When Brandon Burgess, a 29‑year‑old Brit who works full‑time in finance, announced his plan to chase every grand prix of the Formula One 2025 season on a shoestring £20,000 budget, the motorsport world took notice. Operating under the brand Full Time Formula, Burgess is documenting the quest across TikTok, Instagram and YouTube while juggling just 28 days of annual leave. By mid‑May 2025 he had already ticked off a quarter of the 24‑race calendar, a feat that blends obsessive fandom with gritty logistics.
Why This Challenge Matters
Fans travel to a single Grand Prix as a rite of passage; few ever dream of a season‑long pilgrimage. Burgess calls his venture a "once in a lifetime" moment, a personal "now or never" gamble that mirrors the classic English football "92" pilgrimage, where supporters visit every league club. The difference? F1 races span five continents, demanding visas, time‑zone shifts and careful budgeting. If successful, Burgess will set a new benchmark for fan‑driven travel narratives.
Mapping the Marathon: Planning the 2025 Calendar
Planning began in earnest during 2024, when Burgess built a spreadsheet that broke down each event’s flight costs, accommodation, local transport and meals. He keyed in exchange rates, aiming for an average spend of £833 per race. The first leg took him from Melbourne for the Australian Grand Prix in March, through Bahrain and Saudi Arabia in the Middle East, before crossing the Atlantic to Austin, Texas.
By May 15, 2025, Burgess posted a long‑form YouTube Q&A (the first of many) confirming he had completed 6 races – exactly one‑quarter of the season – and was "having a blast". He highlighted the emotional high of watching a safety‑car‑free sprint in Italy and the camaraderie of meeting local fan clubs at each venue.
Social Media Footprint and Community Response
On TikTok, Burgess’s @full.time.formula clips routinely rack up 50‑80 k views, showing cramped hostels, snack‑stand hauls and quick‑fire race recaps. Instagram stories capture the sunrise over the Zandvoort circuit before the Dutch Grand Prix, while his YouTube channel, now over 12 k subscribers, serves as a weekly vlog archive.
The reaction has been overwhelmingly supportive. Fellow fans have offered couch‑surfing slots, while local racing clubs in Japan and Canada sent him memorabilia. Even Aston Martin F1 featured him in a brand story, praising his dedication to the sport.
Balancing a Full‑Time Job with a Global Sprint
Every race demands a 2‑day travel window – a morning flight out, a race day, then an evening departure. Burgess strings these together, using weekends and public holidays to squeeze in the required 28‑day leave. His employer, a London‑based consultancy, granted him the flexibility after a series of well‑crafted proposals that framed the trip as a personal development experience.
Physical fatigue is real. Jet‑lag, cramped economy seats and the constant scramble for cheap meals test his stamina. Yet he reports that the thrill of hearing the engines at Spa‑Francorchamps and the scent of burnt rubber at Silverstone outweighs the exhaustion.
Impact on Fan Culture and Future Aspirations
Beyond personal glory, Burgess’s expedition has sparked a conversation about accessibility in motorsport. Critics argue that a £20,000 budget, while modest for a wealthy fan, remains out of reach for many. In response, Burgess has launched a "Fan Fund" initiative, inviting donations to subsidise travel for under‑represented supporters.
Looking ahead, the next stop after the summer break is the Dutch Grand Prix – a race known for its vibrant seaside atmosphere. Burgess plans to hold a live‑streamed Q&A from the paddock, allowing followers to ask real‑time questions about logistics, race strategy and the emotional roller‑coaster of being on the road for weeks.
Historical Context: Fan Pilgrimages in Motorsport
While pilgrimages to multiple races aren’t new – die‑hard fans have visited every race of a season since the 1990s – no one has attempted a full‑season attendance on such a strict financial ceiling. The closest comparison is the "F1 Fan Tour" run by a Japanese travel agency in 2019, where participants spent upwards of $30,000 for 12 races. Burgess’s lean approach, leveraging budget airlines, hostels and fan‑hosted accommodations, could redefine what’s possible.
What’s Next? The Road to Zandvoort and Beyond
As of late July 2025, Burgess’s ledger shows £5,800 remaining, enough for the final eight races if he sticks to his average spend. He’s already booked a night‑cap on a train from Brussels to Zandvoort, aiming to arrive early for the pre‑race fan zone. The next major challenge will be the United States Grand Prix in Austin, where visa paperwork and a longer trans‑Atlantic hop could strain his remaining leave days.
Regardless of the outcome, Burgess wants his story to inspire other fans. "If I can do it, anyone can try," he told a local newspaper in Rotterdam. "It’s not just about ticking boxes; it’s about the people you meet and the memories you create."
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Brandon Burgess fund his £20,000 budget?
He combines his regular salary with sponsorships from small motorsport brands, ad revenue from his YouTube channel, and occasional donations via his "Fan Fund". All expenses – flights, hostels and meals – are logged publicly to maintain transparency.
What travel strategies does he use to keep costs low?
Burgess flies with budget airlines, uses overnight trains where feasible, and stays in hostels or with fan hosts he connects with through social media. He also eats local street food and pre‑books tickets in advance to avoid price spikes.
Which race has been the most challenging so far?
The Singapore Grand Prix proved toughest – the night race meant a later arrival, expensive city‑center hotels, and a strict quarantine rule that added paperwork and a small extra cost.
How are F1 teams reacting to his project?
Teams like Aston Martin F1 have featured him in digital content, noting that fan dedication adds to the sport’s global appeal. No official partnership has been announced yet.
What advice does he give aspiring fan‑pilgrims?
Start with a detailed spreadsheet, prioritize cheaper races early in the season, and leverage social media to find local hosts. Most importantly, stay flexible – flight delays and visa hiccups happen, so have backup plans.
Dina DiCicco
October 6, 2025 AT 01:39Honestly, this kind of fan pilgrimage is a brilliant demonstration of dedication, 🔥 and it sets a benchmark that most casual viewers could only dream of achieving. 🚀