I'm heading to montreal for the race this year. It'll be my first time there and Im having some trouble deciding where to sit. I've narrowed it down to three stands; 21(braking zone for the hairpin) 24(exit of the hairpin) 12(senna s) All three seem like great spots to check out the race, but I'd like to hear some peoples personal preferences based on where they've been in the past. Thanks for the help. Also, the seats are assigned for the weekend, but is it possible to check out some other stands during practice sessions and support races?
I've sat in all 3 of the grand stands you mentioned, and you really can't go wrong with any of them. If I had to pick one, it would be the Senna hairpin.
They're all good sections, yet they all have good and less-good areas within them. Ideally you want to have seats that give you a view looking up the track, either on entrance or exit. If you sit in the Casino hairpin, your walking will be significantly reduced all weekend, but I personally enjoy all the walking. The seats are all reserved all weekend and the stands actually can get pretty full all three days. 10 years ago you could move around pretty freely, but now they check tickets all weekend. While you're there, the thing to do is move around after the F1 events, like Friday or Saturday afternoon. After a large part of the crowd has left they're a little more flexible letting people into the stands. You can watch FFord or Ferrari Challenge from some other vantage points, plus you can see the grounds fairly well. There's the casino, plus a sort of merchandise mall towards the main straight area. Whichever you choose, you'll love it. Remember the rule of thumb is to sit high up.
Paddock! my chice but In the silver 21 stand just before the hard braking zone is where you can experience the top speed and brake capacity and if you have some luck maybe an overtaking. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
PM Lashss in the Mid Atlantic regional section. He puts together an FChat trip there every year. He would know. DMAX
Cool!!! As for me..I didnt have the chance to stop and look...I just drove through! Image Unavailable, Please Login
IMO the Senna curve or the exit side of the hairpin is best. The entry of the hairpin only lets you see cars come by very close to the grandstands under braking - you may not even see them - they you will see them accelerate away on the other side of the hairpin. At lease on the exit side you see them coming at you at full speed, watch them brake and then accelerate away - much more to see IMO.
The best spot would be the first couple of rows on the entry side of the hairpin. Seeing the decceleration is amazing and you can feel the rumble. But if not the first couple of rows then it is no good on that side. A great spot for the best unobstructed view is the stand on the slow turn in the middle of the back strait. You see the cars come at you, slow down, clear close view as they accelerate and shift with nothing in your way even in the middle of the stand. I always liked to walk the track and see different viewpoints during practice and qualifying.
I agree that the Senna turn is the best. I've sat at the hairpin (bronze) and on the starting grid (Gold #1) but grandstand 12 is the better view. You can see them starting to come down the front straight after the last chicane, decelerate at the last second, make a left, then right around the turn, and then accelerate to the next segment. All in about 15 seconds! This is my fourth year now and we are going up with a crowd of 10. We add more and more each year. Theo
Senna esses....Sat there in 02'. From where we were, we could look straight down the straight, and watch them come through Senna's....Cool!
I have not been to Montreal for several years, but it is the BEST Formula 1 venue in North America. Buy a book of Metro tickets figure at least 2 aday for the race. I don't know if the International Fireworks Competion will be going on, but if it is it is worth the walk to get out on the bridge to watch. There was a friend from Orlando and b4 the event he said he had seen it all at Disneworld. After he was in ah. When your up on the bridge the bursts go off just above eyelevel. I liked setting in the grandstands around the hairpin on the side that you are looking at the sphere left over from the worlds fair. That way you can see the brakes glowing and a few passes. The support races usually have a few incidents there also. Of course Nigel was prematurely waving at the crowd when the electronics decided to shut down his Williams and let his teammate Piquet win the race at this corner. I took these pictures just now from our album. They are not as sharp as the original photos. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
I've been going to montreal grand prix for 4 years now and haven't heard or seen fireworks. Am I missing them? Anyone know more? I'd love to see them. Theo
I've been going for last 8yrs. Finally settled in on hairpin looking towards sphere (old world fair) Crazy action during support races as well as F1 race. Not many places to pass at this track and this hairpin gets the action. Can see de-accelerting then can see popping out of the hairpin & accelerating. Good big screen TV's to watch as well. Not as much walking at this section and everything is close by. I have front row seats and during driver introductions when they drive around you are as close as you can get to an F1 track. Also easy to get back into Challenge series pit area. Also this grandstand area last year had stage set up after the race ended for rock band. FYI --- you better book your flight tickest ASAP !!!
Senna or the hairpin is fine with me. There has been a lot of action at the hairpin in the last few years so that's where I go. I sit on the exit side too. Image Unavailable, Please Login
I've gone about a dozen times, and have sat in stands 15 and 24 and can recommend them both highly. 15 is the one that overlooks the center of the hairpin and provides a view of both the cars braking towards you and accelerating away, so you actually see quite a bit of the track. However, with the runoff area outside the turn getting bigger all the time, the stand is now quite a distance from the track, though that's not a problem with a telephoto lens. It's also the closest major grandstand to the Metro station--handy after the race! 24 overlooks the exit of the hairpin and probably provides the best photographic opportunities at that end of the track, though the lighting is better in the morning and early afternoon than later on. These photos were taken there in 2001. The stands on the outside of the Senna curves are outstanding as well; in the old days I used to watch the Saturday afternoon session from the General Admission area that used to exist in front of these stands, though that is long gone. The main problem here is that they are the furthest away from the Metro station, so don't be in a hurry to leave! Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
They are NOT during the race they are on the Sat. evening b4 the race if you are lucky enough that the race is being held during the summer long run of the contest. They close the bridge accross the St. Lawrence river. check out this link http://www.montreal-fireworks.com/ do a google search international fireworks competition I can't believe you have never heard of this, it is like living in L.A. and not knowing about Disneyland. The next thing you will be telling me that you did not know the island that the race takes place on is not man-made from the earth removed to create the METRO. stephen
Just checked another link and the International Fireworks contest and it does not start until July 22 this year. http://www.lesgrandsfeux.com/en/accueil/index.php SORRY! stephen
Sthephen, they try not to have events of that caliber overlap in Montreal. The city likes to spead out their events/festivals. It's a matter of logistics.....and makes for return business. Oh yes the Métro.....my birthday coincides with its opening...please tell me more.
