Modern Vespa

New year, new F1 thread.

F1 Schedule for 2026...

Do any of us have plans to attend a race in person? Living in the United States, I can't help but feel underwhelmed by our options. Yes, 3 races throughout the season is wonderful, but I would much rather have my first F1 experience in person be at one of the European circuits. The Austin race would probably be the only circuit I'd consider attending stateside, and Montreal would've been a good one too, I imagine.

I live in the UK & would love to go to Silverstone but the ticket prices are ridiculous, & sell out quick.

Hoping to be able to afford a holiday trip to Portugal when the new circuit is added in 2027.

Yeah, Mrs Jess and I are actively exploring our options for some of the European races this season and also 2027.

I wouldn't bother going to see a F1 race live.

There are far better series out there with better racing for much less money.

I've seen 4 F1 races and one was at Spa.

I doubt that I'll see another one.

That's like saying "I wouldn't go to London on vacation. There are far better cities with less traffic and better weather for much less money".

You'd be right to express either of those sentiments. But you'd also be completely missing the point.

When I can travel to my favourite circuit in Europe and stay in my favourite hotel and watch a 24 hour race for less than Grandstand tickets for the GP at Silverstone, why would I bother ?

Value for money The Daytona 500, Indy 500 and even Le Mans are all so much better than a F1 race so why people still pay out so to go and see it I'll never know.

It's OK but there's better racing out there and the cars sound better.

Masala, The popularity of the Las Vegas race seems to fall every year so ticket availability is usually pretty good for that one.

It also has that lovely long straight.

You're right. Why would I bother going to a race in a series that I've invested hundreds or maybe thousands of hours following? Why would I want to see a race where all my favorite racers are competing against each other? That would be a waste of time.

I'd much rather go see some random race that I don't know anything about full of racers I've never heard of.

(yeah, no). "Value for money" -- besides being yet another example of an awkwardly verbose Britishism that British people don't seem to realize is awkward or verbose -- is also a phrase that makes sweeping assumptions about what it is that someone else might value.

And Bill, I daresay you have no idea what it is that I value.

I guess it boils down to what's important to you.

Do you go to a race to watch the "Stars" race or do you want to watch actual racing ?

If I'm watching two "No Names" in equal machinery door banging for lap after lap for hours then I'm engaged.

If I'm watching "Names" compete but there's no real overtaking then I'm not going to pay for the privilege.

F1 is the peak of Motorsport, no question. But is it the most competitive ? No.

I can watch 26 cars for 2 hours for £500 or watch 130 cars for 24 at the same circuit for nothing.

I get the draw to F1, but I've done it and it's no longer worth the money.

Horses for courses.

And Steve Phelps resigns from his position as Commissioner of NASCAR.

The Court Case didn't go very well for him.

Don't insult your audience Steve.

I would propose that there was one F1 race that wasn't worth going to: the 2005 U.S. Grand Prix.

For the record, I was in attendance. It was my first F1 race. My buddy and I scraped our pesos together and drove my old Audi GT up from Alabama. We didn't have any allegiances but we wanted to experience the spectacle.

We got a debacle instead.

We left early, didn't bother with the refund process.

Maybe I'll ride up to Vegas someday.

Yeah, they could have put a chicane in to stop the tyres from delaminating and you still would have had a race but no, they withdrew most of the field and chose not to tell anyone of their evil plans.

Really insulting.

I propose changing this to the 2026 World of Outlaws thread?

So you can see some real racing

I saw that at Indianapolis in 2004 and I have to agree with you.

Saw James Garner that weekend also which was weird.

This implies Miami and Vegas are in their own countries.

Interesting story.
I'll bet you have to dig plenty deeper the pesoes nowadays?
Different people and different minds, fast thinking Vegas would be first on my list race not to go.
If interested of the race: tv is The media, and if interested the spectacle, there is spectacles and spectacles. Vegas is the most plastic one to me. But, they all are going to that bubblegum-way now when show in in american hands.

Ha, yes. The long waited american interest of F1 seem become true, only country having 3 races, even Italy no longer having 2 with "San marino" -And: Germany having none any more. UK sure has potential to make 2 profitable races and teams sure would like that. Still, I have no opinion, just thinking...

