On Thursday (1st May) I travelled to the Marylebone Sports Bar and Grill in London for the #notaFOTAForum event.
The Formula One Teams’ Association (FOTA) was set up back in 2008 to give all teams a united voice in discussions with F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone and the FIA regarding the future of the sport.
However, the withdrawal of Ferrari, Sauber, Red Bull and Toro Rosso back in 2011 as well as the recent formation of the F1 Strategy Group meant FOTA soon became redundant and it eventually disbanded in February.
Away from the politics of the sport, FOTA did some amazing work for the fans, setting up hugely popular forums around the world to give F1 supporters the chance to ask questions to some of the biggest names in the sport.
I attended last year’s event in London, just before the British Grand Prix, and it was not only fantastic to see fans being able to quiz the likes of Daniel Ricciardo, Max Chilton and Claire Williams, but also to get the chance to meet other F1 enthusiasts and members of the media as well.
After it was confirmed that FOTA was folding, secretary general Oliver Weingarten started to organise a final farewell party in London. On Friday, hundreds of fans travelled to Marylebone for the event, which was a great success.
Marussia president Graeme Lowdon and former F1 driver John Watson made on-stage appearances to talk about Formula 1 (obviously) and to answer questions. There were also oodles of prizes that were given away, including team caps, T-Shirts and books.
As well as the free merchandise, there were also items that were auctioned off and won in the raffle (both were enthusiastically conducted by F1 Racing’s Stuart Codling). All proceeds – over £4,000 - from the party were divided between Great Ormond Street Hospital and the Instituto Ayrton Senna.
Friday was, of course, the 20th anniversary of Senna’s tragic death at the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix so his great life was commemorated at the event.
The party gave FOTA a brilliant send-off and it was also great to meet new people as well as catch up with friends like Luke Smith, Dan Paddock, Will Tyson, Katie Grimmett and Phillip Horton. Following the event, some of us headed to a nearby pub before then setting off on the journey home.
That trip, I must say, was rather stressful. Slightly delayed by a suit-wearing drunk man vomiting at the pub, we swiftly made our way to Marylebone station where we said our goodbyes, before Dan, Katie and I hopped on the tube.
After changing lines, it soon became clear that I didn’t actually have that much time to get my train. I’m someone who worries a lot (as Dan, who was heading to the same station as me, found out – sorry!) and so it was quite an uncomfortable journey that seemed to go on for a lot longer than usual.
As soon as the tube door opened, I ran. I haven’t run that fast in quite some time. I quickly made it through the ticket barrier before climbing the steps and searching for my train platform. It took a little longer than I would have liked (I didn’t have my glasses) but as soon as I spotted it, I sprinted through the next ticket barrier and just managed to make it to the first door of the train before they were closed for departure.
That was close.
So it was quite an interesting end to the evening, but it was great to attend such a fantastic event so massive thanks and well done to Oliver Weingarten and all those involved in organising it, as well as the fans and the teams who got involved.
YouTube channel Pole Position filmed the event, see the video below:
However, the withdrawal of Ferrari, Sauber, Red Bull and Toro Rosso back in 2011 as well as the recent formation of the F1 Strategy Group meant FOTA soon became redundant and it eventually disbanded in February.
Away from the politics of the sport, FOTA did some amazing work for the fans, setting up hugely popular forums around the world to give F1 supporters the chance to ask questions to some of the biggest names in the sport.
I attended last year’s event in London, just before the British Grand Prix, and it was not only fantastic to see fans being able to quiz the likes of Daniel Ricciardo, Max Chilton and Claire Williams, but also to get the chance to meet other F1 enthusiasts and members of the media as well.
After it was confirmed that FOTA was folding, secretary general Oliver Weingarten started to organise a final farewell party in London. On Friday, hundreds of fans travelled to Marylebone for the event, which was a great success.
Marussia president Graeme Lowdon and former F1 driver John Watson made on-stage appearances to talk about Formula 1 (obviously) and to answer questions. There were also oodles of prizes that were given away, including team caps, T-Shirts and books.
As well as the free merchandise, there were also items that were auctioned off and won in the raffle (both were enthusiastically conducted by F1 Racing’s Stuart Codling). All proceeds – over £4,000 - from the party were divided between Great Ormond Street Hospital and the Instituto Ayrton Senna.
Friday was, of course, the 20th anniversary of Senna’s tragic death at the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix so his great life was commemorated at the event.
The party gave FOTA a brilliant send-off and it was also great to meet new people as well as catch up with friends like Luke Smith, Dan Paddock, Will Tyson, Katie Grimmett and Phillip Horton. Following the event, some of us headed to a nearby pub before then setting off on the journey home.
That trip, I must say, was rather stressful. Slightly delayed by a suit-wearing drunk man vomiting at the pub, we swiftly made our way to Marylebone station where we said our goodbyes, before Dan, Katie and I hopped on the tube.
After changing lines, it soon became clear that I didn’t actually have that much time to get my train. I’m someone who worries a lot (as Dan, who was heading to the same station as me, found out – sorry!) and so it was quite an uncomfortable journey that seemed to go on for a lot longer than usual.
As soon as the tube door opened, I ran. I haven’t run that fast in quite some time. I quickly made it through the ticket barrier before climbing the steps and searching for my train platform. It took a little longer than I would have liked (I didn’t have my glasses) but as soon as I spotted it, I sprinted through the next ticket barrier and just managed to make it to the first door of the train before they were closed for departure.
That was close.
So it was quite an interesting end to the evening, but it was great to attend such a fantastic event so massive thanks and well done to Oliver Weingarten and all those involved in organising it, as well as the fans and the teams who got involved.
YouTube channel Pole Position filmed the event, see the video below:
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