This is my spectacting guide to grandstands 8A and 8B Prima Variante Esterna, and the new 8 BIS Prima Variante Uscita at the Italian Grand Prix at Monza.
In this guide you’ll find my tips on picking the best seats, videos of the views, seating charts, info on getting tickets and more.
Contents
Monza Grandstand 8 Prima Variante location
Grandstands 8A, 8B and 8 BIS are all located on the left hand side of the Monza circuit at / just after the first two corners which make up the first chicane.
Grandstand 8A and grandstand 8B are actually the same grandstand. 8A is the top half of the rows and 8B is the bottom half. These two are called the Prima Variante Esterna (basically means Outside of First Corner).
Grandstand 8 BIS is new for 2026 and is a smaller stand just to the left of 8A and 8B. This one is known as Prima Variante Uscita (Exit of the First Corner).
Entrances gates B and C are closest to these grandstand. B is about 5 minutes’ walk away, C is a few minutes longer. The shuttle buses drop off near to gate G which is a 40 – 45 minute walk away.
The F1 fanzone is on the other side of the circuit near Turn 10, To get there from this stand it’s a 35 minute walk under two tunnels that pass beneath the track.
To join the world famous Monza post-race track invasion there are a number of gates very close to these grandstands that open up and give you access to the track.
There are lots of food and drink options and toilets nearby.
Grandstand details
Cover
All of these grandstands are uncovered, so you’re exposed to the heat of the Italian sun all day long. Make sure you dress appropriately for the weather.
Seats
The seats in this stand bleacher style bench seats.
TV screens
There’s one TV screen visible from this stand. It’s on the other side of the track just after the exit of Turn 2.
Monza Grandstand 8 Tickets
Because it’s so well located at the first corner where most of the action and overtaking happens, this is a popular stand. Tickets can sell out fast, but you should still be able to buy tickets through ViaGoGo right up until the start of Sunday on the Italian Grand Prix race weekend..
I’ve used Viagogo to purchase my Formula 1 tickets numerous times over the last few years. That includes my recent trips to the British and Dutch Grand Prix. I’ve always had a great experience using them and will definitely do the same again next time
They also enforce a very robust ‘FanProtect Guarantee’ which always gives me good peace of mind they my tickets and money are protected.
Monza Grandstand 8 seating plan
Below are the seating plans for grandstand 8A, granstand 8B and grandstand 8 BIS at Monza. The image files for these are massive, too big to host on this page. So if you add your details in the boxes below and hit send they’ll be sent straight to your email.
As mentioned previously, grandstand 8A is the top half of the Primate Variante Esterna stand and 8B is the bottom half.
The rows in 8B go from Row A at the front to Row O. 8A continues, with the first row bring Row P and the back row being row Z5 (after row Z they go up Z1, Z2 etc).
Seat numbers start a 1 on the right side of the stand (as you sit in your seat and look at the track) and increase as you move to the left, all the way up to seat 301.
8 BIS has rows that go from A to M.
View
This map shows the parts of Monza visible from these stands highlighted in green:
As that map shows, from here you can see all the way from the braking zone for the first corner, round turns 1 and 2, and then you’ll just lose the cars out of sight as they dissapear off around the right hander of turn 3.
To the right of th Primate Variante Esterna grandstand are some trees as the image below shows. The further up / back, and the further to the right you sit in the stand (lower seat numbers), then the more your view will be blocked by these. So lower seat numbers of 8A will have their view to the right blocked. Lower seat numbers in 8B will still be affected, but not quite so badly.
So lower rows of 8B will have the clearest view to the right. And this first video shows that. It was filmed from grandstand 8B row F, and from there you can just about see past the trees down towards the start line, but even so it’s not clear because of the fence line getting in your way:
This video was filmed from the higher rows of grandstand 8B, Row L, but in seat number 5 so very far to the right. And as you can see, the trees completely block your view to the right:
This next video was filmed from grandstand 8B Row G, but in much higher seat numbers, so much further to the left. Even though the trees don’t really obstruct your view to the right any more, when you try and look along the fence line it becomes hard to see through it:
And this video shows the view from grandstand 8B, row B, in a high seat number. The thing to be mindful of in the higher seat numbers (when you get over 200) is that it becomes harder to see the TV screen:
In contrast, this video was filmed from very high up in grandstand 8A in one of the highest rows:
And finally this was filmed from grandstand 8A in higher seat numbers, so further to the left:
And this 360 degree image shows the view from the back row, Row Z5 of grandstand 8A:
8 BIS Prima Variante Uscita view
This stand is new so I don’t have any footage of the view yet. However, as it’s a small stand and to the left of 8A / 8B, you can expect the view to be very similar to that seen from the higher seat numbers in 8B, much like this video which was filmed from 8B, row M, seat 292 (9 seats from the far left end of the stand)
Best seats
Now I’ve talked a lot about the trees to the right of this standing blocking your view of the start straight, and that is true. But if you sit far enough forwards close to the front of 8B to see past the trees, then the fenceline will block your view anyway.
With that in mind, I think the best seats in the Prima Variante Esterna grandstand are the higher seats in section 8A. The higher seats give you a nice wide viewpoint where the stand is more steeply banked, so you’re not obstructed by the other people so much. I’d go for the top 10 rows of 8A if possible. Then I’d aim for seats 50 – 100 to be nice and central to the TV screen opposite.
Is this a good place to sit?
The seats I’ve mentioned above give a great view of the first two corners of the circuit where you’re likely to see some overtaking and crashing. But for an even better view of this part of the track that gives you a little more visibility of the run towards Turn 1 you could try Grandstand 6C.
Other grandstand guides
- Grandstand 1 – Centrale
- Grandstands 2, 3, 27, 28, 29, 30 – Gradinate Traguardo
- Grandstand 4 – Laterale Sinistra
- Grandstand 5 – Piscina
- Grandstand 7 – Biassono
- Grandstand 21 – Laterale Parabolica
- Grandstand 22 – Parabolica
- Grandstand 23 – Parabolica Interna
- Grandstand 24 – Vedano
- Grandstand 25 – Uscita Parabolica
- Grandstand 26 – Laterale Destra
