At the Mexican Grand Prix there’s no normal ‘general admission’ ticket, and your grandstand ticket doesn’t let you walk around the whole track.
Instead the circuit is split up in to zones. This is my guide and review of the zones at the F1 in Mexico.
Contents
Mexico GP Zones - the big confusion
At most F1 Grand Prix you can buy a General Admission ticket which won’t get you a seat in a grandstand but it will let you walk around the whole circuit. Grandstand tickets would also normally let you walk around the General Admission areas.
At the Mexican Grand Prix, however, things are different. There is no traditional ‘general admission’ ticket – you either need to buy a grandstand ticket or a VIP ticket.
If you have a grandstand ticket, you cannot walk around the whole track. You must stay in the specific zone which your grandstand is in.
There are two zones which are the exception to this rule – the Yellow and Pink zones can also access the Blue zone. More info on this below.
Most people only realise they are restricted from leaving their zone after they arrive at the race, then find out they can’t meet their friends who are in a different zone, and can’t walk around different parts of the circuit. There are ticket checks between zones.
So it means that selecting the right zone is more important because not only will it dictate your view of the track, but it will determine how your weekend goes as a whole because each zone has different food and drink options, different entertainment and different transport access.
Mexican GP Zones
There are 7 different spectator zones at the Mexican Grand Prix:
- Zona Verde (Green Zone)
- Zona Naranja (Orange Zone)
- Zona Azul (Blue Zone)
- Zona Amarilla (Yellow Zone)
- Zona Rosa (Pink Zone)
- Zona Grey (Grey Zone)
- Zona Cafe (Brown Zone)
Below is more information on each Zone.
Zona Verde - Green Zone
Access to other zones?
No.
Grandstands
Grandstands in this zone:
Views
Situated on the outside of the final corner and along the left-hand side of the first half of the start / finish straight.
Views from the grandstands in Zona Verde are of the final corner, the starting grid and the start line and the pit lane, pit garages and pit stops.
Entrance gates
You have to use entrance gates 4, 6, or 7 to access this zone at the Mexican GP.
Transport access
The Ciudad Deportiva Metro station is almost directly outside Gate 7, so it’s very easy to get to using public transport.
What's the zone like?
This zone has the Driver Q&A stage where the drivers and team principals will give interviews before the race. There will also be DJs playing music on that stage inbetween the interviews, It’s the only zone that has the driver interviews, so that’s a massive bonus.
There’s a good selection of food and drinks vendors and sponsor activations. But it doesn’t have some of the main F1 fan zone things like the F1 tyre changing challenge. There are loads of merch stands selling F1 team wear.
There’s lots of shade available. In the area behind the grandstands there’s lots of individual benches that have umbrellas.
One of the best things about this zone is that you can go underneath the grandstands where there’s lot of bars, food vendors and places to sit in the shade. Plus there’s an outdoor terrace area at ground level next to the track that you can use.
Zona Naranja - Orange Zone
Access to other zones?
No.
Grandstands
The only grandstand in this zone is:
Views
This grandstand will give you a view of a small section of the start finish straight, nothing else. You cannot see any corners from here. Click the link above to the full grandstand guide for more info.
Entrance gates
You have to enter this zone using entrance gate 8.
Transport access
Both the Ciudad Deportiva and Pubela Metro stations are a 5 minute walk from entrance gate 8.
What's the zone like?
This is the cheapest zone at the Mexican Grand Prix. And when you get in it you can see why – it’s pretty small and there’s not a lot of other entertainment within in. There’s no replica F1 cars (or any cars for that matter) on display, no F1 simulators, no F1 pitstop challenge, no stage and no driver interviews.
There is a DJ tent in the middle of the zone with a DJ who’ll be playing some tunes in between the F1 sessions. And the tent also offers some much needed shade.
There’s a grassy park area under some trees for extra shade, plus there’s loads of benches with umbrellas for somewhere to sit and cool off.
There are number of food trucks and street food vendors walking around.
And that’s about it. If you’re here for all three days you might get a bit bored.
Zona Azul - Blue Zone
Access to other zones?
No.
Grandstands
The grandstands in this zone are:
Views
The grandstands in this zone give you a view of turns 1, 2 and 3 which make the first chicane called Curva Moises Solana. If you want to see overtaking or some first-lap chaos, this the grandstands in this zone are the best places to view it from.
Entrance gates
You can enter Zona Azul using entrance gates 9 or 12.
Transport access
The Puebla Metro station is directly outside entrance gate 9, so it’s very easy to access.
What's the zone like?
This is the biggest and the best zone at the Mexican Grand Prix. It includes the full F1 fan zone and all the usual entertainment that comes with it – F1 simulators, F1 pitstop challenge, F1 blast lane and DJs. There are literally hundreds of sponsor activations.
It’s a very lively zone with a great atmosphere. Some of the DJs continue playing late in to the evenings and you can join hundreds of other fans who stick around after the track action to dance and drink the night away.
There are loads of F1 merchandise vendors and a huge range of food and drink options available here.
There’s plenty of shade available. Big DJ tents and numerous tables with umbrellas provide a nice break from the sun.
If you’re going for all 3 days then I’d definitely recommend getting tickets for a grandstand in the Zona Azul as this is the best zone and the one that has the most to see and do in it.
Zona Amarilla - Yellow Zone
Access to other zones?
YES – Zona Amarilla (Yellow Zone) ticket holders can also access the Zona Azul (Blue Zone) during the Mexican Grand Prix weekend.
