Going to every F1 race in a single season...
Discussion
Just a bit of fun (for now 
)
Has anyone on here (or know someone who has) ever travelled the whole season of F1, going to every race? I’m sure It’s been done many times but it’s kind of a “bucket list” things for me and also right now in my life may be my only chance to do it.
I’ve been thinking about this more and more lately, partly out of a curiosity of just knowing how much it could cost but I’ve found the more I think about it the more I’d love to actually do it!
I’ve had a little google around but most of the articles are focussed on the more “monied” subjects so figures of 200k+ are quoted, but I’ve also seen total costs go as low as 50k.
So for my hypothetical trip to every race here are some pointers as to what I’m looking for.
- Every race, without fail.
- Theres nothing tying me down in the UK, so if needs be I could fly to the different countries without needing to return to “base”.
Granted this wouldn’t be much use for say Monaco>Canada>Azerbaijan, but it would save a bit of cash doing Singapore>Malaysia>Japan or US>Mexico>Brazil ... this would all depend on the seasons calendar though!
- Summer break would be spent at home in the UK
- Not looking to live the champagne lifestyle (I don’t even drink) during this trip so VIP passes, glitzy hotels, coke and hookers are definitely out - Tents or cheap accommodation is definitely in, I’ll be there for the practice/quali/race with a bit of wandering around the scenery/culture between races.
Can’t think of any more for now.
So, has anyone actually done it? Let me know what you think.
TL:DR: I want to go to every F1 race in a single season, discuss
)Has anyone on here (or know someone who has) ever travelled the whole season of F1, going to every race? I’m sure It’s been done many times but it’s kind of a “bucket list” things for me and also right now in my life may be my only chance to do it.
I’ve been thinking about this more and more lately, partly out of a curiosity of just knowing how much it could cost but I’ve found the more I think about it the more I’d love to actually do it!
I’ve had a little google around but most of the articles are focussed on the more “monied” subjects so figures of 200k+ are quoted, but I’ve also seen total costs go as low as 50k.
So for my hypothetical trip to every race here are some pointers as to what I’m looking for.
- Every race, without fail.
- Theres nothing tying me down in the UK, so if needs be I could fly to the different countries without needing to return to “base”.
Granted this wouldn’t be much use for say Monaco>Canada>Azerbaijan, but it would save a bit of cash doing Singapore>Malaysia>Japan or US>Mexico>Brazil ... this would all depend on the seasons calendar though!
- Summer break would be spent at home in the UK
- Not looking to live the champagne lifestyle (I don’t even drink) during this trip so VIP passes, glitzy hotels, coke and hookers are definitely out - Tents or cheap accommodation is definitely in, I’ll be there for the practice/quali/race with a bit of wandering around the scenery/culture between races.
Can’t think of any more for now.
So, has anyone actually done it? Let me know what you think.
TL:DR: I want to go to every F1 race in a single season, discuss
rubystone said:
Ever noticed the colourfully dressed African guy in the back of Ted’s wanderings? He’s Moko and has pretty much attended every GP for years...and he has a job too!
Job is maybe a bit loose. He just sells (and wears) a lot of jewelry. He's always hanging around ferrari too so might be a guest of theirs sometimes too. I did every race for a few years but on the other side of the fence. I reckon you're looking at £50k-80k realistically at a miminum
What's the longest period of time you've travelled continuously? I love travelling, but it's hard work, particularly if you're working to a budget. Mrs HardtopManual and I have done a number of 3-4 month trips to various places on a budget of roughly £100 a day all-in, to include travel, accommodation, food and activities for the pair of us. It is a huge amount of fun and we've met some lifelong friends and experienced many things, but the reality is that long trips are not like being on holiday.
Your £50,000 works out at around £200 a day over the season and, although you will generally be in "expensive" countries, it's easily do-able; in fact I bet I could do it on half that, but then I am happy to sleep in a dorm. You'll be able to stay in nice places and do cool things (but probably not both!).
My advice is - if you want to do it and you've got the money, do it. But see it as 8 months on the road, with half the weekends spoken for. Find out what else you can do in between the races - which side trips fit in with the race calendar. You will get bored if you spend a week in Singapore, for example. The mid-season break starts in Hungary and ends in Belgium, so a few weeks of familiarity back in the UK before you head for the likes of Japan and Russis is a good idea. Actually, that part of the calendar is something of a mess - Singapore > Russia > Japan > USA? Mental. Try not to plan everything to the nth degree - it's fine to arrive somewhere without a place to stay; in fact, sometimes it's better as you can see the place before you pay up!
Oh and... I'm jealous. Keep the thread updated please.
Your £50,000 works out at around £200 a day over the season and, although you will generally be in "expensive" countries, it's easily do-able; in fact I bet I could do it on half that, but then I am happy to sleep in a dorm. You'll be able to stay in nice places and do cool things (but probably not both!).
