Anthony, who attended all twenty-four Components 1 races in 2024, tells us how he deliberate the journey and shares his highs and lows from an epic yr of motorsport journey.
Photographs provided by Anthony
Anthony Riley hails from Sydney and has been following Components 1 because the late Nineteen Nineties, when he supported Mika Häkkinen and have become a McLaren fan. Anthony works in monetary markets and paid for his epic journey by means of “financial savings, investments and lots of onerous work.”
What made you determine to attend each race on the 2024 Components 1 calendar?
You solely reside as soon as. I’ve been to each race on the V8 Supercars calendar a number of instances, so thought it was time to step it up a notch.
How did you propose your journey?
I began planning in late 2023, previous to all of the tickets happening sale. This helped me get the seats I needed and likewise avoid wasting cash. I arrange a spreadsheet which I used to plan my yr. This included my flight particulars, the place I used to be staying, rental automobile info, race tickets and particulars of different actions I used to be planning in every place, plus the prices related to every part. I made it a typical follow to at all times journey to every metropolis from Monday to Monday, making certain that I may maximize the ambiance and pleasure of race week in each place.
Did you keep away the entire yr or did you come to Australia between races?
My yr was deliberate as three separate journeys. The primary included Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, in addition to the Daytona 500 within the USA. Then I returned dwelling for a couple of weeks, which coincided with the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne. The subsequent leg of my journey noticed me depart Australia for about six months. In between F1 races, I additionally attended different motorsport occasions throughout Europe. This included the Le Mans 24 Hours, Goodwood Competition of Velocity, Rally Finland, British touring automobiles and even a DTM race in Germany.
After the Singapore Grand Prix, I flew again to Australia for a few weeks whereas there was a spot within the F1 schedule. My ultimate journey of the season took me to the Americas and the Center East. With Australia being so distant from the remainder of the world, it didn’t make sense to return too typically in the course of the yr and spend extra on airfares. I most popular to spend the cash on extra experiences while travelling.
How did you determine which tickets to purchase for every race and the place did you purchase them?
I needed to purchase tickets in essentially the most iconic grandstands or areas for every race, similar to overlooking Eau Rouge at Spa-Francorchamps and Flip 3 on the Crimson Bull Ring. I booked the vast majority of my tickets by means of official websites, other than some ‘problematic’ races similar to Brazil, China and Japan. I by no means purchased hospitality tickets, although I did attend the races in Azerbaijan and Qatar with F1 Experiences. I preferred their actions, however typically the grandstand I needed to take a seat in was not out there by means of F1 experiences
Did you keep in inns or Airbnbs whilst you have been away? Did you camp at any races?
I primarily stayed in inns and Airbnbs. Greater than as soon as although, I had points with Airbnb hosts cancelling my reserving within the weeks main as much as the race, which was an actual inconvenience. The one circuit the place I camped was at Spa-Francorchamp. We rented a motorhome in Frankfurt and received a campsite fairly near the monitor, which was a tremendous expertise.
On race weekends, I primarily stayed in 2-4 star inns. I used to be searching for the perfect worth for cash, as costs are already closely inflated and I didn’t spend lots of time in my room. What was essential for me was handy verify in and take a look at instances, a safe room, protected space and proximity to public transport. I really stayed at a lot nicer locations in between race weekends as I had extra time to truly benefit from the lodging.
Which airways did you fly with and the way did you get round on race weekends?
I take advantage of the Virgin frequent flyer program in Australia and I predominantly flew with their companions, which included ANA, United Airways, Air Canada, and Qatar Airways. On the bottom, I rented a automobile at a number of races (Imola, Miami Silverstone, Austin) however the remainder of the time I used native trains and buses, in addition to Uber or different experience sharing companies.
Any significantly good or unhealthy journey experiences in the course of the yr?
As I organized and booked every part myself, many of the finest experiences occurred once I was doing issues I actually preferred, similar to visiting automotive museums and factories, and naturally assembly numerous cool and fascinating individuals alongside the best way.
Total, I didn’t have lots of unhealthy journey experiences throughout the yr, although I at all times dreaded the queues and delays leaving the circuit after the race. It may simply take 2-3 hours to get again to my resort after some races. Loads of taxi drivers tried to tear me off, together with one man in Turkey who made me pay for tolls that didn’t exist. I additionally had a couple of unhealthy experiences with shady rental automobile corporations who disclosed obscene hidden expenses once I was choosing up the automobile. I ended up cancelling these bookings, however it was nonetheless an inconvenience.
Which races did you most take pleasure in attending?
When it got here to an important celebration ambiance, Miami was a standout for me. Regardless that it was one of many costlier races to attend, the Individuals actually know find out how to placed on an excellent present and maintain the followers entertained all through the day. There was a lot to see and do across the monitor. I’m biased right here, however it was additionally nice to see Norris win for my staff, McLaren!
