The Paddock Membership is a premium VIP expertise accessible in any respect Formulation 1 races. After experiencing the Paddock Membership for myself on the US Grand Prix in Austin, I will provide the low down on this submit on what the Paddock Membership contains and whether or not or not I feel it is value it!
In our post-vaccine euphoria in 2021, my husband Elliot and I made a decision we have been going to plan some bucket listing journeys; journeys that we had been pushing aside, or that we had deemed too expensive prior to now that we now needed to verify to expertise earlier than the subsequent worldwide disaster hit. Life is brief, and you’ll all the time earn more money.
A type of bucket listing journeys was going to a Formulation 1 race in individual. Elliot has been an F1 fan since he was a toddler (due to his British dad), and is a veritable encyclopedia of Formulation 1 trivia and information. However he’d by no means been to an F1 race.
He determined he needed to attempt to go to america Grand Prix in Austin, Texas, each as a result of he likes the Circuit of the Americas monitor, and since, logistics-wise, we felt like it could be the simplest race for us to get to in 2021 when there have been nonetheless a lot of journey restrictions overseas.
I then made the suggestion that if we have been going to go to an F1 race, we might as nicely really splurge and buy Paddock Membership tickets.
What’s the Paddock Membership?
The Formulation 1 Paddock Membership is the overarching time period to explain a few of the fanciest hospitality suites accessible to most people at an F1 race. The Paddock Membership clearly modifications barely from race to race based mostly on the monitor, however the usual trappings are indoor suites with outside seating straight above the pit lane, and top-notch meals and beverage service.
The Paddock Membership provides up a few of the perfect viewing alternatives throughout an F1 race, and ticket packages at this stage normally embody extras on the monitor, too.
Despite the fact that Paddock Membership might be very expensive, we determined to purchase 2-day Paddock Membership tickets for the USGP in 2021. (We then ended up not moving into 2021 due to COVID restrictions, however have been in a position to defer our tickets to the 2022 race!)
Primarily based on the analysis I attempted to do earlier than our F1 Paddock Membership expertise and the ensuing lack of non-salesy data I might discover past discussion board postings, I made a decision to share our Paddock Membership expertise with you in case you are questioning if these expensive tickets are actually value it.
Let’s discuss Paddock Membership at a Formulation One race!
Word: We booked common, non-team-branded Paddock Membership tickets for the US Grand Prix in Austin via F1 Experiences. Our gross sales rep was Tyler, and he’s superior.
Every part you need to find out about F1 Paddock Membership
What’s the F1 “paddock”?
Similar to in horse racing the place the paddock is the world of a racetrack the place horses are prepped earlier than a race, the Formulation 1 Paddock is the “backstage” space on the monitor the place the groups arrange their cell operation facilities. These glorified tents are the place the groups chill out, eat, and prep for every race.
The Paddock Membership, then, is as shut as you will get to this backstage motion with out truly figuring out somebody with an “in” at an F1 crew.
What do F1 Paddock Membership tickets get you?
As I discussed above, the Paddock Membership varies barely from race to race just because every monitor is completely different. However the Paddock Membership is a Formulation 1 branded product, and subsequently the fundamentals are constant throughout all races in a season.
With Paddock Membership tickets, you’ll be able to anticipate the next to be included:
- Entry to a premium hospitality suite above the pit lane with indoor seating, meals, a bar, and TVs that present the race motion
- Catered meals (normally a buffet) and an open bar (although at our race, solely beer, wine, and one or two specialty combined drinks have been accessible)
- Outside seating above the pit lane/crew garages the place you’ll be able to watch the motion up-close, normally linked to your hospitality suite
- Entry to a common Paddock Membership space the place there are issues like racing simulators you’ll be able to attempt without spending a dime, and extra meals/bar choices
- Pit lane walks (we had the prospect to 1-2 per day)
- Guided monitor excursions (you normally have to enroll in these individually, and availability just isn’t assured)
- Potential visits/Q&As/meet and greets with drivers, crew bosses, or different F1 personalities, although these will differ relying on which hospitality suite you are in
- That intangible feeling that you simply’re proper “in” the motion
Group-branded Paddock Membership packages typically embody unique crew storage or paddock excursions.
