the story of how i saw nico rosberg at an ice cream shop today (and didn’t get a picture)
- picture me, tumblrina woman irl, arriving at the mall and on a mission to get breakfast before an annual checkup. brain is going: “hmmm western pastry or a sausage bun from the chinese bakery?? i'm in need of coffee... where are we going rn... ”
- when suddenly i hear a VOICE that i recognise from INTERNATIONAL BROADCAST talking to someone on the PHONE, and there is only ONE PERSON who has that bizarre lilt of german and english and international-school-crispy, so my head WHIPS around like a dog’s at the sound of an exotic bird, and
- BOOM there is a guy with swoopy blonde hair and an annoyed expression on that iconic face. and my mind goes into immediate fight or flight mode because it can’t be… it CAN’T BE…. the one and only… NICO ERIK ROSBERG (looking annoyed on a phone call)
- cue me coming to a complete standstill between the ice cream shop and the italian cafe. the woman was TOO STUNNED TO SPEAK. i am freaking out internally and not playing it cool whatsoever. like tears in my eyeballs with excitement
- me, internally, screaming @ everyone : DON’T YOU ALL KNOW WHO THIS IS. ALL YOU PEOPLE ON YOUR LAPTOPS AND CHITCHATTING WITH YOUR FRIENDS AND MAKING YOUR COFFEE. DON'T YOU KNOW THIS IS NICO BRITNEY ROSBERG WHO BEAT 7X WDC LEWIS HAMILTON, ONCE, IN EQUAL MACHINERY???
- (he is shorter and smaller IRL than i thought he would be. his diva presence? huge on camera. diva is a very normal 5'7 irl. wearing a very nondescript blue t shirt and shorts and flip flops.)
- i try to play it cool and walk off. then i do a u-turn and go the other way, pretending that i didn’t know where i was going, to sight him again— it is indeed him, there is no way it isn’t
- i duck around the corner of the italian cafe to think about whether i want to get a picture from afar, or ask for one. decide that is a bit creepy without consent, so i will just stare for 2 seconds more. also then decide don’t be the weirdo who stalks nico rosberg in a singapore shopping mall or bothers him when he’s running errands. so i tell myself go get your bread at the chinese bakery dude you have an appointment
- i stand in front of the chinese bakery display trying to decide what bun i want to eat. tell myself not to beeline back and stare at nico again because don’t be that person. i decide on two rolls while i’m texting my partner and @kichona-s , in that order, to let them know i saw nico rosberg at an ice cream shop
- the cashier at the bakery DGAF about my urge to go and do a third and final sighting of 2016 f1 world champion nico rosberg. she takes FOREVER bagging my order. i am trying not to meltdown. every bone in my body itches to leave, but i don't. i power walk the 40m as quickly as i can with hopes of another sighting
- but alas. world champion winner and venture capitalist nico rosberg has in fact left and disappeared back into wherever rich people ether he came from (i even did a lap of the fancy supermarket just to see if he might be in there, but no dice).
- so that, my friends, is how i saw 2016 f1 world champion nico rosberg today. and did not get a picture or talk to him. but he exists and is real, guys. he likes to buy plant-based ice cream.
the end.
p.s. for context i think he's usually here for venture cap meetings i.e. timezone and wealth management problems that are far out of my tax bracket to contemplate
- this lady on the metro had the correct piastri ranking (peep the nails. and also she had aussie f1 academy drivers joanne ciconte and aiva anagnostiadis on the other side. immaculate vibes)
- GEORGE T POSE SPOTTED
- other fan signs were sooo good i don’t think i took nearly enough photos
- immediately glad i wore sensible shoes
- and brought my jisulife fan (MVP)
- met @kichona-s FINALLY!!!! ki’s oscar pin was a hit with my sister. as were ki’s stickers. peep ki’s george photocard
- SURPRISE LANDO appearance at the haas fan meet because he was sick yesterday. Not my blorbo but i was still starstruck
- WE SAW GEORGE!! also ki and i agreed este is looking SO GOOD and happy. and extra fine without the hair gel
- due to mishaps with exits we had to take an absurdly long way round to get to the f1a fan stage. but i did clock my 10,000 steps a day
- F1A!!!! LIA WON!! we were excited at the f1a panel. we found a spot next to a bunch of f1 women which was awesome
- doriane is truly so small y’all she is the pocket rocket fr. how she wrestles her car to go so fast is a feat of physics and intellect
- hot girl walk, literally, to the next stand. but somehow not as hot as last year
- the joyous mexican fans in front of me have the right idea. they must be so hyped for checo to come back (they were, in fact, very hyped and started chanting CADILLAC! CADILLAC! a year early. they made it onto the tv so i must have been somewhere behind their flag)
- chatted with the mexican fans for a bit and they travelled like 20 hours to be here 😭 fam i just took the metro
- OSCAHHHHHH!! was in his car. he was locked in. it was so cool watching him put the car to work
- the cars sound legit like rockets and the push laps at the tail end of quali are sickkk to watch
- really cool to see the drivers completely at one with their car irl. and the rhythm of the quali laps. i felt the same way last year. they’re so so insanely focused and dialled in and fast. the roar down the straights sounds like a dragon
- watching the racing on tv is a different experience, and both are good
- scooted off between fp3 and quali for a sustenance hotdog. overpriced. so is my commitment to this entire sport
- that said so grateful to have a seat this year, it’s just way less stress
- ushers and race marshalls and people clearing the track and all the staff were so good. thank yew !!
- debrief and yap with my sister over hotpot after. peak
