My first time to a F1 race review

My first time to a F1 race review

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RemaL

Original Poster:

24,967 posts

233 months

Tuesday 18th July 2017
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May not be of any interest to most people but I thought I would write up about my first experience of going to a formula 1 race

I had this booked many months ago as the wife wanted to do something for my 40th Back at the end of March. So we looking at what to do, who's having the kids ( as this was going to be a weekend for just me and the Wife, she's a huge motorsport fan like myself).

I'm happy camping but the wife wanted to stay in a hotel. I decided Silverstone F1 was the race i wanted to go to for my first experience of F1.
We booked the prem inn in Banbury which was only 13 miles away from the circuit . Many hotels closer ( we booked 6 months prior) had been booked up or wanted daft money to say.
Got to the hotel on the thursday evening after work and had 3 days there. a good base.
Friday we had the roaming grandstand seats (seem'ed we could have go away with the general entrance as non of the people waiting to check your tickets wanted to see them before going into the grandstands. Had a great time on the friday. walked the circuit. Enjoyed the various places to watch the F1.

Saturday Cost us £35 for a taxi their which I thought was good as it took 45 mins to get in ( we left at 7:30am).
Sat was the special day as we booked the one drivers lounge. Food was lovely, drink even better. great views from the stands and lots to see and do. both myself and the wife said even due to the Huge cost of the drivers lounge we enjoyed it and said we would do this again. Met loads of like minded people ( I was thinking most who went may have not been that interested in the racing but all the people we talked to loved the F1). Much like ourselves.
We even got offered a free taxi back as a few people we mat had one waiting in the hospitality parking all day. Which we took the offer up.

The race day and we booked woodcote A grandstand. We left go to the circuit at 7:45Am and the traffic was good. took about 10 mins to get in and park.
The view from the stand was very good. Vettel and Kimi's Puncture happened right in front of us. The Atmosphere for the weekend was amazing.

We left it 45 mins after the race and was walking back to the car while getting food etc....
lucky that they opened a gate close to us after waiting for 20 mins at a standstill. and then took about another 10 mins to get out onto the main motorway. We took the scenic route back to Bristol via chipping norton and the cotswolds and hit almost no traffic talking us just over 2 1/2 hours to get home with most of this not via the motorway. So not a huge delay

A great weekend and will be going again. Both myself and my wife had a fantastic time.
The only negatives are minor, to far aware from the track( apart from the hospitality day). not much could be done about this.
prices of the merchandise was amazing. £50 for a t-shirt and a £120 for a zipped hoodie. I'll get them at the end of season sale.
I knew from Moto GP experiences of silverstone the food was going to be expensive but took snacks and drinks in to save a few ££

if you have not been to a F1 race try it. I did not know what to expect but had a great time and will be going to both silverstone and abroad to watch a F1 race.
I don't now why I left it so long. I do to Le mans every other year and BSB and Moto GP race in the past.

Austin, Spa and Singapore is on my list to go to now



Edited by RemaL on Tuesday 18th July 11:17

48Valves

1,926 posts

208 months

Tuesday 18th July 2017
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Silverstone was my first time being at an F1 race 2.

I was there from Thursday to Sunday and thoroughly enjoyed most of the experience. The only slight downside was the noise in the family section of Woodlands Campsite on Saturday night and Sunday morning.

I took a lot of my own food and beer so didn't have to spend too much. But I the food and drink on the whole wasn't as expensive as I expected it to be. Some of the beer was under a fiver a pint some just over and you could get a decent enough pizza for £8/9 or burger and chips for under £10.

The only merchandise I bought was a reduce priced t-shirt for £15 and 2 Mercedes caps and 2 Flags from a seller at the Woodlands campsite which was £50 for the 4 items. I was slightly taken aback by some limited edition LH caps costing £100.

I was lucky enough to have roving grandstand tickets which was great getting the chance to go and sit in different sections of the track. I was in Club A for the race which was a good place to be.

The atmosphere the whole weekend was great. the whole thing seemed to be a fairly relaxed affair. I've been to other sporting events and concerts where there is a bit of tension due to large crowds. But I witnessed none of it at the F1. The atmosphere on race day was fantastic. Lots of cheering an good natured booing

The entertainment on the main stage in the evenings was good too.

But, its all about the cars. And watching them live gives a whole new perspective of the capabilities of an F1 car. It wasn't the straight line speed that was surprising but just how quickly they turn in and change direction, ow quickly they slow down for corners, the smell of them and just how much they move about. It was especially fun watching the drivers try to keep the cars on the road after the rain.

I particularly like the noise from the hybrid era cars. It means you can here other stuff like the turbos, tyres, cars running over the curbs


Despite the cost, which I consider to be not too bad value for money compared to other sports events of festivals I would definitely go again.

