Report: How Barcelona achieved a stunning fan experience this time around

Although Formula One’s 53rd Spanish Grand Prix occurred some seven days in the past, F1Technical.internet’s Balázs Szabó takes a look again on the Barcelona-Montmelo venue that hosted the second European spherical of the 2023 F1 season, highlighting how the race organizers, Formula One and the FIA delivered a sensible fan experience on the 2023 Spanish Grand Prix.

Last yr’s Spanish Grand Prix was a unusual spherical. With Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen having been locked in a thrilling battle within the earlier races, it was no shock that the 2 then main contenders fought it out on the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.

The Monegasque delivered an attention grabbing efficiency within the all-important qualifying session to safe pole positing for Sunday’s race earlier than escaping into the space within the early a part of the grand prix. However, an engine-related subject compelled him to retire from the race, handing over the result in his Dutch rival who then secured a managed victory on the venue the place he took his first ever Formula One win again in 2016.

Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton had a low-key qualifying session, however the Spanish Grand Prix was his first promising spherical in 2022, displaying nice race-pace within the second half of the 66-lap race and having fun with a significantly better steadiness from his troubled W13.

However, the fan experience was lower than best. Barcelona is extensively thought of as one in every of Europe’s most lovely cities. A metropolis by the ocean but encircled by wooded mountains, with attractive structure, lovely church buildings, nice seashores, parks, well-known landmarks, and extra that make town really engaging.

The Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya can be a driver favorite with its lengthy corners that spotlight the true potential of a Formula One automotive, testing the downforce degree and the aerodynamic steadiness of the game’s racing machines.

Despite the good observe and the stunning metropolis, followers encountered a lengthy lists of points to deal with finally yr’s Spanish Grand Prix. The excessive variety of spectators on the 2022 Spanish Grand Prix led to organizational points over the weekend, each inside and outdoors the observe.

Last yr noticed the return to pre-Covid occasions which meant that followers might journey with out vital restrictions to Spain. Moreover, Formula One has arguably develop into extra fashionable lately due to the brand new Right Holder Liberty Media’s efforts.

Let’s put it easy: organizers might merely not deal with the calls for final yr. Fans complained about a lack of meals and water on the circuit, lengthy queues for facilities and even longer queues for public transport away from the observe.

And they had been proper to complain as we skilled the identical points personally. We took to the fan areas to test it in particular person, and there was certainly a critical lack of meals and water with followers required to attend over an hour to get a drink or a meals.

That seems like a luxurious downside or trivial annoyance, however somebody who visited a sports activities occasion needs to be conscious that guests are often required to throw out their meals or drink on the entrance with organizers forcing followers to purchase costly merchandise on the venue. It implies that spectators are required to purchase what they’ll afford on the observe.

The lack of bathroom services was one other critical subject. With the occasion bought out for race day, there weren’t sufficient bathroom services with followers constructing extremely lengthy queues, ready virtually half an hour within the warmth.

The greatest downside was the visitors. Even by a huge occasion customary, there have been large visitors jams around the circuit. Buses let folks out earlier than reaching their vacation spot as a result of it was simpler to succeed in even a far-away gate on foot than sitting within the bus for 2 hours.

With the observe situated in Montemlo, some 16 miles exterior town of Barcelona, nearly all of followers often go for the prepare to get to the observe and return to town. Last yr, on Friday and Saturday, folks wanted to attend around three hours to catch a prepare. With the group lined up in shut proximity, a number of folks handed out within the warmth. Although the state of affairs improved for Sunday, it was nonetheless not best.

Following the criticism of followers, Formula One CEO Stefano Domenicali acknowledged: “The large variety of followers at this occasion, each inside and outdoors the circuit, created visitors points for the followers.

“We have made the promoter aware this is not acceptable and must be fixed for next season.”

The state of affairs has considerably improved for this yr. The organizers of the Spanish Grand Prix have made a sensible job to show the occasion into a stunning fan experience for 2023.

Traffic points had been far more below management. It was fairly straightforward to get to the Montmelo prepare station with the Barcelona prepare stations the place trains travelling to Montmelo cease had been effectively ready for the F1 followers.

Tickets machines had a particular Montmelo F1 possibility with tickets supplied as return model. There had been a number of boards on the prepare stations which signalled the way in which to the platform the place the Montmelo trains stopped. Moreover, there have been assistants who helped on the ticket buy and on the platforms.

On the way in which again from the observe, there was a comparatively lengthy queue, however safety folks and fences helped to regulate the group which eradicated any potential well being hazard.

While the city of Montmelo didn’t provide something final yr, the pedestrian road main from the station to the border of the city remodeled into a fan village with followers capable of purchase not solely meals, drink and a large number of F1 branded clothes and accessories, however sunscreens and umbrellas with the latter turning out to be helpful at varied elements of the weekend.

Although the organisers provide a bus from the top of the Montmelo pedestrian-street-turned-fan-village to sure gates of the observe, nearly all of followers opted to finish the second half of the 25-minute stroll to the observe on foot to keep away from any traffic-related points.

While security members on the observe entrance made a super job to make sure a fast entry to the circuit, the observe services have additionally been closely up to date. New consuming water faucets had been put in at varied factors of the observe. The bathroom services have additionally been improved, having been expanded in dimension and made extra up-to-date.

Mist gates have additionally been put in within the center part of the fan space that’s situated in between Turns 3, 4 and 5 which is the second greatest spectator space behind the fan village that lies behind the primary grandstand. Organizers have additionally put in a nice variety of foods and drinks stands, though the acquisition course of might be made barely faster.

The sport and the organizers have reacted brilliantly to handle the group administration points from 2022, however the circuit might nonetheless make one space higher subsequent yr. Although there are a few huge screens around the observe, lots of them are situated in a not best space. It is among the few classes that the Spanish GP organisers could tackle for subsequent yr, rising the variety of huge screens and extra importantly inserting them on the proper space.