Which are the best value for money races on the current Formula 1 calendar? We’ve looked beyond the ticket prices to assess which F1 events offer the best deals!
According to our ranking of Formula 1 ticket prices in 2024, the Chinese Grand Prix takes the top spot for the cheapest race to attend on the calendar. That doesn’t necessarily make it the best value for money F1 event, however.
Diving deeper for this ranking of the best value for money F1 races, we’ve considered what’s on offer at each race weekend, the average price of race tickets and the average cost of attending each race, including on the ground costs such as accommodation and transport.
To work out the best value for money F1 races, we’ve looked at which races have the most on-track action (either as an F1 Sprint weekend or with multiple support races), which circuits offer free trackside concerts and which events offer free pit lane walks for fans, as well as the other unique perks of each venue.
This kind of ranking is not an exact science and your opinion may vary depending on your definition of ‘value for money’! Taking into consideration all the factors, below we’ve ranked what we consider to be the best value for money races on the current F1 calendar.
11. British Grand Prix
We kick off our list with the British Grand Prix. However, we’re including the Silverstone race only if you’re able to secure tickets before the controversial dynamic pricing model takes hold. Dynamic pricing has dramatically increased British Grand Prix ticket prices in recent years and has somewhat skewed the race’s position in our overall ticket price ranking. It ranks as the 20th most expensive overall but if you secure your ticket early, the cost is much lower.
Perhaps some of the raised pricing is justified, however, given what’s on offer at Silverstone over the 4-day race weekend. Formula 1’s birthplace, historic Silverstone always seems to offer up great on-track action, across all of the series which race on British Grand Prix weekend. Formula 2, Formula 3 and Porsche Supercup all take to the track at Silverstone in addition to the headline Grand Prix.
Off-track, Silverstone has established itself as one of the busiest race weekends. Four headline concerts from world-class music acts (including Stormzy and Kings Of Leon in 2024), plentiful driver appearances on the main stage, an extensive Fan Zone and the opportunity to take part in a Thursday pit lane walk all add to the value of British Grand Prix tickets. You can also check out the Silverstone Museum over the race weekend and enhance your experience further with inner-track passes.
10. Japanese Grand Prix
Suzuka is legendary. The drivers, the fans – pretty much everyone – love racing at this circuit. It’s a special place to be and the unique atmosphere is enhanced by the knowledgeable Japanese fans.
Japan is a relatively expensive country to visit (though the Yen has been weak in recent years) and Suzuka is one of the more difficult circuits to reach. Daily commutes and higher than average priced accommodation can add expenses to your trip.
However, the higher costs of visiting Japan are counteracted by the low cost of Japanese Grand Prix tickets. The race is particularly good value for money if you have tickets in the main V1/V2 grandstand.
Despite being the fifth cheapest main grandstand on the current calendar, in addition to the perks of being on the main straight – like seeing the pit garages, getting the best view of the start and celebrating on the track after the race with the podium finishers – here you’ll be able to soak up the Saturday night atmosphere with the special Eve Festival. Adding further value to your 3-day ticket, the track is also open on Thursday for a pit lane walk and access to the Fan Zone.
9. Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, Imola
You won’t get the big off-track performances at Imola when visiting the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix – but you do get a healthy dose of on-track action at one of F1’s most fabled circuits.
The Emilia Romagna Grand Prix is the only European race on the calendar which offers General Admission (or Circolare) tickets for under €100. Just €30 per day for F1, F2, F3 and Porsche Supercup action sounds like a very good deal to us! Bologna is a great base for the weekend, with plentiful and affordable accommodation in the city.
8. Italian Grand Prix, Monza
One of Formula 1’s most iconic venues makes our list of the best value F1 race weekends. Monza, the famed 100-year-old ‘Temple of Speed’, is located just outside of Milan – a major transport hub which is easy for fans to reach. Public transport to the track is reasonably priced and easy to find and although hotel prices in the area will be inflated when Formula 1 is in town, rates are not too extortionate.
It cannot be denied that ticket prices at the Italian Grand Prix have soared in recent years but for your money, Monza is still a pretty good choice.
On track, you get the full selection of support races, with F2, F3 and Porsche Supercup all racing. The latter two series each host the final races of their respective seasons at the Italian Grand Prix and, given the close racing in both series, you’re likely to witness title deciders!
There are no big name trackside concerts at Monza, but race organisers have expanded the Fan Zone offering at the track in the past few years. And of course, spending your weekend at the historic track with the immense atmosphere created by the passionate Tifosi is a major pull factor. If you want to see F1 cars flat out at a reasonable price, this is the race for you.
