How to Meet a Formula 1 Driver
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 4 ต.ค. 2021
- Watch this from go to whoa to enhance your chances of meeting your favourite F1 driver for a selfie, autograph or to just see them in person. Thanks to www.canity.com, the world's best online staff training platform for being so bloody good!
F1 2021 Grand Prix.
Members receive free wallpapers and RAW image files each month - / @kymillman
My F1 Photo Books make great gifts - www.kymillman.com/store/
Kym Illman merchandise here - www.kymillman.com/store/
My best F1 pics live from the track are on Instagram: bit.ly/2P6l6PY
Download my digital images (or purchase prints if in Australia) at www.prostarpics.com/
- The Gear I Use -
Video Gear:
My camera: amzn.to/2P4cae3
My studio lights: amzn.to/2P7FzUy
My microphone:
Lenses: amzn.to/2ZjYSOh
Gorillapod
Rode NTG Mic
Photography Gear:
Camera 1DXMk3: amzn.to/2Zk6ujU
Canon 14mm: amzn.to/2P7u1kt
Canon 24mm: amzn.to/2P8PeKO
Canon 35mm: amzn.to/2P8tuic
Canon 50mm: amzn.to/2Po85Sj
Canon 85mm: amzn.to/2P7Hatw
Canon 135mm: amzn.to/2P8tyOY
Canon 70-200mm: amzn.to/2P8dKM2
Canon 300mm: amzn.to/2Zk6IaK
Profoto Flash: amzn.to/2ZikCKF
Profoto flash remote: amzn.to/2Zm18Vw
Profoto Gel kit: amzn.to/2Zm5OdS
Gitzo Monopod
Gorillapod
Ram
Canon 600mm
Novation Launchpad Mini - กีฬา
![ชวนน้องลงทุ่ง - เงาะน้อยเพชรบ้านแพง X น้องมายด์ [ Music Video ] Official Saman Music](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Bq7Hw9culjE/mqdefault.jpg)
2017 I was on the same flight into Melbourne as Fernando Alonso. We had a 15-20 minute chat as we waited for our luggage to arrive in the baggage hall.
what day did he arrive in Melbourne
@@grimsadventures I believe that we arrived in Melbourne on the Tuesday evening before the race.
OH MY GOD
As an American in Illinois, just wait for them to retire to IndyCar or IMSA. Got Romain and K-Mags to autograph my Haas F1 shirt this year at Road America.
I went there too and I got to meet pato! It was an amazing day for road America!
I met both Romain & Alex Albon at Indy 2, plus Ericsson at Mid-Ohio. I couldn’t agree more that hoping for them to race here in the US is a far better chance than meeting them while they’re active F1 drivers
as a minnesotan i cant wait to try
The fact that y'all live in countries with races 🥲🥲 I feel sad for us Indians 🥲
Dead on!
McLaren mostly stay at Hilton properties, as they are sponsors.
Thanks to Kym, we're getting wonderful insights of our favorite sports, not possible in my 21 years of following F1. Cheers🥂
that’s lovely feedback to receive
@@KymIllman yes, my wife laughs at me for frothing over these details but for a regular punter like me they are GOLD. Then being a member escalates everything to another level again. Cheers.
I’ve met George Russell in the restaurant of the hotel he stayed for the Dutch gp
That's cool
Hoe was ie? Een beetje aardig?
@Batowlls that's cool, are you a time traveler? 😂
Casually met Perez after he stopped his car at curva grande in Monza in 2019. I was watching other drivers go around and then I heard other fans talking behind me, so I turned around and saw him walk by
Being in the US, it makes me happy to see how open the paddock is for IndyCar (and other series as well). I’ve met Romain Grosjean & Alex Albon at Indianapolis, plus Marcus Ericsson in the paddock at Mid-Ohio. Takuma Sato & Alexander Rossi are two others who are always happy to stop and sign an autograph as well, especially Sato!
Step 1: Organize a Formula 1 race.
These tend to attract Formula 1 drivers ;)
At the dutch gp i had gate 2 entry and i got to meet every single driver that came in through those gates most of them stopt for me and i got to meet nyck de vries when he was coming in on foot it was awesome!
