I feel like the crowd really makes up for it. For example I was Mg at COTA 2021/2022 and all you see is the cars go on the straight but seeing the pit stops, pre-race stuff and the fireworks and all that is entertaining.
At Silverstone I was in Becketts which is a legendary section and the British fans were going HARD any time Lewis/Lando/George passed by.
For this race,FRI/SAT were very wild, I have a video of saturday night at 11 PM on the train full of fans just chanting for Alonso, Checo, Mexico, just anything everyone having fun lol. But Sunday was just dead. Sainz dropped off and Alonso wasn't really fighting much. Add the sun in our faces and that was just no fun
I will also say I choose EU races that have the whole package. I can't do an F1 weekend where theres only F1. At COTA i can take it because I am local but I am not spending money on a flight and tickets just to see F1 and Porsche Cup, I NEED F2 and F3 to make it worth it. Had I not met any drivers I would be writing a disappointing report here but I really mean it when I say that seeing them made the trip worth it as some of them are drivers I will never see again, but you could say I'm like a Tay Swift fangirl when it comes to those junior series as I really enjoy following their career development. It's like seeing a band go from the small room at the House of Blues up to the Amphitheaters or 6 PM festival slots