Mike, Joanna and Willi share their expertise attending the 2025 Austrian Grand Prix on the Purple Bull Ring.
2026 Austria F1 Tickets / F1 Experiences / Graz Lodging / Austria F1 Fb group
The 2026 Austrian Grand Prix will probably be held on June 26-28
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Mike from the USA
General, we had a reasonably good weekend in Austria, however this race could also be a ‘one and achieved’ in my e-book. For reference, I’ve been to COTA and Montreal earlier than. The lack of the dash format was an enormous loss to the in-person expertise and worth, for my part. I want we had waited till they introduced the dash calendar earlier than shopping for tickets.
The surroundings surrounding the Purple Bull Ring was lovely, with a backdrop of mountains, multi-turn views from many grandstands and plenty of elevation modifications. Related if not higher than COTA. The potential of an incredible race weekend is there. The climate was fairly brutal, even for somebody from the southern U.S. It was nearly as scorching as at COTA. This was clearly out of our management, however the climate nearly single handedly zapped the whole expertise and vibe of the group on Sunday.
We actually loved the Euro tenting/competition vibes and native tradition on the Purple Bull Ring. The Mercedes truck techno bro pool celebration factor was hilarious. The airshow and nationwide anthem with the helicopter hanging the Austrian flag was fairly epic. Everybody was very nice general.
The group was fairly stable general, trackside costs have been considerably inexpensive for a big occasion, and the organizers have been fairly lenient about letting followers usher in their very own foods and drinks. Crowds and queues have been inside the realm of expectations for an occasion like this.
We stayed in Graz and took the prepare to Knittelfeld every day, adopted by the shuttle bus to and from the circuit. If doable, I’d keep nearer to the monitor subsequent time. Graz was an incredible base and far bigger than I anticipated, however attending to and from the monitor took round 2.5 hours every time. This meant we had minimal time to see or do something in Graz, and barely sufficient time to seize dinner after a protracted day on the monitor. This wasn’t helped by the truth that many eating places stopped serving meals after 9pm.
Between catching the native Graz metropolis bus from our resort to the prepare station (15-20 minutes), taking the Einfach Raus/Styria leisure regional prepare to Knittelfeld (1.75 hours), Knittelfeld shuttle to the monitor (15-20 minutes) and at last half-hour to stroll, queue for safety and enter, we misplaced half of every day in transit! Staying in Knittelfeld and solely having to take the shuttle could be rather more handy!
We purchased the Purple Bull C,D,E Nook Hopping bundle, the place you sit in a special grandstand every day. General we actually appreciated it, and it was cool to pattern completely different viewpoints. We have been actually stunned by the Begin-Ziel (Major) grandstand on Friday.
I’m unsure whether it is particular to this race, however the audio expertise was on a special degree because the sounds of the automobile appeared to resonate inside the grandstand construction. The views of the pits have been additionally very cool. The Steiermark grandstand on Saturday was additionally actually good, but when I had the selection, I’d choose greater up seats in part A or B of the Purple Bull grandstand for race day to get higher views of the infield.
On race day, we sat in part C of the Purple Bull Grandstand and it was general fairly good. The one draw back is that the seats allotted to Nook Hopping packages are fairly low (we have been in row 9). If we come to the race once more, we might simply do Sat and Solar individually, and take a look at to decide on the Begin-Ziel (Major) grandstand for Saturday and both the Purple Bull A/B (row 20 or greater) or T3 grandstand for the race. The entire grandstands we sat in had entry to water, bathrooms, foods and drinks concessions, and respectable monitor audio and visual screens. They weren’t giving out free Amex radios at this race.
I’d suggest this location in the event you’re considerably native or primarily based in Europe, or in the event you’re touring from additional away and add a while to discover the area earlier than or after the race. I’m unsure I’d be capable to justify solely going to the race if touring a great distance. We added on a roadtrip via the Alps and loved this as a lot or perhaps greater than the precise race, to be trustworthy.
General, I’m glad I went, but it surely could be my final in-person F1 expertise. The hassle/enjoyable/consolation ratio is waning and I’m a bit uninterested in baking within the solar for a number of days in a sea of individuals for an opportunity to observe a mediocre race, all of which requires a good quantity of journey planning and logistics.
Joanna from the UK
Having simply skilled my first F1 weekend as a UK customer, right here’s my suggestions for F1/Austria newbies for subsequent yr. We flew in from London to Vienna and stayed in a resort in Vienna, selecting to journey to the circuit by prepare every day.
We had T10 grandstand passes for the weekend. Firstly, it might appear apparent however the circuit is hilly! Very hilly! Wherever from T3 to T8 grandstands, you will have some severe uphill strolling to do. Coupled with the heatwave and 30° temperatures we had, it made the stroll troublesome (and we have been fortunate to be pretty low down in T10).
I’d positively take into account the elevated price of the lined Begin/End grandstand in the event you wrestle to sit down within the solar. I do know the climate received’t at all times be the identical however Austria in June is at all times going to be scorching (and with a excessive likelihood of thunderstorms!).
The shuttle buses from the monitor to Knittelfeld prepare station have been environment friendly and dependable. Not as soon as did now we have to attend for transport. Each time we arrived at Knittelfeld there was a shuttle bus ready, and on leaving the monitor there was a queue of buses ready for us. The one draw back was a stroll of roughly quarter-hour from the monitor to the shuttle buses. After the race, we have been again in Knittelfeld inside an hour and I’m not a fast walker
Lastly, we stayed in Vienna and though the trains have been ridiculously low-cost (in comparison with the price of UK trains) and the surroundings is attractive, it’s nonetheless 2.5 hours every method to and from the monitor. I’d positively pay extra to remain nearer to the circuit subsequent time as we left the resort at 7am every morning and didn’t get again till 9.30-10pm every evening. Graz was highly regarded once I researched. A great deal of people who have been staying in Graz received on the prepare at Bruck. I hadn’t thought-about Graz, however I’ll positively have a look at staying there if I return to this race.
