So I thought I'd start a topic for anyone like myself who has never been to an F1 Race/Test event and who is thinking of doing so in 2012. I'm in my early twenties and already I've missed out on those fantastic V12s and even the V10s, so I'm not about to miss out on the V8s while they're still around.

Is anyone in the same boat as me? i.e. relatively poor, from Western Europe and looking to do things on a budget? Can you seasoned racegoers offer any advice to us?

Straight off the bat after very little research I'm thinking Monza looks a good bet. Should be cheap to fly to Milan, it's usually a great race, plenty of tickets that aren't completely ludicrously priced (in comparison with other events). Thoughts?

Don't think I'll be visiting F1 for my first time this year anymore as something else came up, but my shortlist is either Barcelona or Hungaroring. Two rubbish circuits in terms of racing, but the first is in a great city and should be cheap to fly to, while Hungaroring has really cheap ticket prices and is known for having view points where you can see most of the circuit - rare in other venues.

But people who have gone to various races usually recommend Spa and Monza for the cheer buzz around the events. Or Montreal if you were in North America.

http://forums.autosport.com/index.php?act=SF&s=&f=5 << You should find loads of advice in there from years gone by.

German GP, If you are fast enough, there are special offers with cheaper tickests, early in the year, but I've heared they are nearly sold out now

Monza : 75 € for standing room tickets on Sunday
if you are early enough there on sunday you get really good places, standing room includes place like this:
http://img266.imageshack.us/img266/6282/olympus796.jpg

go see the lms/ or equivilent.
couple of years ago got me and my dad weekend tickets, with open grandstand for 28quid. for both of us

I have been to Monza twice. While GA is good at Monza you always have to get there early to get the best spots. I would go just a little up in price and get a stand. No need to rush and be there 3 hours early then. The 21 stands before the Parabolica are good. But try to get a seat as high up in the stands as possible if you can. I shot this video from my place last year: http://youtu.be/xOrk-VEOD0E

Hi handel, then we have many things in common (early twenties, western europe, not too much money to spend (also still a student? )). I originally planned to visit the Belgian GP this year, but I just checked the prices at Monza - much cheaper. For 30 euro more than the price of a weekend GA at Spa you get a 3 day spot at the Parabolica (as Desdirodeabike said), for 320 you can be at the main straight near the pits (495 at Spa) - these are seats right? And travelling to Monza is certainly cheaper than to Francorchamps..

That looks like a pretty shitty low viewing point, sure it's close to the chicane and close to the cars, but I can imagine being stuck a whole race there would get boring quickly.

Thats the entrance of the pits, so not close to the chicane. Sure it's not a grandstand, but if you have a big screen in front that won't be a bad place actually, especially as you see the cars entering the pits and are very close to the podium for the ceremony after the race.

Geez Louise gang..
For the price of a 3 day Grandstand seat at a €uro race you could come join us on our tourbus for a weekend at the USGP in Austin.
(Atmosphere included )
Mind you, this would be like sleeping with Ana Barros for your first time then having to go back to Derdrie from Blackpool for the rest of your life.

Jp

Yeah Europe sometimes really feels like Derdrie

Off topic, but its got to be said

Off throttle blown diffusers sound TOTAL RUBBISH, Newey should be strung up by his man bits

I'm so glad those things are banned

Not as off topic as the rubbish I constantly spout..

Oh and Jovanotti, you've got Cindy Alleman
Cheer up

Jp

Cheap bastard random F1 tips:

Don't buy the $5 earplugs from the programme girls, go to a medical station and complain about your ears and you'll get a much better quality pair for free.

Many stalls give their spare merchandise away for free as they pack up late Sunday night (not team branded gear).

Combine a pair of earbuds and any FM tuner to get the local audio coverage then find a spot in range of a big screen.

