We have two avid car fans in the house and have been to Monaco but I didn’t have any idea what to expect when attending a Formula 1 race. After watching the Drive to Survive series, I have been converted to a Formula 1 Fan and when Mr. Suburbia wanted to attend the F1 race, the pinnacle of motorsport at Austin, I enthusiastically joined in on the fun!
Hamilton holds the record for the most wins ever in F1 and is the star of the races. Hamilton along with the Finn Valtteri Bottas (who we saw at our hotel) are the drivers for Mercedes. The race is so close this year between Verstappen and Hamilton as they vie to grab trophy and podium glory.
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Formula One Fever & Drive to Survive
Once accessible only to the rich and really famous, the Formula 1 sport was perceived to be somewhat of an exclusive event. That seems to be slowly changing. Mostly thanks to the documentary, Formula 1: Drive to Survive.
The show has been a huge part of why F1 is gaining many new fans of the sport as it dissects the challenges, gossip, camaraderie, and competition among F1 drivers like fan favorite, Australia’s Daniel Ricciardo, Belgian-Dutch driver Max Verstappen and Monaco’s Charles Leclerc.
While we have been to Monaco, catching the F1 race there is a long-time dream of Mr. Suburbia, our inhouse F1 fanatic. Luckily Austin’s COTA is a short drive from Dallas for us. Set on 1,500 acres in the rolling hills just outside downtown Austin, Circuit of The Americas hosts some of the biggest names in racing including the Formula 1 race. Miami is a new addition for 2022.
The Miami F1 race will be run on an exciting new layout (named Miami International Autodrome) at the Hard Rock Stadium complex in Miami which is home to the NFL’s Miami Dolphins franchise. Both Austin and Miami are the best F1 races to attend for US-based fans. The next Formula 1 race after Austin is, Mexico City, another fun one!
The F1 racing season runs from March to December, with the most historic races held at Monaco, and Monza in Italy. Yas Island in Abu Dhabi is another great venue where you can experience F1. It is one of the most expensive Formula One circuits. Here is the destination and the schedule for the 2022 races.
More Photos from the Austin F1 Race
Formula One racing Destinations & F1 2024 Race Schedule
Feb 29 – Mar 2: 2024 Bahrain Grand Prix
Mar 7-9: 2024 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix
Mar 22-24: 2024 Australian Grand Prix
Apr 5-7: 2024 Japanese Grand Prix
Apr 19-21 2024 Chinese Grand Prix
May 3-5: 2024 Miami Grand Prix
May 17-19: 2024 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix
May 24-26: 2024 Monaco Grand Prix
Jun 7-9: 2024 Canadian Grand Prix
Jun 21-23 2024 Spanish Grand Prix
Jun 28-30: 2024 Austrian Grand Prix
Jul 5-7: 2024 British Grand Prix
Jul 19-21: 2024 Hungarian Grand Prix
Jul 26-28: 2024 Belgian Grand Prix
Aug 23-25: 2024 Dutch Grand Prix
Aug 30-Sep 1: 2024 Italian Grand Prix
Sep 13-15: 2024 Azerbaijan Grand Prix
Sep 20-22: 2024 Singapore Grand Prix
Oct 18-20: 2024 United States (Austin) Grand Prix
Oct 25-27: 2024 Mexico City Grand Prix
Nov 1-3: 2024 Sao Paulo Grand Prix
Nov 21-23: 2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix
Nov 29-Dec1: 2024 Qatar Grand Prix
Dec 6-8: 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
Photos from CoTA F1 Race in Austin
We could hear the roar of the engines as we entered the Circuit of The Americas. The F2 race was already in progress. As we walked towards the Grandstand, I could see the feverish excitement building up for the final races. The 3 day event had seen record participation this year— 450000 people had attended the race. US fanbase for Formula One is on the rise!
There were turkey legs, pineapple drinks, Amy’s Ice Creams, Austin’s favorite ice cream chain, Shawarma Point, Little Ola, sister establishment of Olamaie (the fried chicken biscuit sandwiches with salted honey butter is phenomenal), had stalls at the race track.
D made a quick stop to check out the University of Austin’s own race car and say hello to the club members.
Tips for attending the F1 Races
Wear comfortable shoes. Racetracks span hundreds of acres of land and you will be walking regardless of where you park or get dropped off.
Familiarize yourself with the track and bring along a small foldable map of the area around the racetrack.
F1 races last from 90 minutes to two hours, often during the most intense sun of the day. Especially in Texas. Drink lots of water. Staying hydrated is key. You can bring plastic bottles, glass is not permitted. Small tote and light backpacks were also allowed.
Bring or buy protection for your ears. Especially if you are sensitive to sound. F1 races typically reach high decibels, right below the level that causes permanent hearing loss.
Wear something comfortable. You can buy F1 merchandise inside but anticipate long lines. We bought the tees that D and Mr. Suburbia are wearing at our hotel where they had licensed F1 merchants.
Bring an extra mobile phone charger and or batteries for the camera, it is usually a long day.
Don’t skim on sun protection. You will need a high SPF sunscreen. Also don’t forget sunglasses, a hat, and a small towel. I even saw people with small umbrellas for sun protection. Smart idea!
Where to buy F1 tickets & other ticket advice
Getting tickets for the F1 races is easy online. If you plan far enough in advance, you can buy them directly from Formula 1 website. Or if they are sold out you can still find plenty of tickets from vendors such as SeatGeek, Stubhub, and Ticketsmarter.
Attending Formula 1 Race and wondering if they are affordable? You will be surprised that the F1 ticket prices generally range from $100 to $1000 and parking passes are extra.
Some of the higher-priced F1 experience packages give you more access to drivers, pit crews, suites, and vantage points during race weekend. They make the Formula 1 experience feel exclusive and glamorous. They also can include passes to the closest parking lots to access your seats. If you can afford it, they are worth it!
The Paddock Club is a top-tier experience. The pass comes with a lot of bells and whistles and is generally worth the expense. (This year, they had to cancel some of the events due to Covid). You get paddock tours, see drivers, and even meet the F1 drivers at autograph sessions. Races and the courses are different at each destination but the Paddock Club is a standard.
I saw this tip about the Monaco Grand Prix viewing (one of the best F1 race to attend) “The best location is Casino Square, you can book a room at the Hotel de Paris and get access to watch it from the Hotel de Paris, which is complimentary with the room. Which means you have your own Paddock Club with a better view!” Guess that is where we will be if we make it to attending the Formula 1 Race in Monaco next year 🙂
You might also like:
More Monaco F1 photos by Dharin Chandran
F1 Race Schedule updated for 2024
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