A band was playing in the VIP area of La MonumentalThe Woman in Green, by Izal, half an hour before the race started. A fitting song for the predominant color in the stands, dressed in Aston Martin gear, the team of Fernando Alonso. When the Asturian appeared on the giant screen, he received the biggest ovation, just a few decibels above that given to Carlos Sainz, the home driver and ambassador of the event.
One of the successes of this first edition of the Madrid race is having filled its stands despite the poor sporting moment of the two local references. Hence the merit of Madring, because the boom of Montmeló in the early 2000s, and especially the appearance of that race on the Valencia dock, was in the wake of alonsomania, with the then Renault champion winning races and fighting for the World Championship. Now both languish at the bottom of the table, a circumstance that mattered little this Sunday at noon to the thousands of fans, many Spanish, who filled the curve that has already become a flag of the brand-new Ifema circuit.
High-level catering
At La Monumental, the lucky public with VIP wristbands mixed, located in areas like La Azotea or the Mirador, where there was no shortage of artificial grass, shade, mojitos, and even the best local suckling pig (the one made by Mario Sandoval at Coque), with grandstand spectators, some with roofs and others in the sun. “It hits, it hits, but it could be worse,” said Julia and her boyfriend, from Seville to watch the races. The fairground rides, merchandising stalls, and beer bars were emptying around three in the afternoon, while the duo Las Mestizas, Spanish DJs with flamenco airs, entertained with a late session. Dressed in black leather from head to toe, the two held their own with fierce composure.
With the anthem, La Monumental stood up and stayed that way waiting for the first pass of the pack of single-seaters after the light turned green. The roar was rough, a severe olé from Las Ventas, when the cars burst into that sloped and blind curve that the drivers approached with respect this year. Fuu, fuu, fuu… the Hamilton and company cut through the wind like bullets while the crowd turned their heads at full speed, like a crazy tennis match. “Cool, but I can’t get a decent photo,” sighed a kid wearing the green Aston Martin jacket. He had paid 450 euros and seemed happy with the experience, although he missed more bars to order drinks. Many, most, were discovering a Formula 1 race for the first time, surprised by the roar of the engines and looking for sunscreen.
People waited until the last minute to fill the stands, waiting in the shade in a swarm of guests, foreigners with fans, and some distracted ones, who were also there. “75 euros for Alonso’s cap, damn,” complained a guy about the prices of official clothing at the festival area stalls, where the Ferris wheel was the star attraction. “They pass very close, right?” asked a lady wearing a Sainz cap, peeking over the fence of La Monumental. The organizers wanted to reduce the distance between the stands and the asphalt to increase the spectator’s sensation, who with little effort had rubber shavings falling into their drinks. With each lash of the single-seaters, the stands let out a sigh at the start of the race. Later, the atmosphere calmed down, with the shade of the backs of the stands also in demand.
Spain, Mexico… and Argentina
The screen was a good option when the laps (and the heat) were taking their toll. Besides the support for Sainz and Alonso, the Argentine Franco Colapinto also received a good number of albiceleste flags and banners with his name. The Mexican flags were not far behind. “I don’t know most of the drivers, but we were excited to come to a Formula 1 race so close to home,” said Sara, mother of two little ones with helmets to mitigate the noise. She had the red umbrella and Ferrari polo shirt.
“On Wednesday it seemed impossible that there would be a race here,” confessed the City Council yesterday a little before the race started, valuing the final sprint that Ifema made so that the score of this first race in Madring ends up being a high mark. The World Championship managers, also interested in the new stop shining, congratulated the promoters of Ifema, as well as the team leaders, where the mechanics and logistics crew usually do not give carnations to debut destinations, always with much to improve. Madring also has homework, but the debut has been much more than expected by everyone. Halfway through the race, some at La Monumental began to head towards the Metro with a promise: “We will return.”