And in 2022, Paddock Membership tickets additionally included one guided paddock tour per weekend, the place you had the prospect to enter the paddock space for a short while with a information. That is typically one of the simplest ways to get near drivers on the monitor throughout race weekend, however I am unsure paddock entry is being included with all Paddock Membership tickets for the 2023 season.
If you are going to buy Paddock Membership tickets via F1 Experiences, your ticket bundle can even embody issues like lodging and transport to the monitor if you wish to add that on (in some instances, it is value it!).
What are the Paddock Membership hospitality suites like?
The Paddock Membership hospitality suites differ from monitor to trace, however I will guess they’re principally much like what we skilled in Austin on the Circuit of the Americas.
Suites have tables (and we had an assigned desk to sit down at), a buffet laid out for meals (the place a chef serves you), a small walk-up bar, and plenty of servers who come round to supply water, specialty drinks, desserts, and many others. and hold the tables cleared and tidy. The employees inside our hospitality suite was wonderful!
Every suite additionally has a handful of TVs exhibiting a broadcast of the race or race day actions, which is useful as a result of then you’ll be able to nonetheless keep watch over issues even if you’re inside grabbing meals or a drink. (And a few individuals will sit inside nearly the whole time.)
In Texas, it was additionally good to know that the hospitality suites have been all very cool and air conditioned!
What’s the Paddock Membership view like?
The hospitality suites lead out to seating above the pit straight, which is arguably the perfect view you will get at an F1 race! (And that is true of each race venue; the Paddock Membership all the time has a primary view of the pit lane.)
Precisely which garages you are over varies from race to race, and is dependent upon which suite you find yourself assigned to. In Austin, we have been above the Alpine, Mclaren, and Ferrari garages, and had an unimaginable view of pit stops.
It was additionally enjoyable to identify drivers, crew bosses, and different F1 personalities from this vantage level above to pit lane.
How is the meals in F1 Paddock Membership?
The meals in our hospitality suite was superb for buffet meals. There was all the time a big selection of meals every day, and so they switched it out for each meal (as a result of sure, it is seemingly you will be on the monitor for multiple meal!).
There was a menu laid out on the tables earlier than every meal, however you needed to go as much as the buffet to be served. I had all the things from shrimp to steak, plus some good desserts.
However I will admit that Elliot and I have been too excited to see the motion on the race monitor, and did not spend sufficient time indoors to actually respect all of the meals choices.
Does the Paddock Membership have a gown code?
Should you ask the query of what to put on within the Paddock Membership on-line, you will learn that the Paddock Membership gown code is “smart-casual.” Assume darkish denims/gown slacks and a polo shirt for males, and possibly a cute gown for girls. Some individuals gown up extra, and a few individuals gown up much less – I did not actually discover anybody policing outfits.
I might say I noticed most ladies within the Paddock Membership carrying clothes or gown pants, and males carrying all the things from summery fits to shorts with polo shirts.
My tip on your Paddock Membership outfit is simply to verify it is comfy! You normally have numerous strolling to do at a monitor even earlier than you get to the Paddock Membership, so it doesn’t matter what you put on, make certain your footwear are comfy!
Every part on-line suggests that you simply should not put on crew gear within the Paddock Membership – however actually we noticed all method of team-branded shirts, jackets, and hats in our suite. Should you’re in a selected crew’s suite, nevertheless, then it undoubtedly wouldn’t be applicable to put on one other crew’s equipment.
How do you get Paddock Membership tickets?
Paddock Membership tickets are bought individually from common Formulation 1 grand prix tickets. They’re bought as a hospitality bundle, most frequently via a web site like F1 Experiences. (Although there are different websites on the market that promote them, too!)
Since Paddock Membership tickets are fairly unique (and in addition in excessive demand after the latest surge in F1’s recognition), you will not normally discover these listed on the market alongside different ticket packages. As an alternative, one of the simplest ways to seek out out when Paddock Membership tickets go on sale is to enroll in data from a web site like F1 Experiences, Grand Prix Events, or Edge Global Events. (I can personally advocate F1 Experiences!)
