Latest news with #PaddockClub
Times
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Times
First-class suites for Formula 1 fun
I'm reclining on a sunshine-yellow sofa, watching a couple enter the final throes of a chess game before flicking through a weighty tome analysing Lewis Hamilton's greatest achievements. Then 3pm rolls around and the couple dash to the terrace to watch the man himself race past at 200mph. The living room-like House 44 suite, a collaboration between Lewis Hamilton, F1 and Soho House unveiled at Silverstone, is the latest addition to the Paddock Club — the vast hospitality complex that overlooks the starting grid. In 2025 the suite will feature at the upcoming Netherlands, Italy, Mexico, Las Vegas and UAE grands prix. 'The House 44 suite is an amazing way of experiencing a Formula 1 race weekend,' says Lewis Hamilton. 'Working closely with Soho House and F1, I wanted to design a space I'd choose for myself if I wasn't on track.' Even the drinks are Hamilton-themed. At the bar, clad with studded metal panels recalling the stripped-back bodywork of a 1950s grand prix car, there's free-flowing Moët alongside cocktails made with Almave. Co-founded by Hamilton, it's the world's first non-alcoholic blue agave spirit brand. The House 44 layout and size will vary slightly depending on the track, but the capacity will stay between 100 and 200 people, making it smaller and more intimate than most F1 Paddock Club suites. The overall sense is of cosiness — it's not a place where you need to know your driveshaft from your DRS. My favourite spot? Perched next to the long, rustic wooden table, watching the on-track action on a screen suspended above a sideboard topped with pot plants and a stack of books pinioned by a starfish-shaped paperweight. If I could design my dream living room, this might just be it. Guests don't need Soho House membership — just a minimum of $12,000 (about £8,900) for a three-day race weekend ticket. Added extras include pit walks, paddock tours and appearances from Sir Lewis. The Singapore GP's Twenty3 is a multilevel trackside retreat famous for its multiple vantage points (you'll find it at the track's final turn, which means unbeatable views of the starting line and post-race fireworks) and entertainment — in previous years performers have included aerial silk acrobats and fire poi spinners. But it's the culinary offerings that put it on the map. Highlights include pop-ups from Michelin-starred chefs (at the GP in October sit-down restaurants will include one from the Seoul-based Soigné, which has two Michelin stars, and La Scène, a Paris bistro also with two stars). Meanwhile, pitstops for thirsty race fans will include one from Barcelona's Paradiso Bar, which bagged a spot in the top 10 of the World's 50 Best Bars 2024. Finally, it's worth bearing in mind this is a race where those vantage points are worth the expense. The action-packed Singapore GP — F1's first night-time race, wrapped around the spectacular Marina Bay — makes for a breathtaking backdrop. From £4,760 for a three-day ticket, A fun fact? The first Las Vegas GP took place in 1981, when the cars raced around the parking lot of the Caesars Palace hotel. There wasn't another Las Vegas GP until 2023, when F1's speed machines raced down the city's neon-lit Strip. Perhaps unsurprisingly the hospitality offerings are as extravagant as it gets, and the pricier offerings include the Gordon Ramsay at F1 Garage — with tickets starting from £20,000. A more affordable (but equally opulent) option for race weekend (in 2025 this will be November 20-22) is Skybox, with its Rat Pack-inspired decor (think vast expanses of red velvet and lots of feathers). This hospitality suite, above the Heineken Silver Main Grandstand, offers stunning views of the starting line while guests feast on gourmet cuisine and toast the race's return to Vegas with cocktails prepared by the city's top mixologists. Tickets include a Heineken Silver Main Grandstand seat in addition to suite access. The suite's proximity to the Heineken Silver Stage is a big draw — it's the setting for driver appearances as well as live music. From £6,530 for a three-day ticket, The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix's 360 at Sixteen hospitality area, which will launch at this December's event, will have a prime position — it will be located at turn 16, which means brilliant views of the finishing straight as well as the circuit's famous chicane section. It will be a multilevel lounge with leafy areas and terraces overlooking the pitlane. Perks for guests include pit walks and complimentary access to nearby attractions such as Warner Bros World Yas Island Abu Dhabi and the Louvre Abu Dhabi. Guests will be able to refuel at live cooking stations and at food trucks, although it's worth nothing this will be one of the few hospitality packages that includes only soft drinks — alcoholic beverages cost extra. From £1,200 for a four-day