I remember I saw Seb boarding an Emirates flight once. It was a few years ago but I was too scared to approach him, also he was already at the gate.
In other words "GOOD FREAKIN' LUCK"!
I only know your videos for some weeks.
These background infos are really outstanding!
A real upgrade for the f1 community. 👌Thanks a lot!
George, Lewis and Valterri all drove past me at Silverstone on those entrance roads while I was walking to my seats
Had a pleasure of sitting next to Ocon this year after Hungarian GP on a flight from Budapest to Paris. Very nice and humble person. I did not want to bother him and his manager but after an hour or so I politely asked him if it’s okay to take a picture as he was sitting right across from me. Also during Hungarian GP I had the pleasure of having drinks with Danial Ricciardo at the sky lounge in fashion district with few friends on Monday night after the race day. Always a pleasure meeting with the pilots.
As soon as I see your notification pop up I'm straight here! Thank you Kym! :)
A nice way to start the day, with Kym Illman and a cup of tea
Amazing Video Kym
Thank you ! This is so helpful I’ve wanted to meet Daniel for years, this year at Silverstone we tried however McLaren gave me a signed hat from him for my birthday so hoping next year will be a chance when I can meet him ! ☺️
I wanna meet him at today's turkish gp and some people have met him and i don't know how i can.
Excellent run down Kym. See you in Tx.
I’ve been lucky to meet a few F1 people over the years. Here are my tips;
1: best bang for buck is to get hospitality for pre season testing in Barcelona (£250 for the day). You get unlimited escorts in the paddock (can duck your guide and stay all day, no security other than on the entry/exit gates) - we met many of the drivers and team principals (Angela got us an intro to Lewis - lovely lady BTW) - everyone is very chilled, not rushed like a race weekend.
2: in Hungary the Sky team stay at the Intercontinental. Great people (Johnny Herbert, Martin Brundle happy to chat all evening in the bar). Drivers stay at the Four Seasons. Total security there so you have to be staying there to see them (outside my budget).
3: Monza do an incredible hospitality package (fan club I think) that is 1/5th of the cost of Paddock Club (around £700 for the weekend). The hospitality area is on the ground floor right at the end of the pit garages so albeit behind glass you are 15ft from the cars as they drive by. We met Jody Schechter, Jean Todt, Nicholas Latife & Jamie Chadwick (incredible day)
Honestly I’m so surprised how many people manage to meet drivers. I’ve only been to a few races myself and I have a bit of a unique experience to everyone else so I don’t know that much about going to a race as a normal spectator, but I just don’t understand when people manage to meet them. Like, when on earth does the opportunity present itself, they’re doing stuff almost all day
@@indiaclear1544 Agree, during a race weekend it’s not easy at all.
At the circuit, hospitality is your best bet but Paddock Club (access-to the Paddock) is ridiculously expensive. Away from the circuit then staying at hotels the drivers stay at is probably the only way you’ll see people (breakfast etc). When we went to Hungary we were lucky in meeting the Sky team as by chance we were all staying at the same hotel. TBH if you restrict yourself to meeting current drivers and not team bosses, TV pundits/ex drivers then you’ll be disappointed.
Bottom line though it’s a lottery and you may/may not get lucky.
@@sultanoftippoo3857 I mean I’m already exceedingly lucky. I know a few of the drivers, one particularly well, and so whenever I go to races I’ll attend with a paddock pass. For example, Monza this year I attended with that driver with a Driver Associate paddock pass, so for me meeting drivers isn’t that tricky. It’s infuriating though because most paddock guests are just sponsors who literally couldn’t care less about F1 and I just sit there and think, there are so many people who would give anything to have that opportunity and you literally don’t even care. I love motorsport so I really appreciate it, but it’s genuinely upsetting when you see these people. While I was with the driver in question, one of the sponsors literally asked him if the throttle was on the steering wheel too…
@@indiaclear1544 well I think I’m not the only one who is very envious of the position you are in!
I agree, F1 is unfortunately a money sport and corporate guests who may not be the most passionate F1 followers get access where keen fans just don’t get those opportunities (same with football etc I guess).
As I said in my original post, pre season testing is without doubt in my experience the best way to meet many people including drivers at a price point within a lot of peoples budget and in a setting where drivers etc have more time to spend with the fans than a traditional race weekend.
