Image: Kirby Trautwein
Here’s my guide to the Ricciardo stand at the Melbourne Grand Prix for Formula One fans who are thinking about watching the race from here.
It includes my review on which seats are the best seats in the stand, plus a detailed seating plan and examples of views from different seats.
Grandstand location
The grandstand, named after the legendary Australian Formula 1 driver Daniel Ricciardo, is located on the inside (right hand side) of Turn 3 on the Albert Park circuit layout.
It stretches all the way alongside the track between turns 3 and 4. It’s also opposite the Hill stand.
Grandstand features
- Cover: Most of the stand is uncovered. Sections A, B, C and D have a premium covered section at the back of them.
- TV screens: There’s one big TV screen on the opposite site of the track visible from the stand.
- Seats: Hard plastic seats with a folding base and a fixed back
Tickets at the Australian Grand Prix
Tickets for this grandstand come in both standard and premium ticket types.
- Standard tickets get you a seat in the uncovered areas in all sections
- Premium tickets cost A$200 extra and get you a seat in the covered area at the back of sections A, B, C or D
Is the extra cost of the premium tickets worthwhile? If you want to guarantee some pretty good protection from the weather (come sun or rain) then it’s definitely worth the extra. The elevated view point is nice also, more on that in the Views section below.
Formula 1 tickets are purchased through the Australian F1 Grand Prix website. If they’re sold out then you can always try and find some for sale with an official reseller.
Tickets come in 1, 2, 3, or 4 day options, as the GP weekend runs from Thu – Sun. There’s no F1 on the Thursday, just the support races (which include the awesome V8 Supercars – definitely worth watching).
See the full Australian Formula 1 weekend schedule for more details on session timings and on-track activity across the 4 days.
Ricciardo stand seating plan
- Sections: 7 sections named A to G. A is closest to T3 and G is closest T4. Only sections A to D have a premium area.
- Rows: Standard area in all sections has rows A to J. Premium areas are rows K to T. A is lowest down at the front. No row I or O.
- Seats: Each sections has between 26 and 32 seats, see the full seating plan below for details. Numbered seating starts from 1 in each section.
Full Ricciardo grandstand seating plan is below.
Grandstand views
The pink areas on the image below are the parts of the circuit visible from this grandstand.
As the image shows, from wherever you sit in the stand you’ll be able to see all of Turn 3 and 4. If you sit further to the right (higher section lettering) then you’ll be able to see the cars for longer after they exit Turn 4.
The video below (credit Jess Lind) was filmed from section A row D seat 1, as far to the left and as close to Turn 3 as you can get.
The next video and images (credit Kirby Trautwein) were taken from section B row B, the second row from the front.
The next video (credit f1faninheels) was filmed from section B row E seat 1.
This video (credit Evan Bell) was filmed from section D row S seat 26, in the covered premium area.
And finally this next video (credit Sam lee) was filmed from section G row G, the furthest section to the right.
As that last video shows, sitting in the higher lettered sections gives you a great view all the way through Turn 4 that you don’t get in the sections on the left of the stand.
Best seats
The best seats in the Ricciardo stand are those in sections F and G, rows F and up.
As the final video above shows, sitting in these sections gives you an amazing view through Turn 4. Go for as high a row as possible to have a better vantage point to look back towards Turn 3.
If you’re happy to spend the extra on premium seats then go for section D which is in the middle of the stand.
Good place to sit at the Formula 1?
This is a fantastic place to sit at the Melbourne Grand Prix. Turn 3 is at the end of a DRS zone and there’s always a huge amount of overtaking, wheel-banging and gravel trap excursions here, so you’re bound to see some action. As we did last season.
Sitting here is a much better option than going for the smaller Hill grandstand on the opposite side of the track as that has much more limited views, but it is cheaper so maybe better for those on a budget.
There’s no VIP or hospitality experience available in this stand, for that you’ll need the Paddock Club on the main straight. But there are food and drinks vendors directly behind it.
Other grandstands at the Melbourne Grand Prix
Nearest entrance
Entrance gate 2 at Albert Park is closest to this stand.
There’s a pedestrian bridge that you’ll need to cross to get to the inside of the circuit where the grandstands located, once you’ve entered the venue.
