F1 Italian GP - Recommendations
Discussion
Hi guys,
So have got permission from SWMBO and am now all set for a boys trip to this years' Italian GP. Flights booked and now looking at buying race tickets. Looks like grandstands at Ascari chicanes are a good bet, but want to know if anyone has any thoughts on this. I want to be somewhere lively and fully immerse into the whole Tifosi mentality.
Went to Montreal race recently and the whole of the city centre turned into one big street party - is this something similar in Milan. If not most probably tempted to stay in Bergamo, closer to the airport and seems straightforward on the train to get into Monza.
Will have a blast whatever happens but all ideas gratefully received
So have got permission from SWMBO and am now all set for a boys trip to this years' Italian GP. Flights booked and now looking at buying race tickets. Looks like grandstands at Ascari chicanes are a good bet, but want to know if anyone has any thoughts on this. I want to be somewhere lively and fully immerse into the whole Tifosi mentality.
Went to Montreal race recently and the whole of the city centre turned into one big street party - is this something similar in Milan. If not most probably tempted to stay in Bergamo, closer to the airport and seems straightforward on the train to get into Monza.
Will have a blast whatever happens but all ideas gratefully received
It is an awesome experience.
We hung around at the track until about 8pm every evening. There's a small town just outside the main entrance that turns the hole main street into an F1 carnival.
We sat just inside the parabolica.
The track is small enough to mooch around the whole shebang.
We hung around at the track until about 8pm every evening. There's a small town just outside the main entrance that turns the hole main street into an F1 carnival.
We sat just inside the parabolica.
The track is small enough to mooch around the whole shebang.
We went in 2017, what a brilliant experience and can't wait to do it again.
We stayed in Milan Thursday to Monday, the Metro system is excellent and makes it easy to get around the city, and to the main railway stations. There wasn't much race related activity in Milan, but the Ferrari store is worth a visit, and there are plenty of bars and restaurants to sample.
There are regular trains to Monza station on Friday and Saturday, with shuttle buses from Monza to the circuit (well, the entrance to the park where the circuit is). On race day there are special trains to Biassono from Milan, which allows you to enter the circuit close to the Lesmos and closer to Ascari. The last train back from Biassono to Milan was a couple of hours after the race finished, so allowed time to soak up the atmosphere and drink beer with the tifosi in the trees, before wandering back to the station via the old banking.
It's such an atmospheric place, you can almost feel and hear the cars of yesteryear amongst the trees.
Take decent shoes for walking in, as you will cover a lot of ground, and plenty sun cream and a hat as most of the stands aren't covered and the sun can be relentless. As can the rain, as we found out at Ascari on the Saturday. I've never been so wet or cold at a circuit (even Mallory Park in March). The seats away from the main stands opposite the pits aren't seats, they're either flat concrete or metal, so some kind of padding or cushion pad makes it more comfortable.
We booked weekend tickets including Ascari II for Saturday and Sunday, and I'd definitely sit there again. The weekend ticket allows you access to all the grandstands on the Friday, so we got there early and sat opposite the Ferrari pit in the morning, then moved down to the first chicane for the afternoon.
It was everything we hoped it would be, apart from the Mercedes domininance, and the fact that I finished up sat next to a bigoted Brummie Hamilton fanboy on the Saturday and Sunday, who booed and jeered the Ferraris. I hoped to avoid that away from Silverstone...
We stayed in Milan Thursday to Monday, the Metro system is excellent and makes it easy to get around the city, and to the main railway stations. There wasn't much race related activity in Milan, but the Ferrari store is worth a visit, and there are plenty of bars and restaurants to sample.
There are regular trains to Monza station on Friday and Saturday, with shuttle buses from Monza to the circuit (well, the entrance to the park where the circuit is). On race day there are special trains to Biassono from Milan, which allows you to enter the circuit close to the Lesmos and closer to Ascari. The last train back from Biassono to Milan was a couple of hours after the race finished, so allowed time to soak up the atmosphere and drink beer with the tifosi in the trees, before wandering back to the station via the old banking.
