We’ve searched YouTube for the best fan-generated F1 videos of 2017. Here’s our top ten.
Go to a major sporting event these days, and every second person has got their camera or smartphone out to record the big moments. F1 is no exception, especially when it comes to the start of the race. These videos are often shaky and not perfect (will you sit down in front please!) but they do capture a certain authenticity that you only get to experience at the race. Do you agree with our choices or did we miss an awesome video? Leave a comment below and share the link!
1. Singapore Grand Prix Start Crash
For the first time in its ten-year history, the 2017 Singapore Grand Prix began in wet conditions. The two Ferraris came together on the run down to the first corner, before an out-of-control Kimi Raikonnen took out both Max Verstappen and Fernando Alonso. Plenty of fans in the turn 1 and turn 2 grandstands (including yours truly) had their devices out to capture the start. Here’s one of the best quality views.
2. Alonso visits the grandstand in Canada
After another failure from his Honda-powered McLaren at this year’s Canadian Grand Prix, Fernando Alonso pays a visit to the grandstand and gets immediately mobbed by fans! “With the grandstand, I thought to throw the gloves but it was a bit too far, so I thought that maybe I go a bit closer and, once I was there, I thought I would stay there all afternoon because it was difficult to leave,” Alonso said. “We have so much support here from the fans every time we come to the race, so it’s something to give back to them.”
3. Kvyat takes out Alonso & Verstappen on Lap 1 at the Red Bull Ring
The hopes of thousands of Dutch fans were shattered on the first corner at the 2017 Austrian Grand Prix when their man Max Verstappen was punted off the track by Fernando Alonso, who had been clipped by Daniil Kyvat’s Torro Rosso. This video was taken from the South West grandstand, a good choice at the Red Bull Ring.
4. Toro Rosso tangle on Lap 1 at Silverstone
Lewis Hamilton leads, but there’s trouble brewing down the order. A good quality video from the Becketts grandstand at Silverstone that captures the moment Daniil Kvyat comes together with his Torro Rosso teammate Carlos Sainz on the first lap of the 2017 British Grand Prix at Silverstone. This was the second race in succession that Kvyat caused a first-lap collision.
5. The Orange Army at the Belgian Grand Prix
Dutch F1 fans have been coming out of the woodwork in their thousands since the arrival of teen sensation Max Verstappen in 2015. With no Dutch GP on the F1 calendar since 1985, Max’s “Orange Army” have been making their presence felt in increasing numbers at Spa Francorchamps and other European races. The Belgian racetrack is less than an hour from the border with The Netherlands, and saw a massive turnout this year. Unfortunately, Max only lasted 7 laps before retiring with an engine failure.
6. Massa hits the wall during practice at Spa
Felipe Massa hit the wall during Friday practice at this year’s Belgian Grand Prix, showering spectators in pebbles! Massa had this to say after the accident: “I was on the first lap just trying to understand the track. When I touched the inside kerb in corner seven the rear of the just came round. I lost the rear and I couldn’t correct it. It was a very small run-off area, so I couldn’t avoid a crash.”
7. Full house at Sepang for the last Malaysian Grand Prix
Fans were out in force this year at Sepang for the last Malaysian Grand Prix. The main grandstand was full and the atmosphere was electric! The turnout even took the organizers by surprise; the bars behind the main grandstand had run out of beer soon after the race began. It’s just a pity that Sepang didn’t always see such good attendances; maybe it would be staying around a bit longer.
8. Race start at the Hungarian Grand Prix
The Gold 4 grandstand at the Hungaroring is one of the best first corner grandstands on the calendar. It was a relatively uneventful start to the 2017 Hungarian Grand Prix, but you can normally count on plenty of action, including lots of passing, at this corner.
9. Fans stream onto the track after the British Grand Prix
Which race has the best fans? It became a bit of a running joke this year, with Mexico, Japan, USA and others in contention. There’s no right answer of course, but the British Grand Prix at Silverstone does consistently attract sell-out crowds of die-hard fans, despite the high prices and dodgy weather. Here’s a great video of fans streaming on to the circuit after the 2017 British Grand Prix.
10. Start of the Italian Grand Prix at Monza
Capturing the famous Monza atmosphere at the start of the 2017 Italian Grand Prix. Taken from grandstand 6A on the approach to the first corner with the old banked circuit in the foreground.
