Editor's Note: Every F1 event is a massive logistical and commercial undertaking. But what parts of the experience truly connect with a fan and what parts fall flat? We asked our FanVoice contributor, Abishek Kasturi, to give us his unfiltered debrief on the Belgian Grand Prix in Spa Francorchamps.
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I have been an avid Formula 1 fan for the past two decades and trust - nothing beats the rush of the sensory overload of a trackside experience. It begins with the sounds of cars on track echoing around the hills as you make your way to the track, and then the smells of burnt rubber and fuel follow in the air as you walk into the racing complex. When you finally set your eyes on the cars zooming past you at insane speeds, you can feel the nirvana around you.
This has typically been my experience with most racing events and Spa Francorchamps delivered the same, with a couple of caveats.
Arrival and Access
I had booked a paddock experience for Friday, catching a 7AM train from Aachen, Germany into Verviers, took a 40 min bus ride to the drop off near Spa Francochamps, followed by a 3km walk from the bus stop to the circuit. I got into the paddock at 9AM, just as the morning fog delayed track action. Getting to Spa, however, was its own challenge. Even for a seasoned fan, the logistics were confusing, with unclear shuttle routes and limited signage. It’s something organizers could tighten especially for international fans unfamiliar with the area. If it is your first time going to an F1 event, expect a bit of chaos in the organization of how to get yourself to the track. Expect a lot of walking, so pack those comfortable shoes. Expect changing weather conditions, so bring a jacket and an umbrella, depending on where you are sitting.
Inside the paddock
I booked the Paddock experience for Friday, so once I was inside, the experience lived up to its promise! After a coffee and breakfast under the foggy skies of Spa, I was off to walk around the various lower categories’ paddocks - Formula 2, Formula 3 and the historical F1 cars were all support series to F1.
I watched mechanics prep cars up close, chatted with upcoming drivers, and later caught a talk by F1 Safety Car Driver Bernd Mayländer. Between the clinking of champagne glasses and the sight of Eau Rouge unfolding from the hospitality terrace, it felt every bit the luxury experience it’s marketed to be.
In between the F2 and F1 free practice sessions, I spotted Ralf Schumacher, Antonio Giovinazzi, Martin Brundle, and David Croft, and even caught up with Indian F2 driver Kush Maini. These moments are what justify the premium pricing - access that can’t be replicated through a screen. The day continued in the paddock with fantastic food and drinks and opportunities to watch the various cars on track into the evening.
Around the track
The second day was a more simplified effort with a general admission ticket. I arrived a tad later to the track - at around 11AM - to catch the F1 sprint race and Qualifying and explore the F1 fan zone. Since the general admission ticket does not give you a reserved seating, the experience opened up to go on a hunt around the track to watch the cars. I picked a spot close to the Fan Zone near Eau Rouge for a session and then walked up to Raidillon and Kemmel Straight for the next. Here I got to experience the cars at their maximum effort, climbing up the hill, getting into 8th gear and the DRS opening, reaching speeds well over 300kph. The F1 Fan Zone kept things engaging between sessions with team Q&As, live music, and branded booths selling memorabilia and Belgian beer. The activations worked: fans lingered longer, spending more, and posting constantly.
Comparison
As someone who’s attended F1 events since 2012 - from COTA to Suzuka - the experience has gotten much more expensive, even for a general admission ticket. On that note, as a fan, the experience has not scaled with the pricing. The organization of how to reach the track and navigate around the area felt a bit disorganized, more so than any of my previous experiences, and it involved more walking than I had expected.
Overall, it was a wonderful experience on track. Spa-Francorchamps is bucket-list material and rightly so. But as Formula 1 continues its expansion into “destination events,” sometimes, there’s nothing that comes close to being on land that truly celebrates the spirit of F1.