7. Azerbaijan Grand Prix
The Azerbaijan Grand Prix has one of lowest attendances of the entire Formula 1 season – which is actually a great thing for fans attending the event. Fewer queues, better access and reasonably priced accommodation see the Baku event appear on our list of the best ‘under the radar’ F1 races to attend in 2024.
If you’re local to Baku, the race is, unfortunately, by far the most expensive to attend for locals compared to the local average monthly wage. The race is, however, much more affordable for international visitors – so it’s no surprise that the event is welcoming record numbers of international ticket sales with each passing year.
An excellent Fan Zone experience, featuring nightly concerts, paired with exciting street racing in the heart of the historic city of Baku make the Azerbaijan Grand Prix an attractive proposition to travelling fans. A pit lane walk is also included for 4-day ticket holders and, with a lower attendance, the Azerbaijan Grand Prix is the only race that still offers autograph sessions with the drivers.
The only thing that could be improved in Baku is the amount of on-track action, with Formula 2 the only supporting series racing. That being said, the F2 races are usually highly entertaining!
If you’ve got some cash to splash, it’s worth considering an F1 Experiences ticket package at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix – access to the Paddock Club is cheaper here than at any other races on the calendar.
6. Spanish Grand Prix
The Spanish Grand Prix is a popular race to attend for many European F1 fans – and with good reason. Located close to the popular city of Barcelona, we rank the General Admission experience at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya as one of the best of the season, while tickets for the main grandstand on the pit straight are competitively priced compared to other races on the calendar.
The average cost of tickets ranks within the top ten of the 24 races on the calendar. Along with the F1 Grand Prix, you get an additional six races, with Formula 2, Formula 3 and F1 Academy all on track over the Grand Prix weekend. Trackside facilities at Catalunya have been modernised and upgraded recently and there’s also the opportunity for 3-day ticket holders to partake in a pit lane walk, though this has been capped at a maximum attendance of 3,000 for the firs time in 2024.
If you’re looking for a high-end experience, hospitality packages at the Spanish Grand Prix rank as some of the least expensive of the season and are well worth considering if your budget allows. You can also potentially get even more value for money by making your Grand Prix trip part of a longer holiday on the Costa Brava.
5. Chinese Grand Prix
According to our ranking of F1 ticket prices in 2024, the Chinese Grand Prix ranks as the cheapest race to attend in terms of ticket prices – though it’s not necessarily the best value event.
Although the Sprint format was used in 2024, giving fans an extra helping of racing action, F1’s traditional support races do not make the trip to China worthwhile, with the FIA F4 Chinese Championship and Porsche Carrera Cup Asia the only other action on offer. Race organisers did increase the off-track offering in Shanghai after its five-year absence from the calendar, with Martin Garrix headlining a trackside concert in 2024.
The good news is that Shanghai is an affordable city, with good quality accommodation available – and the out-of-city circuit is easy to reach via cheap metro rides.
4. Australian Grand Prix
If you want to get the absolute maximum racing action during a Grand Prix weekend, you’re not going to get any more than at the Australian Grand Prix. The four-day on-track extravaganza is packed with a stellar line-up of Formula 1, Formula 2, Formula 3, Porsche Carrera Cup and Supercars.
Arguably the best city park circuit on the calendar, Albert Park is a relatively cheap affair for both locals and fans travelling from overseas. Melbourne – which fully embraces F1’s presence with a range of special events on race weekend – has a good quality of accommodation and organisation, but you don’t pay a premium for it. In fact, average ticket prices rank within the top five cheapest on the calendar.
Local music acts add to the buzzing atmosphere of the lakeside track, which packs in well over 400,000 spectators across the race weekend. The event’s return to the season-opening slot in 2025 raises the value of tickets even higher.
3. Austrian Grand Prix
With Styria’s rolling green hills, it’s no wonder we’ve put the Austrian Grand Prix at number one for the best trackside views on the F1 calendar. The Red Bull Ring also tops our list of the best rural circuits – and the even better news is that the Austrian Grand Prix is one of the cheapest F1 weekends on the current calendar.
If you’re looking for a race where you can get great views from general admission areas and save costs further by camping trackside, this is the one to choose – but be aware that prices can rack up if you’re looking for a decent nearby hotel. Nevertheless, the race weekend overall is still good value.
For the past few years, fans at the Austrian Grand Prix have been given more racing action thanks to the F1 Sprint format being used. The additional Saturday race takes place at the Red Bull Ring for the third time in 2024. F2, F3 and Porsche Supercup are also in action, along with a unique Legends Parade featuring star drivers and cars from motorsport history. You can also enjoy a pit lane walk ahead of the race weekend for around €25 and get closer to the drivers with the “Styrian Green Carpet” before Sunday’s big race.
