VIP Experience Mclaren & OKX
A dream come true for every Formula 1 fan! I’m Lola, founder of RacingMediaGirls, and I had the honor of experiencing it firsthand a VIP experience at the Dutch Grand Prix. From the Paddock Club views to a garage tour and access to the paddock itself. Curious about how my day unfolded? You’re in the right place!
OKX & MCLAREN
I can already hear you thinking: how did you make that happen? My biggest dream was to get access to the Formula 1 paddock and take the followers of RacingMediaGirls along for the ride, knowing that my followers are passionate fans, fans who would savor every second of the content.
To make it happen, I sent out over 70 emails, until suddenly an opportunity from OKX crossed my path. OKX, one of the main sponsors of the McLaren F1 team. After a quick email and meeting, we established a collaboration. And that’s where it all began.
Thanks to that partnership, RacingMediaGirls was invited to experience the VIP treatment on Friday during the Dutch Grand Prix. The morning started in Amsterdam and was all about OKX. I was warmly welcomed, and I met a lot of other F1 influencers there. The morning kicked off with breakfast, followed by an introduction to OKX’s latest wallet and a hands-on workshop.
Then it was finally time! We received our Paddock Club passes and, riding in the OKX McLaren shuttles, were brought to the circuit in Zandvoort.
What's included in a Paddock club ticket?
Once we arrived and walked towards the Paddock Club, we were immediately invited to do a pit walk. The pit lane was open, and we got to see the pit boxes and garages up close. This is where the teams practice their pit stops, and you can get a glimpse of what a garage looks like from a short distance. For me personally, it was an incredibly amazing experience. Despite the crowd and my height, ;) I was able to see a lot.
Once that was over, we had to leave the pits and walked back to the Paddock Club, where we ran into Oliver Bearman! But what exactly is the Paddock Club? It’s a large, and above all, luxurious place to watch the races. In Zandvoort, you have a view over the pit lane and can walk around the entire first corner, so the sightlines are perfect! On top of that, there’s a fancy buffet with tons of food.
To get into the Paddock Club, you can either buy an expensive ticket or be invited by a brand. In my case, I was there with OKX. The space is divided into different areas for brands and team sponsors, and there are large screens where you can follow the race.
Several drivers also came by for short interviews, I even got to see Gabriel Bortoleto during his interview! But what exactly do you get access to with a Paddock Club ticket? Despite the name, it doesn’t include access to the Formula 1 paddock itself. What is included are things like a pit lane walk and a track tour. I personally didn’t do the track tour, but it’s possible, you go around the circuit in a large truck.
But then, the biggest surprise was yet to come.
Even though the pit lane walk and the Paddock Club were already an incredible experience on their own, the real surprise came next. A few OKX guests had the honor of doing a garage tour with McLaren. When I heard that, you can imagine I immediately took action. At first, I got the news that there were no spots left until someone didn’t show up, and suddenly I was in!
So what did this involve? You have the Paddock Club, but some teams also have their own lounges. I got a second pass granting me access to the McLaren lounge. Here, invited guests from the team and sponsors gather, with a private bar, sim racing setups, and a view above McLaren’s pit box.
I still didn’t know exactly what we were going to do until someone from McLaren walked towards us with the official VIP Formula 1 paddock passes! Holding them in my hands and wearing one around my neck was an indescribable feeling. Some of you might understand, some might not, but for me, it was a dream come true, a dream I had worked towards for years. Despite my previous job at Viaplay, I had never had access to the Formula 1 paddock.
The Perfect Ending to an Unforgettable Day
Filled with joy, we walked toward the paddock, because we needed to get there to see the McLaren garage. Since Zandvoort is relatively small, the paddock is split into two areas: the main paddock with hospitality zones, and the paddock that gives access to the garages. We were in the smaller paddock, heading toward the garages. Even the sound of the paddock scanner gave me goosebumps and suddenly, I was actually walking through the real Formula 1 paddock!
Before I knew it, I was inside the McLaren garage. Unfortunately, filming wasn’t allowed because the team was working on the cars, but just standing there with my own eyes, in a Formula 1 team’s garage, was something I had never dared to dream of. The experience, the smell, the sounds, the cars, is something I will never forget.
On our way back, we saw a number of drivers who were all going in the same direction.
We decided to follow and see where they were going, and it turned out to be the media center. After waiting for a little while, all 20 drivers came out of the media center and headed back toward the paddock.
Okay, I’ll admit it, I’m a fan of all the drivers and can usually keep a neutral perspective, but of course, I do have a favorite. So I couldn’t resist asking Lando Norris for a photo. The perfect cherry on top of an already unforgettable day!
Thank you OKX
Of course we would like to thank OKX a thousand times for this opportunity, for making my biggest dream come true, and for recognizing RacingMedia Girls. What an experience, and truly a day I will never forget.
But it didn’t stop there. Later that weekend, this dream was honoured once again. To read more about it, check out our experience with Aston Martin.
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