33 replies to this topic

[FirstnameLastname]

I’m talking about outer track here… not paddock club or anything like that.

At China, the best seats in the house seemed to be the grassy bank at the hairpin at the end of the long straight. Possibly in the running for the best seats at any f1 track…

Where have you been? And how would you rate the seats you paid for?

[PlatenGlass]

Once I went to Mexico and paid for the expensive start/finish straight. View was quite poor. Should have gone to the slow section at the end of the lap. That's where they have the podium and interviews as well. And cheaper.

Edited by PlatenGlass, 25 March 2025 - 10:40.

[JimmyClark]

I loved my seat at Baku last year. Sahil grandstand, top row, could see the straight (so got the cars at full speed) and the chicane behind it, so also saw cars cornering, and the odd move. Right behind is the promenade alongside the Caspian Sea, which had a lot of activities and outlets, and to top it all the metro station was nearby so it was super easy to get to from accommodation. It's probably my favourite seat of all the races I've been to.

Second place is general admission at Remus at the Red Bull Ring. Amazing views for great value.

[TomNokoe]

Tribunes A and B at the Red Bull Ring, you can see almost the whole track.

[Alfisti]

Tribunes A and B at the Red Bull Ring, you can see almost the whole track.

 

I was gonna say T1 and 3 at Austria must be good as you are so high up. Biggest issue going to races is you often can't see ****. 

[danmills]

The grass bank just after Eau Rouge where the straight begins.

[Sterzo]

The grass bank just after Eau Rouge where the straight begins.

Can you see the road continuously from the exit of La Source to part way along the straight?

 

Where have you been? And how would you rate the seats you paid for?

A brilliant idea for a thread!

[IrvTheSwerve]

Been in pretty much every grandstand at Silverstone...'my' area was always around Club until they moved the S/F straight. GA used to be good around there, too. Copse always breath-taking, although I haven't been in a grandstand there since the hybrid era started. The V10s approaching and screaming around there were epic. Luffield is ok, depends how high up you sit. Stowe is also pretty decent. Sat in Becketts grandstand but that was only for a FP session - pretty good viewing there and is a sought-after area.

 

S/F straight at Barcelona and also S/F straight at Spa - although you get to see the build-up and podium etc., they're a bit of a bland place to watch from.

[IrvTheSwerve]

Can you see the road continuously from the exit of La Source to part way along the straight?

 

I don't believe you can, my memory is fuzzy though. You can see a lot of it, though.

[Colbul1]

At Silverstone I don't think you can beat sitting near the top of the grandstand Village B, you can see Maggots-Becketts and the from the first corner onto the Wellington Straight.  At Austin, I very much think top of the hill to the first corner is amazing.  All the main straight, round the first corner and off in the distance the copy of Istanbul loop.

[oli4]

Best seat is the new grandstand at Eau Rouge, what a view !

Sat there during the elm series (free entrance to that grandstand).

[d246]

Top of Eau Rouge - you can see most of just before the bus stop up to the top of the hill.

First chcane at Monza - great impression of deceleration from top speed

End of the pit straight at Barcelona - can see quite a bit of the circuit

Tabac corner at Monaco - look over the back to the first corner, follow them up the hill, then out the tunnel all the way through the swimming pool.

Marina grandstand Singapore - bit crap, even with Piquet Jnr puting on a show.

[IrvTheSwerve]

Something I was surprised about when sitting in the S/F grandstand at Spa was that you could see the end of the Kemmel straight, just before the braking zone. Maybe that doesn't sound too surprising given Spa's topology, but I was pleasantly surprised that I could see the opposite end of a large circuit.

[IrvTheSwerve]

I loved my seat at Baku last year. Sahil grandstand, top row, could see the straight (so got the cars at full speed) and the chicane behind it, so also saw cars cornering, and the odd move. Right behind is the promenade alongside the Caspian Sea, which had a lot of activities and outlets, and to top it all the metro station was nearby so it was super easy to get to from accommodation. It's probably my favourite seat of all the races I've been to.

Second place is general admission at Remus at the Red Bull Ring. Amazing views for great value.

 

Maybe an interesting extension to this thread would be peoples' experiences at 'city' circuits - I've never been to one. Been to Monaco but outside of a GP weekend. It would be interesting to see how it compares with a 'classic' circuit and whether the experience is better or worse.

