Inside F1’s $10,000 ticket
Wealthy racing fans spend extraordinary sums for the best vantage points at the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne each year.
Cashed up F1 fans spent thousands to get the most out of the Australian Grand Prix.
More than a dozen trackside locations cost more than $1000 per day, while top tier experiences pushed beyond $10,000 for three days of action.
Porsche, Ferrari and Mercedes invited customers to take part in exclusive F1 experiences that sold out quickly.
Folks without a car showroom on speed dial spent up to $4595 for a single day’s access to the Red Bull Energy Station, or up to $14,000 for a ticket to the F1 Paddock Club.
Food and alcohol are included in the ticket prices, as are gifts and VIP appearances.
We popped in to the Porsche Pavilion on Saturday, where former Red Bull F1 driver Mark Webber told customers that Oscar Piastri was Australia’s best hope for a world championship title.
Customers received personalised caps, first class catering and a panoramic view of the first two corners on the circuit.
The price? $7895 for three days.
Mercedes superfans took in the action from the AMG Lounge on the back of the circuit. Significantly cheaper at about $4000 for the weekend, the AMG Lounge is a much larger space.
Mercedes customers could also spend an extra $2500 or so to test drive high-performance cars on the track.
Casa Ferrari is closer to the heart of the action, positioned on the main straight opposite the exit for pit lane.
Home to millionaire Ferrari customers and cashed-up celebrities, the “Casa” is a three-storey tall structure that feels like a garden party combined with a wedding reception in an Italian villa.
It’s the sort of space that sells out quickly, despite costing about $10,000 for three days.
Ferrari’s top customers often buy spare tickets to share the day with friends, family and business connections.
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Factor in business class flights, luxury dinners away from the track, plus five-star accommodation, and it’s likely some couples spent about $50,000 for a weekend’s entertainment.
That’s a big number.
Then again, the Casa Ferrari ticket costs less than 1 per cent of the purchase price for the brand’s top models – and putting in an appearance at the Grand Prix could help customers rise through the ranks of folks waiting to receive their next Ferrari.
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