You can drive a Formula 1 car through several official and high-end commercial programs, primarily at world-renowned racetracks. The most accessible routes are official F1 Experiences, corporate driving days with teams like Ferrari or Aston Martin, and advanced racing schools. These programs are not cheap, with costs ranging from a few thousand to over ten thousand dollars for a handful of laps.
The most direct way for the public is through F1 Experiences, the official experiential arm of Formula 1. They offer packages at current Grand Prix circuits like Circuit of The Americas (COTA) in the USA, Silverstone in the UK, and Abu Dhabi. You'll drive a two-seater F1 car with a professional driver, or in some packages, you get limited laps in a true single-seater.
| Program Type | Example Provider/Location | Approximate Cost (USD) | Experience Offered |
|---|
| Official F1 Two-Seater Ride | F1 Experiences (COTA, Abu Dhabi) | $2,000 - $4,000 | High-speed passenger ride |
| Official F1 Single-Seater Drive | F1 Experiences (select circuits) | $8,000 - $12,000+ | Limited laps in a modified F1 car |
| Team Corporate Day | Ferrari, Red Bull, Aston Martin | $10,000+ (often invite-only) | Drive a past-season F1 car |
| Advanced Racing School | Formula Motorsport (France) | $6,000 - $15,000+ | Multi-day course including F1 car drive |
| High-Speed Supercar Tour | Various (driving multiple exotics) | $3,000 - $5,000 | May include an F1-style car for a session |
Another avenue is through corporate events hosted by actual F1 teams. Companies like Ferrari and Aston Martin occasionally host track days where clients can drive their past-season F1 cars. These are typically invite-only or arranged through exclusive corporate partnerships. For a more immersive training approach, advanced racing schools, such as Formula Motorsport in France, offer multi-day courses that culminate in driving a real F1 car, focusing on the skills needed to handle it.
It's crucial to manage expectations. These are incredibly complex machines, and your driving will be heavily supervised. You'll likely be in a car with significantly reduced power settings, and an instructor will guide you via radio. The goal is a controlled, safe taste of F1 performance, not a full qualifying simulation. The physical demand is immense; you'll feel incredible G-forces, and the requirement for neck and core strength is no exaggeration.
