “There’s no doubt they have two great riders but I feel like I’m at home for all the support they’ve given me this weekend ”, Pérez thanked.“ It’s amazing to see how the stands today, with so many colors, are so passionate about racing and enthusiastic. Carlos starts in third with options to win and a podium. And me, the beginning to the end will only be good. We will give everything and hopefully we can give fun to all these people ”, said Alonso.

The hugs returned to the paddock, the guests and countless VIPs: Pedri, Agüero, Courtois, Riqui Puig and Ibai, among others, who joined those seen in recent days, such as Federer, Aubameyang, Memphis , Dembelé, Umtiti, Sergi Roberto, Rins, etc. What was lacking was the freedom that existed then to enter hospitalities. What happened yesterday was F1 in its pure form, the official confirmation of the return of the highest passion for this sport. Sainz missed celebrating the victory. catch up.