of the Delhi outlets selling tickets and picked up the cheapest one which was still available in the standing area after the first course. It helped as, to get to the circuit by pre-booked bus, a GP ticket had to be shown. Anshu left for her first visit to the U.K and Rajesh and I met the politician’s son on the day of qualifying on another matter. It was the last we saw of him. The next day I waited for almost two hours from our agreed time, rang the chap fifty to sixty times but the ‘phone was switched off and, when twice it did ring, it wasn’t answered.Our friend had let Anshu and me down very badly. I can just say that I was tremendously glad that I had bought that cheap, £23 ticket and had an enjoyable time in the smoggy atmosphere which enveloped the Buddh International Circuit. The race offered fewer mishaps than qualifying and added one more circuit to my list but I was surprised that not more people were there. Tickets had been readily available on the Friday in many of the stands.

I moved on to Dubai briefly the following afternoon and sat amongst many of the Toro Rosso employees and other F1 personnel. One, on his laptop, must have been a statistician and I tried to keep a beady eye on some of the points. I realise that my knowledge of motor-racing was not quite as I hoped it might be and I’d better stick to cricket...

I didn’t have time to meet my friend, Shailja Kalia, and indeed only had time to go to the Ambassador Hotel where I’d booked a promotional rate and frankly not expected too much. As it turned out, it was rather nice but I didn’t get much time to see it as they were full and I was moved to their sister hotel, the Astoria, which was every bit as comfortable. I was pleasantly surprised but maybe...