And they kinda are. For totally different reasons… yet very similar reasons.

There isn't the demand to hold two Grand Prix's in the UK.

It took years for Silverstone to make a finally profit and Donnington Park bankrupted itself in an attempt to upgrade the circuit once they were awarded the contract from the FIA.

Brands Hatch was being sold as a circuit that could stage F1 when Octagon Management bought it, but planning permission hadn't been granted so they were stuck with the loss maker that was Silverstone.

I think they eventually sold it to the MSV Group which is owned by Jonathan Palmer, if you remember him.

To update Brands Hatch or Donnington Park enough to hold an F1 race would probably cost around £150 Million and the money simply isn't there.

Should be exciting this year. New engines, Cadillac, Papaya Rules...

I think especially with the engines for 2026 it leaves a huge question mark on who will have the best engineering. Should be a very interesting first quarter or 3rd of the season as teams work/tweak on the units.

Color me excited.

On attending F1... I am a try anything once guy. (Maybe twice even.)

I may do Austin or Vegas this year as none of the Euro dates look possible at this point. I would equate F1 attendance to going to a crazy college football game. I am nothing more than a casual CF fan at best. And I actually think the rabid fan-bases are unhinged, but I am very much a advocate for attending one once in your life. (And have... TAMU game)
A UT or a TAMU game or Ohio State... or USC? Whatever, wherever you find resonance. It will be an experience.

Now, would I rather watch F1 at home, with commentary, analysis, free snacks, and my dogs hanging about? 100% But, the live experience is, well... worth experiencing. And that makes me wanna go to an F1 event. I may hate it... actually hope I don't like it, bc I cant afford it!

Maybe a MotoGP event at COTA this year too. That I can afford.

What about the Isle of Man TT Race? That surely unforgettable one?

High on my Bucket/Fuck-it list. One can dream.

I'd recommend that everyone who enjoys MotorSport should go and see a F1 race at least once.

Soon after that go to Daytona for the 24 Hours and stand on the Trioval and look back towards Turn 4 to watch a car come right at you at 200 miles an hour then feel your diaphragm do a dance while your hairs will stand up to attention as you lose your hearing.

Then go to Le Mans and at 2am listen for a BMW V12 to come screaming out of the trees at Indianapolis while its LED lights fill the trees with grey light as its brake discs glow deep red. Listen to the pre-programmed rev matched downshifts as the tyres chirp with protest against the track. Watch the car briefly slow before it turns again just before it launches itself into the darkness.

Try Spa next and marvel at how anyone can put down 500 HP in a car on a greasy track, at night, in the rain, at Eau Rouge. Then watch them do it again and again for another 18 hours.

F1 is good, but it's not that good.

Honest.

Many of my motorcycling friends seem to be fixated by going to the TT but I can't get excited about it.

Brands Hatch is one of the best tracks for bike racing and it's 20 minutes up the road from me so I'm kind of spoilt.

Birdsnest, Did you think about going to an Indycar Race ?

I have... in 99 or 2000 Indy did a race in downtown Houston. Very casual fan at that juncture. A dear friend had an office that had an overlook for part of the course. With balcony!!! It was fab, but at that age I was more about the girls and drinking on the balcony than the race.

Fair, it was a different time.

I'm afraid Mercedes will be the one to win everything for 5 years. Kimi is okay, but Russel? I'm not going to pay €20 a month for that.

how are you getting FREE snacks? are they expired stuff in the dumpster?

it would be nice to see the TT, so many spots that are a must see though.

I have been to Brands back when we had the match races between the USA riders and those on the island.

Katherine Legge has managed to secure enough sponsorship to run the Indy 500 this year.

This bodes well.

No doubt the Press will do a "Lynn St James" on her but that's to be expected.

she has done this a few times so its not big huge news of her giving it another go.

Well it is if you're a big fan of Katherine Legge.

You're a Legge man?

Bang on target.

Hilarious.

This is mine:


As to the F1 races to each his own obviously and me personally prefer the pre season tests and when one happens to be in Spain I attend.
Unfortunately not Jerez this year. Am really curious about the new tech.

The Audi turning wheels on the Barcelona track:

https://twitter.com/i/status/2009602247320305855