Fast cars, hot drivers, and team drama — these are just a few of the reasons why I love Formula 1. Since the Netflix documentary “Drive To Survive” premiered in 2019, the elite motorsport has gained millions of rabid followers like myself who regularly tune in on weekends to watch their favorite drivers race around a track at 200 miles per hour.
The effort to popularize the sport was all part of a grand plan cooked up by Liberty Media, which acquired the Formula One Group in 2017. The access they provided to one of the world's most exclusive sports in order to create “Drive To Survive” was unprecedented — and it paid off.
Today, there are roughly 700 million Formula 1 fans worldwide, up 40% from when Liberty Media purchased it. At the start of 2018, there was only one USA race in Austin. Now, there are additional races in Miami and Las Vegas. Last year, more than six million people attended an F1 race, an all-time high. And in 2024, there are 24 races on the calendar — the most ever.
The show wasn’t Liberty Media's only idea: It also created F1 Experiences, a hospitality and travel arm of the sport — giving fans more luxurious behind-the-scenes ways to experience the races in person.
“Liberty Media’s main objective was to open up and demystify the sport of Formula 1, and to make it easier for fans to attend a race,” says Keith Bruce, President of F1 Experiences. “F1 Experiences brings fans closer to the sport and enables them to see F1 in a completely new and different way.”
The hospitality industry is catching on, too, shifting into high gear with packages catering to travelers who are crossing the country and oceans to get in on the action. Case in point: Singapore’s Marina Bay Sands hotel, which offered a $78,000 package for four guests during the nighttime Singapore Grand Prix in September.
The offer included a four-night stay in a brand-new Paiza Signature Suite, as well as access to the race track’s Sky Suite, which had free-flowing bubbles, food, and A/C (a must for the steamy nights). For mega-fans, a private rooftop cocktail party with Scuderia Ferrari team principal Frédéric Vasseur and reserve driver Ollie Bearman — plus a Q&A with drivers Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc — was priceless.
While you’ll have to wait until 2025 for the next race in Singapore, it’s not too late to book an F1 getaway for the coming months. Check out a few of our top picks:
The Suite Life in Sao Paulo - Sao Paulo Grand Prix, Nov 1-3, 2024
The home race of the late Brazilian F1 legend Ayrton Senna — and the only one that takes place in South America — always brings a special, extra raucous atmosphere, with dedicated fans waving yellow, blue, and green flags for 71 straight laps.
The Rosewood São Paulo is offering a four-night stay package (starting at $861) that includes breakfast, slot car racing, and access to the official São Paulo Formula 1 Grand Prix party where the winner will hopefully be celebrating post-race. Although no qualifying or race tickets are included in the package, fingers crossed that drivers will show up to the afterparty to celebrate.
If you’re after tickets, combine it with a six-day São Paulo F1 Grand Prix package through Marriott Bonvoy. Starting at $3,990, you’ll get three-day tickets to Grand Prix weekend in the sector of your choice, transportation to and from the race track, and a guided day tour around the city. Accommodation isn’t included in the package, so pair it with a stay at the Rosewood for a seamless race experience.
Taking a Bite out of Las Vegas - Las Vegas Grand Prix, November 21-23, 2024
F1’s newest race landed on the iconic Las Vegas Strip in 2023 — and this year is set to be more star-studded than ever. Celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay has been tapped to run Ramsay’s Garage (formerly known as F1 Garage), which will offer a three-day culinary experience that includes dishes by the celeb chef, live cooking stations by special guests, and an open bar — all just steps from the action on the track. At $39,000 per person, including Paddock Passes for the closest access to the teams, this is the way to eat, drink, and experience the Las Vegas Grand Prix. “As a massive F1 fan, I’ve seen firsthand how intertwined food and the sport is,” Ramsay says. “Having been to so many races as a spectator, Ramsay’s Garage truly is a dream come true.”
Sailing in Style in Monaco - Monaco Grand Prix, May 23-25, 2025
A Formula 1 fixture since 1929, the Monaco Grand Prix is one of the calendar’s most illustrious races. The country’s port is always packed to the gills with multi-million dollar yachts, watching as the cars roar past. It’s no wonder that Windstar Cruises’ most popular “themed” cruise, the Rome & Prix du Monde of Monaco itinerary (prices start at $8,999), sells out year after year. A Formula 1 racing expert hosts the cruise to get guests up to speed on all things F1. Plus, everyone gets grandstand tickets to the race on Saturday and Sunday. Other race weekend perks include a Formula 1-themed cocktail party and dinner overlooking Monte Carlo.
Enjoying a Trackside Hotel in England - Silverstone Grand Prix, July 4-6, 2025
In 2022, the Hilton Garden Inn Silverstone (about two hours northwest of London) opened right on the Silverstone Circuit’s Hamilton Straight, named after British racer Lewis Hamilton. During race weekend, the Hilton transforms from an operational hotel into luxury suites with views of the start and finish line, where fans will get the chance to see Hamilton himself zoom past. Race enthusiasts can choose from three different hospitality packages. The most basic one includes daily general admission tickets, prime track views, free-flowing drinks from beer to bubbles, food, and parking for $5,226 per person.