When it comes to watching sport there are few hardier than that of the Formula one fan. Some talk of the Football fan braving the cold up high in the stands or the Rugby fan with their thick coats and singing. That may be true but at least they have a toilet nearby and they are generally under the cover of the stands themselves. Perhaps it’s the Rally fan? They have to find a place to park and then walk miles through deep forest, mountains or desert just to find a good vantage spot where they can see mad Finnish drivers (usually with names like Blomquest or Vaatigen) fly round the course at speeds that would make sane people quail. No wonder the co driver’s shout the instructions in such a panicked manner. Even so, I put it to you that the hardiest, most determined and downright craziest fans are the fans of Formula one.
Let’s point out straight away that Formula one is different on the television. This is especially true with digital technology allowing you to ride on board with a driver or view the track from a different viewpoint. But you don’t get the roar of the crowd, the sound and smell of the engines. The modern V6 hybrids Formula one cars were incredibly loud, so you would expect a V12 engine would be. The anticipation that you feel, even if you can’t see them when they all start up, in the pits or the paddock is immense.
When you are holidaying in various places in the world, perhaps in Spain or Singapore or even in Kas Villas in Turkey you will often find either a race track that is currently used for these races or one that has been repurposed for other uses. The Istanbul Racetrack is one such place. Although Formula One has not visited this race track since 2011 the track still exists and you can easily visit this whilst you are on a ight-seeing tour of the area.
If you enjoy the atmosphere of the track you will find that you appreciate actually be there in person, this might require a bit of planning, regardless of whether you are trying to find the best spot on the track or waiting in the queue for the burger van or sitting nice and warm in the hospitality tent enjoying the delights of the drinks and food available to you. Formula One is definitely a sport that is best watched live and with so many different locations to choose from you are spoilt for choice as to which one to attend and will also find that there is one local to your country at some point during the season.
