Thanks to the success of Netflix’s “simply a little overdramatic” however very enjoyable to watch Drive to Survive, F1 has exploded in reputation, with venues promoting out months prematurely, widespread media protection, elevated celeb attendance, and bidding wars for broadcasting rights.
All these elements mixed imply touring to F1 races has turn into a little bit of a aggressive sport. Regardless of this, there are methods to maximize your time at a race and see a new nook of the world!
So, in case your dream is to watch a Formula 1 race reside, we’ve acquired every little thing you want to find out about F1 journey.
What Is Formula 1?
For the uninitiated, Formula 1 is Motorsport, or moderately, automotive racing. Formula 1 vehicles are designed to particular guidelines and value hundreds of thousands of {dollars} to construct, run, and restore. Formula 1 vehicles race round non-linear tracks at speeds between 90 to 340 kilometers per hour. There are ten completely different groups, every with two vehicles for a whole of 20 drivers on the ‘grid.’
Completely different tracks require various kinds of tires or downforce (managing wind towards the automotive to assist with pace, turning, and many others.), and every automotive is its personal entity, as are the drivers. The F1 World Championship as we all know it at this time has been working uninterrupted since 1950.
A typical weekend begins on a Friday with two follow periods, every an hour lengthy. Then, Saturday sees another follow session and the qualifying session for the Sunday Grand Prix. Qualifying has three completely different periods, with 5 drivers eradicated from every one till ten stay, and the order to begin the race is ready, together with the very coveted first place or Pole Place. Sunday is the large occasion, with the precise race happening.
Different occasions happening throughout these weekends might embrace F1 Academy (a new feminine driver sequence), Formula Three and a pair of (hopeful F1 drivers), Porsche Supercup racing, and live shows throughout the weekend. In the previous few years, F1 has additionally launched the Dash format, which incorporates a 100km dash-style race on Saturdays, which carries factors for the World Championship as effectively.
F1 hosts 23 races worldwide, with the bulk being held in Europe, although the US is an up-and-coming location as Formula 1 continues to penetrate the US market. Six of those races embrace a Dash race. Every race has the drivers competing for factors to win both the driver’s championship (private glory) or the constructor’s championship (workforce glory and, most significantly, prize cash to construct subsequent season’s automotive). Typically a workforce and driver win each with ease the most up-to-date being Crimson Bull Racing and their star driver Max Verstappen.
How to Attend an F1 Race
With 23 races worldwide, you could have many choices to watch a race. So how will you maximize your time in a location whereas touring earlier than or after and nonetheless watch the race?
Fortunately, a few of the finest and most inexpensive races are in areas that enable you to discover close by areas simply. The races in the United States are by far the most costly, so since the bulk of the most inexpensive races are in Europe, we’ll begin there.
There are a number of methods to buy tickets, whether or not from the Formula 1 web site itself (you can too see the yearly race calendar right here with dates), every race monitor’s particular person websites (our most well-liked technique), or from Third-party distributors. Learn extra about buying F1 Tickets right here.
High 5 Finest Cities to Watch A Race and Maximize F1 Journey
With so many alternative races worldwide, there are numerous choices for watching a race, however some cities provide a bit greater than others. Let’s take a look at what we imagine are the 5 finest cities to watch a race AND journey round!
Abu Dhabi, UAE: Yas Marina Circuit
Abu Dhabi might be the most costly of the races in the Center East (Bahrain, Qatar, Jeddah), with main resort chain costs skyrocketing, although smaller price range inns and Airbnb’s can definitely be discovered for inexpensive costs.
Nevertheless, Abu Dhabi can also be the final race of the season, which implies it may be crucial, even a title decider. 2021 was an incredible ultimate race between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen to resolve the Driver’s Championship on the final nook of the final lap. The climate is ideal to be open air, because it’s all the time held at the finish of November or early December!
The monitor in Abu Dhabi is situated on Yas Island, about a 10-minute Uber trip from the airport. There are a number of inns on the island to keep at (e-book effectively prematurely!), however a lot to do!
