Valentine\u2019s Day is on the horizon, and you might be wondering how to spend the day of love. Now, this doesn\u2019t have to mean candlelit dinners and soppy playlists \u2013 especially if Formula 1 plays a big part in your relationship!<\/p>\n
Whether you bonded over cancelling Sunday plans for race day, have heated strategy debates or even argue about your favourite circuits, there are plenty of ways to put a little (or large!) F1 spin on the most romantic day of the year.<\/p>\n
Cosy nights in<\/p>\n
If staying in feels more your style, there are plenty of options for something a little more intimate:<\/p>\n
Have a Grand Prix-inspired night in<\/p>\n
The premise is simple: pick one of your favourite race weekends and build your evening around it! Start off with a Grand Prix-inspired menu \u2013 whether it be an Italian night for Monza or Imola, tacos and margaritas for Mexico, or an Australian-inspired spread to mark the pending season opener in Melbourne. Pair it with a themed cocktail or mocktail (a Singapore Sling would go down a treat!) and suddenly dinner transports you straight to the circuit.<\/p>\n
Once you\u2019ve plated up, pull up highlights from Grands Prix gone by \u2013 the races that made you fall in love with that circuit in the first place \u2013 then settle in and enjoy.<\/p>\n
Front row seats on the sofa<\/p>\n
Thankfully, sometimes the best date night doesn\u2019t even need a reservation. Grab some popcorn, dim the lights and settle in for a movie night. Whether it\u2019s F1 The Movie (Apple TV), Rush (Netflix), Senna (Netflix), or one of the many documentaries on the sport, it\u2019s an easy win for a relaxed and cosy evening in. Front-row seats and full control of the rewind button \u2013 what more could you want?<\/p>\n
Get crafting!<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re feeling crafty and after a Valentine\u2019s date idea that\u2019s low-pressure but still super meaningful, making F1-inspired beaded bracelets is always a winner. Settle in with some snacks, and pick your favourite drivers\u2019 names or numbers, team colours, or even some iconic meme quotes to adorn your accessory! Whether you end up swapping bracelets at the end of the night or end up keeping them as good-luck charms for the season ahead, it\u2019s a low key but wholesome evening.<\/p>\n
If you or your partner fancies yourselves a budding engineer, why not fuel that passion by spending the evening crafting your favourite teams\u2019 F1 car… in LEGO of course! Every team is represented, and sets range from quick builds to something a little more time consuming \u2013 so there\u2019s something to suit every skill level. Put some music on, pour a drink, and see which of you has the patience and precision of a race engineer!<\/p>\n
Out and about<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re up for getting out and doing something a little different, here are some ways to spend the evening out together:<\/p>\n
Lights out at F1 Arcade<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re both missing F1 (and let\u2019s face it, who isn\u2019t?), the F1 Arcade makes for a really fun Valentine\u2019s date. With F1 Arcades in London, Birmingham, Boston, Atlanta, Washington, Philadelphia, Denver and Las Vegas it is the perfect way to get a mid-winter motorsport fix.<\/p>\n
Jump into the simulators, have a laugh comparing lap times, then slow things down a little with good food, cocktails and music once the racing\u2019s done. Race as much or as little as you want \u2013 but a little competition never hurt anyone!<\/p>\n
Karting date<\/p>\n
If you are a competitive couple, then how better to celebrate Valentines Day than going up against each other on track? Going karting is a great option to fuel your love for adrenaline… or perhaps even to settle any disagreements you may have!<\/p>\n
If you head to F1 DRIVE in London, then there\u2019s also the option for dinner and drinks to enjoy post-chequered flag. Perhaps buying the drinks or letting the winner choose the playlist on the way home is a suitable forfeit for the runner-up?<\/p>\n
Grand gestures<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re thinking of something bigger than a single night, there are plenty of ways to make Valentine\u2019s Day feel unforgettable…<\/p>\n
Book a table at Ristorante Cavallino<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re the kind of couple who loves a romantic getaway, then we reckon this one could be hard to beat. A table at Ristorante Cavallino in Maranello sits right next to Ferrari\u2019s base, and that alone gives the evening a sense of occasion, not just for the Tifosi, but any motorsport fan.<\/p>\n
While it might be hard to justify a trip away for a single meal, this works perfectly as part of a bigger romantic trip. Jet off to Italy, soak up the country\u2019s deep-rooted love for motorsport and turn the dinner into one stop on a longer adventure. With Florence, Venice and Bologna all within reach, it\u2019s easy to imagine this becoming the start of a memorable Italian road trip!<\/p>\n
Prep a Las Vegas Grand Prix wedding<\/p>\n
Though slightly unconventional, an F1-themed wedding doesn\u2019t get more on-brand than saying \u201cI do\u201d at the Las Vegas Grand Prix over race weekend!<\/p>\n
The bright pink chapel has become a staple of the paddock in recent years, with plenty of F1-obsessed couples tying the knot \u2013 often with an Elvis impersonator conducting the ceremony (this is Las Vegas after all). While some decide to get married on impulse during the weekend itself, others plan the whole trip around their wedding, making it a perfect Valentine\u2019s Day idea to start plotting together.<\/p>\n