We stayed at Intercontinental in Budapest and I got pics with Niki Lauda, and also Ross Brawn. They were both lovely. Only saw Kovalainen so was
Another one is goodwood festival of speed! Normaly help a weekend before or after Silverstone not all attend but some do and ex drivers, plus other famous petrol heads and drivers from other race series. Never manage meet any but gotten close and got pictures.ive Nico rosburg, Rubens barrachello, sir john surgetess, (was like in 2013) was like just outta arms reach of mika hakkinin. Plus few more cant think of rn.
As always excellent and interesting insight into the world we all dream about. Thankyou so much Kym we appreciate the work you do!
Cheers
I remembered many years back when I rushed to two different sponsors events within hours of each other and took photos and autographs with Rosberg and Hulkenberg. The Rosberg event was my planned event to attend but the Hulkenberg signing session was made known to me at the last moment….😜
Mexico, They Stay at the Presidente Intercontinental and Hayyt in Polanco area.
Thank you so much ❤️❤️❤️
Excellent content
In Austin, Alfa Romeo stayed at the Four Seasons (2019). Saw Kimi and Ferrari personnel.
Thank you for this video Mr. Illman, very helpful, hope I can meet a driver in the Mexican GP!
Now that we know how we get to meet the drivers, the real question begs how do get to meet you! Loving your content by the way 😀
I’m at the swipe gates every morning
Paddock access did it for me in 2017 at spa being a Williams guest. Was a lot of fun!
I have paddock club in Miami, wish me luck!
We were at Monza this year the entire weekend, sadly we didn't see any drivers in person. A lot of people got lucky at the exit as the drivers stopped on their way out for pictures.
Monza this year? Were you at the track exit or the paddock exit? Those are, as you say, probably the best places. You can attend for the whole weekend but unless you really commit to meeting the drivers, you won’t have a chance 😂
@@indiaclear1544 we were at the track exit where you drive through the small town plaza but were way too tired from the entire weekend to stay late on Sunday. The friends we met I later on saw had a chance to take selfies with drivers rolling down their windows due to the heavy traffic as you can imagine.
@@mikkozon I might have seen your friends then 😂 I was at the race too. I didn’t wait at the exit or anything because there was no need to for me, but I did drive out the main exit. There were loads of people there tho 😂 most people probably didn’t have this issue because they can’t park inside the circuit, but let me tell you, trying to get out the circuit after the race or really any day is a total nightmare. We nearly ran over like 3 people…
@@indiaclear1544 one of the 3 was probably my wifey! lol may I ask why you parked inside the track? did you work for media coverage? It took us almost 3 hours just to get back to Milan. It was our very first GP ever so Monza was definitely a shock to our system. We're still lucky I guess considering the attendance was at 50% capacity. How many hours did it take you to get out of Monza? the traffic was crazy that afternoon
@@mikkozon hope your first Grand Prix was everything you hoped it would be and more 🥰 I know this might not be an option for everyone, but if you get the chance, Abu Dhabi and Austin are two of my favourites, but I know that’s quite an expense. That’s only my experience with them thought and my experience is, shall we say, unique. My dad has been working in F1 for years and so I actually know quite a few drivers, one I know particularly well, so I go with a paddock pass or what’s called a VIP Driver Associate Pass, which is the pass a drive gets to give to one guest that they want to bring. It’s basically the paddock pass that you see some driver girlfriends and some family members with. Anyways, I was there with him at Monza, so we can park in the driver car park inside the circuit. I don’t remember which night, I think Saturday but I’m not sure, the drive to the hotel (the driver’s one that Kym talks about in this video) was 30-45 mine, and it’s literally right outside the circuit! The atmosphere really is amazing at Monza. Usually I just stay in the paddock hospitality or garage during race weekends but this time I actually walked around the fan zone and everything just because I wanted to see the atmosphere. You picked a great track to go to for your first time! I’m assuming your not Italian because your English is perfect, but if you are, I guess Monza was the obvious choice! What did you think of your first grand prix???
Hey, awesome content!
I'm thinking of going to the track tomorrow hoping to catch the drivers getting Covid tested. What time do they usually do this?
