What’s it prefer to attend each single race in a Formulation 1 season? We caught up with David and Michelle from New Zealand, who did simply that final 12 months.
David and Michelle Harrison took a sabbatical from their jobs, mortgaged their home and left their house in Christchurch final February. They didn’t return till late December, having attended all 22 races held throughout the 2023 Formulation 1 season. We spoke to Michelle and David to study extra about their expertise.
Pictures kindly provided by David & Michelle. The dialog was edited for size and readability.
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How lengthy have you ever been following Formulation 1?
Michelle: On and off for fairly some time. I grew up in South Africa, so I used to go to Kyalami with my father. That’s what bought me into the game. I additionally went to the race in Adelaide after I was youthful. David used to observe the races on TV, however we have been busy elevating three youngsters. Proper earlier than the covid lockdowns, we began watching Drive to Survive collectively and rediscovered our shared ardour for the game.
What made you determine to attend each race on the 2023 Formulation 1 calendar?
David: I bear in mind at some point throughout lockdown, we talked about what we’d do if we received thousands and thousands within the lottery. And we agreed that we’d attend each race within the Formulation 1 season. Nevertheless it was only a dream. The extra life like plan was that we’d wait till we retired and promote our home. Our kids had already moved out and we have been going to downsize. We deliberate to make use of the additional cash for journey.
Michelle: In 2022, I misplaced a colleague. She was my age, and she or he died simply six weeks after being recognized with a severe sickness. I bear in mind coming house and saying to David that we is likely to be useless earlier than we retire. If our dream is to go to each race on the F1 calendar in a single 12 months, why are we ready till we retire? That spurred us into motion, however as a substitute of promoting the home, we took out a mortgage towards it. Then the planning started!
How did you intend such an enormous journey?
David: Step one was to go to our respective employers and ask for the break day. We each work within the schooling sector, and have been fortunate to be given depart by our respective employers. As soon as we had been given approval by the financial institution to take out a mortgage on our home, it was all methods go.
Michelle: We locked in tickets for each race, except Japan and Qatar, which had not but gone on sale. We additionally booked lodging for each race weekend from Thursday to Monday, as a result of I knew that the costs would get loopy nearer to the time and we’d have much less to select from. The remainder of the journey, between the races, we simply winged it. We booked locations to remain as we went.
David: We booked our return flights from New Zealand to the Center East with Emirates, leaving in February earlier than the season began in Bahrain and returning in December after the ultimate race in Abu Dhabi. The one different flight we booked earlier than the season began was from Europe to Montreal.
How did you determine which tickets to purchase for every race and the place did you purchase them?
Michelle: We did quite a lot of analysis. I spent quite a lot of time on F1Destinations.com! We primarily purchased from the circuits themselves, but in addition used some resellers. However not having been to any of the racetracks earlier than, we’d undoubtedly do issues in another way subsequent time. We wouldn’t select Normal Admission (GA) once more at some tracks. However at others, the place we had grandstand seats, we’d have most popular to be in GA. We’ve that information now.
David: Nothing beats the firsthand expertise of being there, strolling across the monitor and speaking to fellow followers. And that’s what we tried to do on Friday at each race. We walked as a lot of the monitor as we might to truly take all of it in and verify every thing out, reasonably than simply staying static within the one place.
Did you keep in motels the entire time you have been away?
Michelle: Completely not! Individuals don’t imagine us, however we have been on a extremely tight finances. It prices some huge cash to journey for such a protracted time frame. We stayed in quite a lot of reasonably priced lodging, like Airbnbs the place you sleep in somebody’s spare bed room. We camped at some races. We additionally stayed in backpacker hostels. Often we did keep in motels and flats, after all. We have been open to something reasonably priced.
Any actually memorable locations you stayed on a race weekend?
Bergamo was a extremely good one. It was lovely. We stayed there for the Italian Grand Prix in a small visitor home, or pensione. We booked it as a result of it was low-cost and it turned out to be probably the most lovely place, each bodily and geographically. And the individual operating it was so sort, which was a pleasant bonus. However total, we wouldn’t suggest staying in Bergamo for the Italian Grand Prix, as a result of it was a nightmare attending to and from Monza.