My advice is - if you want to do it and you've got the money, do it. But see it as 8 months on the road, with half the weekends spoken for. Find out what else you can do in between the races - which side trips fit in with the race calendar. You will get bored if you spend a week in Singapore, for example. The mid-season break starts in Hungary and ends in Belgium, so a few weeks of familiarity back in the UK before you head for the likes of Japan and Russis is a good idea. Actually, that part of the calendar is something of a mess - Singapore > Russia > Japan > USA? Mental. Try not to plan everything to the nth degree - it's fine to arrive somewhere without a place to stay; in fact, sometimes it's better as you can see the place before you pay up!
Oh and... I'm jealous. Keep the thread updated please.
It will be over in a year and one race will blend into another. You obviously won't forget it but who do you expect to tell it to the 17th time?
Have you ever spoken with a couple returning from an around the world tour? They forget which damned continent the photo was taken. There's five minutes when they decide that as it is Vesuvius in the background it must be that place where they met the chap who sold time shares.
How about four races a year?
If there are 20, then mix a European, Asian, Middle East and the colonies each year?
Have you ever spoken with a couple returning from an around the world tour? They forget which damned continent the photo was taken. There's five minutes when they decide that as it is Vesuvius in the background it must be that place where they met the chap who sold time shares.
How about four races a year?
If there are 20, then mix a European, Asian, Middle East and the colonies each year?
To fill the non F1 weekends,look at Moto GP calendar.
I've just compared F1 with it.
May 6 Moto GP ....Jerez
May 13 F1........Barcelona
May 20 Moto GP Le Mans.
I haven't listed everything but I also know Misano Moto GP race is close to Monza, either 1 or 2 weeks later,as I did both in 2008.
Money no object ,it's a no brainer,drive around all of Europe,you'll find something decent every weekend during the summer.
If you don't like bikes,ignore me.......
I've just compared F1 with it.
May 6 Moto GP ....Jerez
May 13 F1........Barcelona
May 20 Moto GP Le Mans.
I haven't listed everything but I also know Misano Moto GP race is close to Monza, either 1 or 2 weeks later,as I did both in 2008.
Money no object ,it's a no brainer,drive around all of Europe,you'll find something decent every weekend during the summer.
If you don't like bikes,ignore me.......
As another poster has said whilst travelling can be fun doing it for the whole season on a budget is not likely to be the most relaxing thing you have ever done. It is easy with a £100k+ budget as you can stay in comfortable places that you will be able to relax in and do interesting things but doing it as cheaply as possible or with a budget of less than £100k ish i am not sure will turn out to be all that it is cracked up to be.
Personally i would look at doing two half seasons, doing half the races in each year as you will be utterly shagged out by the time of the summer break and possibly not really wanting to go back on the road again after that.
Good luck to you though. At 21 with a £50k budget i would have given it a go, at 41 i am more than happy with a travelodge style room for the night or a couple but would get the shakes at the though of 6 months of a year in something like that.
Personally i would look at doing two half seasons, doing half the races in each year as you will be utterly shagged out by the time of the summer break and possibly not really wanting to go back on the road again after that.
Good luck to you though. At 21 with a £50k budget i would have given it a go, at 41 i am more than happy with a travelodge style room for the night or a couple but would get the shakes at the though of 6 months of a year in something like that.
I did 42 GP's from mid 97 until mid 2000. Hard work when you are doing 12 days out of fourteen for nine months of the year. Now as a fan if you had the funds and time, it is certainly possible, but I doubt you would see any real change from £ 50,000 because hotel accomodation is so expensive around the GP cities for the five days of the race. Europe would be more simple but if you enjoy flying, visa's and some unusual locations yes it can be done.
like others i think its entirely possible on the budget but rather uninspiring as a potential activity.
a year spent travelling whilst taking in the major motorsport events - f1, WEC, le mans, daytona, TT, pikes peak, bathurst, indy to name but some - plus the odd thing like pebble beach or villa d'este would be much more varied and allow for a more linear approach to travel.
a year spent travelling whilst taking in the major motorsport events - f1, WEC, le mans, daytona, TT, pikes peak, bathurst, indy to name but some - plus the odd thing like pebble beach or villa d'este would be much more varied and allow for a more linear approach to travel.
shirt said:
a year spent travelling whilst taking in the major motorsport events - f1, WEC, le mans, daytona, TT, pikes peak, bathurst, indy to name but some - plus the odd thing like pebble beach or villa d'este would be much more varied and allow for a more linear approach to travel.
Absolutely this, F1 races would probably blur into one and many are not exactly at the most inspiring of locations. However, draw up a plan taking in some big/unique Motorsport events around the world for 6 months or so would be incredible, far more flexible (and therefore with the potential to be more relaxing) and could be done on a much tighter budget.So many options, Global Rallycross, WRC, F1, WEC, Aussie Supercars, Pikes Peak, NASCAR, Super GTs, N24, Indycar etc that you could easily build something that flows quite nicely from country to country.
Plus, taking in country specific events will give you a far more varied experience of different cultures, rather than F1, in what is often a reasonably sanitised environment full of Brits!
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