As I said, I used to "walk the course" in Montreal, but the last time that was an exercise in futility, as my favorite old viewing points had all become off-limits. Fortunately, Road Atlanta still has lots of good viewing areas.
Modern F-1 races are not great to see the cars in action. It's all grandstand seating - there is some GA at COTA and you could still see some action with GA at Monza, Spa, and Silverstone -but it's hard. and you are really very far from the track. I know this sounds snobby, but unless I can do Paddock Club - it's a waste of time & $$$ to go. Even in the PDclub you really only see the cars up close 1 -2 x per day... maybe, usually you are above the pits. Its the closest you ever get to an F-1 car. I'm spoild from the days of the 70's -90's when you could get up close, and when my dad was taking pictures we had FIA credentials so you could literally walk the track right next to the barriers - anywhere except the FOCA TV or Paddock club areas. that all changed in 1994 - when Ecclestone changed all the photo / Media credentialing, to basically either their own people or circulation in the millions. that is why if you see photos from races today - they all look virtually the same - FIA only lets you have access to certain areas, and they own all your pics.
I could have purchased seats during the pre-sale but $1550 per ticket was about twice what I paid for Paul Ricard. No thanks. Will watch from the comfort of my living room.
https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/miami-f1-gp-track-far-from-a-race-in-a-car-park-masi/6727899/ Miami F1 GP track "far from a race in a car park" - Masi By: Adam Cooper Oct 30, 2021, 8:36 AM FIA Formula 1 race director Michael Masi says that the new Grand Prix that will be held in Miami next year won’t be just a “race in a car park.” Image Unavailable, Please Login After the original plans for an event adjacent to the ocean front were abandoned, the track is being constructed on land around the Hard Rock Stadium, which is owned by the race promoters. Masi, who recently visited the home of the Miami Dolphins to check on progress, insists that the track will not conjure up memories of the infamous Caesars Palace venue used for the Las Vegas GP in 1980-81. “It is a proper circuit,” he said when asked by Autosport for his impressions of the venue. “It is far from a race in a car park, considering the level of work that is ongoing there in a number of areas. “The facility is coming along really, really well and it will be something unique.” Masi added he was impressed by the way the promoters are building the track, while also running regular events at the stadium. “It is great, the way they are integrating,” he said. “I don’t envy them, the way they are having to integrate an NFL season between all the work they are doing and compartmentalise the work they are doing at the stadium. But I think it is a credit to them. Image Unavailable, Please Login Caesars Palace F1 track in Las Vegas drew criticism, but Masi is optimistic Miami won't be a similar story Photo by: Motorsport Images “They were doing major work there last week and then had to put everything back to a level for the Dolphins game to happen on the weekend, and start again on the following day. Miami is coming along really well.” Asked if there was room for a third venue in the USA, McLaren CEO Zak Brown said that the race will be the “hottest ticket” next year. “The market could definitely handle a third race,” he said. “It’s very complicated to put these races together, so the obvious wish list - New York would be great, Las Vegas would be great, any of the big markets, so I hope a third race happens. “I think this race here in Austin is yet to be secured. I’d like to see that happen, I think it will happen. “Miami I think will be the hottest ticket in F1 next year.”
I just checked the ticket prices, and the cheapest seats available for 3 days were $1293! That's over twice the price I paid the last time I went to a G.P., in Austin in 2015. Even inflation can't account for the price difference. If I ever go, I might go on Saturday only and watch the race on T.V. on Sunday from my hotel room! Otherwise, fuhgeddaboudit! https://www.vividseats.com/sports/formula-1-miami-grand-prix-tickets.html
An example of the sort of photo I used to take, when you could actually get close to the cars without a press pass, and with a ticket at a fair price. This is Watkins Glen in 1976. (Sorry about the faded color): Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