Which races did you most take pleasure in attending and why?
Michelle: Each race has its personal appeal and every vacation spot has one thing great about it, but when I had to decide on one race it could be the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Earlier than the season, we deliberate a month in Azerbaijan as we knew that there was no likelihood of the Chinese language Grand Prix occurring. We spent just a few weeks in Sheki, up north within the mountains, and it was wonderful. One of many highlights of our 12 months. It’s a shocking nation with such sort folks.
There’s additionally an enormous juxtaposition as a result of it’s a rich nation however nonetheless has quite a lot of poverty. The agricultural areas are very Russian and male dominated, caught within the Eighties, nevertheless it was the friendliness of the locals that we bear in mind probably the most. We additionally beloved Baku and actually loved the race weekend. As a result of we have been there for thus lengthy, we felt very invested. We stayed within the outdated metropolis and watched the circuit get constructed after which dismantled. Our lodging was a 2-minute stroll from our seats within the Filarmoniya Grandstand.
David: I actually loved Las Vegas. I do know it bought quite a lot of dangerous press when the follow session was canceled on the primary day and all of the followers have been informed to depart. The organizers ought to have dealt with that higher. The timing was too late, as effectively. It was chilly and darkish in our grandstand on the primary few days, and there was no actual environment. However the precise race itself was actually good. They made a avenue circuit that’s huge sufficient for overtaking. We sat within the Sphere grandstand, so we additionally bought to see some nice live shows. Away from the race, we have been pleasantly stunned by how a lot we preferred Vegas. Casinos usually are not actually our factor, however we beloved strolling across the metropolis.
Michelle: One other favourite race was Monaco, primarily as a result of it rained throughout the race and made it extra thrilling. The entire grandstand cheered when it began to rain. We additionally had no thought how loopy the occasion on the monitor can be. We at all times go on the monitor after the race, however the environment in Monaco was subsequent stage.
Which races have been one of the best and worst organized?
Michelle: The Center Jap races have been tremendous environment friendly, in our expertise. Not a lot Qatar. There was no shade within the Fanzone, they ran out of water and there weren’t sufficient meals choices. However every thing was clear and there have been a lot of folks attempting to assist. Jeddah was good from the fan expertise perspective. They have been handing out free water, the bathrooms have been immaculate, a lot of meals to select from and the Fanzone was nice. Saudi Arabia was undoubtedly up there as probably the greatest organized.
David: Hungary was one of many worst. It was very onerous to get to and from the monitor and it’s actually scorching. It’s by no means a superb begin once you arrive on the monitor and you might be all scorching and sweaty, then should cope with heavy-handed and impolite safety guards on the gates. We have been in Normal Admission on the Hungaroring and there was no shade and no massive display TVs. Not sufficient water both, only a few filling stations for as much as 100,000 followers. We had mates in one of many grandstands and so they mentioned the safety was dangerous. A lot of folks occupying seats who didn’t have tickets for the grandstand.
Michelle: The safety guards on the gates have been additionally excessive in Spielberg. I actually don’t prefer it once they separate genders on the gates, which they did in Austria and in addition at Zandvoort. Greater than as soon as I queued up for a very long time, solely to be informed to affix the again of the feminine queue after I bought to the entrance, which was actually irritating.
Which races had one of the best environment and friendliest followers?
Michelle: We thought one of the best followers have been in Spain and Mexico. They have been so passionate and pleasant. It didn’t matter which group you have been supporting or the place you have been from. They exuded this pure ardour for racing. We had Normal Admission tickets in Spain. We needed to get there at like 7am within the morning to order our place on the aspect of a steep hill. It rained and we have been sitting within the mud. Everybody was chilly and soaking moist, however the environment was unimaginable. We had singalongs and we bought speaking to everybody round us. The joy of these round us was infectious and we have been capable of neglect about among the occasion’s shortcomings.