Yas Island boasts Warner Brothers World, an indoor theme park devoted to all issues Warner from Gotham Metropolis, Bedrock, and Looney Tunes. Proper subsequent to the monitor are Yas Mall and Ferrari World, dwelling to the world’s quickest curler coaster! Additionally, water parks akin to Yas Waterworld and SeaWorld Abu Dhabi. We advocate shopping for a go or mixed tickets should you’re visiting a couple of park.
For extra tradition, on Saadiyat Island, you’ll be able to go to the very inexpensive Louvre Abu Dhabi, which has works and artifacts from all through historical past and shared items between the Louvre and Musee d’Orsay. Saadiyat can even embrace, in the future, a Guggenheim and a Pure Historical past Museum.
Lastly, you’d be remiss not to see the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. It’s the largest mosque in the world that non-Muslims can go to and one among the most gorgeous buildings to see in individual. It’s free to go to, although there are strict costume code necessities.
If that wasn’t sufficient and also you need a bit extra, you’ll be able to all the time head down to Dubai (about 45 minutes by automotive/taxi), the place you’ll be able to see the Burj Khalifa, the tallest constructing in the world, go to the Palm Dubai with expansive inns like the Atlantis, and attend a brunch of no matter form fits your fancy!
Associated learn: High Issues to do in Abu Dhabi
Budapest, Hungary: The Hungaroring
In contrast to many Western European cities, Budapest affords a full F1 journey weekend for a rather more inexpensive value. In truth, the Hungaroring is usually the least expensive race on the complete calendar. On high of all that, Budapest has loads of historical past and beautiful structure (like its Parliament) to see and offer you that true European really feel. Budapest additionally has a great social scene should you’re in search of a evening out.
The Hungaoring all the time affords nice races for F1 followers and novices alike. It’s a brief 24km from downtown, although taking a cab is beneficial. As this race all the time falls throughout the summer time, you normally have some good climate (although rain isn’t unusual). The circuit itself is moderately brief (a little over Four km) with many corners, making overtaking tough. Technique, teamwork, and studying the climate situations are key to profitable in Hungary.
From Budapest, you could have aplenty of journey alternatives! Bratislava, Vienna, and Zagreb are all simply a few hours’ practice trip away. You’ll be able to enterprise a bit additional as effectively and make your means to Poland and Germany or head south to Romania and Serbia. No matter your desire, you could find one thing or someplace to maximize your enjoyment.
Associated learn: How to Spend a Weekend in Budapest
Amsterdam, Netherlands: Circuit Zandvoort
This race at Zandvoort takes place about 45 minutes exterior of Amsterdam and is one among the extra simply accessible races, as you’ll be able to attain it in about 45 minutes by public practice.
Zandvoort isn’t normally thought-about one among the extra thrilling races on the circuit, however the climate can play havoc with the race and make it extra entertaining than F1 races. Zandvoort is a quick circuit, additionally brief, with fairly a few curves that take a look at the drivers’ means to take the automotive round high-speed corners. The proximity to the ocean additionally means you need to take care of the wind and presumably rain at Zandvoort (the 2023 race was an absolute deluge!), which provides to the problem.
Being close to Amsterdam means you could have a lot to do! Amsterdam has one thing for everybody, from museums and historical past. There are museums like the Rembrandt, Van Gogh, and Anne Frank Home (reserve prematurely!).
Nightlife is discovered aplenty (Amsterdam is fairly well-known for this), and day journeys abound. You’ll be able to bike throughout the Netherlands (together with to Zandvoort itself – a most well-liked technique of arrival). Utrecht is a beautiful metropolis and a college city; very very like Amsterdam however much less touristy and solely about an hour away, as are The Hague and Rotterdam. A bit additional, you’ll be able to enterprise into northern Germany to Cologne for schnitzel and the beautiful cathedral or head south into Belgium for a few of the world’s finest beer, fries, and waffles.
Associated learn: Three Days in Amsterdam: What Not to Miss
Singapore: Marina Bay Road Circuit
Singapore is a road circuit, that means the metropolis modifies itself to accommodate the high-speed chase of 20 Formula 1 vehicles throughout the metropolis. Being a road circuit means, nevertheless, that you needn’t journey far to watch the occasions.
