Note also the statue of William Grover-Williams, the winner of the first ever Monaco GP held in 1929, some 21 years before it became an F1 championship race. Mirabeau corner itself is so tight that a passing Honda e looks a bit of a squeeze, so how on earth an F1 field gets through here at full chat is anyones guess.

This is a tight sequence of corners and millimetres stand between pulling off the perfect move and looking like a hero or wrecking your car and looking a bit silly.

If you want a grandstand that really lets you savour the action rather than a blink and you miss it glimpse then the K Tribune is one of the very best at Monaco. Coming before the winding, flat out run up the hill to Massenet, the corner is crucial to achieving the perfect lap time. Sorry about that. He was cleared of any wrongdoing by the stewards, but fans suspicions have never gone away. He has been an ardent follower Er, thats because theres a bar in the middle of it. Hence, more often than not, F1 drivers exit the tunnel almost blindfolded due to the extreme change in lighting. Yes, we know the gift shop is normally found at the end of a tour. For the few lucky fans who do benefit though, these are a dream ticket. Grandstand O is a large tribune between the smaller N and P tribunes. Copyright The F1 Spectator 2014-2017. Perhaps the most well-to-do part of the entire circuit, this. Grandstands N, O, P, L and part of T are ideally placed for views of the swimming pool section. Reports claim that there was an old fishermans bar in Monaco called La Rascasse which potentially inspired the Monaco GP organizers to name one of the corners the same. The corner used to lead on to the back straight and was followed by the Gasworks hairpin, but it is now tighter and leads to the Swimming Pool complex. Pass the time between track action people watching or thinking about which super yacht to buy next. Over his shoulder you'll see the entrance into a complex of tunnels that spiral up and out of Monaco's steep hills, like a hidden escape route in Grand Theft Auto V. Only you won't shake off the police in there. This is Tabac, one of the fastest corners on the circuit and barely wide enough for normal cars, never mind F1s finest. It doesnt look like much, but this is where Monacos podium celebrations take place every year, in a temporary structure (yep, another one) erected purely to stop champagne getting into the garden behind. Grandstand N overlooking the first chicane and P, the second.

Fancy. For a street circuit there are surprisingly good, varied views from the grandstands and the closeness of the track creates intimacy amid the grandeur of Monaco. Nearby the Japanese Gardens offer an oasis of peace and tranquility to enjoy during the downtime, as well as permanent toilet facilities and a water fountain to refill drinks bottles. The Fairmont Hotel behind has dozens of rooms that overlook the hairpin, and a quick web search reveals a one-night Grand Prix package costs just over 22,000. While the track views are only average, the great atmosphere from so many fans in one area go some way to make up for that and the layered skyline of Monte Carlo makes for an impressive backdrop and some Instagram worthy photos. The giant screen opposite is well placed and easy to see wherever your seat is, but do bring a pair of binoculars for the distant view of the pits. Demanding perfect precision, sausage curbs lay in wait to launch cars that go off line, with sometimes disastrous consequences. Yikes. Wait, we forgot the gift shop!

Overtaking is quite impossible despite the decent enough track width.

Suitable entertainment for anyone who crashes out of the race early doors. For fans lucky enough to secure top row seats, views of Tabac and the harbourfront are an added bonus. The Dutch man made a habit of wrecking his Red Bull here in 2017 and 2018. A very close eye in fact not including Paddock Club, these seats are the closest its possible to get to the pit lane from any grandstand at an Formula One track. Other purveyors of cold fish are available. It first hosted a motor race in 1929 and joined the F1 calendar in 1950. Theres no catch fencing blocking the view of the track here so lower rows fair quite well. Not part of this tour though, unfortunately. Surrounded by designer shops and plush apartments, the casino itself probably doesnt have any 2p machines. Not really a turn and rather high-speed esses. Being seated here is an auditory experience as much as a visual one. The slow Mirabeau corner and the Fairmont hairpin remain almost exactly the same as when the likes of Juan Manuel Fangio and Alberto Ascari raced around them in the 1950s. Next we follow the hill up past the Beau Rivage building. The story behind the name? Turns 15 and 16 are among the most dangerous on the circuit for F1 drivers. Turn six used to be called the Station hairpin, due to (you guessed it) there being a railway station to the right on the approach to the corner. Take a left here and youll be heading in the direction of Lewis Hamiltons apartment. For spectators in K1 a clear view extends from Tabac to the exit of the Nouvelle Chicane. Drivers urged organisers to create a safer solution. But, out of the slender list of old racing rings, which one of them would you consider the trickiest to remember? Block K6 has a clear view of the apex of the fast entrance to La Picine. Warning: beware of the unevenly spaced steps in this grandstand. This is the starting point of the harbor, with yachts more visible on the left side.

