Formula 1 Grand Prix in Monza

This thread is going to be moved but I'm interested in this also as I may go this year.

 

How do I stay subscribed to it? Not this year maybe 2017.

360 is the next 275GTB

 

We went in 2014 and had seats in the grand stand on the main straight, right opposite the Ferrari pits.

I'm sure everyone has different opinions where to see the best action, but we like the main straights because there's always something going on in pit lane, you see the hive of activity on the grid before the start, the start and finish, and then the podium after the race.

Monza also put on a spectacle with the massive Ferrari flag carried down the main straight after the race, and confetti canons with red/white/green of the Italian flag, all making for unforgettable memories...

 

Good point on the after-race celebration. If either Ferrari driver ends up on the podium, the stands near the podium would be the place to be. If you're on the other side of the track, you won't get there in time.

 

Having been to Monza 3 times I recommend either Ascari or Piscine chicane.

 

I'm going to Monza this year! Seats in 6C, if I recall what we requested.

 

Any place is lovely at Monza. It's a wonderful place.

 

I disagree. The straights are boring. The track is boring. All it has is tradition and tifosi but as a track it sucks.

 

The reality is that ALL tracks mostly suck as a spectator. You see the car you want every minute and change. I sat an Eau Rouge last year. The track at the TOP of my list. Guess what? Wondering around with general admission tickets would have been equally enjoyable.

 

Don't let familiarity and cynicism rob you of your enthusiasm and wonder!

I've been to the Montreal GP 3 times. First time, we sat on the straight right near the start/finish line, across from the Ferrari pits. With the fences, pit wall monitor stations, etc - we couldn't see the pit stops anyway! After the start, the cars were going by too fast to see much of them. The next two times we sat on the exit side of the hairpin, and it was brilliant spectating - watching the cars slow from top speed to 50 mph, brakes glowing, wheels locking, turning at the limit, then blasting away towards the next corner. Amazing! General tickets at Montreal are terrible - very limited viewing areas. A Grandstand ticket at Montreal restricts you to just your assigned stand and assigned seat only.

I attended the British GP at Silverstone once, in 2012 - absolutely horrible weather, and I loved the experience. I walked the entire circumference of the track several times over the 3 days, watching the practice sessions, qualifying, and feeder races from every stand and viewing area. A Grandstand ticket gave access to all stands on Friday and Saturday, for the race on Sunday you had to sit in your assigned seat. Great viewing all around - but still, sitting on a straight watching the cars whiz by at high speed is not as interesting as the braking and corners.

I've read that Monza has incredible atmosphere - and that's a large part of attending a race in person! If you want to see all aspects of the race, you should stay home and watch on TV. The difference in attending in person, the advantage, is exactly in the atmosphere, the tradition, the tifosi if lucky enough! Great facilities (lots of toilets and food stands), lots of vendor souvenir stands... and the tradition, the history! Grandstand 6C is right on top of the curved banking, at the end of the main straight. The cars reach top speed, then brake for a tight hairpin. Watching F1 cars under braking is exciting as it's so intense, and easy to get wrong by a meter or two, or worse. The chicane for Turn 1 is where much of the action is at Monza, at the race start, and the prime overtaking area during the race - recall 2014, Rosberg getting his braking wrong for T1 on one of the last laps, and Hamilton overtaking for the win. Excitement!

 

Nice job GordonC. I can only echo those sentiments from a regional view, Laguna Seca, Sonoma, Riverside, Long Beach, Portland, Seattle ..you have to get out a feel it.

360 is the next 275GTB

 

Hilly tracks built into an arena like landscape are the way to go.

Places like Barcelona, Austin and Hungaroring (yes) are most fun as you see the cars at various places. Or Brands Hatch and even Monaco to some degree.

Monza is boring, flat, barely any turns. Its benefits are atmosphere (other places have that too, lets not get too carried away here), good logistics (the Italians are better than their reputation) and the proximity to Milan. Which is why I went so many times and still might go again. Very same argument applies to Montreal which as a track also sucks but is brilliant otherwise

PS: Did Spa last year as well and loved it. Again a hilly track and yes GA might be all you need there. But that place is a logistics nightmare. Wont repeat that one.

 

LOLOLO, camon, the only thing that ever sucked at Monza was Alonso driving a Ferrari!!!

 

+1

Raining? At Silverstone? Surely not! Nice to know the stands are 'open' to all prior to Sunday - That was always my understanding too, but we've had some little disputes about that recently.

All very well stated, thanks!

Very few things compare to an F1 car lighting up its discs under braking. No matter how many times you watch, their braking ability is nothing short of stunning. Your brain is saying 'there's no way he can slow down enough to make the corner' the first few times.

Totally agree on the straights not being the place to sit. OK, the start line is pretty cool at the start, but beyond that, 'meh'. Look for a heavy braking zone, where you may also see a little overtaking, and it's much better than watching 'em blast past at full throttle - Do that on Friday or Saturday.

Cheers,
Ian

 

That's the way it was at Long Beach back in 1979-80, and I wish that all tracks followed this procedure. At Montreal, all you get is your assigned seat, and I'll echo the fact that the general admission areas are terrible.

 

AMAZING race to attend! We sat in 6a but wished we were in 6B or 6C. all of those grand stands allow you to get right to the podium afterwards.

Have fun and don't forget your beer!

 

don't forget to take your walking shoes! Friday and Saturday we walked approx 12 km total but on race day it was more like 4-5 km.