All in all we had a wonderful weekend and would extremely suggest Austria. Bucket checklist ticked!
Willi from Austria
I had Paddock Membership tickets and general a really completely different expertise than most of you. No queues for drinks or meals 🙂 With a paddock membership ticket you’ll be able to drive on to the primary entrance passing all of the checks. There’s a shuttle that brings you from the car parking zone to the paddock membership entrance in case you are too lazy to stroll for 5 minutes. On the entrance you scan your go and get a wristband. (The parking sticker is admittedly robust to get off after the race!)
You’re greeted with a glass of champagne and may take photos with a duplicate of the motive force and constructor trophy on the entrance. The monitor tour on the truck for the drivers’ parade and the photograph safari (at Turns 5-6) have been tremendous attention-grabbing. For the photograph safari, you had to enroll early within the morning since they solely had about fifteen spots obtainable. The pit lane walks every day have been nice as nicely, particularly watching the mechanics heat up and seeing follow pit stops up shut.
The F2 and F3 paddock tour with an skilled host was one thing for actual followers. Final yr, Christian Mansell defined his F3 automobile and confirmed us how DRS works. This wasn’t included within the tour this yr, sadly. There have been additionally some talks and interviews with F2 and F3 racing drivers however I didn’t attend them.
I really feel that 90% of the friends within the Paddock Membership couldn’t title greater than three drivers. Most friends have been in all probability invited by sponsors or got the tickets. You hardly see anybody truly following the classes. I ended up watching the beginning of the race from the lounge on a giant display. Watching a pit cease from above was nonetheless a spectacular factor to see. Part of the terrace straight overlooks the rostrum, however after all it was fully full.
That they had F1 simulators operating the official recreation, however you couldn’t flip off brake help, which made it not very enjoyable. The meals from Do&Co was good with loads of choices, however nothing too particular. Surprisingly, they didn’t have any Purple Bull drinks this yr.
One of the best a part of the Paddock Membership ticket was truly the total entry to the help paddock for F2, F3 and the Porsche Supercup. It was principally one lengthy pit lane, with F2 tents on one facet and F3 tents on the opposite. You may stroll round freely and watch the groups work on the vehicles. The mechanics have been joyful to reply questions. We have been there earlier than and after the classes. It was wonderful to face simply half a meter away from the vehicles as they lined as much as go away for the F1 pit lane. These vehicles are extraordinarily loud. After every session, you may watch the vehicles return to parc fermé and stroll throughout the entire pit lane for weighing. Some drivers have been greeted by family and friends. It was whole chaos when F3 returned and F2 have been coming into the monitor on the similar time! You may simply find yourself blocking a automobile or mechanic. Typically you needed to step right into a storage tent simply to get out of the way in which. You have been proper in the course of the motion.
Do you get to see F1 drivers? The Paddock Membership ticket doesn’t provide you with entry to the precise F1 paddock, however you’ll be able to wait within the morning close to the paddock entrance (proper subsequent to the Paddock Membership entrance), or attempt to spot a driver from the balcony overlooking the paddock. You can even see into the primary flooring of every motorhome from there. There’s one F1 storage tour included which was proper within the morning earlier than a lot of the workers had arrived.
Till this yr, parking proper in entrance of the primary entrance was included with the ticket. Now you need to pay €150 further. You get to the freeway pretty shortly after every day, however you’ll nonetheless find yourself caught in visitors. I solely misplaced about 20 minutes this yr after the race, however I assume that relies upon rather a lot on what number of development websites are on the freeway. This yr it was faster than final yr.
I didn’t must pay something for the ticket, however actually I don’t assume it’s well worth the cash. I’d slightly pay for a help paddock go (for F2 and F3) and watch the race from the Flip 3 grandstand.
In Temporary
The next feedback are from members of our Going to the Austrian Grand Prix group on Fb who attended the occasion.
Conrad: We stayed in Vienna and determined to drive every day forwards and backwards. This was trouble-free on Friday and Saturday, when it took 2.0-2.5 hours every manner. After the race on Sunday we received within the automobile at 6:13pm and received again to our resort at 11.53pm. 5 hours to get house after the race. We might positively take into account staying nearer to the Purple Bull Ring subsequent time.
Natalie: First time on the Purple Bull Ring for us. Flew from Bristol to Vienna, then employed a automobile. We stayed in a ravishing village referred to as Steinberg-Oberberg, which is round 15 minutes from Graz. Drove to the circuit every single day (took simply over an hour). Parking was nice Friday and Saturday however Sunday it was horrendous getting out of. We had basic admission tickets which have been nice to be trustworthy (aside from the queue to get in on race day!). General an incredible weekend and one I’ll subsequent neglect!
Suzzi: We took the bus from Graz they usually received us in very effectively however getting out was troublesome as they held the buses again on each Saturday and Sunday. We have been again in Graz round 9pm each days so it was lengthy. If I did it once more I’d take the prepare from Graz so then no less than you even have the liberty to remain/ go on the monitor after the race. We needed to rush again for the bus solely to be sat for ages ready to get out. Scorching temperatures and never a lot shade anyplace, so you might want to be ready for it. Such an superior monitor although, totally suggest the race itself. We had a blast!
