A Guide to Attending an F1® Race in the Formula 1 Paddock Club™

What you get with the MoneyGram Haas F1® Team Hospitality Suite through F1® Experiences

Seating

With the team suite you get an assigned table seat inside the suite. If you do not have a suite and just have general Formula 1 Paddock Club™ access, you are in a general seating area where there are lounges and stand up tables. Outside seating for the races is open seating, but everyone stands over the railing.

With the Formula 1 Paddock Club™ and a team suite, you are covered from the elements and climate controlled. It rained every day in Montreal during the race and on a sunny day it can get quite hot, having a suite was great.

Guest Speakers

For the MoneyGram Haas F1® Team Hospitality Suite they brought in the actual drivers of the cars and the team principal for about 10 to 15 minutes in between the races. If you could catch them on the way out, they were willing to take photos and sign autographs quickly.

Garage Tour

One of the highlights was a garage tour where they will take you down to the garages while they work on the cars. It's about a 30 to 40 minute tour, where you can take pictures in front of the cars and they explain what goes on in the garage.

During the garage tour you also get temporary VIP access to the areas behind the garages. There are where the teams have setup shop. While we were in this area, I saw a few drivers coming in and standing around.

Pit Lane Walk

In between the sessions, they will open up the pit lane where you can see the teams working on their cars and they practice their pitting. More spots to take pictures with the garages and cars in the background.

Track tour

For the track tour, they put you on a huge flat bed and they whisk you around the track and explain the intricacies of the track.

Gift

Every day, as you leave, you will receive a gift. I received a nice Corksickle branded water bottle, a MoneyGram wallet, a HaaS team hat and a nice pair of Palm Angels sunglasses.

Food

They feed and feed and feed you. In the Formula 1 Paddock Club™ the food changes daily. It's not your ordinary food. It is some of the best food I have had for a sports event. Ranging from lobster to filet mignon. It’s comparable to an upscale restaurant. There is free flowing wine, champagne and beer. There is no liquor, but the wine and champagne are quality.

Views

With the Formula 1 Paddock Club™ and MoneyGram Haas F1® Team Hospitality Suite you get a view of the start and finish line. You are free to roam around to various areas to see a few turns. Since you are above the garage, you will be able to see the teams pit and change their tires up close. You are literally above multiple garages. The views are of the start and finish line, the first turn and the final turn. You will see drivers here and there as they walk around the garages.

Advantages of booking accommodations through F1® Experiences

The best advantage of booking through F1® Experiences is the transfer to and from hotels to the venue. If you book with the accommodation option with F1® Experiences, the transfers are included. If you do not have transfers to and from the race, you would have to take the metro or Uber. This varies from city to city. It was well worth it to be able to sit in traffic on a comfortable motorcoach (with Air Conditioning), rather than wait in line for about 30 minutes for an Uber or cab. Taking the metro is even a longer walk and you are queuing up with tons of other people. It was well worth it.

Accommodations with F1® Experiences

Accommodations range from three stars to five stars. I was at the Warwick Le Crystal while some were at the Holiday Inn.

Recommendations

If you are on a slightly limited budget I can still help with booking a general ticket package with accommodations to receive the included transfers. The only thing with the various ticket packages is that you will be in the same seat every day. You can still walk around to see various parts of the track but your seats will be the same. With certain seats you will have views of the television screen to see the race, so missing the action will not be an issue. There are add-ons (such as tours) that might be available but are included with the Formula 1 Paddock Club™.

If you are looking for hospitality access, Formula 1 Paddock Club™ is highly recommended. You still receive access to a nice view, all inclusive food and drinks, a covered seating area to stay dry and be in a climate-controlled environment.

If you want exclusivity, a team suite such as the MoneyGram Haas F1® Team Hospitality Suite, then a suite is the way to go. With the suite you get the garage tour, an assigned seat at a table for eat and drink and a more intimate area for watching the race, in addition to the same access as the Formula 1 Paddock Club™. The team suite is within the Formula 1 Paddock Club™.

If you want more exclusivity, I recommend the Champions Club or the Garage Suite.

If you are going to your first race and want hospitality, I would start with a team suite first such as the MoneyGram Haas Team Suite, it might be good enough. If they crave more, then the next race books the Champions Club or Garage Suite. I have a feeling once you go with the Champions Club you won't want to come back down.

Each city will vary but if you are planning on attending the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal, Canada I would recommend two places:

• Joe Beef: The iconic French bistro, the food is amazing here.

• Okeya Kyujiro: This is a theatrical omakase experience, some of the best omakase I have ever had. It is well worth it.

For both places, plan ahead and get a reservation early.