Dr Z

3,396 posts

170 months

Tuesday 18th July 2017
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thumbup Thanks for your reviews. I missed it this year, but will try to make plans for next year. Although I'm not sure I could handle the driver worship/tribalism that some were reporting back.

48Valves

1,926 posts

208 months

Tuesday 18th July 2017
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Dr Z said:
thumbup Thanks for your reviews. I missed it this year, but will try to make plans for next year. Although I'm not sure I could handle the driver worship/tribalism that some were reporting back.
I didn't really see any of that. I watched most of Quali from Club and the race from Club A.

Obviously Lewis was the the overwhelming favorite. There was cheering and polite applause for lots of other drivers. A big groan when Palmer and Alonso retired and also when Kimi's tyre went. There was a cheer and a bit of booing when Sebs tyre went, but it was more in a pantomime baddy spirit than anything nasty.

As I said I found the atmosphere very friendly and relaxed. As I was on my own a fair bit of the weekend I chatted to fans of all teams. They were all there just to watch a race and if their favorite driver/team did well then that was just a bonus.

Dr Z

3,396 posts

170 months

Tuesday 18th July 2017
quotequote all
48Valves said:
I didn't really see any of that. I watched most of Quali from Club and the race from Club A.

Obviously Lewis was the the overwhelming favorite. There was cheering and polite applause for lots of other drivers. A big groan when Palmer and Alonso retired and also when Kimi's tyre went. There was a cheer and a bit of booing when Sebs tyre went, but it was more in a pantomime baddy spirit than anything nasty.

As I said I found the atmosphere very friendly and relaxed. As I was on my own a fair bit of the weekend I chatted to fans of all teams. They were all there just to watch a race and if their favorite driver/team did well then that was just a bonus.
Good to know, thanks.

Terminator X

14,921 posts

203 months

Tuesday 18th July 2017
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My first ever GP as well, tickets at Beckets. Great view, loved it + atmosphere awesome too.

TX.

benny 61

467 posts

183 months

Tuesday 18th July 2017
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I watched the race from club and thought the view was excellent.
I was shocked when I received an email from Silverstone letting me know tickets are on sale for next year.
I got an early bird price of £300 for this year, but next year they want £450 early bird price.
Ridiculous price increase, I'm certainly not paying that.

RemaL

Original Poster:

24,967 posts

233 months

Wednesday 19th July 2017
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benny 61 said:
I watched the race from club and thought the view was excellent.
I was shocked when I received an email from Silverstone letting me know tickets are on sale for next year.
I got an early bird price of £300 for this year, but next year they want £450 early bird price.
Ridiculous price increase, I'm certainly not paying that.
on my email it says £410 early bird for international straight grandstand tickets

looking at booking and camping by silverstone for next year. Does anyone know if they want the money in full when you book this early or just take a deposit for now?

benny 61

467 posts

183 months

Wednesday 19th July 2017
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RemaL said:
on my email it says £410 early bird for international straight grandstand tickets

looking at booking and camping by silverstone for next year. Does anyone know if they want the money in full when you book this early or just take a deposit for now?
I would guess in full, give them a call to be sure.

Vaud

50,289 posts

154 months

Wednesday 19th July 2017
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RemaL said:
Austin, Spa and Singapore is on my list to go to now
Good list, but I'd suggest adding Monza...

99dndd

2,079 posts

88 months

Friday 21st July 2017
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RemaL said:
if you have not been to a F1 race try it. I did not know what to expect but had a great time and will be going to both silverstone and abroad to watch a F1 race.
I don't now why I left it so long. I do to Le mans every other year and BSB and Moto GP race in the past.
How would you say the fan access differed between the F1 and Le Mans?

I haven't done Le Mans but the difference between a standard ticket for the F1 and WEC Silverstone is staggering.

RemaL

Original Poster:

24,967 posts

233 months

Friday 21st July 2017
quotequote all
99dndd said:
RemaL said:
if you have not been to a F1 race try it. I did not know what to expect but had a great time and will be going to both silverstone and abroad to watch a F1 race.
I don't now why I left it so long. I do to Le mans every other year and BSB and Moto GP race in the past.
How would you say the fan access differed between the F1 and Le Mans?

I haven't done Le Mans but the difference between a standard ticket for the F1 and WEC Silverstone is staggering.
Fan access to what exactly?

I've not been to Silverstone WEC so can't comment.
you get little chance to see or even wave at the Le mans racers mostly. I have bee lucky to get in the pit garages a few hours before a race but pure luck. i've met a few le mans racers signing autographs.
As this is my first time to a F1 race I would say very similar to Le mans. For Fan access if this is to get close to the racers.

Moto GP. No chance and much like F1 and Le mans.
BSB race and your in the pits, meeting and greeting the racers. Now thats a real treat and worth going to if a bike fan.