I started following the Formula 1 championship 10 years ago. It was the year Michael and Mika were in close contention for the driver’s championship title. The first race that I attended was the inaugural race at Sepang International Circuit.

Over the years, I found myself supporting mostly McLaren drivers- first Mika, then Kimi when he joined the team after Mika’s retirement. When Kimi made the move to Ferrari, my driver versus team loyalties were put to the test. After much deliberation, the constructor proved to be no match against Finnish boyish charms.

As I celebrate a decade of my being a F1 follower, I realise that as much as the teams and drivers, rules and regulations have evolved, so I have matured. It is no longer just about supporting one driver or one team wholeheartedly, but it is more about the sport and how it is played. Perhaps it has become slightly less exciting, for I recall watching the races gripping the edge of my seat, or towards the last few laps, standing with my face right up against the television screen, rooting for my favourite team/driver, but no less gratifying and interesting as I watch how teams like Brawn and Red Bull, other than Ferrari or McLaren Mercedes are beginning to emerge as strong contenders in the running for the championship title. On the one hand, you wonder how a team who has previously managed to get almost everything right can fall so far, while on the other, you share the immense joy of the winning driver and cheer the presence of new faces on the podium. I remember watching Jenson on the podium after the Australian Grand Prix and it was so heartfelt that it was as if I had won the race.

Of course, Jenson’s scruffy good looks, Vettel’s scholarly innocence and Nico’s Leonardo DiCaprio-like charms still make me feel like a teenage groupie. But I am proud to say that after 10 years, the sport has grown and so have I.

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