Going to an F1 race

Going to an F1 race

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LosingGrip

Original Poster:

7,818 posts

159 months

Friday 6th December 2019
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I've had a quick search, but it's as useful as a chocolate tea pot the search function!

I've never been to an F1 race and want to either this year or next.

What one would be good to go to? I like Spa as a track, so thinking there, but if anyone has any other suggestions that would be great! I'm not too keen on Silverstone purely because id like to go abroad (and ive heard it can be cheaper to go abroad?).


paulwoof

1,610 posts

155 months

Friday 6th December 2019
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if your looking cheap, I think hungary is probably the cheapest, Or at least close once all things added up. Tickets, flights, accomodation, beer etc.

Not the most exciting race but is a good track for viewing, In fact some of the best seats there are also the cheapest. I went GA and still had a good view over the whole latter part of the track, Although it gets alot busier on race day and dutch fans can be erm interesting, The fins on the other hand are hilarious and always drunk.

The best seats for me would be silver 5, They are currently 150 euros for the full weekend. Think the cheapest grandstand on the whole calendar, although not much of a grandstand more a bleacher on a banking next to the track, it makes it feel more involved, also there is a big screen right infront of it on the inside of the track. From silver 5 you can see from apex of t8 all the way to the final hairpin t13 . You get a good appreciation of the speed as they appear out of turn 8 in the distance and are at your feet in no time, Your also parallel to a heavy braking zone into t11. still struggle to apprehend how quickly they get slowed down.

When we did GA, We stood to the side of silver 5 pretty much most of the weekend as it had the best view, we all agreed in retrospect, an extra 50 euros to have a seat for the long days would of totally been worth it.I certainly wouldn't pay the huge amounts to be in the gold grandstands on the start finish straight, You could barely see anything from there.

other details: beer is 3 euros for a pint of Heineken, burgers are 10 euros but they are huge. it gets hot, VERY HOT. Hungarian women are gorgeous,

there is some food for thought.

Edited by paulwoof on Friday 6th December 23:36

TheDeuce

21,546 posts

66 months

Friday 6th December 2019
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This year will be very tricky, the season has ended.

Next year... Zandvoort is not to long of a flight at all and is likely to be a highlight simply because it's a weird F1 circuit and also it's maiden season. That would be my choice but you'll have to watch ticket sale opening like a hawk as it's going to sell out pretty much overnight.

LosingGrip

Original Poster:

7,818 posts

159 months

Friday 6th December 2019
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Thanks both! Out of interest, what would I be looking at paying per person?

And whoops yeah either 2020 or 2021!

The_Nugget

642 posts

57 months

Saturday 7th December 2019
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I went to Austria this year. GA admission is pretty cheap (about €90 for the weekend), view of the track is not the best but the surroundings are nice.
Easy to get to etc. We stayed in Graz about an hour away in an Air B&B, driving into the circuit is easy, loads of free parking. Nice country.

Simes205

4,539 posts

228 months

Saturday 7th December 2019
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Spa is great. Good atmosphere.
Fab track.
Most people stay in Liege and bus into Spa.
Get GA tickets, you’ll get a reasonable view in most places. Scout viewing spots on the Saturday, On race day pitch up early before the masses arrive.
I went in the last year of V8’s.

Le Mans is better value for money and actually is cheaper!

shirt

22,564 posts

201 months

Saturday 7th December 2019
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Baku is decent as you’re not bored rigid and kept somewhere you otherwise wouldn’t want to be between sessions.

I’m hopefully going to Hanoi next year, tbc

Kraken

1,710 posts

200 months

Saturday 7th December 2019
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Not being snarky, this is a genuine question to help with issues arising elsewhere.

Have you been to see any other form of racing such as club racing, GT cars, BTCC etc before going to an F1 race or is it only F1 that interests you?

LosingGrip

Original Poster:

7,818 posts

159 months

Saturday 7th December 2019
quotequote all
Kraken said:
Not being snarky, this is a genuine question to help with issues arising elsewhere.

Have you been to see any other form of racing such as club racing, GT cars, BTCC etc before going to an F1 race or is it only F1 that interests you?
I've only really watched F1. I'd watch others on TV if it was on when I was channel hopping, but F1 is the only one id make time for.

Gazzab

21,093 posts

282 months

Saturday 7th December 2019
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If you like Spa then go to Spa. As per other posts it’s got a few excellent vantage points and you can work out which is best on the Saturday and then get there early on the Sunday. Then you can google to your hearts content to find a place to stay, work out transport, get tickets etc. A general admission is a good option at Spa.

The Moose

22,847 posts

209 months

Saturday 7th December 2019
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I have down Silverstone and Circuit of the America’s. A few years apart so it’s hard to draw a conclusion, but I did enjoy COTA.

I love Spa as a circuit but never got there for an F1 race. Maybe one day. I’d do Spa...just take good walking shoes

parabolica

6,715 posts

184 months

Saturday 7th December 2019
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WTF1 did this video just a month or two ago; some good info but take it with a pinch of salt: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GCkun2EVbT0

I've been to Silverstone, Monza, Canada and Japan; loved all of them. I'd say Canada was the best value for money as it formed part of a 2 week holiday - same as Japan but obviously costs for getting to Japan were much higher.

anonymous-user

54 months

Monday 9th December 2019
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The Moose said:
I have down Silverstone and Circuit of the America’s. A few years apart so it’s hard to draw a conclusion, but I did enjoy COTA.

I love Spa as a circuit but never got there for an F1 race. Maybe one day. I’d do Spa...just take good walking shoes
Where did you stay in Austin?

I’m planning to go there next year with my son, just looking at accommodation.

StevieBee

12,888 posts

255 months

Monday 9th December 2019
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LosingGrip said:
Kraken said:
Not being snarky, this is a genuine question to help with issues arising elsewhere.

Have you been to see any other form of racing such as club racing, GT cars, BTCC etc before going to an F1 race or is it only F1 that interests you?
I've only really watched F1. I'd watch others on TV if it was on when I was channel hopping, but F1 is the only one id make time for.
Kraken makes a good point though. If you've never been to a motor race before, breaking your cherry at something like BTCC will give you a feel for how things work - where you can go, where you can't, what you can see, what you can't, what the marshalls do, etc...... BTCC isn't F1 by any stretch of the imagination but knowing the basic flow of things can give you a little prep as to what to expect.

One of things I notice most people are surprised at it is size of an F1 venue and the distance you might end up walking over a day or weekend which even from the car park can be considerable. A trip to Brands or Oulton will give you a feel for this (both roughly half the footprint of modern F1 venues)

BTCC is on ITV4, live from midday on race days.

lj04

371 posts

191 months

Tuesday 10th December 2019
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Groupon regually do cheap deals for Spain with a 5 day holiday at the beach. Wife took me for my birthday last year. A lot easier to find a decent spot to watch the race. Walking round Spa on race day is slow work. Shame we lost San Marino.