[Hati]

You'll go to an F1 race to see how fast the cars go. And it doesn't get faster than at the main straight in Monza. Although while walking there next to back straight the lower class cars seem to go faster by.

[Amin]

I've only been to the Belgian and British GP but Becketts is my clear favourite, it's hard to imagine any set of corners better showcasing the high speed change of direction of an F1 car than Maggots, Becketts and Chapel. Depending on where you sit in the grandstand, you also get a good view of Abbey leading into the loop, the run down the Wellington straight down to Brooklands and then the exit of Copse down to the entry to Stowe and a little bit of Vale.

[FirstnameLastname]

Maybe an interesting extension to this thread would be peoples' experiences at 'city' circuits - I've never been to one. Been to Monaco but outside of a GP weekend. It would be interesting to see how it compares with a 'classic' circuit and whether the experience is better or worse.

I was talking about this with my wife the other day. You’re not really at the track to experience the overtakes (unless you’ve got an amazing seat) - you’re more there for the atmosphere and to witness these amazing cars

With that in mind, I think a street track must be superb to visit - seeing the cars dance between the barriers. The grandstand near the swimming pool in Monaco must be an awesome seat, especially now the pitlane faces it too…

[danmills]

I haven't been to Silverstone since 2016 I think it was, but having the novelty of remembering being at Mansellmania 92; Hill 94, Broken Leg 99, Massa Raindancing 07, Hamilton 08 etc the new cars are absolutely underwhelming on the ears.

 

The fact you can have a normal conversation as they pass by vs hearing them fire up from the old pitwall all the way in the Copse grandstands is night and day. That deafening scream will never be topped, you felt it in your chest to your toes and it vibrated your soul 30 times in 30 seconds. They are but mere raspberries of their former self.

 

Alesi V12 1995 was the pinnacle of audio porn giving 100% eargasm satisfaction.

 

The atmosphere is nothing like it was, maybe there's a hint of clouded nostalgia but I remember F1 weekends being all about the mini bbqs smoking, the beer belly fans in marker pen tshirts, home made flags and banners, people sat on the grass banks everywhere etc. EUR 2 cones of fries with 8kg mayo, not £17.50 frozen burgers sold from pallet wood lined horse rice boxes by bearded hipsters that think adding a fried egg makes it bouji.

 

It's very organised and somewhat clinical now, from seating  arrangements down to what people are wearing.

 

I do get a buzz seeing Marlboro or Agip umbrellas and folks wearing their Damon helmet Jordan caps, old school memorabilia.

 

I wouldn't pay to see it now, not at today's Grandstand prices and probably not even at 2010s prices. Bring back the £150 weekend general admission grass bank tickets.

 

The TV experience is more rounded, if you've never been, sure go for it, but be prepared to be a bit disappointed. A week in the sunshine is far better value for money.

 

Then again maybe it has got better in the last decade? I know the sound hasn't changed, and that IMHO is the star of the show. Hearing raspberry farts peak for 20 seconds then watching a grainy TV screen trying to work out what's happening the rest of the lap for 90 minutes is not the F1 experience you wanted it to be.

Edited by danmills, 25 March 2025 - 16:18.

[JimmyClark]

Maybe an interesting extension to this thread would be peoples' experiences at 'city' circuits - I've never been to one. Been to Monaco but outside of a GP weekend. It would be interesting to see how it compares with a 'classic' circuit and whether the experience is better or worse.

 

It's very different. 

 

I've done a few city circuits and they've all been fantastic (Montreal, Melbourne, Baku) - you can get a comfy hotel or stay with a friend, and transport to the circuit is easy. Then you have nights out, and the whole city becomes a big party. The atmosphere is great too, even at Baku where the crowd is a lot smaller. 

 

However, there's something special about the traditional circuits. For example, Austria and Spa were a complete ballache to get to and the facilities 'rustic' at times, but the scenery was stunning and the atmosphere is like a carnival. Monza is obviously in its own category of 'must do' experiences. And you can see a lot more of these circuits than when stuck between buildings on street circuits (although on the latter you tend to be closer to cars). 

