The Gold 1 Spa Francorchamps pit grandstand gives views directly over the start / finish line on the Belgian circuit. The steeply tiered seating area also allows fans to see all of the action in the pitlane, plus gives a great view of the podium ceremony.
This article provides a full guide to the Gold 1 grandstand at Spa, including its location, example views, a seating plan, nearest parking and more.
Contents
What is the Gold 1 Spa Francorchamps grandstand?
The Gold 1 Spa Francorchamps grandstand, also known as the Gold 1 pit grandstand / tribune, is one of the premium grandstands at the Belgian Grand Prix.
Being part of the gold group of grandstands it offers some of the best seats at the circuit. But this comes at a price; tickets for a weekend seat in this grandstand were over 600 Euros for the 2023 Formula 1 race. That’s one of the most expensive non-VIP seats at the Belgian Grand Prix.
Gold 1 Spa grandstand location
Despite it being referred to as Gold 1 ‘pit’, the grandstand is actually on the other side of the circuit to the pit lane. It’s located on the left-hand side of the start / finish straight, on the outside of the circuit.
The grandstand starts shortly after the exit of the final turn, Chicane, and ends just before the start line. One of the two Spa Francorchamps DRS zones is right on the straight in front of this stand.
The stand is close to the edge of the track. There’s only a narrow strip of tarmac that runs between the front of the grandstand and the catch fencing at the side of the circuit.
Tickets
Gold 1 is a super popular place to sit at the Belgian GP so tickets often sell out fast on the Spa official website. If it’s sold out but you’re still after some tickets, I’d recommend purchasing them through P1 Travel.
They’re an official Formula 1 ticket reseller with a great reputation and great reviews, plus they have a good selection of 1, 2 or 3 day tickets available.
Grandstand details
- There is a roof over the top of the grandstand. However, as the stand is so steeply tiered, if it’s raining heavily then the people in the lower half of the stand are still likely to get wet. There are no sides on the stand so if you’re at either end you’re also exposed to the elements.
- The seats are fixed individual plastic seat bases with no seat backs.
- There’s one giant TV visible from this stand. It’s on the opposite side of the track on top of the pit buildings. It’s not directly in the middle of the stand but closer to the right hand side, above the podium.
Spa Gold 1 seating plan
Below is the Gold 1 Spa Francorchamps grandstand seating chart. There are 20 different seating sections to choose from, all labelled A to S.
Section A is closest to the Chicane and section S is closest to La Source.
View from the Spa Gold 1 grandstand
From this grandstand your view will be of the exit of the Chicane to your right, all the way down to the apex of the first corner on the circuit, the La Source hairpin.
The Gold 1 pit grandstand at Spa is very steeply tiered. The rows as the back of the stand are much, much higher than those at the front. But unfortunately the pit lane buildings block you from being able to see across the track to Eau Rouge and Raidillon.
The video below shows the view from the front row of the grandstand.
From the upper rows you can also see a tiny bit of the cars just as they leave La Source and head down the hill towards Eau Rouge, as the video below shows.
From the upper rows not only do you get a better view of the circuit, but a clearer view of the pit lane action as well. You can look over the fence on both sides of the circuit and have a perfect vantage point for watching the pit stops.
Scroll around the 360 degree image below to get an idea of the view from this stand.
The start line is just off to the left hand side of the stand, so you’ll have a perfect view of the cars leaving their grid boxes. You can also see them in the braking zone for La Source where there’s often a lot of action on the first lap.
The further to the left in the stand you sit, the better your view of La Source. The further to the right you are, the more you can see of the cars exiting the chicane.
The video below at 2:00 shows a view from the right-hand side of the stand in section E.
The other great thing about the view from the Gold 1 Spa grandstand is that you’re opposite the podium. Those sat on the right hand side of the stand have the best view with the celebrations taking place directly opposite them, without having to leave your seat.
The map below shows the areas o the track visible from this stand highlighted in pink.
Is the Gold 1 grandstand a good place to sit at Spa?
If you want to be right on top of the action at the start of the race, be able to watch all of the pit lane action and be in prime position for the podium ceremony then the Gold 1 pit grandstand is the best place to sit at Spa.
If you’re not so fussed about the pit lane or podium but want the best view possible of the first corner where there’s likely to be some wheel-to-wheel action, then there are a couple of other grandstands a little further along the straight that have a more comprehensive view of La Source. These are the Gold 7, 8 and 9 grandstands.
If I was sitting in the Gold 1 pit grandstand, I would leave a comment in the Notes box on the booking form requesting to sit as high as possible to make sure I’m proteted by the roof and have a great view. I’d try and be pretty central, so would ask for section H, I, L or M.
Nearest parking area
Blue parking area 14 is the closest to the grandstand, but it’s usually reserved for VIPs and people with accessibility requirements. The Yellow Spa parking areas are second closest and will be around a 20 minute walk from this grandstand if you use the La Source entrance gates. Check out our full guide to Spa Francorchamps parking for more info.
Tickets for the parking can be purchased directly through the Spa Grand Prix website.
Nearest campsite
The Yellow Spa Francorchamps campsite is closest to the Gold 9 stand. You can walk from the campsite to the La Source circuit entrance in around 15 minutes, then it’s only another couple of minutes to this stand.
Other Spa grandstands
Check out our spectator guides to the other grandstands at Spa Francorchamps:
- Max Verstappen stand
- Speed Corner grandstand
- Combes grandstand
- 17 – 27 area grandstand
- Gold 2 GP2 grandstand
- Gold 3 grandstand
- Gold 4 grandstand
- Gold 6 grandstand
- Gold 7 grandstands
- Gold 8 grandstand
- Gold 9 grandstand
- Silver 1 grandstand
- Silver 2 grandstand
- Silver 3 grandstand
- Silver 4 grandstand
- Silver 6 grandstand
