Fans are being let into ‘the inner sanctum’ of F1 – for a price

Doha, Qatar CNN — With just 20 driving spots up for grabs, the vast majority of motorsport enthusiasts will never know what it’s like to sit behind the wheel of a Formula One car. “We want people to come to Formula One – that’s our job,” F1 Experiences president Keith Bruce told CNN ahead of the Qatar Grand Prix in December. “It’s great to watch it on television or streaming on your phone, but ultimately, our goal is to make you want to get on a plane, get in a car, get on a train and come to a Formula One race anywhere around the world.” From Australia in March through to Abu Dhabi in December, packages are offered for all 24 races that will span 21 countries across the 2025 season. “You get to see the chicanes, you understand the curvature of the track, you really get an appreciation for the elevation and also the technicality that goes into managing 60 to 70 laps around a Formula One circuit.” The track tour takes guests on a guided lap of circuits like the Red Bull Ring, host of the Austrian Grand Prix. Joe Klamar / AFP via Getty Images Backstage pass The more expensive packages can secure passage into what Bruce dubs the “inner sanctum” of F1: the paddock.