Also, i know which hotel a few drivers are at. What time should i be there to meet them?
I was able to book a room at the NH hotel in Zandvoort on wednesday evening before the Grand Prix. George and Carmen casually walked in the restaurant when we were eating there on thursday evening. I met Nyck de Vries in the lobby of the hotel in the morning. Would defenitely book this again for next year!
What were they charging per night out of interest
Now I just need to get the lock down distance in Melbourne extended to many thousands of kilometres and I might get a chance to see a driver this season.
Met Giancarlo Fisichella, Felipe Massa, and Takuma Sato all in one day, way back in 2004. I got the autographs of a race winner, a runner up to the 2008 World Championship and an Indy 500 winner!
Thanks Kym for this, what about Canada? Any tips? Thanks!
Book through a package. We book with Grand Prix Tours and have a meet and greet. 2018 in Montreal it was Leclerc and he was very friendly and informative. Years ago I got a 20 min conversation with Sam Michael as he waited to go up to the podium. Been booking with them for 25 years and have never been disappointed. I am sure other companies do the same thing.
send official website please
The circuits which have fan zones are the best option, unless you want to be thought of as some sort of stalker 😀
Finally the video we fans are waiting for
He made the same video 2 months ago. Look it up
Will try this in austin!
Probably not the easiest circuit, but I wish you good luck 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
4:30am EST but it's still time to watch
Very interesting video....
I never left someone on TH-cam as much likes as I did with you 😂😂 every damn video
The ending, Bahahaha, so Aussie
for the new qatar race you need to ride on camel back for 3 days to reach the track
There is no channel even close to yours in terms of quality Kym!
Thanks Andrew.
Hey Kym can you please give some pointers and some tips for the Miami Grand Prix next year it will be my first Formula One event and I'd like to be as prepared as possible for it
I met a whole lot of them by the gate at the 2019 Singapore GP. Got a lot of pics and autographs. Bottas was amazing 🙏. But you have to be patient before and after sessions.
what do you mean by the gate?
Which gate are you talking about?
@@vadtg8120 theres a gate thats a ctually the paddock entrance . Just gotta wait outside the paddock entrance. Most drivers are on foot cuz the distance from the circuit(marina bay circuit) to nearby hotels (ritz carlton, mandarin oriental, pan pacific) arent that far
@@JDS12356 read my first reply
@@generalshadow2236 appreciate it. Went to that gate and managed to meet about 15 drivers.
Hey Kym! Love your work. Had a question for you I haven't seen answered anywhere. Are there cars that make it harder to shoot? The dark matte blue of Red Bull versus the bright red of Ferrari? Or the shiny black Mercedes against the very busy Williams livery? Do you have to adjust much depending on which car you're trying to capture or do you setup the shot specifically for that spot on the track and see what comes out best?
There are no harder to shoot, they just look dull and poor light
Kym didn't mention the age-old technique of dressing like a tradie and sneaking in with a ladder.
Woohoo
Singapore used to be a good one to meeting them. Especially from the paddock : ) or at the Amber Lounge party. Thanks for the video Kym.
Hey Kym at what entrance do I have to wait at the Spa GP, to have the best chance to meet a driver?
Silverstone will be harder due to the Hilton being built on Hamilton straight. There will probably be a tunnel underneath straight into the pits 🏎
ALSO! Buy an inner circuit ticket as I saw nearly every driver coming in, all the presenters, F2, F3 and a ton of famous people!
4:45 😂
Heading to silverstone next year, hopefully covids gone by then so there’s an opportunity to see the drivers
Did you meet anyone?
@@xsorpheus683 nope
Can I ask why weren't you to the last year's Turkish GP? Love your videos.
FIA denied entry to most photographers for most of last year
@@KymIllman Oh, I see. Have fun in Istanbul.
Hey Kym do we have an update on turkey?
Just incase it returns one day
Hey Kym, what about Singapore gp?
Thanks alot
I took a picture with Arthur Leclerc at Spa this year
Where did you stand, I'm going this year and I want to know where I should stand
Istanbul park is in the middle of nowhere! You are going to be spending many an hour in a bus or taxi. At the end of the race on 2011 I was sat on a bus Sunday night for six hours as the police had shut the motorway for the vips!