Lower seats are just as popular and get you very close to the track, a gap in the fence providing a good photo opportunity as the cars pass the second apex. It is one of only two grandstands on this side of the train station so youll find a lot more of the merchandise, food and drinks options, as well as the F1 Fanzone centred around the other side of town, some 15 20 minutes walk away. Without the kerbs and grandstands, you're just going to have to use your imagination here. All rights reserved. The outside of Portier is the spot where Senna made terminal contact with the barrier while dominating the 1988 race. Exiting Massenet hugging the inside barrier, a lightening fast change of direction sees the cars fling to the inside line, hurtling around Casino Square inches from the barrier. Lower seats are best avoided here though as youll have a hard time seeing either corner through the fencing. Turns 15 and 16 have a long history of F1 drivers clipping the wall on the inside of turn 15, consequently breaking the suspension and ramming straight into the barriers around the outside of turn 16. And sometimes even the greatest drivers go off here all by themselves. The Monaco Grand Prix track is iconic. As mentioned earlier, an extremely slow but tricky corner that needs to be an inch-perfect around the braking zone. Of the two, P is the better option for what is usually a more exciting second chicane as well as a far off view of the pits. The pits are on the opposite side of the pit building at Monaco and the podium is on the same side of the track, further down. As Charles Leclerc (like many before him) found out to his cost in 2021. Cozy T3 is a much smaller section than T1 and T2. Your information will be used in accordance with our privacy policy. So when temperatures drop the venue is turned into an ice rink.

Youve reached the end of the tour in record time, and your prize is to meet the local royalty beneath this dour apartment block? Be aware though that once proceedings get under way these seats are less grandstand, more blandstand and you might start to think about catching an early train. Moving on. From Serena Williams to Chris Hemsworth: Celebrities Lured by the Glitz and Glamor of Monaco. In the early days nothing separated the competitors from the sea and in the 1950 race, waves even crashed onto the track causing a chaotic scene. Grandstand K is a long stand facing the habour that stretches from K1, near Tabac to K6 near the chicane that signals the start of the swimming pool section. A local estate agent - TG is agog to discover - reckons a two-bed apartment nearby with modest floorspace will set you back at least 3.4 million. It was switched to its current location in 1963, making Ste Devote the new first corner. Jenson Button meanwhile showed us how not to do it in his last race in Formula 1, impolitely flipping Werlein out of the way leaving his Sauber awkwardly resting on its side. A young rookie called Aryton Senna impressively passed Niki Lauda here for 2nd place in the 1984 rain affected race. Pit lane views are of the top teams garages, near the pit lane entry. Later on, straw bales were used as a barrier which, perhaps not surprisingly failed to prevent Alberto Ascaris Lancia from launching into the sea in the 1955 GP. La Rascasse features a restaurant of the same, overlooking the very spot where Michael Schumacher controversially parked his Ferrari in 2006 to stop anyone beating his pole time (a stunt for which he was excluded from qualifying). Who knew? The T2 section is too far away from either the chicane or the Rascasse and the track view isnt the most impressive. The final corner - a right-hander named Anthony Noghes, after the organiser of the first Monaco Grand Prix - was also added to lead the cars onto the pit straight. A hotel was then constructed on the site in 1973. Grandstands beside the grid get a close up window on the most exciting grid of the F1 season. Peering up the main straight on race day youll see the tail end of the grid.

With a couple of hours to kill between stages, we ventured out for an access-some-areas, not-yet-a-track, track walk.