ticket, House 44 wasn't the only F1 Paddock Club suite unveiled at Silverstone — the Atlassian Williams Racing team revealed its beautiful suite at the British GP too. Created for guests invited by the team or its partners, it will appear at the Singapore, Austin, Las Vegas and Abu Dhabi GPs in 2025 (2026's races are to be confirmed). Although exact layouts might vary, staples will include a large central bar, an open-plan layout and vast expanses of dark oak and light stone, and a central stage will be the setting for appearances by team members, including drivers. The vibe? Decadent but fun — at the British Grand Prix there were menu holders made from wheel nuts, and guests can ask for their initials to be embroidered on to complimentary ticket wallets and luggage labels from Carl Friedrik (one of the team's sponsors). Marcus Prosser, the director of marketing at Atlassian Williams Racing, believes this bespoke approach is the way forward. 'Today the F1 hospitality landscape is shifting from a one-size-fits-all to more meaningful, personalised experiences,' Prosser says. Entry to the suite is by invitation only
%3Amax_bytes(150000)%3Astrip_icc()%2FTAL-lead-formula-one-budapest-ALISTKRISTINPOST0725-18276e45f37241cabb9e0a7a13cb0f0c.jpg&w=3840&q=100)
Travel + Leisure
29-07-2025
- Sport
- Travel + Leisure
How to Plan Your First Trip to a Formula One Race, According to a Travel Advisor
Formula 1 has rapidly grown in popularity in the U.S. in recent years, but attending one of these high-profile races is still a relatively new consideration for most Americans. And as each race takes over its host city for multiple days, planning your trip can quickly turn into an overwhelming experience. As a travel advisor with experience curating Grand Prix weekends for clients, I've developed a few strategies to make sure your F1 weekend is all green lights. The Grand Prix track and harbor in Monte Carlo, Monaco. A Formula 1 race isn't just about the race on Sunday—it's a multi-day event that includes practice on Friday and qualifying races on Saturday, as well as tangential events. There are several phases that add context to the big race, and can make the whole experience even more thrilling. For example, certain tracks, like those in Monaco and Singapore, are filled with narrow streets on which overtaking (when a driver passes another driver) is difficult, so a driver's qualifying performance—which establishes their starting position—is extremely important. But if your interest is more casual or you're folding the race into a larger itinerary, you may opt for race day only. Each city that hosts a Formula One race brings its own personality to the event. Monaco, for example, is pure spectacle: mega yachts, private terraces, and top-tier people-watching. It's about the scene as much as the sport. Belgium's Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, on the other hand, winds through farmlands and forest. It's a historic track that is best experienced with a guide by your side. One great hotel in the area to stay at is the Van der Valk Hotel Verviers. An alternative option for attendees is camping for the weekend. The Dutch Grand Prix is located in Zandvoort, Netherlands, a beachside location with plenty to do in the surrounding area. No matter which F1 race you are interested in, it's easy to find one that is personally interesting, whether it's for the social scene, track history, or unique traditions. Street market in Italy filled with racing souvenirs. Many F1 teams offer hospitality packages with pit-lane walks, team meet-and-greets, and insider access. The first time my family attended Zandvoort, our chosen experience included visiting the garages, meeting some of the drivers, and a personal ride to the track. Another option is the Paddock Club, a VIP program offered by F1 that typically includes private track access, fast-track entry, and dedicated hospitality lanes. Having attended logistically challenging races like Circuit of Spa-Francorchamps in Beligum, I can tell you that personalized services like this make a big difference. Singapore during F1 outside of major cities, like Monza in Italy or Suzuka in Japan, may require private drivers or heli-charters to avoid race-day headaches. At races where the track is close to an urban center—like Montreal, Singapore, or Zandvoort—you could feasibly hire a local driver or take public transportation to the gates. A travel advisor will take care of these logistics for you, but if you're mapping out your own trip, make sure your transportation is planned beforehand. Then you'll be free to tune into the spectacle around you, the strategy of each pit stop, and the sounds of engines that define one of the world's most thrilling traveling circuses. Kristin Chambers is a member of Travel + Leisure's A-List and specializes in destination celebrations, event travel, and family trips. You can create a tailor-made itinerary with Chambers at [email protected] .
