First Time attending F1 - Montreal Advice Appreciated | FerrariChat

First Time attending F1 - Montreal Advice Appreciated

Discussion in 'F1' started by jferrante, Jan 25, 2020.

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  1. jferrante

    jferrante Formula Junior

    Jul 9, 2016
    498
    Hey everyone, been dying to do an F1 race for some time and this year my buddy is due to have his first kid in August and he felt this was our best opportunity to get to a race together .
    I figured I would post here and ask the collective for advice on how to execute this trip and get the most out of it. We are looking to do this properly and have as much of a VIP experience as possible within a reasonable budget. We have been to Montreal several times and love the city.
    Appreciate any help.
     
    SECRET likes this.
  2. SECRET

    SECRET Formula Junior
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    May 19, 2007
    934
    We may be going there this year as well! Would love advice as well esp. good areas to stay.
     
    jferrante likes this.
  3. nismodrifter

    nismodrifter Formula Junior

    Jun 11, 2008
    528
    YYC/YVR
    Full Name:
    Navdeep
  4. sherpa23

    sherpa23 F1 Veteran
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    May 28, 2003
    9,992
    Rocky Mountains
    Full Name:
    Bastuna
    #4 sherpa23, Jan 25, 2020
    Last edited: Jan 25, 2020
    Montreal is a good circuit in that it’s basically a city based venue.

    You can take public transportation to the venue and across the River. If you Uber or taxi, you will use the casino as the p/u and d/o and it’s convenient. However, know that at peak times, the wait for an Uber or taxi will be long.

    There are lots of great places to stay and there are tons of restaurants. A couple of years ago, I met up with @Robb and he and I found a great Venezuelan place in some walking district with no real planning. I’ve never had dinner any place that wasn’t fun on race weekend.

    In short, it’s one of the easier F1 races to attend.
     
    Robb likes this.
  5. Edward 96GTS

    Edward 96GTS F1 Veteran
    Silver Subscribed

    Nov 1, 2003
    9,192
  6. jferrante

    jferrante Formula Junior

    Jul 9, 2016
    498
    awesome stuff thank you - a discounted room rate at Hotel 10 or something of the sort would be ideal
     
  7. Edward 96GTS

    Edward 96GTS F1 Veteran
    Silver Subscribed

    Nov 1, 2003
    9,192
    in montreal the expensive restaurants were not any better than a good moderately priced restaurant.
    dont feel going to some place like Joe Beef is a must.
     
  8. ago car nut

    ago car nut F1 Veteran
    Silver Subscribed

    Aug 29, 2008
    5,246
    Madison Ohio
    Full Name:
    David A.
    If you book a hotel near the Metro, you can park your car there the whole weekend and take Public transit to and from the race track.
     
    Sharknose likes this.
  9. Sharknose

    Sharknose Formula Junior

    Feb 17, 2004
    443
    Pennsylvania
    Never used my car once we got to the hotel. It sat for three days. The Metro in Montreal is basically the same as in and around Washington, D.C. There is a stop for the island/track. Check out the Montreal tourism sites too. Rue St. Denis used to be a fun destination for interesting restaurants and gorgeous women.

    https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g155032-d186673-Reviews-Rue_St_Denis-Montreal_Quebec.html
     
  10. spirot

    spirot F1 World Champ

    Dec 12, 2005
    14,500
    Atlanta
    Full Name:
    Tom Spiro
    If you want a VIPI experience - paddock club. you can buy individual passes on the F-1 website. ... they are not cheap.

    outside Paddock club - best places to watch the race are either across from the start finish - or down in to turn 2-3-4... OR up at the hairpin.

    as many have said - you can take the metro to and from the track. if you do Paddock club and have a car you can get parking on the island and they shuttle you to the paddock / pit building. ( old Paddock club had seats on turn 2-3 )

    I think Red Bull stay at the Ritz, and Ferrari at either Intercontinental or Four Seasons... cant remember for sure... you can get Ferrari Paddock in the owners section of the Ferrari website ... not cheap at all... Bonne Chance!
     
  11. rob lay

    rob lay Administrator
    Staff Member Admin Miami 2018 Owner

    Dec 1, 2000
    59,406
    Southlake, TX
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    Rob Lay
    I haven't been in many years, but Jimpo1 and I would stay in Longueuil to always be opposite flow of traffic on the train. Going into race no traffic from that direction and while long lines after going into city, we could get right on to Longueuil. By the time we showered and headed downtown it was easy. I love Montreal, a European experience for 25% of the price.
     
