Formula 1 2015: General Discussion Thread

v3ttel

Does anyone have any tips about going to the Monaco race? Is general admission on the hill good enough for the race if you get there early enough?

frostie500

v3ttel wrote: »

Does anyone have any tips about going to the Monaco race? Is general admission on the hill good enough for the race if you get there early enough?

Been down the last three years and it's a mega race to go to. Fly into Nice and get the train to Ventimiglia and get a hotel there. It's on the Italian side but it means that the trains will always run and there'll be no strikes. In 2012 I was staying on the French side and because of a train strike I didn't get to the race! So from then on I'll always stay in Italy.

The GA seems like it's great craic but it's very far away from the track and I wouldn't recommend it (havent been there though so better to ask around and get a more informed opinion). Personally I'd go the bit extra and get a grandstand ticket. It's probably pretty expensive but much more worthwhile, even if you do it for Thursday and Saturday and then GA for the race? In 2012 I got my sister and friend tickets to the swimming pool for the thursday and they loved it.

Casino Square is fantastic and the grandstand gives a really good view of the best section of the track to stand beside

v3ttel

frostie500 wrote: »

Been down the last three years and it's a mega race to go to. Fly into Nice and get the train to Ventimiglia and get a hotel there. It's on the Italian side but it means that the trains will always run and there'll be no strikes. In 2012 I was staying on the French side and because of a train strike I didn't get to the race! So from then on I'll always stay in Italy.

The GA seems like it's great craic but it's very far away from the track and I wouldn't recommend it (havent been there though so better to ask around and get a more informed opinion). Personally I'd go the bit extra and get a grandstand ticket. It's probably pretty expensive but much more worthwhile, even if you do it for Thursday and Saturday and then GA for the race? In 2012 I got my sister and friend tickets to the swimming pool for the thursday and they loved it.

Casino Square is fantastic and the grandstand gives a really good view of the best section of the track to stand beside

Thanks for the info. I was looking at staying in Nice and taking the train across, but I wasn't set on that at all. Staying in Italy might be a better idea.

I'm hoping to get a ticket for Casino square on the Thursday, maybe Portier/Mirabeau bas on the Saturday and then GA for the Sunday. GA for the race is €59, and the grandstand tickets are reasonable on Thursday and Saturday. I can't really find any reasonable tickets for the race (€400 for just the Sunday is too rich for my blood).

lolie

Really like the Force India livery although Marussia might want last year's nose back if they find a buyer.

Mike Litoris

You wont see a lot of action from the hill. Only the last two corners, half of the SF straight and in the distance the exit from the swimming pool but you do get a great view of the length of the pits and the pathway with everyone going to and from it - all the drivers, teams, celebs, TV crews etc oh and the grid girls from the back . You're not close to the action but the atmosphere is dynamite. It gets mad crowded so you need to get there early to get a decent spot.

We were in the stand at the entrance to the Simming Pool complex for practise. Its awesome being litterally feet away from the cars. TV just doesn't convey the skill of these drivers flying through those narrow streets and chicanes.

Its worth stumping up for a grand stand for the race, you'll be glad you spent the money, and the practise sessions too are really cheap. If you're on a budget at least get Qualy in to see them go flat out.

Make sure you go down to the Marina after the sessions. I'm not sure if its the same way now but there is only a fence seperating the Teams Motor Homes and the pier. Ralf Schumacher walked out to sign autographs and chat to people when we walked down. A lot of the drivers, team members and TV crews are walking around going about their business.

We stayed in Nice for a few days too and it was really good but take Frosties advice and stay in Italy. Better safe than sorry.

frostie500

v3ttel wrote: »

I'm hoping to get a ticket for Casino square on the Thursday, maybe Portier/Mirabeau bas on the Saturday and then GA for the Sunday. GA for the race is €59, and the grandstand tickets are reasonable on Thursday and Saturday. I can't really find any reasonable tickets for the race (€400 for just the Sunday is too rich for my blood).

Portier is a big shít to be honest, I only ever go there for about 10 minutes to try and get photos of everyone going into the tunnel. The stand is on the entry to Portier 2 (on the sea-side) and you can't get much view of Portier 1 which is a much better corner because when you're on top of it you can see the cars mounting the kerbs etc.

Mike Litoris wrote: »

We were in the stand at the entrance to the Simming Pool complex for practise. Its awesome being litterally feet away from the cars. TV just doesn't convey the skill of these drivers flying through those narrow streets and chicanes.

It's absolutely mega at the Swimming Pool! Of all the races that I go to each year it's the standout moment. Going down there first thing on Thursday morning in Monaco and having the absolute living daylights scared out of you! It's unbelievable down on the inside of the entry and being literally able to touch the cars as they dip into the left hander...mega!!

Mike Litoris wrote: »

Make sure you go down to the Marina after the sessions. I'm not sure if its the same way now but there is only a fence seperating the Teams Motor Homes and the pier. Ralf Schumacher walked out to sign autographs and chat to people when we walked down. A lot of the drivers, team members and TV crews are walking around going about their business.

We stayed in Nice for a few days too and it was really good but take Frosties advice and stay in Italy. Better safe than sorry.

That's still the same now, you can get down to the paddock entry on both sides of the paddock. On the marina side you can stand beside the entry (beside the Red Bull floaterhome) and get autographs as the drivers go in and out. Couple of years someone thought that I was Bruno Senna as I came out and asked for an autograph...of course I signed it and thought it was fantastic! On the other side of the paddock you can eat in the stars and bars resteraunt, it's a bit crap and tacky but you are beside the fences of the paddock and beside another entry point so you can see teams working and drivers getting in and out.

