Why do people go to events such as the F1 Grand Prix in Monaco?

The F1 in Monaco is one of those events that attracts the crowds. Ostensibly, they are there for the racing but, surely, not only that because the racing itself is a relatively small part of the full day. Certainly, they are not there for the fashion – the chance to dress up and show off a little - as is certainly the case with the polo in Dubai, and the Film Festival in Cannes. At those events, the temptation to dress up becomes almost de rigueur,but not at all the F1 which is often noisy, always crowded and, inevitably, pretty hot and smelly! So, do the crowds come just to be ‘in the crowd’; to be where things are happening; to be away from the loneliness of our increasingly connected but isolating world? 

At the F1 last year, I was on a yacht next to the track; right amongst the noise and the bustle. This year I watched from a high terrace above the track. From my eyrie, the visual distance not only reduced the volume - which can be almost painful - but allowed a more observant stance. Being a fashion buff, I looked for any general trends but found nothing except for caps like those from my Norwegian friends in St. Tropez. There was little else. So maybe, just maybe, all these people came for the racing, but I suspect that it was more about being where the action is, and simply being with other people!