When you categorical your curiosity in Paddock Membership, it is seemingly {that a} gross sales rep will attain out to you with data in regards to the races you are considering. The Paddock Membership goes on sale typically as much as a 12 months earlier than a race, and these tickets nearly all the time promote out – so be ready to plan forward and purchase early. (We booked our Austin tickets in December 2021 for the October 2022 race.)
Websites like F1 Experiences additionally promote team-branded Paddock Membership tickets for groups like Crimson Bull, McLaren, Alpine, Alfa Romeo, and Haas.
What are F1 Paddock Membership costs like?
After we purchased our unique Paddock Membership tickets in 2021, F1 provided 1-day, 2-day, and 3-day Paddock Membership expertise packages. We went with the 2-day tickets, having Paddock Membership entry on Saturday and Sunday of race weekend.
In 2023, nevertheless, Paddock Membership is barely being bought as a full 3-day ticket bundle at most races, so meaning costs are much more costly.
For a 3-day ticket bundle, you’ll be able to anticipate to pay at minimal $5000 per individual – however most races are dearer, and Paddock Membership for the most well-liked/well-known races on the calendar can simply be 2 or 3 occasions that quantity.
Should you add on a lodge and transport to/from the monitor, the value clearly goes up much more. (However in my expertise, F1 Experiences didn’t inflate the lodging worth a lot, and it was SO handy to have bus transport to and from the monitor!)
Is the F1 Paddock Membership value it?
Look, the Paddock Membership is not for everyone. The truth is, Formulation 1 tickets usually aren’t monetarily accessible for all followers, which sucks.
BUT, if the Paddock Membership is inside your funds, I feel it can be value it.
And the explanations it is value it aren’t essentially the meals or free-flowing champagne, and even the hospitality suite itself. The explanations it is value it are the intangible issues like feeling such as you’re “in” the motion of the race, and the joy of probably attending to see your favourite driver(s) up shut.
Throughout our Paddock Membership expertise, we bought to sit down above the Ferrari storage on Saturday whereas they practiced pit stops, brushed proper previous Max Verstappen throughout our guided paddock tour, noticed a lot of drivers milling about within the crew garages throughout pit lane walks, and even bought to satisfy Sir Jackie Stewart on the monitor!
It was a really memorable weekend, and undoubtedly a once-in-a-lifetime kind expertise. (As a result of, although we beloved it, I am unsure we’ll be shelling out that a lot cash for F1 race tickets once more!)
RELATED: 17 Things to Know About Traveling to the USGP Formula 1 Race in Austin
Essential Paddock Membership suggestions
Should you’re interested by shopping for (or possibly have already bought) Paddock Membership tickets for a Formulation 1 race, listed below are my prime suggestions for taking advantage of your weekend!
1. Be ready for a crowd
A whole lot of 1000’s of individuals attend F1 race weekends world wide, and the Paddock Membership is the most well-liked premium ticket cash should purchase. Which means that it may not find yourself feeling as “unique” as you would possibly anticipate.
Similar to the remainder of the COTA circuit, the Paddock Membership in Austin was packed full with F1 followers. And whereas everybody was dispersed into completely different hospitality suites so there weren’t traces for issues like meals or loos, it definitely felt crowded when it was time to do pit lane walks or discover a seat to observe the race from.
Whilst you’ll be away from the final crowds across the monitor, you’ll be able to nonetheless anticipate to share the Paddock Membership expertise with loads of different individuals.
2. Do not simply go on Sunday
Whereas all Formulation 1 races happen on Sundays, Paddock Membership tickets normally embody a number of days on the monitor on race weekend (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday for 3-day packages). And you will undoubtedly need to go day by day to take advantage of out of the expertise!
Race day is thrilling, sure, however we truly had most of our favourite experiences on Saturday.
