9 best F1 driving experience UK 2023 | The Sun UK

FEW things are more exhilarating than blasting around a track at full speed during an F1 driving experience day.

Watching supercars on TV is fun, sure. But, most hardcore F1 fans will probably want to get behind the wheel of a professional supercar themselves.

The best F1 experience days are on many people’s bucket lists, but like rally driving, flying, and hot air balloon experiences, these once in a lifetime opportunities are pretty expensive to make a reality.

Don't worry though, there are plenty of affordable options that will allow you to take to the track in a genuine F1 car without breaking the bank.

For an experience similar to driving an F1 car, it's worth trying a simulator. While not quite the real thing, remember that seasoned F1 drivers use simulators to familiarise themselves with certain tracks as well as brushing up on racing lines and braking points.

Simulator experiences are cheap too, often coming in at under £50 for a decent amount of 'track' time.

If you fancy some open-wheel action but can't quite stretch to the £1,000+ that's often required for full-on F1 experiences, there are lots of affordable experiences to book.

And, there are plenty of F1000 driving days out there, which is essentially a miniature F1 car. They have significantly less power and pace than the real thing, but for very little money you can find yourself behind the wheel of a single-seat race car at one of the UK's finest tracks.

You could also try F4, which are track-prepared race cars that can hit up to 165mph. These single-seaters are seriously quick and will test the mettle of even the most hardened motorsport fans.

Then there are, of course, the actual F1 experiences. If your budget allows you, can pay to jump into one of your own for the day. Expect plenty of professional tuition, as well as sighting laps and warm-ups in slower open-wheel machines before you drive the real thing.

Any of these options make a great present for racing fanatics. So whatever it is you're looking for and whatever your budget, these are the best F1 driving experiences available.

Best F1 driving experiences at a glance

Virgin Simulator Race Experience

• Virgin Simulator Race Experience, £45 from Virgin - buy here

The cheapest way to feel as though you’re driving an F1 car is a simulator. This £45 deal from Virgin Experience Days gets you 60 minutes driving time and the chance to experience four different Grand Prix races.

The top three drivers in your session will also be presented with a trophy, in case you're feeling competitive. Plus, you get at least seven races — so there are plenty of chances to show off your skills.

There are no weight or age limits, so this experience is open to all. However, you do have to be 4ft 5 and over, and under 16s need to be accompanied by an adult.

Location: Halifax and Chandler's Ford, Hampshire; Time in car: 1 hour; Type of car: Simulator; Price: £45

Silverstone Supercar Experience

• Silverstone Supercar Experience, from £449 at Silverstone - buy here

Silverstone is one of the world's most famous driving tracks, and for £449, it's yours to race on for the day.

Over the course of 2.5 hours, you'll race three exhilarating supercars: the McLaren 620R, Ferrari F430 Coupe and the Aston Martin Vantage. While behind the wheel, you'll get 1 to 1 coaching from an ARD professional instructor. You'll get a demonstration lap in your first car and then a total of three laps in each.

Plus, at the end of the day, you'll get a package of professional photos and videos (for an extra fee). And if you buy directly through the Silverstone website, you'll also receive two tickets to the Silverstone Museum (worth £50). It's the perfect day out for any car fanatic.

Location: Silverstone, Northamptonshire; Time in car: Unspecified; Type of car: McLaren 620R, Ferrari F430 Couple, and Aston Martin Vantage; Price: £449

Single Seater Racing Car Driving Experience with Passenger Ride for Two

• Single Seater Racing Car Driving Experience with Passenger Ride for Two, £109 from Virgin Experience Days - buy here

If you want to experience breakneck race pace around a race track without having to get your hands dirty, this might be the experience day for you. It's an experience for two people, and you'll both be driving single-seaters. The minimum age for this one is 17, and under 18s will need parental/guardian consent.

You'll get the drive for yourself with an instructor leading the way for 6 miles around a track. You can choose from a range of uniforms, styled after your favourite teams. And then, you'll each finish with a high-speed passenger ride in a performance saloon with your expert instructor driving you.

The experience includes a full safety briefing, safety equipment and professional instruction, so you can rest assured that you'll be safe.

Location: Leicestershire; Time in car: Unspecified; Type of car: Single-seater; Price: £109

Formula 1000 Single Seater Race Car Experience

• Formula 1000 Single Seater Race Car Experience, £124 at Virgin Experience Days - buy here

To get your feet wet in the world of high-speed racing, it's tough to beat an experience day in a Formula 1000 car.

These cars boast an incredible power-to-weight ratio which will blow your hair back.

On arrival at the experience day, you'll have a safety briefing before kicking off with four sighting laps.

Then, you'll get a high-speed passenger lap before getting behind the wheel yourself and driving eight exciting laps at race pace in a single-seater. Yep, that means unrestricted high-revving of the 1000cc Suzuki engine.

Again, you'll need to be between the ages of 17 and 80 to take part.

Location: Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire; Time in car: Unspecified; Type of car: Single-seater; Price: £124

F4 Single Seat Driving Experience

• F4 Single Seat Driving Experience, £279 from Buyagift - buy here

Another option and one that’s slightly faster is going down the F4 route.

As part of this package you’ll be heading to the legendary Brands Hatch circuit, one of the UK’s most iconic and challenging tracks.

You’ll begin by doing 15 minutes of driving time in a new BMW M4, before graduating to the F4 car in what’ll be a memorable day for any car fan. With a top speed of 165mph and a thrilling, race-spec sequential gearbox, these things are rapid.

