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Questions and answers about going to a race weekend
#236645
While I'm in Southern France, the Monaco F1 Grand Prix will be going on.

I'm wondering if anyone on here has ever been to the Monaco Grand Prix? If so, where did you sit? Where the seats any good for watching the race? How did you travel to & from the race? Or if you have any other experiences that you care to share, please do so.

Also where is the best place to buy Tickets for the Monaco Grand Prix? Last time I got tickets was from F1.com, just wondering if there is anywhere better?
#236711
Hmmm, where to start? I love Monaco and have been on 10 occasions over the years during which time, I have sat in most of the grandstands and quite a few terraces around the circuit. As we all know, it may not be one of the best races (in terms of lack of overtaking, slowest speeds in the F1 calendar etc) but it is the best to attend without question imho. I have always stayed in Monaco for the week thus avoiding the hassle of going to and from each day. The train service along the coast is good, as are the frequent bus services but they do not run all night. If you are staying in the Principality, do NOT take a car as it is impossible to park unless you prebook a space at a crazily expensive hotel. There are several benefits of staying in town, but going out in the evenings and enjoying the atmosphere or watching the activity in the garages as teams mend crunched chassis, checking out the parties on the superyachts - whose is biggest, Bernie's, Flavio's (Been a year or two since I last went!) or maybe the Force India knees up?!
Race tickets - for the Thursday practice sessions, you can buy them down there, no problem. I recommend the 'K' grandstand in the harbour leading up to the pool complex. You may not want to pay the price for these seats on the Saturday/Sunday so is a good opportunity to check out the viewpoint. If you make your way up to the back row you can also see the start/finish straight and the run down to St. Devote, also the practice starts which are fun, if somewhat deafening!
For tickets to quali and the race, the official ACM (Automobile Club de Monaco) site is best where you can choose your grandstand and your exact seat in advance. Otherwise, again it is usually possible to buy tickets when you are there and you can also search around the various bars and restaurants who have terraces and perhaps book a table in one of those. Sure, you might pay EUR200 for a pizza and salad but you also get your view of the circuit!

I could continue and bore everyone senseless on this topic! Have to sign off for now though.

8-) RR 8-)
#236745
Hmmm, where to start? I love Monaco and have been on 10 occasions over the years during which time, I have sat in most of the grandstands and quite a few terraces around the circuit. As we all know, it may not be one of the best races (in terms of lack of overtaking, slowest speeds in the F1 calendar etc) but it is the best to attend without question imho. I have always stayed in Monaco for the week thus avoiding the hassle of going to and from each day. The train service along the coast is good, as are the frequent bus services but they do not run all night. If you are staying in the Principality, do NOT take a car as it is impossible to park unless you prebook a space at a crazily expensive hotel. There are several benefits of staying in town, but going out in the evenings and enjoying the atmosphere or watching the activity in the garages as teams mend crunched chassis, checking out the parties on the superyachts - whose is biggest, Bernie's, Flavio's (Been a year or two since I last went!) or maybe the Force India knees up?!
Race tickets - for the Thursday practice sessions, you can buy them down there, no problem. I recommend the 'K' grandstand in the harbour leading up to the pool complex. You may not want to pay the price for these seats on the Saturday/Sunday so is a good opportunity to check out the viewpoint. If you make your way up to the back row you can also see the start/finish straight and the run down to St. Devote, also the practice starts which are fun, if somewhat deafening!
For tickets to quali and the race, the official ACM (Automobile Club de Monaco) site is best where you can choose your grandstand and your exact seat in advance. Otherwise, again it is usually possible to buy tickets when you are there and you can also search around the various bars and restaurants who have terraces and perhaps book a table in one of those. Sure, you might pay EUR200 for a pizza and salad but you also get your view of the circuit!

I could continue and bore everyone senseless on this topic! Have to sign off for now though.

8-) RR 8-)



Thanks for the info, keep it coming if you want.

The ACM (Automobile Club de Monaco) load up for me. It just says please wait.
#236750
Hmmm, where to start? I love Monaco and have been on 10 occasions over the years during which time, I have sat in most of the grandstands and quite a few terraces around the circuit. As we all know, it may not be one of the best races (in terms of lack of overtaking, slowest speeds in the F1 calendar etc) but it is the best to attend without question imho. I have always stayed in Monaco for the week thus avoiding the hassle of going to and from each day. The train service along the coast is good, as are the frequent bus services but they do not run all night. If you are staying in the Principality, do NOT take a car as it is impossible to park unless you prebook a space at a crazily expensive hotel. There are several benefits of staying in town, but going out in the evenings and enjoying the atmosphere or watching the activity in the garages as teams mend crunched chassis, checking out the parties on the superyachts - whose is biggest, Bernie's, Flavio's (Been a year or two since I last went!) or maybe the Force India knees up?!
Race tickets - for the Thursday practice sessions, you can buy them down there, no problem. I recommend the 'K' grandstand in the harbour leading up to the pool complex. You may not want to pay the price for these seats on the Saturday/Sunday so is a good opportunity to check out the viewpoint. If you make your way up to the back row you can also see the start/finish straight and the run down to St. Devote, also the practice starts which are fun, if somewhat deafening!
For tickets to quali and the race, the official ACM (Automobile Club de Monaco) site is best where you can choose your grandstand and your exact seat in advance. Otherwise, again it is usually possible to buy tickets when you are there and you can also search around the various bars and restaurants who have terraces and perhaps book a table in one of those. Sure, you might pay EUR200 for a pizza and salad but you also get your view of the circuit!

