• The Inside Line

No country for old men

The Russian Grand Prix appears on the calendar just two weeks after Japan © Getty Images

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Since the 2015 calendar was published a few weeks ago, there have been all manner of media moans about the illogical distribution of races, with complaints concentrating on the six standalone flyaways and the added cost such races bring to those of us who earn our keep following Formula One around the world.

At the risk of teaching my grandmother to suck eggs: you're doing it wrong. I may have been in this sport for a scant five years, but with a travel budget of just over half of that spent by the bulk of my more experienced colleagues, I believe I can confidently assert that there's a knack to doing F1 on the cheap, and some people just don't have it.

While my early days in this sport involved far more coaches, public transport, long hikes, and youth hostels than most people would be comfortable with, it's not so hard to save money and see the world as an F1 journalist. And it's those much-derided standalone flyaways that make a low-cost life of Riley possible.

To fly from Europe to Asia and back to Europe between races, before heading back out east on another return flight is, simply put, madness. Each return journey costs around £800-£1,000, while for the cost of a budget airfare and an off-season hotel (less than £500 together, on average), those members of the travelling circus without family commitments can use each standalone race as an excuse to visit pastures new.

As a side effect of F1's crazy schedules, the footloose and fancy-free among us have this year racked up trips to Thailand, Vietnam, and Indonesia, all by taking advantage of those much-loathed standalone flyaways. Because they're only standalones if you choose to go home.

Even when there's no chance of a break between races - such as the forthcoming Suzuka-Sochi back-to-back - a surprising number of F1 press corps has elected to fly from Japan to Europe on Monday, landing on Tuesday, and then heading back to the airport on Wednesday to start the trip to Sochi.

While there are a lot of frequent flyer miles to be earned from these endless long-haul economy flights, the more savvy among us spotted that - for some strange reason - it was cheaper to do the entire home-Singapore-Tokyo-Sochi-home trip in business class than it was to make any combination of trips in economy. And there are far more miles to be earned when one turns left, not right, upon entering a plane.

Of course, the buzzword for many is family commitments. Partners and children don't respond well to being left alone for a month at a time, even if the difference between staying out in Asia and heading back to Europe adds up to a mind-boggling £5,000-£6,000 over the course of a season.

But with savings like that, why not fly the old ball and chain out for an Asian adventure as the season heads towards the final run of races? It's much more fun, honest!

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.

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