Monaco is always one of the busiest and most glamorous weekends of the Formula 1 season. Claire Cottingham shares her view from the paddock.
Paddock Diary articles archive
RaceFans regular diaries from the Formula 1 paddock.
Paddock Diary: 2023 Miami Grand Prix
2023 Miami Grand Prix
Posted onRaceFans’ American correspondent RJ O’Connell gives his verdict on Formula 1’s return to Miami for its second grand prix.
Paddock Diary: 2023 Azerbaijan Grand Prix
2023 Azerbaijan Grand Prix
Posted onFormula 1’s 11th-hour changes to the format of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix did not produce the thriller many hoped for. Claire Cottingham reported from the paddock for RaceFans.
Paddock Diary: 2023 Bahrain Grand Prix
2023 Bahrain Grand Prix
Posted onAfter the longest off-season in years, the teams assembled for the first race of the 2023 F1 season, and while the winner was widely expected there was one surprise addition to the podium.
Paddock Diary: Bahrain pre-season test
Paddock Diary
Posted onRaceFans’ Claire Cottingham headed to Bahrain International Circuit for the first chance to see the new cars of 2023 in action and hear from the drivers and team bosses.
Paddock Diary: 2022 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
2022 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
Posted onThe Formula 1 paddock said farewell to four-times world champion Sebastian Vettel with tributes throughout the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix weekend including a lap of the circuit on foot.
Paddock Diary: 2022 Mexican Grand Prix
2022 Mexican Grand Prix
Posted onThe Mexican Grand Prix is invariably one of the liveliest and most popular events of the season, but this year the paddock got a little too crowded.
Paddock Diary: 2022 United States Grand Prix
2022 United States Grand Prix
Posted onHow did Formula 1’s established American race compare to its new Miami round earlier this year? RaceFans’ US correspondent offers his view.
Paddock Diary: 2022 Italian Grand Prix
2022 Italian Grand Prix
Posted onWhile Monza’s Ferrari-mad tifosi remain as passionate as ever, the Italian Grand Prix organisers also paid fitting tribute to the late Queen Elizabeth II.
Paddock Diary: 2022 Dutch Grand Prix
2022 Dutch Grand Prix
Posted onThe Dutch Grand Prix resembled a three-day rave interspersed with occasional motor racing, though the on-track action didn’t disappoint the lively crowd.
Paddock Diary: 2022 Belgian Grand Prix
2022 Belgian Grand Prix
Posted onThe summer break brought a series of surprise announcements on the Formula 1 driver market. As the paddock reconvened in Belgium, more big news was just around the corner.
Paddock Diary: 2022 Hungarian Grand Prix
2022 Hungarian Grand Prix
Posted onThe Hungarian Grand Prix weekend began with the bombshell news of Sebastian Vettel’s retirement and ended with a clue to his replacement.
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.