The Formula One season is well and truly underway. There are some exciting races happening. And many of us are dreaming of being on the side of the circuit rather than just watching from our couch. But there is quite a lot to know before you attend a Formula One race.
It can also be quite overwhelming if you don’t know what to expect. However, it can also be an incredible experience, maybe even once in a life time.
What race will you attend?
Maybe the most important question to answer is which Formula 1 race do you want to see? Because different race demand different types of organisation, some will be a bit more expensive or have different race weekend formats? What you could do is research the upcoming races, see where they are held and what kind of weekend will it be?
Is it going to be a sprint race weekend? Or a normal race weekend?
This is definitely something to think about.
In the category which race will you attend think about where? If you are based in the UK do you want to go to Silverstone? Or take a holiday and watch a more exotic race?
Plan ahead
It might seem obvious but planning ahead will be your best tool when it comes to attending a Formula One race. Indeed, going to see a race demands a lot of planning, organisation, and even saving up because they can be a costly affair.
Furthermore, thanks to the Netflix show ‘Drive to Survive’, Formula 1 has regained a lot of popularity and everyone wants to go see a race. Definitely think ahead and book your spots well in advance. Because that can guarantee tickets cheaper than if you book last minute or through a retailer.
And once you have planned ahead your race weekend, plan ahead what you will eat. Do you plan to bring a picnic or will you eat at the track?
Any merchandise you might want to get signed if you are lucky enough to meet a driver?
These are all little things but they are worth thinking about especially if you are travelling far away for the race.
How will you get to the track?
In order to watch the race you will actually need to get to the track. Yes it might seem like a stupid thing to say but trust me when I say that this is something you should think about.
When you book your accommodation make sure you pay attention at location. Where is the track compared to the accommodation? Don’t book something because it looks cheap and then find out you will you need to spend a fortune on taxis to get to and from the track.
That can ruin the whole idea of booking an accommodation on the cheaper side.
Read More: Things I Wish I Knew While I Was Learning To Drive.
Do some research ahead of time
You do not have to be a massive Formula One fan in order to attend a race. Especially if you are going with a partner or with family. However, we recommend doing a bit of research ahead of time before you get there.
One of the things you can research is who the drivers are and who they drive for. Something else that can be of interest is how Grand Prix weekends work?
To quickly summarise: Thursday is Media day. Not a lot of action that day. Friday you have FP1 (Free Practice) and FP2. A good amount of on track action, seeing the cars but not a lot of actions like overtaking as this is the team’s time to know what work and what doesn’t for this specific track.
Saturday is FP3 and qualifying. Maybe the best day as there is a lot of on track action.
Sunday you have the driver’s parade, and then the race. Worth it if you are a big Formula one fan.
What type of tickets to buy?
Formula one can be costly. However there are ways to keep down the costs. One of these is to buy a general admission ticket. These don’t let you sit in the grandstands on race day. However, they are even better as they let you sit and watch the race from anywhere you would like.
Furthermore, tickets where there are more actions will be more expensive. For example the start and finish line or the first corner will be more expensive than a stand in the middle of a straight. But you might see some great overtaking.
You can also look into booking into the Paddock Club but if you are a student or simply are on a budget then we don’t really recommend the splurge even if it seems really cool.
All in all, seeing a Formula One race is incredible and is probably an incredible opportunity. The advice given here is rather general so make sure you do in depth research for specific tracks.