Formula 1 is often seen as the pinnacle of motorsport, so naturally, a Grand Prix weekend is a must-attend for every motorhead. It may actually be the ultimate aspirational vacation. But what does spending a few days at a world-famous track actually entail? Are different levels of experience available? And is it possible to do so on a budget?
Drawing on personal experience, we’re going to take a deep dive into an F1 race weekend and let you know what you can expect. We’ll also go through ways you can see a little more while spending a bit less, and even throw something in for any non-race fans you may drag along.
A lucky few will have some on-track experiences
Track tour in a semi-truck
If you have a Paddock Club ticket or certain other levels of access, then you may be entitled to a few extra on-track perks. Track tours involving semi-trucks with a bed packed with lucky participants often run daily. You simply pick a slot, get a wristband, then join the line when the tour is about to start. You’ll be directed to your particular semi and will get to enjoy expert commentary from former or current racing drivers (who are also on the truck with you) during the tour. While I can’t speak for every race, the trucks actually traveled at a fair pace when I got to experience this at COTA in 2024. So hold onto your hats, glasses, and anything else that may fly off.
Hot Laps
A select few will also get to experience the track a bit closer to race pace. Pirelli Hot Laps run before certain races, and if you can get on one, you’ll be in for an unforgettable experience. You’re assigned a time and a number, which corresponds to the spot you’ll have to line up at. Then, when your turn comes, you’ll be loaded into a vehicle with a professional racing driver at the wheel.
The vehicles and professionals do vary, but the likes of two-time F1 world champion Mika Häkkinen have been known to drive Hot Laps on occasion. The vehicle also varies and could be anything from a McLaren 750 to a Mustang Dark Horse. No matter who you get and what they’re driving, your Hot Lap will be an unforgettable experience if you’re fortunate enough to get one. Footage of the lap is also provided following the race weekend, so you can show your friends how brave you were when the pro driver was slinging you into corners at 110 mph.
There are more races than you may think
While the Grand Prix itself is undoubtedly the main event of every F1 weekend, it’s just one of many races you’ll have the opportunity to witness should your ticket cover more than one day. If you’re a Formula 1 diehard fan and want to see your favorite driver competing, then the F1 Sprint race is an obvious watch. Not every Grand Prix weekend has a Sprint race, but several are dotted throughout the 2025 calendar, and points are involved — which keeps the short-format competitive. Beyond that, it’s always worth keeping an eye on practice and qualifying if you want a sneak peek at how your favorite F1 star may perform over the weekend as a whole.
If nostalgia is your thing, keep an eye out for both “legends” and “classics” races. The formats usually see former F1 drivers, classic F1 cars, or both take to the track. F1 has obviously changed a lot in recent years, and it’s worth looking out for a classics race if only to experience how loud the vehicles used to be.
Then there are other competitive races that take place either on practice or qualifying days. The Porsche Carrera Cup is an example of this, and the results actually count toward that particular competition. While the speeds don’t match F1 cars in these races, the level of competitiveness can’t be overstated. That also leads to more action, namely risky overtakes, and ultimately, crashes, as the drivers try to one-up each other with less traction and, let’s be honest, less skill than their F1 contemporaries. The Carrera Cup provided some of the most entertaining racing I saw all weekend, and it shouldn’t be overlooked if you spot it on the calendar.
Plenty takes place off track
If you have a friend who may not be as big a racing fan as you, tickets to a concert or another related event may be enough to convince them to give F1 a try. Even if it does have a pretty high price tag, you never know; they may show up for something like the music and leave hooked on the sport after experiencing the excitement of a live race.
Concerts are a big part of it. Sting and Eminem performed at COTA for the 2024 US Grand Prix, with the former Police frontman playing a set on the Friday evening and the legendary rap artist headlining on Saturday. Good tickets for the concerts may be harder to get than race tickets in some cases, but it’s something to be aware of if you’re planning a trip to a race. There also tends to be an opening ceremony of some kind, so expect national anthems and a fighter jet flyby at some events.
With F1 being celebrity central, there’s always a chance you can bump into one of your heroes somewhere along the line. TV Chef Gordon Ramsay spent time greeting fans at COTA last year, and plenty of other famous faces tend to make their presence known at this kind of event. As you may expect, plenty of current and former racing drivers are also in town for the Grand Prix. So, if you book the right spot, you may find yourself sharing an elevator with the likes of former world champion Jenson Button.
There are affordable ways to experience an F1 weekend
Formula One is, and always has been, an extravagant sport. Teams spend tens of millions, champagne is flying everywhere, and you can watch cars cross the finish line from the deck of a yacht in places like Monaco. Still, the high-end experience isn’t the only option.
In the U.S., F1 has played on its prestige. As a result, Miami and Las Vegas are among the most expensive race weekends on the circuit. Expect to pay several thousand dollars for a less-than-desirable hotel, the most basic seats, and whatever food you can scramble. But you can still watch a race in the U.S. without breaking the bank.
The US Grand Prix at COTA in Texas is the most established current American race, and its pricing is equally traditional. A three-day “Grounds Pass,” which will get you in and give you the option of snagging a non-reserved seat or pitching up on the grass near a corner like turn 1, is around $300. You may have to get creative with accommodations, and getting to the track can be a pain, but you can still experience a full weekend for less than the price of a Grandstand ticket in Vegas if you plan things correctly.
Then, there are options outside the U.S. Most European F1 races are more affordable, so it might be cheaper to fly out to Silverstone or Spa and tack on a week in Britain or Belgium than it is to watch something like the Miami Grand Prix. Azerbaijan is traditionally the most affordable race, should you be tempted to see action on a street circuit.
The best experience is in the Paddock Club
If you are going all out, you’ll have a better time in the Paddock Club than anywhere else. Expect complimentary, high-quality food and drinks along with driver meet and greets and other exclusive experiences, including pit walks.
The experience is further elevated with suite access, though you may have to be friends with a sponsor, major business, or racing team to get that. In the suites, you’ll find a better drink selection and truly fine food. In fact, it may be difficult to tear yourself from a fourth plate of lobster, lamb, or filet mignon to go out and observe the race itself. Again, driver meet and greets happen, but they are in a smaller and more exclusive room. This is also where you tend to get access to things like Hot Laps.
It may be once in a lifetime, but once should be the minimum
Due to the expense and travel involved, a Grand Prix weekend may be a once-in-a-lifetime event for many people. But it is definitely something everyone should experience if it is at all possible. It’s a three-to-four day celebration of racing, the atmosphere is electric, there’s a ton to do, and you can even tie it in with a regular vacation.
So, if you want to go, plan, save, and get there at least once. However, there is a bit of a risk involved. Live racing tends to get in your blood, and you may have such a good time that you start planning a trip to a second race, or a third. Maybe even in the same season. Still, given the good times to be had, that potential outcome is 100% worth the risk.
