The passion for Formula 1 overflows the Madrid circuit from the surrounding streets

The roar of the Formula 1 cars does not understand budgets or box offices. Along Francisco Umbral Street, while the interior of the official Grand Prix venue in Madrid vibrated with luxury, the surroundings of the circuit mutated into a phenomenon of ingenuity and passion. Hundreds of people braved the heat armed with aluminum ladders, umbrellas as parasols and a lot of patience to watch the race from the outside asphalt.

On the shoulders, roundabouts and overpasses, the landscape was unusual, because the stepladders in the storage rooms were converted into second division stands. Among that wave of fans was Jaime Hernando, who carried his own ladder with his two children. His testimony summed up the situation of many parents: "They are very fans, they don't miss a big prize, they are 13 and 12 years old, but I can't afford it, so at least they can see it from the outside." Soon, the children couldn't contain their excitement: "Oh, dad, that's Norris's car, what a noise it makes!" they exclaimed on the first lap.

At the same time, fans like Jorge Yuste joined this small motor party on the outskirts of the Madring. Jorge is from Pamplona, ​​but he took advantage of this weekend to visit his friends from Madrid, who live next to the circuit, and thus get as much insight as possible into what for him was his desire: "I really like Formula 1, my dream is to be able to see a Grand Prix from the inside, but for now I can't." Nearby, young neighbors like Iker and David dragged chairs and stools from the neighborhood; Despite not being able to pay for a ticket due to the high prices, they decided to assume the role of hosts of Valdebebas and gave their staircase to anyone who asked so that no one would be left without seeing the prancing horse pass by.

For many, watching the race from the outside was not only a matter of economics, but also of prudence before the debut of the circuit. In the blind spots outside, skeptical opinions were heard: "I don't know if the first time is going to be a successful event or a total failure, it's better to make sure and see what happens." With the uncertainty about whether the circuit would arrive on time, many wanted to come just to observe and, apparently, they were delighted with what they saw: "It's amazing to see the stands and the road, the monument is impressive," exclaimed Sara Acedo, from Leganés. Next to him, in the highest area outside the track, was a whole family who watched the cars while having some potatoes: "We are not fans, but we live back there and this is the event of the year for us, we had to come," said the father, Antoine.

The atmosphere had some popular pilgrimage and a lot of international event. A group of young Italians, including Sofia, Lorenzo, Francesco, Riccardo, Cristian, Angelica and Edoardo, from Calabria, Parma, Milan and Rome, set up a picnic camp with sticks and sausages on the side of the road. They explained with a laugh that they were there because they liked Formula 1, but they didn't have money for the tickets: "We are on Erasmus completely, but we came to spend the day, to experience the atmosphere and to cheer on Antonelli!" When they exclaimed this, the people around them turned around, because in the area it was almost an offense to answer any name other than Fernando Alonso to the question about their favorite driver.