Image credit MugenFW
Waite grandstand location
This grandstand was named after the Australian racing driver Arthur Waite born in 1894.
It’s located on the outside (left-hand side) of the Albert Park Circuit layout next to Turn 10.
The grandstand actually begins just after the left-hander of Turn 9, where Max Verstappen in his Red Bull rocketship overtook Lewis Hamilton around the outside at the 2023 Melbourne Grand Prix.
The grandstand ends just past the edge of the circuit where it goes right for Turn 10.
Other grandstands
Tickets - Australian Grand Prix
Tickets for this stand are very popular and often sell out fast on the official website. If that’s the case, you can buy tickets through Stubhub instead.
I’ve used StubHub for F1 tickets numerous times over the last few seasons and have always had a great experience. They have a robust FanProtect guarantee which keeps your tickets & money safe too.
- Only standard tickets are available in this stand (uncovered).
- This is one of the cheapest grandstands at the event
- Tickets come as single day / 2-day (Sat, Sun) / 3-day (Fri, Sat, Sun) / 4-day (Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun) options
- Tickets include access to all the Park Pass General Admission areas
- Tickets include access to the fan zones and concerts on the day of your ticket
Grandstand details
TV Screens
There are two TV screens visible from this grandstand. Both of these are across the circuit opposite the stand.
There’s a lot of run off area on the other side of the track here and the screens can seem quite far away so a small pair of binoculars can help. The safety fence can also get in the way slightly, depending where you sit.
Seats
The seats are chairs with fixed backs and bases. Bringing a small cushion is always a good idea to sit more comfortably.
Cover
The Waite grandstand is completely uncovered. There’s no shade or protection from the sun, so make sure you wear appropriate clothing, hats and pack enough sunscreen before you travel!
Waite grandstand seating map
Below is the seating plan for the Waite grandstand at the Melbourne Grand Prix.
As the seating plan shows the grandstand is made up of four sections named A to D. A is closest to Turn 9 and D is furthest past Turn 10.
The rows in every section go from A (lowest down at the front) to T (highest up at the back). There’s no row I or O. The grandstand was increased in size for the 2023 Aus GP with rows up to T, before that they only went up to M.
Seat numbers increase from left to right as you stand on the track and look up at the stand, and start from 1 again at the beginning of each section.
Sections A and B are 38 seats wide, Section C is 53 seats wide and Section D is 45 seats wide.
Waite grandstand view at the Aus GP circuit
The image below shows the parts of the circuit that are visible when seated in this grandstand highlighted in pink.
As the map above shows, from this grandstand you can see the cars from your right once they come around the super high-speed Turn 9. You’ll have a view of them all the way through Turn 10, and then lose them out of sight once they go around the right-hand kink in the straight after Turn 10.
If you sit low down in one of the rows at the front, you’ll feel very close to the action with the cars coming right past you. The safety fence will also be right there, but it plays a part in the view from this stand wherever you’re seated.
The video below shows the view from Section C Row A, just after the apex of Turn 10 and directly in line with the straight after it.
This next video is from Section B Row A, also the front row but just a little closer to Turn 9. It’s hard to see much of the Formula 1 cars as they approach from the right as looking along the fence line makes it harder to see.
In contrast, this video was filmed from Section D row M (back row before the stand was upgraded with 6 extra rows). Even from the back of the stand the safety fence is still in your view, as it is from the back row (Row T) of the new grandstand.
And this next video was filmed from Section D Row F, again show it’s hard to see much of the cars as they approach from the right. The majority of your view will be watching the cars apex and exit Turn 10.
Best seats Waite grandstand
The best seats in the Waite grandstand are those in rows M to T in sections C and D.
Even though the safety fence is still in your line of sight, being high up and towards this end of the stand makes it easier to look back towards Turn 9 to see the cars approach Turn 10.
Seats in the higher rows also give you a slightly wider vantage point, being able to see more of the track, Turn 10 and its surroundings. These sections also give you a good line of sight to see the cars for as long as possible after they’ve exited the right-hander.
If you want to be as close to the action as possible then try and get tickets for a front row seat in section C.
Is this a good place to sit?
This is one of the cheapest grandstands at the Australian Grand Prix. Occasionally drivers will try an overtake in to Turn 9 (it’s at the end of the longest DRS zone on the track) but with how much you can see you’ll only catch the end of that once they’ve exited Turn 9.
Turn 10 never sees much overtaking, but these two corners are two of the fastest on the track. So for the spectacle of seeing the Formula 1 cars cornering at high speed, with their downforce sucking them to the ground, this is a great place to sit.
For more overtaking you’ll want to check out the Jones or Brabham grandstands near Turn 1. To see the pitlane and podium you need the Fangio grandstand.
Nearest entrance
Both Albert Park entrance gates 8 and 9 are the closest and best entrances to use for this stand, when planning your trip to the Melbourne F1.
Thanks bro! Very helpful tips!
Glad it was useful Brendan
Question is, if you want to see cars coming from the front, wouldn’t it be better to be in sections A or B? On C and D you will mostly see them going away.
Wherever you sit you’ll only get a very quick glimpse of them coming towards you before they go around the right-hander and away from you.
Thanks. It was to no avail anyway -despite being listed in the presale yesterday, all tickets for the 2025 race were gone by the time I got to “purchase”, and I don’t feel like paying extra to a reseller.
Hey these articles are great! I have 2 pairs of tickets, one pair in the ricciardo stand, section E, row A seats 1 and 2 and another pair in the Waite stand section B, row N seats 18 and 19. Which would be the best seats in your opinion?
Thanks Jake, you’ll see the cars at higher speed cornering in the Waite stand but they’ll buzz pass you a little faster. You’ll be able to see them a little longer in the Ricciardo stand and there’s probably more chance of overtaking there too.