By clicking subscribe, you agree to receive news, promotions and offers by email from Top Gear and BBC Studios. It also provided the circuit with a new pit exit feeding cars back out onto the uphill climb to Massenet. Grandstand L is justifiably one of the most popular Monaco grandstands. Im Danny, an incurable Formula 1 fan for over 30 years and founder of The F1 Spectator. The original apex to this corner, before major modifications to the final half of the lap took place in 1973, was originally further back from the water front. Hungry after all that walking? Back in the 50s and 60s, the fans and photographers were separated from the cars by straw bales, wooden fences or in some places nothing at all. From here youll get to see cars slowing down for the tight Rascasse corner an occasional site for late braking dive bombs. This is a single corner view but a classic one. With so much riding on pulling off the perfect pit strategy at Monaco, Grandstands L and T are an obvious choice for Sunday. Crucially though, not just some (looking at you T1), but all fans have a clear view of the chicane.

Annoyingly a footbridge blocks part of the view of the pitlane and it can be a bit of a lottery which seat you end up in, but everyone should be able to see at least some of the pit stops. Logos 1996. For 1986, a new concrete section of track extending over the harbour was created. It also used to feature a barrier on the inside, but this was opened up in 2003 to create more run-off area. The final corner is named after Anthony Noghes, the man who organised the very first Monaco Grand Prix back in - yes, well remembered - 1929. The rest of the first sector is largely untouched, with the only real difference being the installation of safety barriers.

Mirabeau Bas separates the hairpin and Portier, where youll find the entrance to the tunnel. rocked up for the Monte Carlo Rally earlier this year. As is the case at most circuits, the teams garages are in the order of the previous seasons constructors championship with the top teams closest to the pit entry, opposite T3. Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. This website is made by BBC Studios Distribution. The further up you go the better the view of the harbour becomes. Located at the exit of the tunnel, it's full of racing goodies.

Only the top five rows are covered though and in heavy rain you could still get wet, especially if youre seated on the edge. Another thing you never notice on TV.

In 2015 another young rookie, Max Verstappen misjudged a pass, damaging his car and careening into the tecpro barriers. This is certainly the most famous corner of the entire circuit, thanks to the presence of Monacos most prestigious building Monte Carlo Casino. BMW launches heated seat and steering wheel subscription service in the UK. Naturally if seeing the pits is a top priority for you, Grandstand T is the better choice. A high-speed right-handed curve that acts as an absolute opposite to the rest of the track. A right-handed corner with the inside of the exit paving the way for the pit lane entry. To anyone unaware of the reason behind this name, the track actually runs into a dim-lighted tunnel.

From anywhere in the upper part of the grandstand theres a vast expanse of visible track, especially for a street circuit. At a track where some grandstands are better suited for the practice, qualifying or the race this lets you plan your viewing down to the day as well as get a varied viewing experience of the famous street circuit. No need to remind Max Verstappen of this. BBC Studios is a commercial company that is owned by the BBC (and just the BBC). Its also home to this statue of Juan Manuel Fangio, the five-time world champion who won the race in 1950 and 1957. Hopefully the cabbies dont pull quite so many Gs. Because of the trees that line the length of the main straight and can get in the way, having a view to the rear of the stand isnt a sure thing and you probably wont see it advertised. TG takes you on a tour. Standing in the middle of the circuit, the main straight to your rear and the climb towards Casino Square to your left, this is the surround sound experience of Monaco. Well, both these corners sandwich a very old yet famous hotel, Hotel Mirabeau. Treat yourself to a meal at Planet Sushi(just out of shot). We cant confirm because a fleecy jumper and jeans arent proper attire, apparently.

Named after the nearby church, Sainte Devote is a tricky uphill right-hander. This lets spectators in grandstand T and L keep a close eye on goings on in the pit lane. Underneath the overpass we find our second F1 sculpture. Peering between the trees to the rear of the grandstand its also possible to see parts of the main straight. The short yet defiant streets of Monte Carlo comprise 18 narrow corners, each of them owning distinct stories behind the origin of their names. Its where Nico Rosberg famously misjudged his braking, brought out the yellow flags and secured himself pole position for Mercedes in 2014. This website is unofficial and is not associated in any way with the Formula One group of companies. Other than kerbing and barrier modifications, this corner has been unchanged ever since.

A bit of miscalculation could well lead to the car ramming into the wall that is barely inches away from the track. The tricky second chicane has been the scene of many accidents. Over the road youll find a shop dedicated to the sale, charter and management of super yachts.

