Monza 2016

Since this might be the last year on Monza, all of the sudden dreams are coming true and I'm going! Any must do's? And how do we get to the track at thursday and friday?
Who else is going?

With two years of experience:

I don't know about travelling in Thursday since I arrived to Milan in Friday evening and only went to track on Saturday and Sunday but only sane choice is to use train+shuttle bus combo if it's available. And here is what I wrote on Austria thread:

- Try to find a place with TV screen, it shows what happens in other parts of track and what the running order is.

- Take disposable raincoat with you even if there is no chance of rain, it can be used as sitting cover and thrown away after use.

- If it's hot and sunny remember to bring water with you (and there are probably merchants that sell a cap of your favourite team).

 

Oh, and about must do's. It's a must to take a train from Milan to Modena after the race and visit Ferrari museums and Lamborghini museum. (And rent a Ferrari for a drive in mountains...)

Monza is a great choice  I love it and am going back again for the 3rd year.

 

I might be able to help with Thursday/Friday - there are no shuttle buses but take the train to Monza and get the normal public bus (number 221) from outside the station which will drop you at the edge of the park and much closer than the shuttle buses - I stick with the public buses all weekend, although I go early and stay late so its not too busy). https://www.google.c...3192,943m/data=!3m1!1e3 the bus heads up SP6 - get off the bus here and go down via Novembre, which leads onto via Enzo Ferrari and into the park and from there its obvious (via Novembre is the obvious route Sat/Sun as full of F1 stalls and entertainment but not so much on Thursday, I got a bit lost the 1st year and wandered off in the wrong direction).

The pitwalk is crazy, the only advice I have is to go up by the FIA garages as its a bit quieter and you get to see lots of different cars as they go for scrutineering and you don't get crushed when the drivers appear (if you want to see drivers then good luck). Get there a bit before the pitlane opens to have a wander round, there are a couple of little shops and things behind the F1 paddock that's worth checking out. You can also catch the drivers as they go into/out the paddock as they have to cross the public road between the car park and paddock entrance, it is totally chaotic and hilarious to see (but again I find its best viewed from a distance - maybe this is just me who thinks the scrum around drivers in the pitlane or paddock entrance is best avoided as I tend to get a bit claustrophobic in crowds, maybe others think its not too bad but I honestly thought I was going to be crushed the 1st year I went and made the mistake of being at the front in the pitlane with everyone pushing forwards to try and get autographs or whatever and security thinking its fine to shove the barriers back into the crowds and that was at McLaren who are not the most popular team atMonza and before Fernando joined, I'd dread to think what its like outside the Ferrari garage ).

Friday is roving grandstands so try a few where you are not watching the race from. For example Grandstand 6 on the inside of the 1st chicane and the grandstands by Ascari are very close to each other and you can easily get between them in the 5-10mins when all the cars pit to change from the 1st set of tyres after 40 mins  (unlike grandstand 8 on the outside of the 1st chicane which is miles from anywhere - although a great view).

 

Stay after the race - they open up the track, if you are near the pit straight you can get there in time for the podium, if not just use it as a chance to walk the track and see the old banking. The pitwall is very high so difficult to see over so its not really possible to see into the garages after the race unlike some circuits.

The GP2 and support paddock is located behind the F1 paddock, and to get out on track they use a back gate located between Ascari and Parabolica which crosses the public path - time it right and you can watch them go out very close by (pretty much within touching distance and no fences in the way).

 

Apparently there is a good Ferrari shop in Milan - I haven't been but was chatting to some people that had last year and they thought it was great so if your anywhere near Milan it maybe worth a look

 

Toro Rosso also had all their cars from the past 10 years on display in Milan last year (wish I had got to see that) - there maybe similar kind of things this year which might be announced closer to the time. 

but take the train to Monza and get the normal public bus (number 221) from outside the station which will drop you at the edge of the park and much closer than the shuttle buses

Bus (Z221) leaves from the end of Milan metro line (Sesto Maggio in red line), no need to take train going that way.
 