2. Bahrain Grand Prix
Few races are more eagerly anticipated than the season-opener – the slot which the Bahrain Grand Prix has occupied for the last four seasons. That won’t be the case in 2025, with Australia returning to the curtain-raising slot, but racing at Bahrain International Circuit is usually pretty good regardless.
Three support series are usually in action over the Bahrain Grand Prix weekend, including feeder series Formula 2 and Formula 3. There are two big name concerts each year, which in recent years have been headlined by the likes of Zedd, Diplo, Craig David and Afrojack, plus there’s a free pit lane walk for three-day ticket holders.
Another factor which makes the Bahrain Grand Prix exceptionally good value is the fact that free access to pre-season testing has been included as part of your race weekend ticket in recent years. That’s an additional two days of on-track running at no extra cost to the spectator. Although it won’t host the first race in 2025, pre-season testing is still expected to take place at the track.
There’s no General Admission tickets at the Bahrain Grand Prix, which makes the fact that the race ranks so well in our annual average ticket price ranking all the more impressive. Its position is helped by the Main Grandstand offering the fourth cheapest tickets in this category of the 24 races of the season. Despite this, the race is one of the least-attended of the season, with three-day figures rarely surpassing 100,000.
Accommodation in the local Manama area is reasonable (and many hotels are served by free shuttle buses to and from the track), though your spending costs will increase if you choose to eat at the generally expensive restaurants. Looking for a laid back trackside atmosphere and an experience that won’t break the bank? Bahrain is the race for you.
1. Hungarian Grand Prix
Beautiful Budapest at the height of the European summer is a pretty appealing idea even without there being a Formula 1 race just outside of the city. There are plentiful high quality hotels in the Hungarian capital and food and drink within Budapest needn’t be expensive.
For the F1 audience, transport to and from the Hungaroring is cheap and the city is one of few on the calendar which doesn’t capitalise by excessively raising accommodation prices when the sport is nearby.
We reckon General Admission access at the Hungarian Grand Prix is the best on the calendar, offering panoramic views around the track – and it’s inexpensive too, ranking as the fifth cheapest of the year. Want to upgrade to grandstand seats? They won’t break the bank either and are very affordable compared to other European races, but you’ll need to purchase early.
On track, F1 is complemented by the top tier junior series, Formula 2 and Formula 3, along with the Porsche Supercup. Racing action is usually of high quality at the track and while you won’t get big headline concerts here, there is a Fan Zone and tickets for Thursday’s pit lane walk can be secured for €25, if you want to have a four-day weekend at the Hungarian Grand Prix.
What about the other races?
Among the more expensive races on the Formula 1 calendar are the three stateside events, in Miami, Austin and Las Vegas. Miami and Vegas have little in the way of racing action to justify their extortionate prices, but Circuit of The Americas does have a good mix of support series, usually interesting racing and high-profile trackside concerts.
It may be better value for money for Americans to plan a trip to Montreal for the Canadian Grand Prix in June. The Canadian city is generally good value – inflated hotel prices aside – with reasonably priced tickets and relatively easy to navigate public transport.
Of the European races not mentioned above, we haven’t included the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort, mainly for its lack of top-tier support series in 2024. Neither F2 nor F3 will be racing there this year, with F1 Academy and Porsche Supercup instead filling the support bill. The Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps has also just missed the cut, while Monaco is, well, Monaco, with its high cost race tickets and local tastes which require a larger wallet than most other races!
The Singapore Grand Prix and the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix rank among the more expensive races of the season – but the value for money here is good if you’re looking for an experience that is more than just a race. Both events feature night time racing and plentiful trackside concerts (Singapore more so than Abu Dhabi) which are included in the ticket price. The Abu Dhabi race does, of course, have the unique pull factor of being the season-closing event. Fan of night time racing and want to experience trackside concerts? The Saudi Arabian and Qatar Grands Prix are cheaper options.
Race tickets in Mexico are particularly expensive, given that there are none of Formula 1’s established supporting series on offer, nor any trackside concerts. However, Mexico City is a relatively cheap city to visit, with inexpensive food and accommodation. It’s the opposite story in Sao Paulo, where tickets in Brazil are mid-priced but off track expenses can soon add up.
Attended the Hungarian GP this year (2024). Using the toilet would require 1h in a queue. The food was overpriced (more expensive than Silverstone) and it was food that had been there for hours and hours (not fresh at all). Leaving the circuit took 3h in a queue (either via bus or taxi). Again transportation not cheap. Hotel rates in Budapest were quite high as well. The amount of people attending is clearly way higher than the capacity of the circuit. You can’t barely move outside the stands.