That’s a massive bonus as the Blue Zone is the best zone.
Grandstands
The grandstands in this Zona Amarilla are:
Views
These grandstands all provide views of the incredibly tight turns 4, 5 and 6. These are very slow parts of the track meaning you get to see the cars for quite a long time here. Plus they’re great overtaking spots, Turn 4 especially, so sitting in these stands is also a great option if you are keen on seeing some on-track action.
Entrance gates
You enter this zone using entrance gates 13 or 14.
Transport access
This zone takes a little longer to get to. The Puebla Metro station is about a 15 / 20 minute walk from gate 13.
Or you can take the Metrobus and get off at the Upiiscsa stop, which is a 10 minute walk from gate 14.
What's the zone like?
This zone is ok. It’s not huge, there’s a few things to keep you entertained and a decent selection of food and drink vendors close to the grandstands.
The atmoshphere in these grandstands is great because most of the them are adjacent to each other or face each other.
But because you get access to the Blue Zone then you can spend time exploring there where there’s much more to see, do, eat and drink.
Zona Rosa - Pink Zone
Access to other zones?
YES – Zona Rosa (Pink Zone) ticket holders can also enter Zona Azul (Blue Zone) during the Mexican Grand Prix weekend.
That’s a big bonus as the Blue Zone is the best zone at the event.
Grandstands
The grandstands in the Pink Zone are:
Views
The two grandstands in this section offer you partial views of turns 4, 5 and 6. These are cheaper grandstands than those in the Yellow Zone, so if you can afford a little more then go for one of those instead as they all give much more comprehensive views of this section of the track.
Entrance gates
You have to enter this zone via the Blue Zone, so you need gates 9 or 12. You then have to walk over the pedestrian bridge that goes across the track before Turn 4 to get to this zone.
Transport access
The Puebla Metro station is right outside gate 9, and from there it’s around a 15 minute walk to this zone.
What's the zone like?
It’s the smallest zone at the circuit. There is still a good selection of food and drinks vendors near the two grandstands, plus F1 merch stands and a DJ playing some music.
But you get access to the Blue Zone which is much bigger and better, so you’ll probably spend more time exploring there between the F1 sessions.
Zona Gris - Grey Zone
Access to other zones?
No.
Grandstands
The only grandstand in this zone is:
Views
This grandstand is part of the Foro Sol stadium. Sitting here is all about the atmosphere. The F1 track goes right between the two halves of the stadium and you’ll be amongst tens of thousands of Mexican F1 fans cheering and singing. The vibes here are fantastic.
It’s also where they have the podium ceremony and where drivers usually stop for interviews before the racing during the driver parade.
The actual view of the track isn’t that great – you can only see turns 13, 14 and 15 which are very slow and usually single-file. But sitting here isn’t about the view of the track, it’s about th atmosphere.
Entrance gates
You enter this zone using entrance gate 1.
Transport access
The easiest way to get to gate 1 and enter Zona Gris at the Mexico GP using public transport is to take line 9 of the Metro and get off at the Velodromo station. From there it’s a 10 minute walk to gate 1.
What's the zone like?
The zone itself is basically the area beneath the massive stadium grandstand. There are lots of food and drinks vendors, F1 merch sellers and sponsor activations.
There’s no F1 fan zone or stage for driver interviews but that doesn’t matter because sitting in the grandstand gives you a view of the podium ceremony and the area where they do pre-race driver interviews.
Zona Cafe - Brown Zone
Access to other zones?
No.
Grandstands
The only grandstand in this zone is:
Views
This grandstand is the other half of Foro Sol stadium. You sit here for the atmosphere. The F1 track runs right between the two parts of the stadium and you will be sat amongst tens of thousands of passionate Mexican F1 fans cheering and singing.
It’s also where the podium ceremony takes place and where drivers stop for interviews before the race begins during the driver parade.
The actual view of the track isn’t that great – you can only see turns 13, 14 and 15 which are very slow and usually single-file. But sitting here isn’t about the view of the track, it’s about th atmosphere.
Entrance gates
You have to enter this zone using entrance gate 1.
Transport access
The easiest way get to Zona Gris at the Mexico City GP using public transport is to take line 9 of the Metro and exit at the Velodromo station. From leaving that station it’s a 10 minute walk to entrance gate 1.
What's the zone like?
This zone is also the area beneath the main stadium. It is full of food and drink vendors and F1 merch sellers. But there’s not a lot of other entertainment, apart from a variety of random sponsor activations.
But it doesn’t matter too much as you’ll have the fantastic atmosphere in the grandstand itself, plus you’ll be able to watch the podium cermony and pre-race driver interviews there.
Food and drink prices
Food and drink prices at the Mexico GP are pretty reasonable.
Here are some prices you can expect to pay for food and drink at the Mexican Grand Prix in USD$:
- Water 500ml – $2
- Soft drink bottle 500ml – $3
- Red Bull can – $6
- Heineken beer – $7
- Heineken zero – $7
- Nachos & guac – $8
- Tacos / quesadillas – $10 to $15
Money
Unfortunately the Mexican GP uses on of those annoying pre-paid topup card systems. The only way you can buy anything is by loading money on to one of the Citibanamex pre-paid cards. You can use your own card or cash to load them.
All the vendors at the circuit only accept these pre-paid cards. Anything left over on the card that you don’t spend can be withdrawn back to your own back after the race online.