The Singapore Grand Prix was the first evening race in the F1 calendar and has been a staple since 2008. One among, if not the hardest, races on the calendar due to Singapore’s humidity and the monitor’s low-speed corners, Singapore requires a fine-tuned mixture of race tempo, workforce technique, bodily endurance, and most focus. It’s not unusual for the Singapore GP to take the most allotted time of two hours to full.
Singapore is a nice metropolis for having fun with a race and having fun with a place! Singapore affords one among the finest meals scenes in the world, with influences from all the surrounding areas. And whereas Singapore may be very costly ($70-100 for a meal for 2 with drinks at a restaurant), the finest meals at the native (hawker) stalls could be very inexpensive (and higher!).
Singapore has a unbelievable and inexpensive public transportation system, which makes getting round extremely straightforward. You can even go to Gardens by the Bay, which is totally gorgeous in its design, and the indoor gardens are one thing to behold! If you’d like to dish out a few extra {dollars} and ball out, keep at the Marina Bay Sands Lodge, which is located proper subsequent to a part of the monitor.
Thanks to its location, Singapore is a nice jumping-off level to journey in Southeast Asia! Kuala Lumpur, Bali, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand are all simply brief (assume not more than 2-Three hours flight) away. You’ll be able to discover seashores, museums, temples, and a lot extra, all whereas flying by means of Changi Airport, which is constantly ranked as one among the finest, if not normally the finest, airports in the world!
Associated learn: Exploring Singapore: What you Want to Know
Mexico Metropolis, Mexico: Autódromo Hermanos Rodriguez
Maybe the most inexpensive race in the Americas, Mexico Metropolis, is all the time attention-grabbing due to the altitude challenges that drivers and groups face. The excessive altitude in Mexico Metropolis slows vehicles down significantly, so it’s not a race you’ll be able to win on race tempo and downforce alone.
Town itself affords a lot to do! You’ll be able to take time to see Tenochtitlan and the historic Aztec Pyramids, go to Mexico Metropolis’s markets akin to Central de Abastos, or go to close by cities like Xochimilco or Zacatecas. No matter the place you go, indulge your self on the many flavors of Mexican delicacies (it’s so rather more than simply tacos and burritos)!
Relying on the date of the race, you may additionally plan to keep in Mexico for the ever-vibrant Día de los Muertos and expertise one among the most significant occasions in Mexican tradition. Set your sights on some Lucha Libre and watch the Luchadores of their eccentric masks have interaction in over-the-top wrestling!
Venturing barely additional away from the metropolis, you’ll be able to head over to Jalisco, dwelling of the agave plant and thus…tequila! There are a lot of completely different varieties, together with loads of tequila you don’t simply shoot or combine however sip like a advantageous wine or whisky!
Mexico additionally affords wonderful seashores (assume Zihuatanejo, Cancún, Puerto Vallarta, and extra) for you to relaxation and chill out earlier than or after a race. With its all-inclusive resorts, you’ll be able to pay in your keep and eat, drink, and tan till you’ve had your fill! If you happen to enterprise out past the resorts in the Yucatán Peninsula, you can too go to Chichen Itza, dwelling to the historic Mayans, and the Xcaret Archaeological Park close to Playa del Carmen.
Mexico Metropolis is a nice jumping-off level for another journey alternatives! Town is a brief flight from quite a few locations on the West Coast of the US, akin to Los Angeles or Las Vegas. You may additionally fly to Bogotá (4-5 hours) and discover all the Colombia has to provide in its great mountains. Or you may head to Central America, like Panama or Costa Rica, the place you’ll be able to soak up loads of seashores and jungles!
Closing Ideas
Whether or not you’re a seasoned fan, a beginner Drive to Survive provoke, or simply a informal observer, Formula 1 races are entertaining spectacles. In addition they have the advantage of being hosted in a slew of nice cities round the world. We’ve given you what we imagine to be the finest 5 cities to watch and journey to, however we advocate you discover additional and discover the metropolis and race that matches you finest!
