F1 races are not for the faint of heart—the weekends are long, tiring, and expensive, but can also be some of the best weekends of your entire life. If you are thinking about attending a F1 race this year, here are some tips and tricks to help you plan (and survive) a weekend you will never forget!
Selecting Your Ticket
F1 races can be expensive, and I recognize that some people may not be in a financial decision to decide between different types of tickets. However, if you are trying to decide between buying a general admissions or grandstand ticket, there are a few things you should consider when making your decision.
Grandstand
Grandstand tickets are obviously going to be more expensive than general admissions, but if you are willing to splurge the experience is totally worth it. But grandstand tickets are not made equal. There are covered and uncovered stands, you can view the race from the main straight or one of the most iconic corners in F1 like the famous final parabolica at Monza or Eau Rouge. Personally, I am partially to the main grandstands along the pit straight because I love being able to watch the race setup and pit stops throughout the race weekend. These grandstands are also typically covered, which is helps to keep you protected from the elements.
Ultimately, everyone has different opinions on the best spot on a track to watch the race from, and this can often be track dependent. So do some research, but honestly just buy whatever ticket your heart desires!
General Admissions
Now this is a completely different experience from the grandstands. If you buy a grandstand pass, especially at tracks like COTA, you are signing up for much more of a party-like atmosphere. Things can be a bit chaotic when you are going a race with a general admissions pass, but ultimately it is still worth it because you’re still at a F1 race!
Planning Your Trip
Part of the fun of attending a F1 race is getting to experience the race’s host city! Depending on where the track is located with respect to the host city, it is always great to stay in the city center to best experience the city’s culture. Just make sure to consider how you are getting to and from the track each day. Thankfully, a lot of the races offer shuttle services or have well-established public transportation that makes getting to the track a breeze. I personally have used the shuttle service in Barcelona and Austin, and I could not recommend it more! And for my upcoming trip to Shanghai, the metro conveniently stops right outside of the track making it easy to access the race from nearly anywhere in the city.
If you are ambitious, you may also be able to get some sightseeing in during your trip for the race. Whether you’re planning a longer trip or are sacrificing sleep to get some early morning adventures in before heading to the track, there will always be sights to see that suit your plans. And if all else fails, at least be sure to check out the local cuisine. In Barcelona, there was nothing better than finishing up a long day at the track with sangria and tapas!
What to Bring to the Race
The Essentials
These are the items that are always in my bag when I am going to a race, no matter what. There are some things you can just come to expect when you are at a Grand Prix—you are going to be outside all day, the bathrooms are most likely to be very dirty by the end of the weekend, it is going to be loud, and you will be using your phone a lot, whether it is to take pictures or videos of the race or trying to connect with your friends or family you traveled to the race with. For those reasons, my five non-negotiable items that are necessary at every F1 race are:
Sun Protection
Even if it is going to be cloudy or raining (I’m looking at you Spa and Silverstone), you cannot go to a race without sun protection. I’m talking sunscreen, hat, sunglasses, all of it. The last thing you want is to walk away from a race weekend with a sunburn. Trust me, I’ve been there even with wearing plenty of sunscreen and it is not fun. The sun is also going to be at all different points in the sky throughout the sessions, so a hat and sunglasses will help protect your eyes so that you don’t miss a second of on track action.
Refillable Water Bottle
Before packing a refillable water bottle, be sure to check the track information to see if (1) they are permitted and (2) whether the track provides water stations. For the latter, also look into how easily accessible these stations are relative to where you will be sitting. In Barcelona, there were several stations near the main grandstand area so a reusable bottle there was a no brained, but at COTA it is hard to come by the water stations in a lot of the general admissions areas.
Hand Sanitizer and/or Wipes
Like I said before, one commonality I have found at all the races I have gone to is that the cleanliness of the bathrooms barely survives the first day, even if you are sitting in the grandstands. For just this reason, hand sanitizer or sanitizing wipes are a must, but these can also be helpful to clean up a little before and after eating, or on the way home from the track after a long day.
Ear Plugs
We all know that race cars are loud, so obviously it is a given that you should bring some sort of ear protection to the track. But don’t feel like you need to go out of your way to buy fancy ear plugs or anything like that. I find that my noise cancelling earbuds are the most comfortable and effective for taming the noise.
Portable Phone Charger
Race days are long, and chances are you will be on your phone a lot taking pictures and videos of the race and all the other fun sites and activities around the track. While you may not end up needing it, it is always better to be safe than sorry and bring a portable phone charger with you. The last thing you want is to be stranded at the track or shuttle drop off unable to call an Uber because your phone is dead.
Now if you are going to be sitting in general admissions, I would also recommend bringing something to sit on since you will most likely be spending your weekend sitting on the ground. In the past I have just brought towels to mark my territory so to speak, but portable seat cushions or anything that would make the ground a little more comfortable would certainly be a plus! Just make sure to check the track rules to ensure everything you’re bringing in is permitted.
Just for Fun
While not essentially, there are certain things that make attending a grand prix much more enjoyable. Some of these are:
Friendship Bracelets
One of my favorite things about COTA last year was the friendship bracelets being exchanged around the track. I went to organized exchange in the fan zone, but also ended up trading bracelets with other girls while waiting in line for the shuttles and concessions throughout the weekend. So, channel your inner middle school self and get creative with it!
A Fun Outfit
Technically this isn’t something that you “bring” to a race, but a cute outfit for race day is an absolute must! Obviously be sure to check the weather and make sure whatever outfit you do choose is still comfortable because you will be walking and sitting a lot. And make sure to wear practical shoes—a white sneaker is always a safe bet since they will be supportive but still look good with anything.
Something for Autographs
You never know when you are going to run into a driver or stumble upon an autograph session, so make sure you are prepared with something to get signed. I learned this lesson the hard way last year at COTA. F1 Academy held an autograph session, but I only had the clothes on my back and the black Ferrari hat on my head…which is worthless since the drivers always have dark colored pens. Thankfully I was able to repossess my dad’s orange McLaren hat, but I now will make sure I am prepared with something light to get signed at all the races I go to this year.
Final Takeaways
Really, it is hard to go wrong when planning a F1 trip. Chances are if you are taking the time and spending the money on going to a race, you really just care about seeing cars on the track in-person, and that experience does not disappoint!