London: The cost of attending one Formula 1 race is pricey enough, but is it possible to attend all 24 grands prix this season on a £20,000 budget? One British fan thinks it can be done. Brandon Burgess, 29, set off on his epic journey of five continents and 21 countries in March and hopes to show fans it is achievable to go and enjoy the sport many consider a rich man's game.
According to BBC, Burgess, who has been an F1 fan since the age of two, recounted his experience at the Dutch Grand Prix, stating, "It's been my ultimate dream." Following the Hungarian Grand Prix in Budapest before the summer break, which was round 14, Burgess had £9,221 left in his budget, with 12 days of his annual holiday time remaining. The next race on his list is in Italy at Monza in a week's time.
With a limited budget, Burgess is carefully selecting how many days he attends at each event. For instance, in the Netherlands, he opted for two days of track action, including Saturday's qualifying and Sunday's race. The British Grand Prix in July was a financial relief for him as he stayed at his flat in London and took a train to Milton Keynes, shuttling from there to the race.
Youth is on Burgess's side as he uses his savings to fund his travels. He remains optimistic about completing his mission, although he admits, "It's going to be very tight." The European races have been more budget-friendly, but with eight flyaway races still to come, including Singapore, Mexico, Brazil, and Las Vegas, the financial challenge will intensify.
Burgess has made strategic decisions to save money, such as staying in a capsule hostel in Zandvoort and splitting accommodation costs with his girlfriend in Austria. The Japanese Grand Prix in Suzuka required a brief visit to keep expenses down. Despite these challenges, he continues documenting his journey on Instagram, sharing travel tips with other fans.
The hybrid nature of his job allows him to work remotely, which has been beneficial. He utilized a work-from-abroad scheme during the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix and chose not to fly home between Bahrain and Saudi to minimize costs. Aston Martin recognized his challenge and offered him a garage and paddock tour in Saudi, marking a significant highlight of his journey.
Burgess has formed connections with fans worldwide, enriching his solo travel experience. As a lifelong Ferrari supporter, he hopes to witness a Ferrari grand prix win, particularly one for Charles Leclerc, to complete his ultimate F1 experience.