The first official Formula 1 exhibition takes place between March 24 and June 4. For more than two months, at IFEMA Madrid, Spanish fans will be able to immerse themselves in the history of the premier class of motorsport. We tell you everything we know.
In the midst of endless rumors about Madrid’s interest in hosting a Formula 1 Grand Prix in the surroundings of IFEMA, the celebration of F1 Exhibition – Formula 1 La Exposición in the Spanish capital was announced. Although it is not a race, it is the first official exhibition organized by the premier class, and it makes clear the good harmony that exists between Madrid and F1.
Since Liberty Media took control of Formula 1 at the end of 2016, the championship has radically changed its relationship with its fans. It is no longer a hermetic category, with different actions that make fans feel like they are on the circuit, with a greater presence on social networks and initiatives such as the Netflix series “Drive to Survive”.
F1 Exhibition was born with the aim of bringing the history of the championship to the fans, and the IFEMA venue, in Madrid, has been the first place chosen in the world.
Beyond the interest that exists on the part of the city in hosting a Grand Prix, we cannot ignore the fact that there are two Spanish drivers currently running in F1, and that the new generations – even those who did not see a win to Fernando Alonso in 2005 and 2006 – are also interested in F1.
What will be at the F1 Madrid 2023 Exhibition?
The official Formula 1 exhibition will have a total of seven rooms, in which visitors will immerse themselves in the history of the championship, which was officially born in 1950 with the British Grand Prix, at the Silverstone Circuit.
The rooms will be the following:
-
The Human Race: A Short Film presents the story behind Formula 1 and explains why the essence of motorsport continues to captivate an ever-growing audience.
-
Once Upon a Time in Formula 1: This gallery combines large-scale photographs, never-before-seen memorabilia and short documentaries with over a hundred interviews with the sport’s most renowned personalities.
-
Design Lab: This room simulates the visitor being in a factory, offering an exceptional vision of how the teams develop the parts of the single-seaters. Among the exposed components, you will be able to see a hybrid F1 engine and also the 2020 Alpha Tauri AT01.
-
Survival: Here you will find the car from the terrible accident that Romain Grosjean suffered at the 2020 Bahrain GP, in which he miraculously saved his life after a spectacular fire. There will be an exhibition dedicated to the pioneers who, throughout the championship’s history, have sacrificed to improve the safety of the sport.
-
Drivers & Duels: This room is inspired by the race tracks and explores the pivotal moments of the great F1 champions. It includes a Hall of Fame, a large interactive display, and an extensive collection of historical items.
-
Revolution by design: Thanks to the collaboration with different F1 teams, this room will show some of the key designs in the history of the sport, with special attention to pioneering cars and components, as well as immersive projections.
-
The pit wall: It is the last room and the culmination of the F1 Exhibition experience in Madrid. It will be a six-minute sound and light show about the 73-year history of the premier class of motorsport.
There is enormous secrecy around the parts and cars that we will be able to see in the exhibition, but it has been anticipated that, in addition to the Haas VF-20 with which Grosjean suffered the accident at the 2020 Bahrain GP, the AlphaTauri AT01 with which Pierre Gasly achieved his first victory at the 2020 Italian GP.
Prices and tickets for the F1 Madrid Exhibition
The F1 Exhibition will be located in Hall 1 of IFEMA (Avda. Del Partenon, 5 28042 Madrid, Spain). The expected duration of the visit to the exhibition is one and a half hours and is recommended for people of all ages. At the end of the exhibition there will be an official store where you can buy items related to the show and F1.
Visiting hours are:
- From Tuesday to Thursday and Sunday: from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Last show at 6:30 p.m.
- Friday and Saturday: from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Last show at 7:30 p.m.
Tickets for the F1 Exhibition can be purchased through the Fever platform, which is what the official page of the exhibition redirects to. Prices vary depending on the type of ticket (general or flexible) and availability at the time/day chosen. The general ticket allows access at a specific time/day, while the flexible ticket allows you to attend at any time on the chosen day.
In addition, there are cheaper prices for ‘packs’ such as family and special rates for groups. Prices, with general admission for adults (+13 years), start at €17.99. The price, with a flexible ticket (at any time) would be €27.99, but it may be higher if there is high occupancy. Children under 3 years of age enter free and parking, for a fee, costs €2.85 per hour.
