Not all paddocks are created equal: some boast luxurious tents, brand-new standalone buildings, or the glamorous, custom-built hospitality units of the teams. And then… there’s the one in Shanghai, China. The paddock of literal ‘sacred houses’ in Formula 1. Reporter Gerard Bos gives you a behind-the-scenes look.
At the Shanghai International Circuit, various descriptions come to mind as I take in the paddock, or at least this part of it. ‘Unique’ and ‘bizarre’ vie for dominance. But also ‘quaint’, ‘cozy’, and ‘frivolous’. All of these apply to what is an equally peculiar and delightful collection of houses where the teams welcome their guests, relations, staff, and media this race weekend. Gatherings, luxury meals, meet & greets, press moments; you name it, it all happens in these little buildings.
It’s a sanctuary squared, it seems. Because where am I? What am I looking at? Upon inquiry, I learn that the houses are based on the design of the Yu Garden (established in 1559, during the Ming Dynasty). So, that’s a piece of history right there, a must-see if you’re in Shanghai. It’s located near the Chenghuang Temple, also known as the City God Temple. Hence the reference to ‘sacred houses’.
Modern on the inside, authentic on the outside. Built on stilts over water, connected by footbridges and paths. It creates a veritable labyrinth. So much so that Ferrari decides to provide the media with a map showing the location of the Italian house in this maze, both via an app and a printout on the notice board in the media center.
You’re bound to cover a lot of ground in the paddock of China. Consider the other part of the paddock, that is, the space between the pit boxes and the cabins where the engineers and other technical staff are located during the race weekend. ‘That area is so wide that an airplane could land there,’ editor-in-chief André had already suggested to me before departure. His words were not an exaggeration, as it turns out.
China is different in so many ways from many other countries. From well-known aspects such as the language and the alphabet to even a paddock of a Formula 1 Grand Prix. And speaking of language: in ours, the figurative ‘sacred cows’ often carry a negative connotation. But these literal sacred cabins in China? They are mainly very enjoyable. Normally, the spaces vary quite a bit from circuit to circuit: from uniform sausages where the shape and exterior are straightforward to luxurious private spaces, majestic in nature and size. But this? This here, is special: a sanctuary squared.