What have been your favourite non-F1 locations that you just visited between races?
Michelle: As a result of F1 race weekends are so full on, we needed to keep away from massive cities as a lot as we might for the remainder of the journey. We did go to Prague between the races in Canada and Austria. We’d by no means been earlier than and completely beloved it. Such a stupendous metropolis. However the remainder of the journey, we tried to spend extra time in small villages and rural areas. We needed to find the tradition and meet the locals. That was an enormous a part of the journey.
David: It’s onerous to decide on highlights, as a result of there have been so many. However we had an incredible week within the Cinque Terre area of northwest Italy. There are 5 villages on the coast which you’ll solely actually entry by taking the prepare after which strolling. It’s actually distant and gorgeous. Toledo in Spain was one other spotlight. With out figuring out, we occurred to be there throughout their Corpus Christi celebrations. It was an enormous non secular competition with folks there from throughout Spain and many distinctive processions. It was unimaginable to be a part of that.
Did you improve to trackside hospitality at any races?
Michelle: We solely purchased hospitality tickets just a few occasions. We thought we’d deal with ourselves at Silverstone. We purchased entry to the Worldwide Paddock Enclosure on the within of the primary nook. Final 12 months was the primary time it was supplied. Due to its location on the internal monitor, it took a very long time to get there. It was a little bit of a mission, together with an inside shuttle bus. Once you did arrive, it felt fairly remoted. It was a good distance from the principle Fanzone. The view from the grandstand wasn’t that good, both. We might solely see a brief part of the monitor.
However the worst half was that we needed to pay for food and drinks. We assumed it was included, as we had paid some huge cash. We weren’t the one ones there that thought every thing was included. The meals distributors within the enclosure have been additionally actually costly, and there have been no different choices close by. After such a nasty expertise on Friday, we didn’t even return to the enclosure on Saturday. We most popular to observe qualifying within the Fanzone. We did return on Sunday, nevertheless it was nonetheless a disappointment.
I ought to level out that the remainder of our weekend on the British Grand Prix was glorious. We beloved the environment, and the truth that the occasion continued on the monitor after the racing had completed. It felt extra like a music competition, and we did really see some nice live shows just like the Black Eyed Peas. So many different tracks shut every thing down and kicked everybody out after the racing had completed.
David: We additionally upgraded to the Orange Tree Membership on the São Paulo Grand Prix [pictured above], and it was a significantly better expertise. The view from the grandstand seats was glorious. It was proper the place Charles Leclerc crashed on the formation lap. Meals and alcohol was included, and we had no points stepping into or out of the circuit.
Did you do any races with Formulation 1’s official journey programme, F1 Experiences?
Michelle: Sure, we bought packages from F1 Experiences for the races in Australia and Canada. We had the essential Starter bundle in Melbourne, which included some trackside actions on Thursday and grandstand seats for the remainder of the weekend. Sadly, due to delays to the on-track motion, we didn’t get began till a lot later than deliberate. We needed to wait round for just a few hours and after we did get into the pit lane, all of the garages have been closed. We additionally did a tour of the monitor, nevertheless it was in the dead of night. It was only a massive letdown. The one benefit of Melbourne was that our seats within the Schumacher grandstand have been very good, however we felt like we paid so much for them given the frustration of the additional actions.
David: We determined to offer F1 Experiences one other likelihood in Canada, and it was very good. They redeemed themselves. We had an F1 Stay bundle in Montreal, and the expertise on the monitor on Thursday was wonderful. We did the monitor tour and the pit lane stroll, however additionally they had every thing arrange on the monitor. There have been automobile shows, visitor audio system, and free flowing food and drinks. The vibe was actually cool and although it was busy, there weren’t too many individuals. They even gave us rain ponchos when it began to rain a little bit. It was an enormous enchancment over Melbourne.
At which races did you camp?
Michelle: We camped at Monaco and Spa. At Monaco, we have been with a British firm referred to as Tenting F1. We actually loved the expertise and every thing was effectively organized. The campsite was up within the hills close to Monaco and so they offered transfers to and from the circuit. The folks working for the corporate have been nice, and we had additionally booked with them for Austria and Belgium. Sadly, they went bust proper just a few days earlier than the Austrian Grand Prix.