 

What I don't like is the modern tracks - e.g. Bahrain was fine. Everything worked, facilities were great, and grandstands comfortable. To be honest, it was a nice antidote after the chaos of Monza '22 (I did Bahrain in '23). But it's not an experience I have warm memories of - it all felt very generic, you feel so far away from the circuit, and it just lacks a bit of the buzz you get from traditional circuits and city circuits. 

[balmybaldwin]

I don't believe you can, my memory is fuzzy though. You can see a lot of it, though.

I think top right (as you look at it of the new stand would easily see right to la source and some of the start straight....  but harder to see the outcome of a moment at radillion

[lustigson]

Imola just after Tosa. You can see the cars coming out of Tamburello and into the Villeneuve chicane, and then coming out of Tosa up the hill. 

 

Just past the first run at the Indy road course was a great view, too.

 

At Barcelona near the end of start-finish, where you can see turns 1, 2 and into 3, coming out of 4 through 5 and into 6.

 

Red Bull Ring looks fabulous, too, judging from the video above.

[LolaB0860]

Tribunes A and B at the Red Bull Ring, you can see almost the whole track.

 

Shockingly good view 

[chdphd]

Probably the best seat of the ten grands prix I've been to. Shanghai 2007. That grandstand isn't there any more.

 

[jcbc3]

Tribunes A and B at the Red Bull Ring, you can see almost the whole track.
...

 

Hard disagree!

 

Turn 3 with a covered grand stand is better, imo. 

[arrysen]

I haven't been there personally but people rave about the grandstands around the swimming pool at Monaco (they're not cheap). Very close to the cars (possibly closer than any other track), the cars/drivers are highly committed and there is usually plenty of action and close calls.

[AustinF1]

The grass bank just after Eau Rouge where the straight begins.

Never been myself, but this is what I've heard over and over.

 

Best I've personally sat at is T1-2 in Montreal.

[The Passenger]

Sat in the grandstand overlooking the starting grid at Melbourne. Awesome to look at the cars so close. The atmosphere was amazing, and during the race - the speeds, oh my, the speed!

[Wuzak]

Sat in the grandstand overlooking the starting grid at Melbourne. Awesome to look at the cars so close. The atmosphere was amazing, and during the race - the speeds, oh my, the speed!

 

Overlooking the T9/T10 chicane (previously T11/T12).

[ar1]

Can't do it now for a GP but sat in the grandstand at Adelaide hairpin at Magny-cours and you could see at least 60% of the track. The cars would appear over the hill after Estoril, brake from top speed right in front of you (Senna and Schmu hit each other in the race i saw), go off into the distance and then come back for the swerves at Imola and slow for Chateau D'eau - you then saw them all the way to the last corner.  Racing wasn't awesome but the spectacle

 

[Amin]

Probably the best seat of the ten grands prix I've been to. Shanghai 2007. That grandstand isn't there any more.

 

 

You had a great view of Hamilton in the gravel.

[chdphd]

You had a great view of Hamilton in the gravel.

I sure did.
 

[Clatter]

You'll go to an F1 race to see how fast the cars go. And it doesn't get faster than at the main straight in Monza. Although while walking there next to back straight the lower class cars seem to go faster by.

F1 cars on the straight don't look particular fast, it's watching them take the corners that really shows their wares.

[Clatter]

I don't know what the current prices are like, but I used to find Stowe was the best value at Silverstone. You can see cars all the way down hanger straight, into Stowe and through club. Could see them all the way to bridge, before the new pits were built.

[Clrnc]

I have some tips for people, having attended 6 GP last 3 years. Top 3 picks for seats that's great value (not start finish straight expensive)

 

1) Monaco GP, Take k6 grandstand. Highest row. It's cheap and you can see the cars coming from turn 11 all the way to turn 13. But the cool thing is, look behind you and you can see the cars coming from the start finish straights into turn 1..

 

2) Abu Dhabi. Take the South Grandstands. You can see all the action from turn 8 to turn 14, also coincidentally has a lot of action now that the corner has changed. I mean of course if you have the money, booking the hotel early at turn 12 will be even better but costs you a bomb. 

 

3) Suzuka. My absolute favorite circuit, if I have a choice I will go yearly. Cost is ridiculously cheap all things considered. A2 upper can see action down the start finish straights into first corner then see the cars climb uphill to turn 3. Breathtaking sequence of corners.