It's such an atmospheric place, you can almost feel and hear the cars of yesteryear amongst the trees.
Take decent shoes for walking in, as you will cover a lot of ground, and plenty sun cream and a hat as most of the stands aren't covered and the sun can be relentless. As can the rain, as we found out at Ascari on the Saturday. I've never been so wet or cold at a circuit (even Mallory Park in March). The seats away from the main stands opposite the pits aren't seats, they're either flat concrete or metal, so some kind of padding or cushion pad makes it more comfortable.
We booked weekend tickets including Ascari II for Saturday and Sunday, and I'd definitely sit there again. The weekend ticket allows you access to all the grandstands on the Friday, so we got there early and sat opposite the Ferrari pit in the morning, then moved down to the first chicane for the afternoon.
It was everything we hoped it would be, apart from the Mercedes domininance, and the fact that I finished up sat next to a bigoted Brummie Hamilton fanboy on the Saturday and Sunday, who booed and jeered the Ferraris. I hoped to avoid that away from Silverstone...
Thanks chaps - really grateful for the responses and am definitely getting me one of them red wigs!
Sounds like a bloody great weekend.
Am now booking tickets at Ascari for the weekend, but working out whether to stay in Bergamo or Milan, still undecided, but local transport seems pretty good, so lots of options
Sounds like a bloody great weekend.
Am now booking tickets at Ascari for the weekend, but working out whether to stay in Bergamo or Milan, still undecided, but local transport seems pretty good, so lots of options
heres2thehole said:
Thanks chaps - really grateful for the responses and am definitely getting me one of them red wigs!
Sounds like a bloody great weekend.
Am now booking tickets at Ascari for the weekend, but working out whether to stay in Bergamo or Milan, still undecided, but local transport seems pretty good, so lots of options
There are loads of prior responses for the Italian GP - look back through the archive.Sounds like a bloody great weekend.
Am now booking tickets at Ascari for the weekend, but working out whether to stay in Bergamo or Milan, still undecided, but local transport seems pretty good, so lots of options
We were in the stand at the exit of the Ascari, not a bad place to view but saw no overtaking or drama, just too fast for anyone to try, but it was my first GP so anywhere was exciting.
Camped in the field of a local school adjacent to the wall of the Monza park, 5 minutes walk to the track and in the city (Oratorio San luigi i think it was called, off the Via Pietro Verri). Thing to remember about Monza, its like putting a GP track in Hyde Park. There are f
k all places to park and traffic is a nightmare.
The streets are filled with places to eat and drink, both temporary and permanent, with some great places filled with memorabillia.
The track has no security or gates for the practice, so you will see people coming in with tents, which they then setup in the woods rather than pay for tickets.
Track is difficult to spectate without stand tickets. On practice day, you can (or could) climb up the banking of the old track adjecent to the first chicane, but it was cleared on race day.
All in all, Italian food, italian wine, and GP racing, cant get much better (and Hamilton crashed !, with Button second in the Brawn)
Camped in the field of a local school adjacent to the wall of the Monza park, 5 minutes walk to the track and in the city (Oratorio San luigi i think it was called, off the Via Pietro Verri). Thing to remember about Monza, its like putting a GP track in Hyde Park. There are f
k all places to park and traffic is a nightmare.The streets are filled with places to eat and drink, both temporary and permanent, with some great places filled with memorabillia.
The track has no security or gates for the practice, so you will see people coming in with tents, which they then setup in the woods rather than pay for tickets.
Track is difficult to spectate without stand tickets. On practice day, you can (or could) climb up the banking of the old track adjecent to the first chicane, but it was cleared on race day.
All in all, Italian food, italian wine, and GP racing, cant get much better (and Hamilton crashed !, with Button second in the Brawn)
Edited by Gary C on Wednesday 27th February 18:30
Edited by Gary C on Wednesday 27th February 18:32
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