Stay after the race - they open up the track, if you are near the pit straight you can get there in time for the podium,

The time between finishing flag and podium ceremony seems quite long when you watch it from TV but on track there is no chance to make it in time to see it from grandstand six which is relatively close. And there is a gate big enough for one or two persons at the time that is used as exit for all those people you see standing on track in front of podium. In second year we didn't leave that way but instead used the route that is available during weekend, it's little longer but with amount of walking you do over the weekend it doesn't matter. 
 

Toro Rosso also had all their cars from the past 10 years on display in Milan last year (wish I had got to see that) - there maybe similar kind of things this year which might be announced closer to the time.

 

Damn, it would have been nice to see those. Only little consolation is that it was only available on weekend when there was enough walking to do without extra program and not on Monday when we were wondering what to do.

Is Variante della Roggia a good spot to sit? Wondered because it's relatively cheap. I think you get a nice view from the exit of Curva Grande until the exit of the chicane, but I've not seen a screen anywhere near the track there, and without one the place is pretty useless.

Edited by Jovanotti, 04 June 2016 - 15:10.

Bus (Z221) leaves from the end of Milan metro line (Sesto Maggio in red line), no need to take train going that way.

I guess that depends where your staying in that case, I stay in Bergamo rather than Milan so need the train to get to Monza. No idea how long the bus takes compared to the train but seems like it could be an OK option then from Milan? Another tip - don't buy the bus tickets on the bus, if you do catch it from Monza train station then there is a little shop at the station that sells them. Also make sure you validate all tickets (bus and train) or they will still fine you, even if you have bought a ticket - and they do seem to check quite frequently over the grand prix weekend. (unless I just happen to be on the only trains/buses they check) 
 

The time between finishing flag and podium ceremony seems quite long when you watch it from TV but on track there is no chance to make it in time to see it from grandstand six which is relatively close. And there is a gate big enough for one or two persons at the time that is used as exit for all those people you see standing on track in front of podium. In second year we didn't leave that way but instead used the route that is available during weekend, it's little longer but with amount of walking you do over the weekend it doesn't matter.

Yeah agree, I would not say Grandstand 6 at turn 1 was close to the podium - it is a very long straight in Monza (hence the reason grandstand 8 on the opposite side of the track takes for ever to get to - you even have to go round a campsite to get to it). To get to the podium you really need to be on the pit straight, or make your way there a couple of laps from the end. Also they don't open the circuit straight away but wait until all cars are back in the pits so by the time they let the crowds on track the top 3 are well on their way to the pre podium room. Its still worth going onto the track though, even if you can't make the podium ceremony.

Edited by Exb, 04 June 2016 - 20:10.

Is Variante della Roggia a good spot to sit? Wondered because it's relatively cheap. I think you get a nice view from the exit of Curva Grande until the exit of the chicane, but I've not seen a screen anywhere near the track there, and without one the place is pretty useless.

Good views, but again it is a bit of a trek to get to. I'm pretty sure it has a screen from memory (although shared with grandstand 9 which is where I think I was sat) and Monza.net suggests it has one as well

Edited by Exb, 04 June 2016 - 20:33.

Thanks! Anyone know a must-eat-restaurant in Milan?

but I've not seen a screen anywhere near the track there, and without one the place is pretty useless.

 

Here is a map where you can see the screens:

http://www.thef1spec...ZA-1024x724.jpg

[edit] That is not too accurate, at least on grand stand six area there were two screens, one in front of a and other in front of c.

 

(Google found it from here:

http://www.thef1spec....com/italy-3/ )

Edited by Hati, 12 June 2016 - 09:43.

It is an absolute must to wear very comfortable footwear. Even when the bus drops you at the entrance to the park (or the train that drops you behind the Lesmos on Sunday), you will still be walking a great distance over the weekend.

 

It's an amazing circuit and setting - you can really feel the history of the place especially with that massive old banking running throughout the park.

 

Have a great time!

+1 to the above. We walked 23 miles each last year. 

It was awesome! But a tip for everyone, double the time you think that the travelling will take - especially to the track. Go with the local buses, don't bother with tickets beacuse it will be a crazy amount of people getting on the bus. And on the way back, don't be afraid to walk to a bustop further up, much higher chance of getting on. It was crazy, hot but so much fun!