Formula 1 Testing at Mugello

Yesterday we drove to Autodromo Mugello, a track about an hour away and one of Italy premier race venues. They were holding Formula 1 testing there May 1, 2 and 3.

We had been to the track before for a mostra scambio (historic auto and moto swap meet). Formula 1 testing attracted quite a few people but not as many as had no doubt been there on May 1. We saw signs indicating some of the grandstand areas had been sold out on the holiday. As you can see from these pictures it was a beautiful day. 

The picture below shows one of the curves and the main garage and grandstand areas.

I think the picture below is one of the Ferrari cars being driven by Felipe Massa. The teams only had one car and driver out on the track while we were there. We suspect they only have one "test team" and probably alternate cars on the track.

This is a closer view of the main grandstand area. When we were here last year for the mostra scambio they were renovating the main grandstand. The biggest event the track hosts is a Moto GP race.

We sat in the grandstand for quite a while watching the cars go in and out of the pits. This is a shot of the Ferrari garage. When the cars were in the garage, all the teams pulled screens across the garage opening so it was impossible to see what they were doing to the cars. There is a lot of secrecy in Formula 1.

The Ferrari team had garages 1 and 2 of course.

Here is Massa's car being pushed back into the garage. They went in and out, in and out.

There are twenty garages total. As you can see the grandstand was hardly full. There are other seating areas scattered around the track but this is the only one you could sit in for the testing. Some people just came and sat on the grass. That cost about Euros 10 while the tickets we purchased were Euros 20 each.

After sitting in the grandstand for an hour or so, we walked over to the first turn. It's a slight uphill from the exit from pit lane. Dom figured the cars get up to about 200 m.p.h. before they hit the breaks about halfway between the 100 sign in the lower right corner and the curve itself. Then they shift, shift, shift down before accelerating out of the turn.

They closed the track at 1 pm for lunch. A little sweeper truck came out and started doing circles on the track in front of the grandstand. Dom and I found it amusing because it is so small compared to the giant sweepers and blowers they use at NASCAR tracks.

Below is a short video that shows a car going past the grandstand. It's loud but nowhere near as ear-splitting as being there in person. We enjoyed our day at the track and are looking forward to going to Austin, TX in November for the U.S. Grand Prix race.