The best spot to meet people is on the evenings in the resteraunts. All the teams eat in the town so there's a good chance that you'll see them out once or twice over the weekend. The drivers wont usually be there but you'll still get a chance to chat to team people and journos. Despite our reputations most journos are more than happy to sit around and chat about racing over a couple of beers!

I'll be down again this year so if there's anything that I can do to help just drop me a PM

F1 fanatic

Just read on SKY sports German GP is in doubt according to ecclestone as neither tracks have a contract for this year.

Jordan 199

F1 fanatic wrote: »

Just read on SKY sports German GP is in doubt according to ecclestone as neither tracks have a contract for this year.

I'd say a deal will be reached. If not there will be a long three week gap between the British and Hungarian races.

veganrun

Is that a new nose on the Force India or is it just the new paint job that makes it look different?

Was hoping the new regs would have eliminated those drooping nose tips completely (new Williams).

Bugatti

v3ttel wrote: »

Does anyone have any tips about going to the Monaco race? Is general admission on the hill good enough for the race if you get there early enough?

I was planning to go as well and looking at the General Admission tickets. Was worried too about the view but I found these videos on youtube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bv3PjJ9fJ5k
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m1vnnAlLXd4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHwksd6SiKs

I know you might be a bit away from the track but the views look really good if you get a decent spot on the hill.

And where are you getting the GA tickets for €59? I was looking on the F1 website and they are €83 http://tickets.formula1.com/en/3202-monaco-fom/

Jordan 199

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L7QCEjpUtRA

Zcott

Hands up how many of us were that kid...

ScumLord

Zcott wrote: »

Hands up how many of us were that kid...

TV in the bedroom? All those toys? No I grew up in a proper recession where you got hand me down toys from relations in England and America. When we admitted to the parents that we didn't believe in santa they used that as an excuse to get the christmas presents in the january sales.

Zcott

ScumLord wrote: »

TV in the bedroom? All those toys? No I grew up in a proper recession where you got hand me down toys from relations in England and America. When we admitted to the parents that we didn't believe in santa they used that as an excuse to get the christmas presents in the january sales.

I was thinking more along the lines of drawing F1 cars badly and being 8 years old when Senna and McLaren were doing all the winning ;-)

Frankie Lee

I was definitely someone who as a child drew thousands of cars badly with imagined livery and sponsors. It was the main thing I'd draw in primary school.

Killinator

Frankie Lee wrote: »

I was definitely someone who as a child drew thousands of cars badly with imagined livery and sponsors. It was the main thing I'd draw in primary school.

Me and my brother taped the races so we could pause them afterwards and draw the cars properly

GT_TDI_150

Killinator wrote: »

Me and my brother taped the races so we could pause them afterwards and draw the cars properly

but with the pause on VHS ever so slightly creeping ahead, those drawings must have been well out of focus

challengemaster

Zcott wrote: »

Hands up how many of us were that kid...

Now that I look at it properly, I'm fairly sure we had that exact TV.... :eek:

Killinator

GT_TDI_150 wrote: »

but with the pause on VHS ever so slightly creeping ahead, those drawings must have been well out of focus

No harm in going right up to the tv to get a close look

v3ttel

Bugatti wrote: »

I was planning to go as well and looking at the General Admission tickets. Was worried too about the view but I found these videos on youtube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bv3PjJ9fJ5k
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m1vnnAlLXd4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHwksd6SiKs

I know you might be a bit away from the track but the views look really good if you get a decent spot on the hill.

And where are you getting the GA tickets for €59? I was looking on the F1 website and they are €83 http://tickets.formula1.com/en/3202-monaco-fom/

Sorry for the late reply. It was £58 actually, via Book F1.

I booked my tickets last night. Casino square for the Thursday. Swimming pool complex for the Saturday and Le Rocher for the Sunday. I plan to be there ridiculously early on race day to get a decent spot.

Would have loved to get a grandstand ticket for the race, but just couldn't afford that. I've gotten 2 tickets for practice, qualifying and the race, for €200 less than 2 tickets for just race tickets, in any grandstand.

Thanks to the folks who gave advice!

frostie500

Good stuff, glad that you got sorted! It's a great weekend and you've got two great spots to view from. The town is great craic through the weekend as well so best of both worlds for it

hotwhiskey

Lotus looks fantastic. Tweeted by Noble. Autosport. Lotus reveals images of what its E23 will look like. Actual car to be unveiled in Jerez

Jordan 199

This years Lotus E23:





Nice :cool:

Jordan 199

LIGHTNING wrote: »

Black+Gold Livery = Win

It's the same rule with Martini livery.

Indeed. Of the three launches so far, the Lotus is my favourite.

Next launch is McLaren on Thursday.

TheDoctor

Interesting to see what the Honda McLaren looks like

Joeseph Balls

Jordan 191 wrote: »

Indeed. Of the three launches so far, the Lotus is my favourite.

Next launch is McLaren on Thursday.

Is that official launch or just livery?

Jordan 199

Joeseph Balls wrote: »

Is that official launch or just livery?

I believe it's an official launch. It will be shown on their website.

MortGoldman

Possible Red Bull launch today (Tuesday). Talk about short notice if it is.

Going Strong

MortGoldman wrote: »

Possible Red Bull launch today (Tuesday). Talk about short notice if it is.

Probably afraid that, if they give out too much info, someone might turn up and rob the car.

Once bitten and all that.

frostie500

MortGoldman wrote: »

Possible Red Bull launch today (Tuesday). Talk about short notice if it is.

Can't imagine it being anything other than a press function, I'd be very surprised if Red Bull don't launch at Jerez on the first morning of testing