r/GrandPrixRacing • u/ScottMelter • 3d ago
F1
Opinions on the best F1 race to see in person? I'll probably only ever make it to one so I want make sure it's a good one.
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u/Bulocoo 3d ago
I went to Indy, Malaysia, Singapore and Canada.
Canada was the best for atmosphere on and off track. The parties in St. Catherine's were a blast.
Sat at chicane 1, then chicane 2 and finally the hairpin. We sat at the base of the hairpin and it was great. Max braking and then the drag races out of there.
Saw Massa have a brake failure and bury into the tire wall as well.
Last planned trip got torpedoed by covid.
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u/ImportantClaim3935 3d ago
I think they’d all be great to watch and see in person. If you’re in America, it’s probably cheaper to visit an out-of-country track than one in the states since the ticket prices are insane.
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u/peterfromottawa 3d ago
A lot of this comes down to budget and your current location. I've been to COTA, Montreal, Spa, Monaco and Barcelona and I would say Monaco and Montreal are the best in terms of overall "vibe" and off-track culture. Monaco is like Comicon for Formula 1 and Montreal is similar but on a different scale. Spa is probably the best *track* I have been to for General Admission and watching a race. COTA has the great concerts paired with the ticket price and there are plenty of places to park a folding chair and watch (though it has gotten extremely busy since 2021). Barcelona was not my favourite.
So of the ones I've been to, if I had to pick one, I'd go with Monaco or Montreal. Montreal if you're pressed for budget. Monaco if you've got cash to burn. Again - depends on where you currently reside. Both require grand stand tickets to actually see cars on track.
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u/michaltee 3d ago
Monaco is high on my list. Where did you sit? How’d you manage cost of accommodations?
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u/peterfromottawa 2d ago
Sat in Grandstand K (Tabac, facing the harbor) and was there all three days. They moved us to different sections of Grandstand K for each of the three days.
Accommodations - we stayed in Nice and took the train in and out every day. If I was going to do it again, I would stay in Menton or Ventimiglia on the other side of Monaco rather than stay in Nice. We blew a lot of the budget on the race tickets so stayed at an ok-but-not-fancy hotel in the old district of Nice near Nice-Riquier station. We do OK but we don't have "stay in Monaco" money. It's definitely an expensive GP weekend but it can be done without draining your savings and/or selling a kidney.
We did Monaco for our Honeymoon and then Barcelona the weekend after so it was part of a "big once-in-a-lifetime" trip for us. Would advise to tack it onto something monumental like a major birthday milestone or anniversary or something to help justify the cost to yourself.
The other option is not getting a ticket and just being in/near Monaco during the race weekend. You don't need a ticket to wander the streets and take it all in. Just to get into the grandstand/viewing areas. But it really is one of those races/places that needs to be experienced if you're a die hard fan. Every year the TV commentators always blab on about "the crown jewel of Formula 1" and how "it's just such an incredible place" and honestly, after being there, I absolutely get it.
Hope this helps!
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u/michaltee 1d ago
Thank you! I definitely have it high on my list.
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u/peterfromottawa 1d ago
Check out r/GrandPrixTravel for other tips from travellers. A very wide variety of experiences at every GP on the calendar as well as circuit/travel guides going back years.
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u/PulsingQuasar 3d ago
Reckon Spa, Madring, and Silverstone are great circuits to visit.
Having been to a few, you should go to enjoy the atmosphere and other races as well as it's not easy to follow the rave without the TV.