I was there. Such a shitshow. My family and I had tickets in the stands at T5. We did leave the fan areas around 12:30a because music was stopping, food was stopping, and it was getting cold just sitting/standing around doing nothing, having heard FP2 was tentatively scheduled for 2:00a. We went into a casino to get coffee and warm up, expecting to go back. But then around 1:45a we noticed everyone was walking away from the Sphere, instead of walking towards it.
Like I get FP1 getting cancelled. I can look past that. Sometimes unexpected things happen. But running a delayed FP2, while kicking everyone out or not allowing them back in isn’t as easily forgiven. We spent $1000 for 7min of racing. I flew into town for this (luckily my family lives here, so had a place to stay). I think total, with drinks, ubers, tickets, airplane tickets, it was like $1500. For 7min of FP1.
As FP2 was starting, we were on the public sidewalks after T12, so we did hear the cars – could barely see since the fences were covered – going by flat-out, which was incredible to hear. But that’s not the experience we paid for.
I also understand the labor laws or contracts or whatever, to help protect the service workers. But FOM should’ve planned for that. Maybe if they didn’t run the sessions so late, this wouldn’t have turned out this way. They could’ve started FP1 at 6pm, when the sun was already below the horizon. Woulda looked just as good for TV imo.
I also felt bad for the drivers, teams, marshals, broadcasters…anyone who was out there. That was a long ass day. Colossal fuckup, to say the least.
I was there. Such a shitshow. My family and I had tickets in the stands at T5. We did leave the fan areas around 12:30a because music was stopping, food was stopping, and it was getting cold just sitting/standing around doing nothing, having heard FP2 was tentatively scheduled for 2:00a. We went into a casino to get coffee and warm up, expecting to go back. But then around 1:45a we noticed everyone was walking away from the Sphere, instead of walking towards it.
Like I get FP1 getting cancelled. I can look past that. Sometimes unexpected things happen. But running a delayed FP2, while kicking everyone out or not allowing them back in isn’t as easily forgiven. We spent $1000 for 7min of racing. I flew into town for this (luckily my family lives here, so had a place to stay). I think total, with drinks, ubers, tickets, airplane tickets, it was like $1500. For 7min of FP1.
As FP2 was starting, we were on the public sidewalks after T12, so we did hear the cars – could barely see since the fences were covered – going by flat-out, which was incredible to hear. But that’s not the experience we paid for.
I also understand the labor laws or contracts or whatever, to help protect the service workers. But FOM should’ve planned for that. Maybe if they didn’t run the sessions so late, this wouldn’t have turned out this way. They could’ve started FP1 at 6pm, when the sun was already below the horizon. Woulda looked just as good for TV imo.
I also felt bad for the drivers, teams, marshals, broadcasters…anyone who was out there. That was a long ass day. Colossal fuckup, to say the least.