Watch my travel video tomorrow.
The girl that gave gel alcohol to Norris wasn't wearing a mask while talking to him half meter distance ... xd
How about Singapore, Japan, or China though? But great video as always, Kym!
Just did the ones on the calendar this year plus MELBOURNE as a bonus. The others can be done next year
Alright, thank you! Looking forward to the next video!
yea Im trying to get a seb autograph at COTA this year
Quite a difficult circuit so I wish you good luck 😂👏🏻
Can general admission in Barcelona give me a chance to even meet a F1 driver?
Met Charles Leclerc at Rockpool Steakhouse in Crown after the last cancelled Melbourne GP. Also seen Coulthard gambling in crown a few times
Carlos.
Easy for me to say but get your self team paddock passes. I have met massa, shumie, nico, lewis, kimi and toto (way before he was with merc)
I wasn’t aware paddock passes were for sale. And anyone getting into the paddock because they know someone in F1 probably isn’t too desperate to meet an F1 driver either
@@indiaclear1544 yupp paddock passes not for sale.
@@seminky5341 ok ok good 😂 I usually have a paddock pass because I know quite a few drivers, one I know particularly well, but I didn’t think they were publicly available so I was really confused. Thank you for clearing it up 🥰
@@indiaclear1544 well, for the 'public' they can buy paddock club. Other then that, not open for public but the paddock club is available during bernie's stewardship. Now i am not sure if public can buy.
Answer - be rich or be smart
Hi, I’m from Mexico, and I want to meet them, where are my best opportunities? Thank you
I think I might be going with my grandparents for the Austin Grand Prix next year. I want my staff in to sign a model car and a Red Bull drink so fingers crossed everybody. Please pray for me.
Did anyone see that girl at silverstone in drive to survive!?
Step 1: be an exceedingly attractive woman. lol
How about Singapore
Canada?
Poor carlos; 4:45
Hey Kym, do you know how to meet the drivers in China? I know there wasn't a GP this year but I hope there will be next year :) so it would be very useful for me ;)
Hey ... you missed Montreal, didn''t you Kym?
Only did the ones on the calendar this year plus Melbourne
If you visited IstanbulPark can you let us know?
Kym,how about Singapore
No good unless you have paddock club tix
So how do we meet Kym Illman??
who is lewis' personal photographer?
What about belgium?
is it possible to meet a driver at the paddock swipe gates without paddock access
Not as far as I know
Ok, but if you're needing to meet a driver to be your baby daddy?!... 🤔
Most drivers aren't looking for just baby momma's though.
Step 1: be rich.
kym you need to do a Mexico GP give away, if possible get checo to sign a cap or shirt... mexicans will flood to youre channel is what we do, just ask the wolverhampton fc president how almost 60 porcent of fans are mexicans thanks to raul jimenez
21 dislikes. Looks like every driver (2021) disliked it haahhaha
There's only 2 drivers I'd like to get a pic with but both are dead. Gilles Villeneuve or James Hunt. If I had to meet somebody on the present grid it would be Danny Ric. He's naturally a funny dude and affable. He'd probably would make some saucy comment if provoked too. ;)
Gilles Villeneuve, interesting choice 😂
@@indiaclear1544 There’s a reason why Enzo loved Gilles. And he’s Canadian.
@@kevinn1158 I’m not saying it’s a bad choice, just one that I don’t hear much. Usually if you hear Villeneuve, they’re talking about Jacques given he won the championship
@@indiaclear1544 Jacques isn't dead. LOL. I was very young and I heard of this Canadian racing driver Gilles and I started to watch F1 to see him. This was the year Gilles died. He was the guy who got me into F1. He drove like a wild man. Just spectacular. I suppose Jacques did too. Unfortunately Gilles died and Jacques got talked into starting his own team which ruined his chances of winning ever again. I like Jacques too, he's got his wild man dad in him.
Gilles villeneuve, Hakkinnen and Alonso, would be mine
Comment with the mask fu.. off, you and Lewis hehe
Nope, this is weird. Everyone wants too met drivers but there's also respect for their privacy and safety. Knowing every detail about flights, hotels and arrivals is NOT it can we not normalize this. Pretty stalk-ish