First time at an F1 race

Take earplugs.

 

Bring or budget 50% more than your highest estimated cost. That way you can have some assurance you can do what you need/want to do while there.

 

It doesn't have to be expensive if you don't want it to be.

You can stay in a hotel a bit away from the track (especially in Montreal). Most hotels have shuttles to the metro, or even sometimes to the track.

Every hotel I've stayed at - even those 30-45 min from the track, I'd go to the lobby to get to the track and I'd see other F1 fans. I've shared cabs, given rides in rental cars, etc. Everyone tends to be very friendly.

Food and drink at the track are *really* expensive. Like $8 beers and $8 hot dogs type expensive. I never had a problem bringing in a small cooler that looked like a backpack and held a couple of six packs.

Memorabilia at the track is very expensive too. I've spent a good $400-500 each time, and I didn't even get a lot of stuff! I bought a couple of hats (Alonso, Hamilton), a keychain, a McLaren team shirt and a little one-piece dress/skirt thing for my girlfriend and it was $300.

For getting to/from the track at Montreal, definitely take the metro. I have family who lives within walking distance so we go part at her house and walk over.

I never bring earplugs... I like the tingly feeling you get from the ridiculously loud noises

I recommend renting the Kangaroo thing (portable track-side video player that's linked in to the live feeds) - it makes it much clearer what is going on. Bring a camera too, of course.

 

Forget about general admission. Best advice you'll get.

 

I don't know what the availability is now, but IMHO the seats on the exit side of the hairpin are the best location. You get to see the overtaking efforts by drivers late braking. There are not that many opportunites to pass on this fast track. The hairpin is one of them. The metro is the way to get to the island. Be forewarned that it backs up bigtime at the end of the race. So either plan on sprinting to the metro station or just stroll around for an hour or so before attempting to get to the station.

The party is on Crescent St downtown. They close off the street to traffic and the party rocks on from Thursday through Sunday. This race is a big deal to this beautiful city and the locals are more than welcoming and a lot of fun. I have done Monza 3 times, Indy [once], Barcelona and Monaco. But I found the Canadian Grand Prix to be the most fun. I am looking forward to coming back a 3rd time to Montreal.

 

Skip the earplugs. Let yourself be overwhelmed by the sound of the engines, this is the part that is the most different from watching it on TV.

Enjoy Montreal's festivities during the GP. The town celebrates like few other, particularly on Friday and Saturday nights.

Buy the program and keep it as a souvenir. I have some going back to the eighties and they've become cherished keep-sakes for me.

 

Why? I was planning on doing GA at Texas this year.

 

For sure. I still have mine from Indy 2000 and 2005. I'll never forget when the first car came out (Pedro Diniz?) I had never heard anything like it.

 

1979 I went to Hockenheim for my first "live" GP. I remember well walking up to the Motodrom while the cars were already running in practice. The sound hit me like thunder. I was electrified and hooked immediately. I knew this was it, right then and there.

Even today at the race I "scream the gearshifts" as the first few cars go by.

 

I agree, skip the earplugs. The first time I saw an F1 car in person, it redefined F1 for me. Watching them on tv does not prepare you for the totally sensory overload you will experience. I have been to many race tracks and seen just about every car imaginable, but nothing compares to F1 cars being driven in anger. Literally, you can feel the cars go by, awesome is the only word to describe them. Don't dilute the experience.


Mark

 

My first race was Monza. I remember leaving about 2 hours early for practice and we hit a HUUUUGE traffic jam just between Milan and Monza... we're inching closer and closer. Then there's this sort of high pitched buzzing noise. I look at my brother and we both say "F1 cars?" and roll down the window.

We were a good 2+ miles from the track at that point, but the super-high pitched piercing screams of the engines are unmistakable.

It's so loud it sort of tickles.


As for Montreal, if you are getting tickets, I agree with others about the hairpin. It's awesome seeing the cars come screaming down towards you, then POP! POP! POP! as they shift down through the gears... then sort of a monotone grumble through the corner, then they shriek again as they are moving away from you - exhaust pointing right at you.

Totally awesome

 

General admission in Montreal only really works for Friday practice. You will want to get a grandstand seat for qualifying and the race if you hope to see anything at all. Montreal really embraces the race and Crescent street is an unbelievable party. Make sure to stop by Peel street each night to see the cars that are displayed. I have been to Montreal 14 times and is one of the best to go to. I went to the USGP at Indy 3 tImes and it paled in comparison. Go, don't worry about dropping $300 on grandstand tickets, the memory will last a lifetime and the sound will make you a fan for life.

 

When I used to go, I'd get seats across from the pits... with seats hi up, you can see the chicane and who is going in and out of the pits. also with a high power lens you can watch the work in the garages.

Go for dinner in Vieux Montreal - great places great food, and not all the crazy drunk crowds ... take the metro to and from is easiest ... you can stay in Longeuile for cheaper accmodations.

from Buffalo its about 6 hours... done it a bunch of time from the Pittsburgh area. the drive on QE way is good untill mid Ontario it gets a bit "remote" so make sure you have plenty of gas past Toronto.

 

If on a tight budget, get a hotel outside of town, go to practice on Friday with a general admission ticket, visit downtown on Friday night then go home and watch the race on TV.

I have been to GPs where my travel schedule didn't allow for Sunday so I just did practice or qualifying and it is almost as good.
Definitely beats not going at all.

 

Yep, when I was there for the Canadian GP we had great seats right across from the pits, and we ended up watching 95% of the race on the Jumbotrons. It was fun to be there, but it felt kind of silly.

The rest of the weekend was a blast, though. One big party.

 

Earplugs.....
From the stands you don't need them, but if you are on the crossover bridge during practice and a F1 car goes under you or are in the garage when they are warming a car, you would be foolish to not have them. I'm all for having the experience, but my right ear begs to differ courtesy of an Alfa t33. Matra's were no treat either.

Stopwatch is nice to have too.

 

You can do it on a tight budget. Just stay outside the city as many others have said. General admission really isn't horrible, but if you can swing a few extra bucks I'd say snag a grandstand spot. You will notice the difference. Since its your first time, any grandstand will do. You will primarily be picking your jaw up off the floor so any seat works

Friday is pretty empty, so you can move around freely on the whole island really. As the weekend goes on it gets more and more crowded. Also, the vintage F1 race is awesome as well. Its great to see some of the older cars get out. They sound completely different its really great!!!

The other great thing about the track is you can bring your "needed" supplies with you. So if you want to bring a small cooler with beers and some snacks you are set for most of the day. Good way to save a few bucks.

The one thing I would recommend is bring a poncho or raincoat. Last year....no poncho.....this year PONCHOS for everyone!!! Don't care if its sunny I'm bringing 50 of them. lol. Friday and Saturday we figured ehhhh its fine it will blow through. It was so miserable last year on race day and EVERYTHING was sold out. So bring your rain gear even if you don't use it.

 

study the metro system. the only way to get to the track is by the train. you can find a hotel away from town, drive to a metro stop and take the train to the track the same as those who stay downtown. spend your money on good tickets.