- check Your bank account
- choose the city You want to visit (not the track)
- buy the flights at the right time
- book the hotel at the right time
- buy the tickets (the cheaper ones may offer more)
- google the restaurants in "the city"
- google any possible attractions in "the city" You want to see
- study the metro & train in "the city"
- go there
- don`t stress with the timetables, the rush will always be there
- eat well in the chosen restaurants
- check out the attractions
- party as an animal
- do NOT worry about money (if You do - stick with TV)

Due to the amount of people that attend F1 races in Europe, once you are in at stupid o'clock in the morning and have fought for a bit of turf, you dont move until the the race has finished i'm afraid.

Friday is the day to go walkies and find the best vistas etc.

Where abouts in western europe are you? If you are in Britain, one of the most cost-effective races to attend is Spa! (drive down and camp etc)

I disagree. They sound pretty cool to me.

On topic: General admission is pretty good at Monza as I said. I stood at the spot where the picture Bonaventura posted is taken during qualifying and the GP 2 race. Its not bad and we got to see the Maldonado crash and another crash during the GP2 race.
And depending on where you are and how much fascism there is left in the particular Italian that is guarding the numbered stands you can sneak/charm your way into a stand once the F1 parts are over on Friday and Saturday. Most officials dont care too much then. A pretty girl in your entourage always helps as well. Got to see the support races from some nice places.

But I will still take a numbered stand anyday. Hungary GA is insanely crowded on raceday for instance due to the Mickey Mouse nature of the track. Charms do not work on the Hungarian gatekeepers however.

One more vote for Monza - low price of GA, great setting and atmosphere, and a nice walk on the track right after the last car is parked in the pit.
Try to catch a place near the chicanes or corners, to get a better view of the cars (otherwise you will be seeing just blurry lines )

As Desdirodeabike, I would reccomend numbered sears, there are some cheaper stands - I was positioned on the enterance to Parabolica, and you have a nice view on the straight before the curve. If you decide for the stands, you can even try to send an email to the ticket staff asking to position you near the top of the stand, to get a better overview.

I wrote about my experience of Monza in 2011 earlier. Hope this helps in deciding where to go...

http://forums.autosport.com/index.php?showtopic=154113

Hungaroring is certainly the best value for money you'll get anywhere. GA views are just awesome, but to pick one of those better spots you gotta be at the gates before 07:00 AM and as soon they are open, run like hell to your chosen spots. Last year, we decide on Friday evening that we are going to the race. We spent about 130 € for fuel (Zagreb - Budapest) and about 30€ for various tolls. As soon as we park our car in one of the parking lots around the track, there was this guy selling the tickets and we bought 3 from him for 50€ each (face value was 100€!). We bring the food and beers from home, but that lasted only till 05:00 PM Saturday. Beers around the track were from 2.5 to 4 €, so we choose to sit in the car and went to the nearest village, where we found the beers for 1€ and bought the couple of packs. Additional food as well. Parking was free, but it is usually closed during the night. With old-fashioned bribery (2 beers), the guard let us in and we slept in the car just beside expensive camping spots...

Hello Guys/Gals, I'm going to my first Grand Prix this year and it'll be the Monza GP in September!

Being British, I really should have had the Silverstone experience by now - but I've never committed to it each year despite swearing "I must attend a GP this time...". No more excuses this time, flights to Milan and Grandstand tickets booked - so no turning back

We've got tickets for the top of Grandstand 8 which is on the outside of the track at the Prima Variante (first chicane).

I'm really looking forward to it, September can't come soon enough. I'm a bit of a McLaren fanboy, more specifically a Lewis fanboy but I won't try to hide it - My McLaren team T-Shirt and Lewis cap arrived today which can go away in storage till' the Grand Prix. Hopefully the Tifosi won't give me too much of a hard time!

Any tips/tricks for an extra awesome weekend at Monza?

After the Race-run to the podium!

I know, but that just didn't look like a particularly good spot to me.

Shoudn't this be in the travel forum?