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Formula 1 cars are a marvel of engineering and innovation, all in pursuit of creating the ultimate speed machine. And over 70 years of motorsport has etched legendary cars from racing legends into the minds of racing fanatics.
The chance to get up close and personal with any of these iconic machines, past or present, is doubtlessly high up the bucket list of any fanatic fan of the sport.
So how can you get up close to your favourite cars, grab a photo with them, and study their intricacies up close?
We’ve put together a list of ways you can see F1 cars in all their glory, and the best places to snap a photograph of your favourite machinery.
How to see Formula 1 cars up close
General admission tickets
General admission tickets, which are available for most Formula 1 races, are most than just a cost-effective way to see the race. They give you access to multiple areas around the track, and usually allow fans to get right up close to the perimeter fencing.
This means fans can scope out the best places to see the most action, and change up their view for the race weekend. During qualifying, you might want to catch the cars at their fastest point during a qualifying lap. But come Sunday, you might prefer to position yourself by a slower turn where overtaking is more likely.
Budding photographers might also be able to change up their show with more freedom of movement, without the restrictions of their reserved grandstand seat.
General admission areas are usually open to grandstand ticket holders too, giving them the best of both worlds.
Formula 1 Fan Zones at circuits
Fan zones are a central aspect of the Grand Prix weekend experience. With live stage appearances from drivers and interactive activations such as the Pit Stop or eSports challenges, there’s more on offer than just on-track action.
This often includes cars on display. Major sponsors of Formula 1 teams often pop-up sponsorship trucks, and feature F1 cars from the past as their centrepiece. For example, Petronas has been known to display Mercedes F1 cars, and the World Championship trophies in recent years.
Every race is different, and a car display isn’t always guaranteed. But it is likely you’ll be able to get up close to at least some parts of an F1 car, such as a steering wheel display or a Pirelli tyre at the Pit Stop Challenge.
Three-day tickets and pit-lane walks
If you purchase a three-day weekend ticket to a Formula 1 event, many circuits will also admit fans on Thursday prior. This is when the teams will arrive and begin setting up their garages and putting the cars together.
Fans with three-day tickets can arrive at the track at a specified time, and be admitted to the pit lane where they can see the preparations for themselves. The teams’ garages will be open as they build the cars, ensure the garages are fully functional, and will begin pit stop practices.
This is one of the only ways you’ll likely be able to take a photo with a Formula 1 car from the current grid, and a bucket list item for many fans.
COVID stopped pit lane walks in 2020, but they should be set to return to races from 2022. However, this is likely to vary from race to race.
Hospitality ticket options
The Thursday pit walk is open to anyone with a weekend ticket, however, it isn’t the only occasion this area is open to the public.
Fans with F1 Paddock Club tickets can get closer to the action on a race weekend than anyone else. Pit walks take place every day of the weekend, allowing more flexibility to your weekend plans without sacrificing this unique opportunity.
Paddock Club is also usually located above the pit building, so you will be as close as possible to the pit lane action during the race itself. With a decent camera phone, you’ll be able to grab a priceless selfie or slo-mo video of a super-fast pit stop.
Explore the local area
When Formula 1 comes to town, there are usually activations all around the local area. Whether it’s a pop-up stall at a local train station, or a special exhibition of cars during race week.
It will really vary from venue to venue, and year to year, but it’s a good reason to get out and explore the local area prior to race day.
Also, be sure to check in with motorsport museums – like the Silverstone Experience – or local shops like the Ferrari store in Milan during the Italian Grand Prix.
Vintage Formula 1 demonstration laps
For nostalgic racing fans, be sure to check the full race timetable before you head to the race. Celebrations of machines from the past often take place between race sessions, giving you a rare chance to witness incredible feats of engineering back in action.
And between these demonstrations, it’s common for the cars to be displayed in fan zones or in the paddock, allowing fans to snap a blast from the past up close.