Sydney Morning Herald
18-05-2025
- Automotive
- Sydney Morning Herald
Race-day riches, classroom crumbs: School on GP track pleads for help
A Melbourne primary school on the Australian Grand Prix track says it's stuck in the financial slow lane while the state lavishes cash on the annual sporting spectacle. South Melbourne Park Primary School sits inside Albert Park, and is trackside to the race each March. Since the school opened in 2019, parents say they've pleaded in vain for the state government to fund fixes to basic problems – chief among them, a safe school crossing on a busy road. The school council says the families of its 390 students are aghast at recent news that the state will spend $350 million on a new pit lane and on expanding the exclusive Paddock Club for wealthy race-goers. The school council described the government's move as adding 'insult to injury'. The government says it's already helping South Melbourne Park Primary manage the unique disruptions the race brings each year and that it is working on new solutions. Loading Being on the Grand Prix circuit brings major issues, the school says, including a procession of semi-trailers from January to April to set up and pack down for the major event that pose serious safety risks for children. The pedestrian crossing on one of the main access roads to the school, which is used by the big trucks, is not clearly marked and has no permanent crossing supervisor. Race-day crowds also churn up the school's adjacent play area, creating what parents says is dust bowl in summer and a mud pit in winter.
The Age
18-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Age
Race-day riches, classroom crumbs: School on GP track pleads for help
A Melbourne primary school on the Australian Grand Prix track says it's stuck in the financial slow lane while the state lavishes cash on the annual sporting spectacle. South Melbourne Park Primary School sits inside Albert Park, and is trackside to the race each March. Since the school opened in 2019, parents say they've pleaded in vain for the state government to fund fixes to basic problems – chief among them, a safe school crossing on a busy road. The school council says the families of its 390 students are aghast at recent news that the state will spend $350 million on a new pit lane and on expanding the exclusive Paddock Club for wealthy race-goers. The school council described the government's move as adding 'insult to injury'. The government says it's already helping South Melbourne Park Primary manage the unique disruptions the race brings each year and that it is working on new solutions. Loading Being on the Grand Prix circuit brings major issues, the school says, including a procession of semi-trailers from January to April to set up and pack down for the major event that pose serious safety risks for children. The pedestrian crossing on one of the main access roads to the school, which is used by the big trucks, is not clearly marked and has no permanent crossing supervisor. Race-day crowds also churn up the school's adjacent play area, creating what parents says is dust bowl in summer and a mud pit in winter.
FACT
06-04-2025
- Entertainment
- FACT
PARTYNEXTDOOR joins Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2025 concert line-up
The Canadian hitmaker will perform in Jeddah on Saturday, 19 April. Saudi Arabia, start your engines because the Formula 1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2025 is racing into town. One of the highlights is the after-race concerts, which include a star-studded lineup. Previous events welcomed A-listers, from A$AP Rocky and Alicia Keys to Justin Bieber, Pharrell Williams and Travis Scott, and this year's shows are set to be just as exciting. Brace yourselves because PARTYNEXTDOOR will be headlining the event in Jeddah. Hailing from Ontario, Canada, PARTYNEXTDOOR was the first artist ever signed to Drake's OVO Sound label, a pivotal move that positioned him at the forefront of the alt-R&B wave in the early 2010s. His self-titled debut mixtape, PARTYNEXTDOOR (2013), was a moody, genre-blending release known for the tracks 'Break from Toronto' and 'Make a Mil', laying the groundwork for the now-familiar OVO sound. He followed it up with a string of acclaimed projects, including PARTYNEXTDOOR TWO (2014) and PARTYNEXTDOOR 3 (2016), featuring hits like 'Recognize' with Drake and 'Come and See Me', which earned a Grammy nomination. Beyond his solo success, PARTYNEXTDOOR's songwriting credits read like a who's who of modern pop and R&B, penning chart-toppers like Rihanna's 'Work', DJ Khaled's 'Wild Thoughts' and Drake's 'Preach'. In February 2025, PARTYNEXTDOOR reunited with his longtime collaborator Drake for the surprise joint album $ome $exy $ongs 4 U. The project is a genre-defying showcase of smooth, late-night R&B infused with hip-hop swagger. Standout tracks include 'Gimme a Hug,' in which Drake delivers veiled bars aimed at Kendrick Lamar, and the fan-favourite 'Nokia,' a playful, synth-heavy jam with infectious energy. What is the Formula 1 STC Saudi Arabian Grand Prix? The Formula 1 STC Saudi Arabian Grand Prix returns to Jeddah from 18 to 20 April 2025. It is the motorsports' fifth visit to the world's fastest and longest street circuit, Jeddah Corniche Circuit. Visitors must book tickets to the Formula 1 STC Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2025 event if they want to see Usher in Saudi Arabia. Tickets for the race are now on sale and start from SAR 100 for general admission and go up to AED 30,200 for Paddock Club access for three days. Tickets to see PARTYNEXTDOOR in Jeddah are on sale now. The Canadian superstar joins the already-announced Jennifer Lopez, Major Lazer and Usher at the upcoming concert series in the Red Sea City. Check in with FACT for the latest things to do in Jeddah. GO: Visit for more information.
