This is my spectacting guide to the Main Grandstand 1 at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez circuit for the Mexican Formula 1 Grand Prix.
Contents
Grandstand 1 Mexico GP location
The Main Grandstand 1, also known as Grada 1, at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez circuit is located on the left hand side of the start finish straight, between the exit of the final corner Turn 17 and the start line. It’s also directly opposite the pit lane and pit garages, so get the right seats and you’ll be able to see what the F1 teams are doing during the race and the pitstops.
It’s part of the Main Grandstand which is split in to Main Grandstand 1 (this one) and Main Grandstand 2, which is to the left of this stand slightly further along the main straight.
It’s part of the Green Zone (Zone Verde).
The grandstand is close to entrance gates 4, 6 and 7, which are all no more than a 10 minute walk away from this grandstand.
If you’re planning on getting to the track using public transport, then the Ciudad Deportiva metro station is the closest, right outside those gates I mentioned above. It’s also a 10 minute walk away, so it’s very convenient.
Grandstand details
Cover
This grandstand is classed as partially covered. It does have a roof, but it only really extends over the top few rows. As the grandstand is also South-facing, unless you in the top few rows, you’re likely to be in the sun for most of the day. So dress appropriately for the hot Mexican sunshine!
Seats
The seats are individual plastic chairs.
TV screens
There are TV screens on the other side of the circuit on top of the pit buildings, so wherever you sit in this stand you’ll be able to see a screen.
Mexico GP Grandstand 1 tickets
This is a fan favourite, so tickets for this grandstand sell out incredibly quickly because of its fantastic location. But don’t worry – if you still want tickets for this stand I’d recommend you buy tickets through ViaGoGo.
There will always be some available there right up until the last minute before the race, and you can often find them at a slightly lower price there too.
I’ve used Viagogo for F1 tickets numerous times, including for my recent trips to the Las Vegas, Canadian and British Grand Prix. I’ve always had a great experience using their ticket platform and have actually managed to find cheaper tickets on there by waiting until nearer the race itself.
They also have a very robust ‘FanProtect Guarantee’ which will keep your money and tickets protected, which always gives me extra peace of mind when buying.
Mexico Main Grandstand 1 seating plan
The image below shows the seating chart for grandstand 1 at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez.
As the seating plan shows, this grandstand is made up of a number of different blocks.
There are actually two levels to this grandstand. The slightly lower level has blocks numbers in the 100 rang (101 -113). The upper level has blocks named in the 200 range (201 – 213). But as the image below shows, even the lower level seats in the 100 range are high above the ground, and high enough to look over the safety fence.
In the 100 range seats, each block has rows which start at 1 lowest down at the front and go up to 10 higher at the back. Then in the 200 range seats the rows start at 11 at the front and increase to 20.
In each individual seat block, seat numbers increase from left to right at you stand on the track and look up at the grandstand. Seat numbers start from 1 in each block.
Above Row 2 of the upper level are three extra rows, rows 21, 22 and 23 which are classed as premium Sky Box seats, which you pay extra for and give you pretty much guaranteed shade:
View
The map below shows the parts of the circuit you can see from this grandstand highlighted in green:
As that map shows, your view from here consists mainly of the exit of the final corner, the first half of the start / finish straight and the pit lane and pit garages opposite.
With 22 Formula 1 cars on the grid, the final two grid spots (21 and 22) are in line with blocks 103 / 104 and 202 / 203. So any block numbers higher than that will give you a view closer to the start line. The blocks furthest to the right, 113 and 213, are almost in line with the start line.
The F1 teams that finished higher in the constructor’s standings the previous year will be the first garage along the pit lane. So blocks 102 / 103 and 201 / 202 will have the best view of the top teams’ garages. Blocks 113 and 213 at the far end of the stand will be roughly in line with the garages from teams 8th or 9th in the standings.
To help give you an idea of the view, the videos below show the vantage points from different seats in this grandstand.
14:30 in this video shows the view from Block 207 row 14:
This video shows the view from Block 102 row 10:
This video shows the view from Block 201 row 16:
This video shows the view from Block 108 row 7:
This video shows the view from Block 210 row 18:
This video shows the view from Block 210 row 20:
And finally this 360 degree image shows the view from the Skybox in block 213, effectively Row 21. That’s as far to the left as you can get.
Best seats
Personally I’d like to be as far to the left as possible, as close to the start line as you could get. So that would be the higher block numbers.
As the stand is so high, even 100 range seats have a nice view. But I’d prefer to be higher up, so would go for seats in the 200 range.
So for me I’d try and get seats in blocks 211, 212 or 213 to be as close to the start line as possible. I’d try for rows 15 and above to try and be in the shade as much as possible.
Is this a good place to sit?
You won’t see much overtaking here, but you will have a fantastic view of the pit lane, pit stops and pit garages. Additionally, you’ll be overlooking the cars on the grid before the race. So you’ll be able to sit and watch your favourite drivers a team members getting ready before the Grand Prix begins.
That, and the roof over the top, make this a fantastic place to sit. There’s loads of food and drink beneath / behind the grandstand, toilets nearby, and it’s easily accessed from transport.
Other grandstand guides
- WIP
