Friday, October 23:
8:00 a.m.: I get up. I hardly feel any better. I can’t seem to shake this damn cold. On top of that, the weather isn’t great in this southwestern region of Germany: it’s raining and even a little foggy. Real fall weather. After breakfast I go find the Mercedes doctor, the helpful Dr. Schmidt, who gives me some medicine to help me get back on my feet. Then I hit the hotel gym for a short half hour on the exercise bike, taking it nice and easy.
12:30 p.m.: I arrive at the track. I have lunch at the Mercedes hospitality tent with my team-mates before this last event of the season.
2:30 p.m.: Traditional pre-race briefing with the engineers where we talk about qualifying, the race, the weekend weather forecast and the roll-out schedule, the afternoon warm-up heat. Then it’s time to change into my racing gear.
4:30 p.m.: Roll-out. It’s not raining anymore but the track is still pretty wet. We practice tire changes, starts, etc. I’m still not in top physical condition, but we work with what we’ve got.
6:00 p.m.: After the last session, I conduct several interviews then attend the drivers’ briefing with the race directors.
7:15 p.m.: Supper with my team-mates. I turn in early because I’m still not feeling well. I’m in bed by 9:30 p.m.!
Saturday, October 24:
7:00 a.m.: Rise and shine! I feel a bit better, but I’m still not completely recovered. My throat is still sore, and my voice cracks a little. Apparently it rained last night.
8:00 a.m.: Back at the track. It’s not raining anymore but the track is visibly very wet. I have breakfast at the Mercedes hospitality tent.
9:00 a.m.: I head out for Saturday morning open practice. We run in rain conditions and work on the wet settings for the race, even if there’s no rain scheduled for Sunday. You never know. The track is dry by the end of the heat, and we switch to slicks. Time’s almost up. Only 15 minutes left, long enough to go through two sets of slicks and to prepare for the qualifying sessions as best we can, which will be run on a dry track according to the weather forecast.
8:00 a.m.: I get up. I hardly feel any better. I can’t seem to shake this damn cold. On top of that, the weather isn’t great in this southwestern region of Germany: it’s raining and even a little foggy. Real fall weather. After breakfast I go find the Mercedes doctor, the helpful Dr. Schmidt, who gives me some medicine to help me get back on my feet. Then I hit the hotel gym for a short half hour on the exercise bike, taking it nice and easy.
12:30 p.m.: I arrive at the track. I have lunch at the Mercedes hospitality tent with my team-mates before this last event of the season.
2:30 p.m.: Traditional pre-race briefing with the engineers where we talk about qualifying, the race, the weekend weather forecast and the roll-out schedule, the afternoon warm-up heat. Then it’s time to change into my racing gear.
4:30 p.m.: Roll-out. It’s not raining anymore but the track is still pretty wet. We practice tire changes, starts, etc. I’m still not in top physical condition, but we work with what we’ve got.
6:00 p.m.: After the last session, I conduct several interviews then attend the drivers’ briefing with the race directors.
7:15 p.m.: Supper with my team-mates. I turn in early because I’m still not feeling well. I’m in bed by 9:30 p.m.!
Saturday, October 24:
7:00 a.m.: Rise and shine! I feel a bit better, but I’m still not completely recovered. My throat is still sore, and my voice cracks a little. Apparently it rained last night.
8:00 a.m.: Back at the track. It’s not raining anymore but the track is visibly very wet. I have breakfast at the Mercedes hospitality tent.
9:00 a.m.: I head out for Saturday morning open practice. We run in rain conditions and work on the wet settings for the race, even if there’s no rain scheduled for Sunday. You never know. The track is dry by the end of the heat, and we switch to slicks. Time’s almost up. Only 15 minutes left, long enough to go through two sets of slicks and to prepare for the qualifying sessions as best we can, which will be run on a dry track according to the weather forecast.
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