Not solely did we lose all the cash we’d paid for Austria and Belgium, we needed to discover various lodging close to the Pink Bull Ring just a few days earlier than the race. We ended up paying an extortionate quantity, €2000 every, to remain in a shed within the carpark of the Ringrast lodge close to the circuit [see picture above]. We have been there with all of the Formulation 1 truck drivers, who thought it was hilarious that we’d paid a lot once they have been getting paid to take a seat round of their cabs and do nothing.
David: We additionally camped in Belgium. After the frustration of shedding our cash to CampingF1, we have been fortunate to seek out GrandPrix.camp, which is run by an exquisite man from the Netherlands referred to as Rudy.
What have been your favourite and least favourite F1 cities?
David: We’ve talked about how a lot we preferred Baku. We didn’t benefit from the trackside expertise in Hungary, however Budapest was a stupendous metropolis. We beloved how the Buda and Pest sides of the town on both aspect of the Danube River had their very own distinct structure and appeal. It felt very comparable in really feel to Prague, which we additionally beloved visiting final 12 months. It’s not strictly an F1 metropolis, however we additionally beloved returning to Vienna, which we hadn’t visited in a very long time.
Michelle: There was actually just one metropolis and race that we didn’t like very a lot, and that was Miami. If we did this once more, we’d really contemplate not bothering with Miami. We didn’t actually know the place to remain in Miami, and ended up in an Airbnb in north Miami, which was mainly somebody’s storage. We needed to remain someplace that will be handy for attending to the monitor, nevertheless it was actually the incorrect aspect of the tracks. It was a low socio-economic space and nobody spoke English in any respect. We didn’t really feel significantly protected.
Did you ever really feel unsafe wherever else?
David: No. We took extra precautions in Mexico and Brazil, for instance. We didn’t put on jewellery, issues like that. We made positive we stayed within the touristy areas, in contrast to in Miami! However we by no means felt unsafe. We used the Metro in each Mexico Metropolis and Sao Paulo, which have been each clear and environment friendly. You do have to stroll alongside a favela to get to Interlagos, however there was an enormous police presence. The locals have been simply attempting to make some cash promoting drinks and merchandise, they weren’t threatening in any respect.
Michelle: We made a lot of mates on public transport going to and from the race all year long, simply as many as on the monitor. Individuals assist one another out with instructions and also you get chatting.
Which airways did you fly with?
David: Earlier than leaving New Zealand, we solely booked our primary return flights with Emirates, in addition to flights to Montreal with Air Canada. The remainder of the journey, we booked our flights and different types of transport as we went alongside. In Europe, we flew so much with Wizz Air and so they by no means allow us to down. For long-haul flights throughout the season, we tried to make use of Star Alliance the place we might. However on the finish of the day, it was all about the associated fee.
Michelle: I’m unsure precisely what number of flights we took final 12 months, nevertheless it was so much. And we solely had baggage go lacking on two events. We had Apple AirTags and so they have been a godsend. United Airways did misplace David’s bag after we have been flying from Houston to Mexico Metropolis. It turned on the market was another person with the very same title flying via the airport on the identical day, and so they combined up the baggage. Nevertheless it did flip up ultimately.
What different modes of transport did you employ throughout your travels?
Michelle: We took a lot of trains and buses. Extra buses, as a result of we have been on a finances and so they have been normally cheaper than trains. We used FlixBus so much in Europe and so they have been nice. We beloved having the ability to see extra of the countryside. However we made an enormous mistake reserving with FlixBus within the USA. Over there, the buses are literally operated by Greyhound. We booked a number of spherical journeys, from Houston to Austin, and Houston to New Orleans, and came upon that we have been just about the one folks on the bus that hadn’t simply been launched from jail! The ex-cons discovered it hilarious that this couple had traveled all the way in which from New Zealand and have been taking the bus with them. I additionally should say that the roads within the USA are horrible. They’re falling aside.
