This is my spectacting guide to the Centrale grandstand at the Italian Grand Prix at Monza. These is grandstand 1, also known as the Main grandstand.
In this guide I’ve included my tips to help you pick the best seats in this stand, videos of the views, plus some more tips on how to get tickets even when they seem to be sold out elsewhere.
Contents
Monza Grandstand 1 Centrale location
At the Monza Italian Grand Prix, grandstand 1 Centrale (also known as the Central or Main grandstand or Tribuna Centrale) is half way along the start finish straight, on the left side of the circuit, directly in line with the start line. Hence why it’s called Centrale – it’s in the central position.
To its left is the Laterale Sinistra stand and to its right is the Laterale Destra grandstand.
Grandstsand 1 is the most expensive grandstand at Monza for the Italian Grand Prix because of its location.
Entrance gates A and B are both the closest entrances to this stand. Each is around a 5 to 10 minuet walk away. But if you are getting a shuttle bus to the circuit that tends to drop off near gate G which is a 30 minute walk away.
The main F1 fanzone is on the complete opposite side of the track, on the outside of the circuit after Turn 10. To get there you need to cross under the track through some tunnels and that is a 20 – 30 minute walk.
You can just about see the podium from this stand way off to the right, but if you want to join the tens of thousands of other F1 fans who invade the track after the race to go under the podium, then there will be entrance gate that open up along this part of the main straight for easy access.
There are plenty of food and drinks options directly behind this grandstand.
Grandstand details
Cover
Grandstand 1 is covered. It has a roof over the top, and even though it’s high above the stand (especially high above the front rows), because this grandstand faces East then you’ll be in the shade for most of the day.
Seats
The seats in these stands are individual plastic chairs.
TV screens
There’s one TV screen visible from this stand. It’s on the other side of the circuit just to the left of the big VIP grandstand opposite, right where the pit lane ends.
Monza Grandstand 1 Tickets
Even though it’s expensive, because of it’s location right a the start line tickets for grandstand 1 often sell out fast. If that’s the case but you still want seats here I’d recommend buying your tickets through ViaGoGo instead where there will be a good selection of tickets still available right up until race day.
I’ve bought my F1 tickets numerous times using ViaGoGo over the last few seasons. That includes when I went to the British, Dutch and Belgianh Grand Prix. I’ve always had a great experience using their services and won’t hesistate to do the same again next time.
And for peace of mind they have a ‘Fan Protect’ guarantee which protects your tickets and money. That has always given me extra confidence to use them.
Monza Grandstand 1 Seating Plan
Below is the seating chart for Grandstand 1 Centrale at Monza. As it’s such as big image it’s too large to host on this page, so if you enter your name and email in the boxes below and hit send it’ll be sent straight to your inbox.
The rows start at A lowest down at the front and increase to M highest up at the back. Seat numbers begin at 1 on the left side of the stand (if you’re stood on the track looking up at the seats) and increase the further to the right you go. The furthest seat to the right is seat 129.
View
On the image below you can see the areas of the circuit visible from this stand in green:
From this grandstand your view is mainly of the start line, the starting grid, the pit lane exit and the final few pit garages before the pit lane ends. So you are perfectly positioned to see the start of the race, and for all the pre-race build up on the grid.
You can’t see down to Turn 1 on your left, nor can you see the exit of the final corner Turn 11 to your right.
The middle of the grandstand is directly lined up with the start line. Seats 60 – 70 are the ones bang in the middle, but these are almost impossible to get. So if you want to be central, go for seat numbers closest to those.
This 360 degree image shows the view from the centre of the grandstand:
The video below was filmed from Row M (back row) seat 14. So that’s as high as possible and quite far to the right in the stand. Even though it’s an old video it’s still relevant as the grandstand seating layout and view haven’t changed. Even though this was taken from further to the right in the stand, the TV screen is still visible off to the left but a little further away. And also, what a noise!
Best seats
If you want to sit in line with the start line you need seats closest to 60 – 70. If you want to have the best view of the TV screen then you need higher seat numbers (70 and above).
If however you’d like to be closer to the pit garages and also have a better view of the cars, drivers, team members and VIPs lining up on the grid before the race then you want to be in the lower seat numbers. This is what I’d do.
I’d always suggest going for the highest rows possible as that gives you a better view to see over the pit wall in to the pit lane.
Is this a good place to sit?
This is the most expensive grandstand at Monza but if seeing the start line is your priority then it’s the best place to sit.
However, I’d probably choose the cheaper seats in the adjacent Grandstand 26C which give you a perfect view of the podium, still allow you to see the grid and start line and a much better view of the pit garages. And they’re also covered.