Mind how you go, its a bit of a squeeze. On a track thats changed little since it first hosted F1, some of the most notable changes have been on the section between La Picine and Rascasse. of the racing series since 2007, with his love for the sport coinciding with his Weird. Its thrilling to watch the cars bounce over the curb on exit masterful when it goes right and punishing when it doesnt. Youll frequently see their wheels grazing the barriers here in their bid to extract every possible millisecond of lap time, but get it wrong and it's game over. From upper seats you can have a good view of the approach as the cars skirt their way past the swimming pool. Each feature good views of their respective corners, but distance and fencing make seeing any other part of the track difficult. Surrounded by steep hills and inhabited by the ultra-rich, sure, but a normal place nonetheless.

Sainte Devote looks claustrophobic on the telly, but in reality its a very green, very busy intersection chocker with Monacos two most popular types of vehicle: supercars and Smart cars. and merch from every team. Wed say the classic Circuit de Monaco. The introduction of this new layout helped to create space for a new pit area. Well, along with the high-speed nature, the drivers will also have to cope with aggressive changes in altitude. The harbourfront in Monaco is perhaps the most recognizable section of any Grand Prix circuit.

The neighborhood near this corner is known as Le Portier and hence, the name. One of the hardest tasks for a Formula One fan is to keep tabs on the corner names of a circuit. He is also an ardent follower of Sebastian Vettel and To just get ticket updates on one or more Grand Prix you can set your preferences here. After the main straight overtaking is always a possibility here, as well as the potential for mayhem on lap one. Anyone want to get a GoFundMe page going? Seats used to be sold as premium upper or regular lower sections with comfier, individual seats and a clear view of the pits available to the former and bleacher style seats and not much of a view for the latter. A bump on the approach to the chicane has caught out many, resulting in some spectacular incidents over the years. F1, FORMULA ONE, FORMULA 1, FIA FORMULA ONE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP, GRAND PRIX and related marks are trade marks of Formula One Licencing B.V. Copyright the F1 Spectator 2014-2022. Up until 1985, the harbour-side chicane was a fast left/right flick that was the scene of several big accidents including Lorenzo Bandinis fiery fatal crash in 1967. Get all the latest news, reviews and exclusives, direct to your inbox. No change in elevation whatsoever and pretty much flat-out until the arrival of turn 10. This section comprises two separate esses, with the initial one being less dangerous than the subsequent one. Sandwiching the relatively giant Tribune O, two fun-sized grandstands offer lower priced alternatives at the swimming pool section. After accelerating around the fast, left-hand kink of Tabac drivers reach La Picine. Theres only one line through here so this is not an overtaking spot, but it is a pleasure to watch drivers work the wheel through this fast left-right section. Though youll be particularly well catered for if youre a Ferrari fan. The profits we make from it go back to BBC programme-makers to help fund great new BBC programmes. A quick nosy in the car park is required when we spot this Noble V6 Coupe, never before registered according to the for sale note in the window. But if you book early and are lucky enough to find yourself close to the right side end of the stand youre in a prime position for see cars thread their way through the chicane. Another iconic part of the track, and one of the few places where its possible (though still incredibly hard) to launch an overtake. Across the square from Casino de Monte-Carlo, the Cafe de Paris to your left, perhaps no other view feels as quintessentially Monaco as that from Grandstand B. Always a favourite Monaco vantage point Grandstand T is simply the best vantage point for watching the goings on in the pit lane wherever youre seated, but for a lucky few fans the grandstand offers so much more. It used to be a faster right-hander but it was tightened in 1976. Let the tour commence. Its been smoothed out a bit from what it was but it still presents a challenge to drivers. The Budget travel agency looks a bit out of place, mind. Nearly at the end now. Grand Prix Checklist: The Ultimate Packing List for F1 Spectators, Watching F1 in Monaco Without a Ticket 7 Places you can Watch for Free, Las Vegas GP Completes American Trio, Riding Wave of F1 Popularity in US, Saturday Night Las Vegas Grand Prix Announced, Supporting Ukraine With Russian GP Ticket Sales. Recent changes made to the pit area make it easier for all levels of the grandstand to have a clear view of the pit lane (though comfort level inequalities persist). The starting grid was placed here until 1963; ten years later the two chicanes that make up the swimming pool section were added on land reclaimed from the sea, making room for a new pit complex. Tabac is another high-speed left-handed corner, as the drivers almost kiss the barriers around the outside of the turn. Due to the removal of the Gasworks hairpin, a new end to the lap was created. Overtaking is not unheard of though it often relies of the car behind having a major performance advantage and some degree of compliance from the car in front. Nevertheless, the fast, narrow section sees plenty of incident and the quick flick left of Tabac is a favourite spot for Monaco regulars.

