Bahrain’s Formula 1 test days are always a distinctive experience, but this year an extra dimension arrived: Ramadan. And that brought a few noteworthy situations.
Like the very first morning at the hotel, when you discover the breakfast room is completely closed. No panic — room service saves the day. A short while later a friendly staff member appears at the door with a steaming omelette, the whole corridor filling with its scent. Great for me, but I feel a little awkward watching him, fasting, hand the plate over with a smile and walk away. Respect — that’s all I can say.
At the circuit there’s thankfully no shortage of food and drink in the paddock, so the long workdays are manageable. But after a day of heat, frantic running and tight deadlines, you still crave that one cold beer. And of course that’s off the table during Ramadan. Some colleagues in the press room say they have a beer delivered to their hotel in the evenings, but at the hotel I’m staying that’s not an option. A cup of tea it is, then.
Luckily we were given a rare chance in the paddock to experience a piece of Ramadan ourselves. At sunset we were invited to the iftar, the breaking of the fast. Dates, traditional Bahraini sweets and spiced drinks made the rounds. And I’ll admit, it was delicious. A warm, memorable experience.
Still, at night I secretly dream of a Belgian beer with a bitterbal. Tomorrow, then — when I’m back home in the Netherlands.
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