The ambiance was additionally implausible at Zandvoort. They’d trackside DJs to get everybody excited, there was lots of on-track motion and excessive ranges of fan participation. It simply led to a very enjoyable ambiance. The Japanese followers at Suzuka have been the friendliest. Their love and keenness for Components 1 is unbelievable, and it made it a pleasure to attend.
For trackside views, the perfect race for me was the Belgian Grand Prix. The views from the Gold 3 grandstand on the high of the hill close to Eau Rouge have been unbelievable. I undoubtedly wasn’t a fan of the cost system at Spa, however the grandstand views (and trackside tenting) made up for that.
When it comes to race services, I’d say that Yas Marina Circuit supplied the perfect expertise. The grandstands have been spacious and supplied actually good views and loads of facilities. The grandstands have been shaded, and also you had an excellent unobstructed view of the motion even from the entrance rows. It was good to not have 10-feet excessive fences blocking your view, which is sweet should you wish to take pictures of the automobiles.
Which races have been the perfect and worst organized?
For me the perfect organized occasion was Zandvoort. The trains have been continuous after the race, which means that regardless that queues have been big everybody was in a position to exit the venue in an honest period of time. There was additionally lots to see and do between the station and the monitor, and contained in the circuit, the lavatory and meals scenario was very properly sorted! I did nevertheless just like the see by means of baggage that American occasions advocate because it makes the entry course of far more seamless when the gates open.
I preferred the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix general, however the group must be improved. There was an actual lack of signage for the entry gates and the workers working on the race weren’t a lot assist. I used to be significantly disenchanted concerning the pit lane stroll. Nobody working on the monitor was in a position to inform me the place the doorway was and I ended up lacking out on this expertise fully.
Monza was additionally very poorly organized, and for me, essentially the most overrated occasion on the calendar. The ticketing and bag searches when coming into the monitor took too lengthy, and the buying course of for food and drinks was extraordinarily inefficient. All of this made the fan expertise poor, particularly contemplating the excessive value of grandstand seats at this occasion.
What have been the perfect non-F1 locations you visited between races?
Two locations actually stood out for me, Daytona Seashore in Florida and Finland. The Daytona 500 was an superior occasion and I cherished the cool, chilled out vibes at Daytona Seashore. I additionally went to Finland for the World Rally Championship (WRC) in the course of the F1 summer time break and cherished it there. The persons are cool, the tradition was fascinating and attending my first WRC occasion couldn’t have been extra completely different to F1.
What have been your favourite and least favourite F1 cities?
Imola was implausible. The monitor is correct subsequent to the city and the ambiance after the racing completed every day was superior. There’s stunning Italian structure, nice meals and plenty of cool issues occurring within the piazza on race weekend.
I wouldn’t wish to single out one place as my least favourite. Some cities weren’t as clear and protected as others. Some cities had numerous F1 occasions occurring throughout race weekend, others you wouldn’t even know that F1 was occurring. Locations have their good and unhealthy sides, however I’m of the opinion that it’s best to at all times go to all over the place at the very least as soon as.
Did you ever really feel unsafe anyplace?
I wouldn’t say I felt unsafe in São Paulo, however the excessive focus of police and safety guards all over the place made it really feel prefer it was an unsafe place. You undoubtedly should be in your guard in sure locations the place F1 visits, however I by no means felt like I used to be in a very harmful space or scenario. Petty theft is extra widespread in locations like Spain, Mexico and Brazil, particularly on public transport, however I had no points.
Which races would you most wish to return to and why?
I at all times go to my dwelling race in Australia, and I’ll be there once more this yr. I’m biased, however I feel the worth for cash and on-track motion at Albert Park is outstanding. We often have between 4 and 6 world-class assist classes, plus bigger and higher fan activations than most different races. Exterior of Australia, I actually loved Japan and Belgium. I are likely to want conventional circuits somewhat than road circuits, regardless that the latter are extra simply accessible. The trackside views of the automobiles are simply higher at conventional circuits.
How a lot did your entire journey value you?
For the F1 tickets, inns and flights alone it was round $80,000 AUD ($50,000 USD). With every part else I skilled and acquired, the entire was properly over $100,000 AUD ($62,000 USD).
Are you continue to planning to maintain attending F1 races?
I’ll be going to the Australian Grand Prix this yr, and perhaps yet another. However I’m additionally curious about attending some bucket-list motorsport occasions for the primary time. The Pikes Peak hill climb, Indy 500, Macau Grand Prix, Rally Japan, Knoxville Nationals, and a complete bunch extra are presently on my checklist!
What’s your recommendation for individuals contemplating attending each race in a season?
Begin planning early and know what you need to get out of the expertise. Save up so you are able to do it proper. That is subjective, however I’d a lot somewhat spend extra to get the race tickets I need somewhat than a barely nicer resort. Don’t anticipate every part to go precisely as you deliberate. Issues will go mistaken, however being as ready as you’ll be able to helps lots. Get some snug, water-proof footwear and at all times pack a rain poncho as you by no means know when the climate forecast might be mistaken. Dwell within the second and revel in it!