Just ask Daniel Ricciardo. The F1 Spectator uses cookies to improve the user experience. When youre not being dazzled by the sight of F1 cars you can be dazzled by the towering facade of the Monte Carlo skyline and the sun dappled waters of the Mediterranean. Some spectators will have difficulty getting a clear view of the former though, especially from the upper right section where a leafy tree branch makes a bit of a nuisance of itself. About the chicane itself, both the turns possess a high threat of damaging the front-left tire due to the pointy barriers. Aston Martin Racing. From here youll have the best view in the house of the first and second chicanes of La Picine. Lets start with the very first turn of the circuit. Hence, not many would have noticed this particular structure on live TV. Seeing into the pits is easier from slightly higher up though and top rows are fitted with more comfortable seats. A low fence makes visibility good, especially at the corners apex. A beautiful view off the track, with a meter-long barrier keeping the F1 cars from falling into the Monaco waters. The Monaco GP circuit is familiar to millions, but what does it look like when the F1 circus moves on? However, the surroundings have changed considerably. The view you get can differ quite a bit depending on which block youre in from K1 to K6. The two narrow corners pretty much connect the slowest corner on the F1 calendar.

Back rows of the K Grandstand are premium seats and besides being higher up and slightly more comfortable, come with a hidden bonus. With a long straight ahead, a lot of drivers seek a head-start around the exit of turn 18, which sometimes leads to massive oversteer as they inevitably crash into the barriers. The double right-hander of Portier, which takes the cars back onto the sea-front, remains the same, but the tunnel used to be considerably shorter before the construction of the previously mentioned hotel in 1973. There is a view of the pit lane entrance and it will get you closer to the top team garages than T1, but generally of the three its the one to avoid. The whole track is now enclosed by barriers, tyre walls and catch fencing, leaving no room for error but helping to protect the drivers, marshals and spectators. The closest the yachts could get to the circuit, turn 12 aka Tabac, originates from a tiny tobacco shop on the outside of this corner. Grandstand V comes with an extra bonus for fans on a Saturday; in recent years this has been the spot where the top three qualifiers park up and are interviewed after the session. Next up is the world famous Swimming Pool section. Completely unsuitable for modern F1 racing, but iconic.

The Circuit de Monaco is one of the most famous and prestigious tracks in the world. The extension to Rampoldiis packed up and stored during race season; cant imagine there are many places where table space is subject to if theres a grand prix on. All of this is quite far away though so its worth bringing a pair of binoculars. The corner of K6 is especially coveted, overlooking the start / finish line, pole position spot, the royal box and the pitlane exit. Before being named Grand Hotel, there were several others too, including Loews, Fairmont, and Station Hairpin. This is one of the most action-packed sections of track, seeing passing moves into either corner and determined efforts to stay nose to tail with the car in front to stand the best possible chance of making a move on the main straight. Who could ever forget this? youll vaguely recognise the outskirts of the corner. Monaco tribunes (grandstands) can be bought as one day tickets. One of the fewest places where one could witness some action, with the unusually wide track letting two F1 cars race side-by-side for a few meters. With building works in full flow, the tunnel doesnt look at its peak right now. The kerb out of Turn 1 (like many of the tracks kerbs) survives all year round, which must be great fun if youre a local. It was replaced in 1973 by La Rascasse, which is made up of a left-hand kink (which used to be tighter but was opened up in 2003) and a slow, double-apex right-hander. This was extended further in 2004, making room for the upgraded pit lane we see today with garages facing away from the circuit. Except, as it turns out, theres not much call for swimming in the depths of winter, even on the south coast of France. Look out for your regular round-up of news, reviews and offers in your inbox. So when TG rocked up for the Monte Carlo Rally earlier this year, it got us wondering: what does Monaco actually look like when it isnt festooned with grandstands and barriers? None of the sections are really bad but each comes with their own pros and cons. Seats in Grandstand B are comfortable molded plastic a step above the flat bleacher style seats that predominate elsewhere.