Since we managed to survive the Dutch Grand Prix, we’ve picked up tips and tricks to help you survive your Grand Prix of choice too. Naturally, the first two bits of advice are pretty obvious: Dress for the weather and wear the most comfortable pair of shoes you own. There’s going to be more walking than you think, I can promise you that. Of course, if you feel it’s necessary, you can of course bring ear protection because those F1 cars are loud but that is more of a personal preference. If you search the Fan Zone, you’ll find race programmes that contain the complete schedule for the weekend and headsets that allow you to listen to live commentary as well. These are entirely your choice to pick up but you can, of course, use the F1 app for a live timing screen, the Sky Go app on your phone (like Niamh did) to find out what’s going on or just enjoy the sight of 20 of the world’s best drivers racing around in funky circles for what it is.
Get your team wear on, we’re going to the Grand Prix with some of our best tips and, before you know it, you’ll be a GP Veteran.
Tip 1: Travel early and stay long – Now when I say this I don’t mean the day of the race. I mean travel to the location of the Grand Prix a few days in advance and stay a few days after the race is over. A lot of people decide to travel within a few days, arriving on Thursday and leaving on Monday and that causes havoc in the airports because of the sudden surge of people arriving and departing. Travelling, for example, on the Wednesday before the race and the Tuesday after the race allows you a few days of sightseeing at your chosen destination and may save you a few Euros in the process too.
Tip 2: Book everything early! – Hotels, flights, transport – everything gets more expensive the closer you get to major events, so booking early will be a great help and allow you to relax once you’ve found the best accommodation for you. It also gives you time to find great deals, packages and offers that would be unavailable closer to the event.
Tip 3: Keep your eyes on the prize – Tickets for multiple Grand Prixes go on sale at the same time and the date of sale may vary depending on when in the calendar the race is on. Quite a few do go on sale in December though but it never hurts to check the official F1 site and see what Grand Prix tickets are on sale at any given time.
Tip 4: Be aware what tickets you are buying – Tickets for Grand Prixes go fast and there is always a rush to secure them but be aware that not every Grand Prix weekend ticket includes Friday admittance. Not only that but buy your tickets from a reliable source. Be aware that, as with every event, people will try to con you into buying fake tickets. Buy from official websites to ensure your entry.
Tip 5: On your first day at the track, find your seat and figure out how long it takes to get to your seat from important places like the main entrance and the Fan Zone. Find food stalls and bathrooms that are near your seat and make sure you get the most out of the Fan Zone as well; there’s always plenty to see and do there. If you’re travelling with friends or family, organise a meeting point that is easily found because race day is by far the most hectic day of the weekend and it is easy to get separated.
Tip 6: Arrive early early – When it comes to the race weekend, don’t miss out on seeing F2 and F3 events if they are there but also arriving early means you may have an opportunity to see team members and principals arriving. At the Dutch GP, Niamh and I saw Adrian Newey, Christian Horner, Andreas Seidl, Mattia Binotto and Michael Italiano all arriving on the morning that we arrived at the track very early (and Niamh was interviewed for and was on German TV XD)
Tip 7: On the days that you travel to the track, use public transport where possible, check in advance on how to make your way to and from the track and pre-book tickets. That way you don’t have to worry about traffic, missing your stop(s) or missing trains or buses while buying tickets. Most places will increase public transport in order to accommodate the large crowds expected and may, in some cases, have special public transport options specifically for the race. Be aware as well that travelling earlier than usual on Sundays is best because the attendance numbers are at their highest.
Tip 8: Bring a backpack – Bring a bag to carry snacks, bottled water or drinks of your choice, a battery pack and charging cable for your phone with sunglasses, sunblock and caps for warm weather or ponchos and rain gear for wet weather. No umbrellas allowed I’m afraid. Always bring more than you think you’ll need. It may not all be eaten or drank or even used but it’s better to have too much than not enough.
Tip 9: Be polite – Naturally going to races means you meet a huge variety of people who may or may not support the same teams and drivers as you. Just because people have differing opinions to your own does not mean that these people aren’t at the race for the exact same reason as you. Everyone who attends a Grand Prix is there to support their favourites so be kind. Also be aware that there should be emergency contact numbers should you feel less than safe in a situation. F1 is for everyone so let’s make it safe for everyone. P.S. Booing any driver is not necessary or wanted at any Grand Prix.
Tip 10: Carry a permanent marker everywhere – Who knows who you might meet or where you might meet them 😉
Special Dutch GP Tip 1 – *Tip to Join the Oranje Army* The more you look like a member of Red Bull the more you’ll blend in. All else fails, wear orange or the capes handed out by Jumbo employees (they’re free) and you’ll fit right in as well. On race day, some members of company teams will offer to paint the Dutch flag on your face, even if you aren’t a Max Verstappen fan, join in the fun and enjoy the madness.
Special Dutch GP Tip 2 – Learn the words to Super Max in Dutch and be prepared to sing along to 33 Max Verstappen by Carte Blanche and Maxx Power. Having both songs in your repertoire will mean you can join in the sing-alongs and feel at one with the Oranje-ness that will inevitably be present at the Dutch GP.
Lastly, our final and MOST IMPORTANT tip: Have fun. As Daniel Ricciardo said: “Enjoy the butterflies… Enjoy the nerves.” Being at a Grand Prix is so different to watching at home and, though it may not be a once in a lifetime experience for some people any more, it definitely is special. So enjoy it while you can and make the most of it because who knows when or if you’ll get to do it again.
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