You can. You can do this after the race is complete (without exiting back to your launcher) or a replay. I
assume this would work in VR too because it does in non VR.
Once the race starts(from the race that you just ran or replay) and your sitting in the cockpit. Hit F7. Now your in dev free roam where you can "fly" to any place on the track. Arrow keys and mouse.... hold ctrl (arrows) to travel faster around the map. Go sit in the stands or sit at the top of Eau Rouge at Spa
This does work in non VR. Lets see if it works for your VR
. If you don't have dev enabled, the F7 key wont open free roam.
The only way this wont work is when your in VR and hit F7, that free roam in VR becomes disconnected. Or the VR only works in the cockpit (if that makes sense).