I sat in the Platine Grandstand at the Montreal Grand Prix last year, and this is my review and guide to picking seats in this stand at the Canadian F1 weekend.
This is the only covered grandstand available during the GP, making it one of the most expensive grandstands.
In this article I provide a complete guide to this grandstand and include videos of the view from different seats, a seating chart and my tips on picking the best seats. Plus whether it’s worth it, or if other grandstands are better options.
Contents
Platine Grandstand Location - Montreal Grand Prix
The Platine grandstand at the Montreal Grand Prix track is located on the inside (right-hand side) of the circuit just before Turn 1.
The grandstand is close to the edge of the circuit and right up against the safety fence. It’s parallel to the track and is situated in the braking zone for Turn 1, the start of the Senna S, just before the apex of the left-hander.
Platine Grandstand tickets at Canadian Grand Prix
Tickets for the Platine Grandstand at the Montreal Grand Prix sell out very quickly on the official Canadian GP site, as being one of the only covered grandstands at the track it’s one of the most popular
So I would recommend doing what I did and buying tickets on Stubhub instead because they’ll have tickets available right up until the race weekend, so you can buy them at the last minute if you’ve left it late. I bought mine 1 week before the race.
I’ve bought F1 tickets on Stubhub multiple times in the last 12 months, including this trip to the Canadian GP and to other races like the Vegas GP and have always had a great experience.
Their FanProtect guarantee is pretty solid and will always keep your tickets and money safe. Plus they usually have a huge number of 1, 2 or 3-day tickets available for the Canadian GP.
Platine Grandstand details
Cover
Platine Grandstand is covered. It’s the only grandstand (that’s not a VIP areas) at the Montreal Grand Prix that has a roof over the top so you will be protected from the rain and shaded from the sun for most of the day.
However, bear in mind that the front few rows are still going to get some sun earlier in the day. This picture was taken at 13:25 and as you can see the front four or five rows are not in the shade. But the grandstand faces East, so as it gets later in to the afternoon the shade will move behind the stand and eventually all rows will be covered.
The sides aren’t covered either, however, so you might still get a little wet if you’re sat on either end seat on the stand and it rains.
Seats
The seats are chairs with folding seat bases and back rests.
TV Screens
There’s a giant TV Screen directly next to this stand on the right hand side of it. It means you’ll have to turn 90 degrees to your right to see it, but it’s big and easy to see. You can see it in the video lower down this page as well.
Platine Grandstand Seating Chart Montreal Grand Prix
Below is the Platine Grandstand seating chart at the Canadian Grand Prix.
As the chart shows the grandstand is made up of three sections numbered 1, 2 and 3. Section 1 is closest to Turn 1 and section 3 is closest to the start / finish line.
The rows in this grandstand are named using single letters. The front row lowest down is row A, the second row is row B etc. There are 12 rows in total with the back row being named Row M (there is no row I).
The seat numbers increase from left to right at you stand on the track and look at the grandstand. They start from 1 at the beginning of each section.
Sections 1 and 3 are 12 seats wide, section 2 is 26 seats wide.
Platine Grandstand views
The map below shows the parts of the circuit that are visible from the Platine Grandstand during the Formula 1 weekend.
The main part of the view from this grandstand is Turns 1 and 2, known as Senna Curve. From everywhere in the stand you can see all of Turn 1 and most of Turn 2. You will just lose the cars out of sight behind the barrier on the inside of the corner as they are about the exit Turn 2.
To the left of the stand you’ll see the cars appear shortly after they’ve crossed the start finish line. There’s a slight right-hand curve in the track at this point, and as the grandstand isn’t in line with the main straight unfortunately you can’t see down it very far. Plus there’s a big hospitality building to the left of this stand which blocks your view of the start line.
I took the video below from a number of different seats in this grandstand, to give you an idea of how the view changes depending on where you sit. The clips in this video were filmed from the following seats:
- 00:11 – 00:26 Section 1 Row H Seat 12
- 00:26 – 00:37 Section 2 Row B Seat 6
- 00:37 – 00:50 Section 2 Row K Seat 26
- 00:50 – 01:02 Section 3 Row J Seat 10
If you sit in the first couple of rows, being closer to the fence makes it harder to see the cars approaching from the left as when you look along the fence line it becomes almost impossible to see through it.
You can also see just how great the visibility of the screen is, and how close to the action you are.
Best Seats in the Platine Grandstand
If you’re picking this grandstand it’s probably because you value having a roof over your head and some protection from the weather. So to ensure you get that all day long, go for a higher row (H and above) in Section 2 (the central section). That’ll keep you in the shade all day, and being central means you’re away from the open sides in case it rains.
The higher seats also give you a nicer vantage point to see down towards Turn 1 and 2.
Is the Platine Grandstand a good place to sit at the Montreal Grand Prix?
Is the Platine Grandstand worth its four-figure price tag? That depends on how much value you put on keeping dry across the weekend.
The roof is the only justification for the price. The view is good, but not the absolute best. You’d definitely get a better view in Grandstand 11 at the Montreal Grand Prix, or even Grandstand 12. Both of those allow you to see down the main straight plus have better coverage of the exit of Turn 2. And both of those grandstands cost a few hundred dollars less.
Nearest entrance
Getting to the Platine Grandstand at the Montreal Grand Prix is a bit of a walk. You should enter the circuit through the Casino entrance, walk through the inside of the track past Grandstand 1 and then head towards the Platine stand. It’s a long old walk!
There is also a water taxi across the lake in the middle of the track that will save a lot of time. See my full guide to the Canada GP entrances for more information.
For details and information on getting to the circuit check out my full Canada F1 travel guide.
Other Canadian GP Grandstands
Check out my guides to all of the other Canadian Grand Prix grandstands as a comparison:
Does access to the palatine chalet come with the palatine grandstand ticket?
Hi John,
If you only have a Platine Grandstand ticket, I don’t think that gets you access to the Platine Chalet. But if you have a Chalet ticket then you do get access to the grandstand.
Platine not palatine – darn autocorrect