You’ve already talked about Baku, Las Vegas and Monaco. Which different races would you most prefer to return to and why?
David: We each beloved Silverstone, regardless of the ticket points. Michelle actually loved Belgium, although I wasn’t so eager on Spa as a result of it rained virtually the entire weekend [apart from when the images above were taken! – Ed]. We weren’t very fortunate in Europe final 12 months, it was a really moist summer time. We additionally each actually loved the Austrian Grand Prix, and in addition had an incredible weekend at Zandvoort.
Michelle: I used to be a bit anxious in regards to the Oranje Military at Zandvoort, as a result of we had seen a lot of Dutch followers at different races in Europe and a few of them have been actually obnoxious. Actually drunk and impolite at occasions. Nevertheless it turned out to be a totally totally different ballgame at Zandvoort as a result of many of the Dutch followers go to their house race with their households. They have been on their greatest conduct and we actually loved socializing with them. It was nice enjoyable.
David: We’d undoubtedly return to both Mexico or Brazil once more. Even when we needed to drop all the opposite races, we’d return to Mexico Metropolis or São Paulo in a heartbeat.
You had totally different opinions about Belgium. Some other races that you just disagree on?
David: I beloved Singapore, however Michelle not a lot. Every little thing is very easy there, like getting round. It was additionally the one race of the season that wasn’t received by Pink Bull, which was a bonus.
Michelle: I didn’t just like the spectator zones in Singapore. We had Mixture tickets, the place you sit in a special grandstand on every day. And we didn’t have Zone 1 entry on Saturday, so I couldn’t attend the driving force interviews on the stage, which was actually disappointing. It was the primary time we’d actually come throughout the concept of spectator zones, and I didn’t just like the idea. Mexico and Brazil have been comparable, the place you had self-contained areas and weren’t capable of go and discover the remainder of the circuit, which we like to do. Don’t get me incorrect, Mexico was wonderful. We sat within the Foro Sol Stadium part and the environment was wonderful. Nevertheless it was additionally actually crowded when you weren’t within the seats, there was little shade and it took a protracted whereas to get out.
How did you cope with the cancellation of the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix at Imola?
Michelle: The floods in and round Imola have been terrible. Individuals misplaced their lives, so we have been actually acutely aware of that. It felt a bit unusual to be having fun with ourselves in Bologna whereas all this was occurring. Bologna holds a particular place in our hearts, as a result of it’s the place David proposed to me a few years in the past. And it was our marriage ceremony anniversary on that weekend, so we have been pleased to be again within the metropolis. Our lodging was horrible, although. It felt like we have been staying in an unlawful broom cabinet. That is what occurs typically when you find yourself touring on a finances. Nevertheless it didn’t matter as a result of we love being in Italy and Bologna is a shocking metropolis.
David: We bought refunded for our race tickets and even our trains, which was a pleasant shock. Trenitalia was excellent. We didn’t converse Italian and so they have been coping with a whole lot of individuals, however they have been very affected person and we bought all of our a reimbursement.
How a lot did all the journey value you?
Michelle: It value us some huge cash. We’d desire to not say the precise quantity, however we did take out a mortgage on our home to pay for it. We have been on a finances the entire time, nevertheless it does value so much to journey continuous for nearly one 12 months. Lodging each evening, meals, getting round. And F1 race tickets and lodging are horrendously costly.
Are you continue to planning to go to races sooner or later?
David: Not this 12 months, however we’d like to do the entire journey once more, significantly! We hope to make sufficient from the sale of our home to take one other 12 months out and do all of it once more. It actually was probably the most phenomenal expertise.
Any recommendation for folks contemplating doing one thing comparable?
We met so many individuals on our travels that mentioned they’d like to do one thing comparable at some point. You’ve bought to only do it. Cease speaking about it and simply go for it.
Be taught extra about David and Michelle’s unimaginable journey on their web site, f1-adventure-before-dementia.com. You too can see extra of their photographs and movies on Instagram.
