As a side note, if all is the same as last year you are quite ok to take in your own alcohol and sandwiches. Bag full of pre-mixed vodka red bulls (or at least asda's own make red bull) made for a day with incredibly little monetary outlay.
True (no glass bottles IIRC), what I meant by that is, if it is a beautiful day, being sat at home with fresh, cool, beverages in the fridge, and a BBQ in the garden etc. etc. would be the better option in my opinion.
I think this is a bit overly negative really, there is more to it than simply experiencing the sound.
It is the only thing IMO that makes F1 any different to a race ticket for a different series.
And find me a major sports event (or any event) where you get fancy food for cheap...I've never been to a concert, football match, race meeting or whatever where the food and drink has been especially nice unless its VIP hospitality. Quite simply I always try to avoid having to buy things at these events and nearly always take a sandwich. Eventually you do sometimes give in when it comes to ice cream and alcohol though.
It does vary, but the highest prices I've seen have been at Silverstone. The circuit sets prices for the food vendors within the circuit and frankly I think they take the ****, although possibly not considering what the Circuit charges for a 'pitch'. Not strictly a circuit, but I went to Santa Pod two weeks ago to watch some drag racing and the selection and price trounced pretty much everywhere else I've been.
I have gone to Oulton Park all these years simply because there is so much to see and do, you just have to have the interest to find it. The sound of motorsport is only one element that makes it so great to go and watch, there are so many things you don't appreciate simply watching on TV. Even at the GP at Silverstone where paddock access is not really available, there should be still a lot to see.
Oulton Park is a lovely track to visit, and it pretty much got me hooked on going to BTCC races.
My point is that what F1 offers (at three times the cost) over a BTCC weekend for instance, is simply not enough -- infact, it's nothing, and it comes not only at a financial cost... but because F1 is such a big event there, the sheer weight of numbers have a hugely negative impact on most things (not least the traffic, the toilets, queues etc. etc). The only thing that was better about F1 at Silverstone, that I experienced, was the sound - in every other way it was a less enjoyable weekend for me than BTCC, LMES/ILMC or Britcar 24.. which says a lot as for the 24hr last year I slept outside, in the rain, on the rubble at Vale.
It used to be the case that F1 testing at Silverstone gave you three days of on track action and paddock access for £10, that was a no brainer and I have fond memories of that....
As for toilets, etc, well, I've heard bad things with regards to Silverstone so I hope that is improved.
Toilets at Silverstone are fine, probably above average for a UK cicuit, but like I say, with 130,000 people all using them they
get pretty bad.
Nicest toilet I've seen at a circuit was the new ones they've built at Knockhill... faux granite and marble from memory...
... I know it sounds negative, but when I was an F1 fan it was hard enough to justify, and these days where my tastes have widened, F1 just doesn't cut the mustard for me ---- having said all that, I might get a Friday ticket and camp over on the Friday night. See some F1 cars before it get's too busy... then enjoy the atmosphere camping in the evening.
