Formula 1’s Spanish Grand Prix is more renowned for heart-stopping moments than heartwarming ones – except for one fan in 2017.
The Circuit de Catalunya garnered plenty of emotions from the drivers in 2016, but found its way to the stands a year later.
Kimi Räikkönen damaged the front left of his car on lap oneF1/YouTube It all proved too much for one Ferrari fanF1/YouTubeLewis Hamilton‘s first-lap collision with Nico Rosberg had seemingly given enough drama at the Spanish Grand Prix to last a lifetime.
However, F1 viewers may have been feeling a sense of déjà vu when Kimi Räikkönen crashed out of the 2017 race at Turn 1.
There was no danger of a driver nicknamed ‘The Iceman’ allowing his emotions to get the better of him.
The same can’t be said of his fans, with one in particular breaking down while watching their hero crash out of the race.
A young Ferrari fan was captured on TV crying hysterically after Räikkönen was nudged into Max Verstappen‘s car by Valtteri Bottas.
Thomas Danel watched through tear-streaked eyes as the Finnish icon retired from the race with his car’s steering column broken.
Ferrari were made aware of the youngster’s reaction and tracked him and his family down to invite them to join the team in the paddock.
The Scuderia went one step further by dressing the Räikkönen fan up in some official team merchandise.
Tears then soon turned to smiles, as Danel had the chance to meet his hero, with the pair posing for pictures together.
In a press release circulated by F1 management after the race, his father, Coralie, said: “This has been the most fantastic day for us.
He was later overjoyed as Vettel finished P2F1/YouTube His day got even better when Räikkönen paid him a visit in the paddockF1/YouTubeView Tweet: twitter.com/hashtag/Kimi7?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
“We could not believe it when they came to get us and took us to Ferrari.
“This is great for fans like us, it really makes F1 and all of its people come alive. Brilliant!”
Danel then joined Ferrari as the team celebrated underneath the podium, as their other driver Sebastian Vettel came home in second.
The family later told Sky Sports F1 they are lifelong Ferrari fans – and even have a cat called Schumie, after Michael Schumacher.
“Yes, I was sad (that he lost). Very, very sad. I cried,” Danel said.
“I really like Kimi. I don’t know what to say.
Danel became an instant superstar in the paddockX@AlpineF1TeamView Tweet: t.co/CpDxYkusOz
“Yes, it was cool, really awesome. It was really cool.”
Danel’s spirits picked up further still when he was tasked with taking part in a couple of media appearances before the day was out.
He also stopped for a snap with then-Haas man Romain Grosjean, but proved years later that his loyalty remains in the Räikkönen camp.
Two years on from the race, Danel took part in his first karting session with several nods to ‘The Iceman’.
Donning a custom Räikkönen race suit, the Ferrari fan whizzed around a mini circuit with the Finnish driver’s iconic number 7.
It might now be time for a switch to No.44, with Hamilton, who was the winner of the 2017 Spanish Grand Prix, now in Ferrari red…
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