I could continue and bore everyone senseless on this topic! Have to sign off for now though.

8-) RR 8-)


Please still be around when i get around to going to Monaco!!!!
#236772
Hey supraman, this is the link to the ACM F1 site - http://www.formula1monaco.com/
Hope that works!

The biggest plus about Monaco, from a spectators point of view, is that you are closer to the circuit and the cars than most if not all other tracks around the world. The fact is that if Monaco had never hosted a Grand prix before and only now approached the FIA with plans to hold one for the first time it would never happen. The first race in 1929 would have been a much tamer affair with no armco barriers to speak of. The 1960's and 70's and the cars were more powerful, with divers in the harbour ready to fish any drivers who may have overcooked the run down to Tabac. Now, the cars have so much power that the tiny streets of Monaco seem like an insane place to hold a Grand Prix. An agreement was signed last year between Bernie and the ACM for another 10 years of racing there - hooray for that!

Here's an idea of the view from 'K' grandstand on Thursday practice, 2008. (hope this works, not uploaded a video on here before) -

Image

By the way, the friday in Monaco, when there is no F1 action of course, all grandstands are free to sit in. (about the only thing that you do get for free in Monaco!) It is well worth seeing other practice sessions or a GP2 race - in 2008 we watched Bruno Senna drive to victory from a great viewpoint in Casino Square.
Here's the view -
Image
#236779
Hi Supraman,

No sales pitch just an honest up front explanation before I offer any advice. I run a travel & hospitality company specialising in the Monaco Grand Prix and I also like to help other F1 fans so I am a member of various discussion groups and forums where I do so. I've just joined this forum so I hope I can help F1 fans here too. Why? At some point you might know someone who is looking for a travel package to an F1 race but wants a specialist who adds value to arrange the details and specifics for hotels, transfers, hospitality, pit lane or garage access, driver meets, etc. and if I've helped you then you might put them in touch with me, simple as that.

K is a good stand, starting at K1 and going up to K8b. K1 is the best out of them but is already sold out for the Sunday. T is good too as you can see into the pits (you have to be high though not in one of the lower rows), having said that it might be better now on the Saturday than the Sunday as there is no refuelling so pit activity on Sunday will be less than previous years. There are restaurants along the circuit also where you will be able to watch the race and have the benefit of private toilets (instead of having to wait in lengthy queues at the public ones), waiter service, lunch included, etc. but these are obviously more expensive than a standard grandstand seat. If that's of interest I can point you in the right direction.

And one of the other posters is right - if you are staying outside of Monaco travelling by rail is easiest and the best place to buy tickets only is direct from the ACM, their website has panoramic views from each grandstand so you can check out the view and choose your seat before you purchase tickets. If the site is not working properly for you try a different browser and you may have to download Microsoft Silverlight to view it properly but it's free.

Hope that helps, I have loads of photography from years at different locations so if I can be of any further help don't hesitate to ask. Let us all know what you go for in the end and what your experience of the event was like.
Best wishes
Ed
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#236800
Last pic imo would be great seating just before hitting the tunnel right?


No, this is still very much in the first sector, almost completing it after the long straight post 1st corner.

Great pics though.
#236823
Hey there texasmr2 - after Casino Square they go down the hill to Mirabeau past the famous Tip Top bar (which is a MUST visit for anyone going to Monaco whether during race week or not) then around the Loews hairpin (or Station hairpin or Fairmont Hotel hairpin depending on your age!) and then through the tunnel. Another 'must do' whilst there is to walk the circuit, when you go through the tunnel (the fastest part of the circuit) you can appreciate how potentially dangerous it is, particularly blasting out into the sunshine.
#237365
Last pic imo would be great seating just before hitting the tunnel right?


No, this is still very much in the first sector, almost completing it after the long straight post 1st corner.

Great pics though.

Ah your right my mistake. :)

Hey there texasmr2 - after Casino Square they go down the hill to Mirabeau past the famous Tip Top bar (which is a MUST visit for anyone going to Monaco whether during race week or not) then around the Loews hairpin (or Station hairpin or Fairmont Hotel hairpin depending on your age!) and then through the tunnel. Another 'must do' whilst there is to walk the circuit, when you go through the tunnel (the fastest part of the circuit) you can appreciate how potentially dangerous it is, particularly blasting out into the sunshine.

Thanks. I have never paid too much attention too the proper names but 32yr's ago I did but I lost that. Appreciate your help :) .

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