  12. JOEA2

    JOEA2 Formula 3

    Feb 2, 2006
    1,160
    Staten Island, N.Y./ Sea Girt,N.J.
    Full Name:
    Joe A
    25% of the Price? Not on Race Weekend. Everything has "special" Race Pricing.
    It is great fun!

    Joe
     
  13. jferrante

    jferrante Formula Junior

    Jul 9, 2016
    498
    Awesome appreciate all the info

    Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk
     
  14. rse1851

    rse1851 Rookie

    Jul 2, 2008
    24
    Rome GA
    Full Name:
    Steven Eckhoff
    Haven’t been in a number of years but always stayed at the Bonaventure Hotel. Williams always used to stay there. Take the elevator to the basement to get on the subway and get off at the stop for the race track. Love this race!


    Sent from my iPhone using FerrariChat.com mobile app
     
  15. MidnightBlack2015

    Jan 25, 2015
    27
    San Francisco
    In 2017, Ferrari stayed at the Hotel St Paul. I rode the elevator with Vettel's trainer but didn't know who he was until afterwards! Lots of autograph seekers hanging out in front of the hotel!
     
  16. jcurry

    jcurry Two Time F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Jan 16, 2012
    21,373
    In the past
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    Jim
    Last yr Mercedes was at the Ritz, or at least they had a F1 car parked out front.

    We stayed in an apartment on Stanley, one block from Peel and Saint-Catherine. Right next to all the action, and very loud until early morning on Fri. A little less partying on Sat night. Fun being easy walking to all the action.

    Subway was not too bad after the race. It is efficient and they pack you in.:D However since we drove up from NY we drove to Longueuil to take the subway on Sun, which allowed easier egress out of the city following the race. As Rob notes it would be a nice place to stay.

    While GS 11/12 are nice (Senna corner), it is a HIKE from the subway and access is over a narrow footbridge so very slow egress after quali. Hairpin (Stroll GS) is closest to the subway and also close to vendors (food and games).
     
  17. fer312t

    fer312t Formula Junior

    Nov 16, 2010
    777
    I always prefer getting tickets in GS 11/12 in Senna Corner...

    The hairpin is great spot to spectate, but bear in mind if you get grandstand seats there, you will not be allowed access to the south end of the circuit (at least this is the way it was when I was last there.) Whereas if you have seats in the Senna Corner or along the pit straight you basically have access to the full circuit and can roam around and watch from various vantage points (hairpin etc) during the practice sessions...
     
  18. jcurry

    jcurry Two Time F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Jan 16, 2012
    21,373
    In the past
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    Jim
    Interesting. I didn't see a separate entrance for that GS last year, but wasn't really paying too much attention when we walked past that area.
     
  19. Easyrider7467

    Easyrider7467 Formula Junior

    Nov 3, 2005
    980
    Northen N.J.
    Full Name:
    John
    I've only been to one race thanks to a friend inviting my along...

    Hat
    sunglasses
    sunblock
    an "under armour" shirt or one that keeps you relatively cool. (i wear an UA while motorcycling, world of difference staying,)

    At least for us we were sitting right up to other people along the bleacher, and I felt like a roast in the relentless sun.

    Enjoy.
     
  20. rob lay

    rob lay Administrator
    Staff Member Admin Miami 2018 Owner

    Dec 1, 2000
    59,406
    Southlake, TX
    Full Name:
    Rob Lay
    Looks like girlfriend and I’ll be going. We’ll try to do an FChat dinner. One of my favorite races to attend.
     
  21. Gatorrari

    Gatorrari F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Feb 27, 2004
    15,924
    Georgia
    Full Name:
    Jim Pernikoff
    I have no problem with that policy on Sunday, but it should not apply the rest of the weekend. In the '80s, the only place that hairpin seat holders were not allowed on Saturday was into the grandstands themselves; I got some excellent photos on Saturday sitting on the ground in front of the grandstands 11/12. Overall, circuit access is greatly inferior to what it was back then. I still prefer the hairpin grandstands (15/Stroll) even though a lot less passing occurs there now than in the old days.
     
  22. Gatorrari

    Gatorrari F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Feb 27, 2004
    15,924
    Georgia
    Full Name:
    Jim Pernikoff
    As for where to stay, I'm a cheapskate and always have stayed on the south shore, in either Brossard or Greenfield Park. From there, I've either driven or taken a bus to the Longueuil Metro station. On Saturday, I've always taken the Metro after the day's events to Crescent St for dinner; on Sunday, I take the train back to the south shore and worry about dinner later.
     

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