Fridays and Saturdays are normally much less busy on the monitor, which suggests fewer individuals round. We had front-row seats for the assist races, free observe, and qualifying, and noticed some actually thrilling pit stops up shut. To not point out that every one the Paddock Membership extras like race simulators and different leisure have been a lot much less busy on a non-race day.
3. Declare your race seats early
Talking of race day… since everybody with a Paddock Membership ticket involves the monitor for the race on Sunday, you will need to safe your race seat exterior your suite early!
Since we had no drawback getting seats proper on the entrance throughout qualifying on Saturday, Elliot and I assumed it could be simply as straightforward for the race on Sunday, and went to do one final pit lane stroll. However we then found that there have been much more individuals within the Paddock Membership on Sunday, and did not get the prime race seats we would hoped for.
(It ended up effective, after all, since many individuals come exterior for the race begin and ultimately return indoors to observe the remainder of the race on the suite TVs.)
4. Join monitor excursions ASAP
One other factor you will need to do early is join a monitor tour. This Paddock Membership perk features a journey across the circuit (on the monitor itself) on a flatbed truck, and may be very common!
We did not understand that you simply wanted to enroll in a slot on one in every of these excursions ASAP, although, and missed out. I like to recommend doing this as quickly as you arrive on the monitor on the primary day.
5. Know what’s included/what’s not
Despite the fact that Paddock Membership is essentially the most well-known premium hospitality bundle accessible at an F1 race, the packages can differ barely from monitor to trace, and the ticket bundle might not embody stuff you suppose it would.
For instance, you will undoubtedly get entry to a hospitality suite with meals/drinks, and seats above the pit lane. You may most likely additionally get pit lane walks. However different issues – like guided paddock excursions, monitor excursions, grid walks, and entry to the rostrum ceremony – may not be included for sure races.
At Austin, for instance, we bought to do a number of pit lane walks and one guided paddock tour, however due to the monitor format, we didn’t have entry to the rostrum ceremony after the race.
6. Discover exterior of your suite
It is enjoyable to discover what is going on on elsewhere across the monitor (I extremely advocate spending just a few hours on Friday or Saturday exterior of the Paddock Membership!), in addition to elsewhere within the Paddock Membership exterior of your hospitality suite.
For instance, race simulators, picture ops, and a separate bar space with meals stations have been all accessible within the common Paddock Membership lounge space. We additionally had views out the again of the hospitality suites over the paddock, and noticed a lot of drivers leaving their garages after practices, qualifying, and the race itself.
7. Do the pit lane walks!
If pit lane walks can be found to you, do them! You most likely will not stumble upon any drivers throughout these walks for the reason that garages themselves are nonetheless roped off, however you will get to see a lot of different fascinating issues!
We watched pit cease practices up shut, and bought peeks into each crew storage. We additionally noticed a number of drivers from afar – and in addition bought a novel view of the motive force’s parade earlier than the race.
8. At all times have a digicam and pen on you
You simply by no means know who it’s possible you’ll run into, whether or not within the hospitality suites, within the pit, or within the paddock for those who get to go.
We weren’t fast sufficient to ask Max for a selfie or autograph after we noticed him within the paddock (although I did get a video), however we watched others later get fortunate by trotting alongside drivers and holding out hats with Sharpies all able to go.
Most tracks will let you convey a digicam in order for you, however a smartphone can also be simply effective for impromptu picture ops.
Need to spend much less? If you wish to splash out on a Formulation 1 hospitality bundle however do not need to stretch to Paddock Membership, the Champions Membership bought by F1 Experiences is one other good choice. This additionally will get you right into a hospitality suite with catered food and drinks, good seating, and a few further VIP bonuses, however normally runs about half the value of the Paddock Membership.
Need to spend extra? If Paddock Membership does not sound unique sufficient, then you’ll be able to search for Legends Membership tickets, that are Paddock Membership tickets that additionally embody issues like a full day of Paddock entry, and prime viewing of the rostrum ceremony. Some races (like Monaco and the US races) embody additional VIP ticket choices that include loopy worth tags.
Need extra F1 race suggestions? Read this post!