Then, to round off the experience day, you'll hop back into the BMW for a high-speed passenger ride. Designed by Ralph Firman, this car is still used in official British Racing Drivers' Club races today, so it's perfect for adrenaline junkies.

Location: Hatch, Kent; Time in car: Unspecified; Type of car: BMW M4 and F4 single-seater  Price: £279

Jordan F1 Car Driving Experience

This is where things start getting serious. These experiences with Virgin involve tackling the 2002 Jordan EJ12, driven by Takuma Sato.

With a screaming 3.0-litre V10 engine that revs up to 18,200 rpm, it puts out 835bhp and hits over 200mph. In short, it’s a beast.

The more affordable experience day of the two starts with 4 sighting laps (including one high-speed passenger) and 20 reflex training and throttle control exercise laps on the Memphis Circuit. Then, moving onto Circuit 112, you'll get 4 sighting laps and 10 driving laps in the F1000 single-seater or Ariel Atom behind a pace car.

And finally, you'll move into the Jordan on the B-17 Bomber Circuit and do 4 sighting laps (including one high-speed passenger) and 10 driving laps (including introductory pace laps).

The more expensive package of the two, however, involves driving solely in the Jordan EJ12.

Location: Hemel Hempstead; Time in car: Unspecified; Type of car: Jordan EJ12; Price: £650

F1 Driving Experience in Barcelona

• F1 Driving Experience in Magny-Cours, £3,455 from Red Letter Days - buy here

Red Letter Days offers drivers the chance to get behind the wheel of a real F1 car on a real F1 circuit: the world-famous Magny-Cours in Nevers, France. This is the circuit that staged the French Grand Prix from 1991 to 2008.

On arrival, you'll have coffee and snacks before getting kitted out in your safety equipment and having a briefing from the pro instructors. Then, you'll get out on the track and learn braking zones, turn-in points and the racing line before finally taking the wheel of a single-seater Formula 3 vehicle.

After two sessions and debriefs, you'll trade into a motor racing car (either V8 Benetton B198 or V8 Prost) for three laps. The car will be capable of 0 to 120mph in under five seconds and have carbon brakes and paddle shift gear change.

The downside of all this fun is that the experience will set you back £3,455. It's expensive, but it's also the ultimate driving experience day.

Location: Nevers, France; Time in car: 10 hours at venue, time in car unspecified; Type of car: Single seater Formula Renault 2.0 F3 and either V8 Benetton B198 or V8 Prost ; Price: £3,455

Red Bull Racing Formula One Team Factory Tour for Two

This one doesn't involve any actual driving, but it's a winner if you're looking to treat a hardcore Verstappen or Pérez fan.

You and a loved one can spend the day exploring the Red Bull Racing F1 Team Factory in Milton Keynes, getting up close and personal with some incredible supercars. As you'll know, the owner of the drinks company — Dietrich Mateschitz — bought the remnants of Jaguar racing from Ford back in 2005 and founded an F1 team after formerly sponsoring a number of drivers.

You might not be able to drive the cars, but you can look and touch as much as you like.

You can also visit the new MK-7 facility, where you'll find a number of Red Bull Racing's best cars. And at the end of the day, you'll take home a special gift to remind you of the experience.

Location: Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire; Time in car: N/A; Type of car: N/A; Price: £600

Goodwood Track Day

• Goodwood Track Day, from £130 from Goodwood.com - buy here

Follow in the steps of racing legends Jim Clark and Sir Jackie Stewart and spend the day racing at Goodwood. You can choose to book a half day for £130 to £220 (depending on the noise limit day), or a full day for £250 to £425.

This one is less about the car you're driving and more about the track since you'll be driving your own car throughout the whole day.

If you book a half-day experience, you'll get at least three 15-minute driving sessions. And if you book a full day, you'll get double the amount.

On both experience days, you'll receive a full briefing with the Chief Driving Instructor, a buffet lunch, and barista-style tea and coffee throughout the day. The price covers this for one person, but can also have guests join you for lunch for an extra £21 per person.

Location: Goodwood, West Sussex; Time in car: Half day = 3 x 15 minute driving sessions, full day = 6 x 15 minute driving sessions; Type of car: Your own; Price: £130

How much do F1 experiences cost?

The cost of an F1 experience varies depending on a number of factors. If you want to spend a whole day driving the fastest cars on the most famous tracks, you're going to be spending upwards of £1,000.  However, if you're happy to book a shorter session, drive a car that isn't as fast, or spend half of your time in the passenger seat, you'll be able to save money. The cheapest way to do it is by booking a simulation experience.

Are F1 driving experiences safe?

There are risks associated with driving at super speed, but all of these driving experiences start with a safety briefing. You'll never be put in a dangerous situation, you'll always have the necessary safety equipment, and you'll be surrounded by experts who give you continuous coaching.

Are F1 experiences worth it?

If you read the reviews of each and every one of these experiences, you'll see that nearly all of the customers would say the experiences are worth it. To give yourself the best chance of being happy with the experience, read the itineraries thoroughly to ensure it meets your expectations.

Where to buy Formula 1 driving experience days

You can buy a Formula 1 driving experience day at a range of experience gifting sites and through the sites of the tracks themselves, for example:

Do I need a driving licence for an F1 experience day?

For every F1 experience day that involves driving an actual car, you'll need a full driving licence. If you don't have a driving license, you can book an F1 simulator race experience or museum experience instead.

How many Gs do F1 drivers experience?

The average G-force in Formula 1 is about 6-7G. They'll typically experience 5G while braking, 2G while accelerating, 0,6G when bouncing, and 6G while cornering.

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