The Hungarian Grand Prix weekend began with the bombshell news of Sebastian Vettel’s retirement and ended with a clue to his replacement.
Paddock Diary articles archive
RaceFans regular diaries from the Formula 1 paddock.
Paddock Diary: 2022 French Grand Prix
2022 French Grand Prix
Posted onPaul Ricard may have held its last French Grand Prix for the foreseeable future. Will Formula 1 miss its trips to Le Castellet?
Paddock Diary: 2022 Austrian Grand Prix
2022 Austrian Grand Prix
Posted onFormula 1 teams responded to reports some fans had suffered harassment and abuse at the Austrian Grand Prix by inviting them into the paddock.
Paddock Diary: 2022 British Grand Prix
2022 British Grand Prix
Posted onThe Formula 1 paddock breathed a sigh of relief as Zhou Guanyu and Alexander Albon emerged unscathed from a monumental crash at the start of the British Grand Prix.
Paddock Diary: 2022 Canadian Grand Prix
2022 Canadian Grand Prix
Posted onWill Wood attended his first grand prix as a representative of RaceFans as Formula 1 made its long-awaited return to Canada last weekend.
Paddock Diary: 2022 Azerbaijan Grand Prix
2022 Azerbaijan Grand Prix
Posted onLewis Hamilton was visibly suffering with his back at the end of a punishing Azerbaijan Grand Prix, which reopened the debate over the physical effects porpoising is having on drivers.
Paddock Diary: 2022 Monaco Grand Prix
2022 Monaco Grand Prix
Posted onPost-race drama unfolded in the Monaco Grand Prix paddock as Red Bull learned they were under protest from Ferrari while Christian Horner was speaking to the media.
Paddock Diary: 2022 Spanish Grand Prix
2022 Spanish Grand Prix
Posted onScorching temperatures at the Circuit de Catalunya made for an uncomfortably hot Spanish Grand Prix, especially for an unwell Lando Norris.
Paddock Diary: 2022 Miami Grand Prix
2022 Miami Grand Prix
Posted onDid the Miami Grand Prix live up to the hype? American journalist RJ O’Connell attended Formula 1’s long-awaited second US round last weekend.
Paddock Diary: 2022 Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix
2022 Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix
Posted onAs Formula 1 returned to Imola for the third consecutive year, RaceFans’ paddock reporter Claire Cottingham got her first taste of the northern Italian circuit.
Paddock Diary: 2022 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix
2022 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix
Posted onA thick smoke cloud visible from the track during first practice signalled a disturbing turn of events at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. Claire Cottingham saw it unfold in Jeddah.
Paddock Diary: 2022 Bahrain Grand Prix
2022 Bahrain Grand Prix
Posted onLess than 100 days after the last season drew to a close, Formula 1 opened its new season with a spectacular race in Bahrain. Claire Cottingham brought RaceFans readers the news from the track.
Paddock Diary: Bahrain pre-season test
Paddock Diary
Posted onIntrigue over Mercedes new sidepods and a change of drivers at Haas occupied the media’s attention during the final pre-season test in Bahrain.
Paddock Diary: Barcelona pre-season testing
2022 F1 season
Posted onIn her first Paddock Diary, RaceFans’ newest reporter Claire Cottingham provides an insight into the first three days of on-track action for 2022.
Paddock Diary: Abu Dhabi Grand Prix part two
2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
Posted onFormula 1 may have enjoyed a commercially successful season but the championship came to an acrimonious end in Abu Dhabi, with one team celebrating and another planning an appeal.
Paddock Diary: Abu Dhabi Grand Prix part one
2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
Posted onWith livery launches and evening entertainment to attend, there’s plenty of opportunities to catch up with key figures ahead of the final race of the year.
Paddock Diary: Saudi Arabian Grand Prix part two
2021 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix
Posted onFIA president Jean Todt visited Jeddah for the final grand prix before he steps down and the contest to elect his successor is expected to be close.
Paddock Diary: Saudi Arabian Grand Prix part one
2021 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix
Posted onJust how fine did the organisers cut it with completion of the new Jeddah Corniche Circuit? Here’s the view from the paddock at the first Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
Paddock Diary: Qatar Grand Prix part two
2021 Qatar Grand Prix
Posted onBetween interminable waits for stewards’ decisions in Qatar, talk in the paddock often turned to whether the next circuit Formula 1 visits will be completed in time.
Paddock Diary: Qatar Grand Prix part one
2021 Qatar Grand Prix
Posted onFriday’s decision from the stewards landed while the title-contending team bosses faced the cameras. Lucky coincidence for F1 or a bit of stage-management?