Flying out and back for a race in a day

[Another project]

Hey guys, as the title suggests has anyone flown out for a race first thing in the morning, watched the race then flown home in the evening? I'm thinking about having a day at Monza

[PovertyPrince]

Yes. Have done Barcelona and Belgium. It’s manageable but it’s obviously quite a long day

[craig511]

I did Monaco, well worth it.

[Siao]

Depends where you are!

Hungary would be doable, most European races I'd imagine.

[StevieBee]

Yep - also done Monaco.

IIRC, it was a 6am flight from Stansted and back at around 10pm.

Best to book an organised trip or organise transfers in advance.

[cliffords]

I have been for one day Europe city trips for business many times . From Gatwick, less than an hour from my house. It makes for very long days.
The only times I didn't do it was when large sporting events were on in the city as it made the airport bedlam.

[vaud]

You can but I wouldn’t. Far more fun at most venues to tack on an extra day or two and be a tourist. Also who wants to be stressing about missing a flight?

For Monaco - Nice
for Monza - Milan or Como
For Hungary - Budapest

All nice cities with some fantastic food options, etc

[Jasandjules]

Surely it is nicer to go the afternoon before, have a nice meal in the area etc, then hotel. Then track next day, back to hotel then fly out the following day?

[vaud]

Jasandjules said:

Surely it is nicer to go the afternoon before, have a nice meal in the area etc, then hotel. Then track next day, back to hotel then fly out the following day?

Quite - for Monza I stay up by Lake Como and use the fast train down from Switzerland. There is something very civilised about the contrast between the heat and energy of race day followed by the calm of eating dinner with a few drinks by the lake as the day cools down… and then reading about what actually happened in the race.

[paulguitar]

vaud said:

Jasandjules said:

Surely it is nicer to go the afternoon before, have a nice meal in the area etc, then hotel. Then track next day, back to hotel then fly out the following day?

Quite - for Monza I stay up by Lake Como and use the fast train down from Switzerland. There is something very civilised about the contrast between the heat and energy of race day followed by the calm of eating dinner with a few drinks by the lake as the day cools down and then reading about what actually happened in the race.

This is all fair enough, but this thread and the OP are specifically asking for advice on going to a race on one day. Perhaps the OP can only spare a single day.

[vaud]

True but this is PH and we never keep threads on track (if you will forgive the pun)

[paulguitar]

vaud said:

True but this is PH and we never keep threads on track (if you will forgive the pun)

Haha, agreed.

[2 GKC]

Did Monza this year. Getting away from the circuit after the race was a nightmare. All roads gridlocked. Huge queues for trains. You’d want to be flying out of Milan as late as possible.

[geeks]

vaud said:

Jasandjules said:

Surely it is nicer to go the afternoon before, have a nice meal in the area etc, then hotel. Then track next day, back to hotel then fly out the following day?

Quite - for Monza I stay up by Lake Como and use the fast train down from Switzerland. There is something very civilised about the contrast between the heat and energy of race day followed by the calm of eating dinner with a few drinks by the lake as the day cools down and then reading about what actually happened in the race.

Not to steer us off course but please tell me more about this Vaud it sound exceptionally civilised and I have always wanted to go to Monza

[vaud]

geeks said:

Not to steer us off course but please tell me more about this Vaud it sound exceptionally civilised and I have always wanted to go to Monza

Sure

In my case it was combined with a trip to Switzerland (in my car) but flying is pretty easy.

We were there for a long weekend and had a large apartment near the lake. Monza is after the schools go back, so you can normally get a reasonable price.
Como is 30 mins to Monza, trains are pretty frequent and very nice (SBB Swiss trains with aircon, etc) and very cheap (£5 IIRC), and of course, always on time. Plenty of parking by the station.

Shuttle bus to the track - free - but a bit chaotic - but the roads are effectively closed around the track so police can "manage" the flow, but it is more Italian Job than anything else.

I normally go for a General Admission ticket and sit with the locals. The atmosphere is amazing, and although I don't speak much Italian their passion is incredible. Mansell still gets mentioned a lot, as does Schumacher and Vettel. Many are Ferrari fans but they are very respectful of others - Brits in McLaren gear etc.

After the race you can wonder onto the track amidst the chaos - everyone is looking for a souvenir.. I have a tyre marble somewhere.

I take my time to leave after the race - there are some great coffee shops near the gates where you can grab an espresso, etc.

Then back to the station, 30 mins back and you can be choosing your restaurant by 6pm.

I then set a torrent download of the sky coverage that will download over dinner and then I can actually watch the race as a whole over a glass of something nice.

Only hints: check how close your accommodation is to a church as some of the bells ring through the night... oh and the best restaurants aren't always by the lake, there is a big tax for the view.

Then you have options for a boat on the lake, just chilling out in Como and the surrounds, etc.

In 2027 I'm planning to drive down through Switzerland, see friends, go to my favourite mountain villages, eat too much cheese, go to the thermal baths at Saillon or Ovronnaz (they are amazing), pick up some Swiss wine and then go to the race.

All of this is kind of the opposite of doing it in one day though...

[carl_w]

There is a company that does an organized day trip from Stansted to Monaco that includes everything: charter flight, transfers, food, seating, etc.

[TwentyFive]

Seems a bit risky to me. One delayed morning flight and you'll surely miss the race?

Far better going out and making the most of the weekend with less time pressure. Did Budapest F1 this year, explored a great city and enjoyed the race weekend at the same time. Fantastic race atmosphere throughout the city. Also found it much cheaper to fly to Vienna and then hop on the train to our Budapest hotel than it was to fly direct to Hungary which meant I got to explore 2 cities and a race weekend all from one trip.

[Another project]

carl_w said:

There is a company that does an organized day trip from Stansted to Monaco that includes everything: charter flight, transfers, food, seating, etc.

Don't suppose you know the name of the company? I've only seen the 3 or 4 day packages

[vaud]

Another project said:

Don't suppose you know the name of the company? I've only seen the 3 or 4 day packages

Event Masters do one:

https://www.eventmasters.co.uk/motor-sport-hospita...

[LM240]

vaud said:

Jasandjules said:

Surely it is nicer to go the afternoon before, have a nice meal in the area etc, then hotel. Then track next day, back to hotel then fly out the following day?

Quite - for Monza I stay up by Lake Como and use the fast train down from Switzerland. There is something very civilised about the contrast between the heat and energy of race day followed by the calm of eating dinner with a few drinks by the lake as the day cools down and then reading about what actually happened in the race.

I haven’t done Monza, but need to tick it off.

This is the plan I would go for. Mini break with a Grand Prix and the Italian lakes included, what’s not to love about that.

Tack on another two days heading down to Maranello (and other super car sights in that area) and it’s really getting good.