Charles Leclerc has recently followed the successful Max Verstappen (and MotoGP) model by offering fans the chance to buy tickets in his own grandstand at select events. Several other drivers, including Carlos Sainz & Daniel Ricciardo, also have their own grandstands at home in 2020. Nicky Haldenby and Andrew Balfour take a closer look at the growing phenomenon.
Grandstand Charles Leclerc at the Monaco Grand Prix
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc will have his own grandstands for the first time in 2020. The first will be at his home event in Monaco, where a section of the large Grandstand K will become Grandstand Charles Leclerc on Saturday and Sunday. The harbourside stand offers views of the Nouvelle chicane and Tabac, the fastest section of the iconic Monaco street circuit.
The Leclerc Grandstand package includes a signed cap, a T-shirt, a beach bag and an official signed programme. There is also a prize draw in which ten ticket holders per day will win the chance to meet Leclerc in the paddock. Tickets are priced at €250 on Saturday and €550 on Sunday (€800 for both days). The price for both days is actually €200 less than you would normally pay. The seats are located in the middle of the grandstand, in K3. Buy from our Monaco Grand Prix ticket shop.
Grandstand Charles Leclerc at the French Grand Prix
In addition to Leclerc’s Monaco grandstand, Section 1 of the Ligne de Depart grandstand on the Main Straight at Circuit Paul Ricard will also be named in Leclerc’s honour for the first time in 2020. The stand will face Leclerc’s garage, and ticket holders will receive a signed Leclerc cap and a beach bag. The 3-day pass in the covered grandstand is priced at €549, which is a €50 premium over regular tickets in the same grandstand. Buy direct from the circuit here.
Carlos Sainz Grandstand at the Spanish Grand Prix
Carlos Sainz has had his own grandstand at his home event, the Spanish Grand Prix, since 2016. Following Fernando Alonso’s retirement at the end of the 2018 season, Sainz has become the star attraction for Spanish fans. For 2020, the CS55 grandstand has moved from Grandstand M to Grandstand B. Located at Turn 12, three-day tickets for the Sainz stand are offered at €119 – slightly more expensive than last year’s offer price of €99. The ticket package also includes a Carlos Sainz cap, flag, a 6-can pack of Estrella Galicia 0,0 and a 10% discount voucher for the McLaren shop at the Fan Zone.
Fern Lock, a huge Carlos Sainz fan from the UK, sat in the CS55 grandstand in Spain last year and told us about her experience: “I’ve often felt like I was the only Carlos fan at races, being lost in a sea of red or silver. Grada Carlos Sainz gave me that feeling of being home. Thousands of fans shouting VAMOS every time he drove past, waving their flags and really getting behind Carlos meant everything to me (plus €99 for your ticket, exclusive cap and a flag really is a BARGAIN!) The energy the supporters in that grandstand radiate is incredible and it’s something that I hope every fan, no matter who they support, gets to experience at some point.”
The pricing of Sainz’s grandstand tickets compares favourably to that of the dedicated rider stands for the 2020 Catalan MotoGP at the same circuit one month later. Weekend tickets for the Marc Marquez and Valentino Rossi Fan Club grandstands are priced at €120. Though these tickets are only slightly more expensive than the Sainz stand, it’s worth noting that seats in both MotoGP riders’ grandstands are half the price of what you pay for seats in the same grandstand at the Spanish Formula 1 Grand Prix.
Tickets for the CS55 Grandstand at the 2020 Spanish Grand Prix are on sale via the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya website. Tickets are expected to sell out very fast.
Lance Stroll Grandstand at the Canadian Grand Prix
Since 2018, Circuit Gilles Villeneuve’s Grandstand 24 has been named the Lance Stroll Grandstand. Located at the exit of the hairpin, Grandstand 24 offers an up-close view of one of the most action-packed spots at the Canadian Grand Prix, as well as views of the Biosphere and Montreal skyline. Don’t expect every fan in the stand to be there supporting Stroll. Grandstand 24 is popular, because it has great hairpin views and good access via the Metro. A three-day pass costs $430 CAD. Buy Lance Stroll Grandstand 24 tickets here.
Max Verstappen Grandstands in Austria, Hungary & Belgium
Verstappen won’t have his own grandstand at his home event, but it is expected that the sold out Dutch Grand Prix will mostly be attended by Verstappen’s Oranje Army. Instead, the Austrian, Belgian and Hungarian Grands Prix all have dedicated Verstappen Grandstands. Tickets for these grandstands are available through verstappentravel.nl and are mainly marketed in the Netherlands. Ticket holders buying through Verstappen’s travel partner website for all events receive various items of Verstappen memorabilia with their ticket purchase. There is also the opportunity to win paddock tours, signed helmets and race suits.
- Max Verstappen Grandstand at the 2020 Austrian Grand Prix: The Austrian Grand Prix, which has featured a predominantly orange attired crowd in recent years, was the first to have a Max Verstappen Grandstand. The original stand had capacity for 1,000 fans in 2016, increasing to 5,000 the following year. Now, Verstappen has four grandstands at the Red Bull Ring. New for 2020 is a Verstappen grandstand on the start/finish straight. Priced at €499, these tickets offer covered seating opposite the pit-lane and are conveniently located just a short walk from the F1 Village and F1 Fan Zone. The Orange West tribune is also located on the main straight, with tickets priced at €229. Meanwhile, the Nord and Mitte grandstands are also reserved for Verstappen fans. In 2020, tickets for the Nord stand were priced at €269, while Mitte tickets cost €249. Both have already sold out for 2020, but you can buy other tickets to the 2020 Austrian Grand Prix here.
- Max Verstappen Grandstand at the 2020 Belgian Grand Prix: Much like the Austrian Grand Prix, the Belgian event has been awash with Verstappen fans in recent years as their half countryman has risen up the F1 ladder (Verstappen’s mother is Belgian). Until the Dutch Grand Prix joined the calendar for 2020, the Belgian Grand Prix has acted as Verstappen’s de-facto home race. Since 2017, the Spa Francorchamps circuit has had a dedicated grandstand for Verstappen fans, located near the Pouhon turn. Tickets for this stand are available exclusively from Verstappen’s travel partner, and are priced at €275 for the weekend. Purchase other Belgian Grand Prix tickets here
- Max Verstappen Grandstand at the 2020 Hungarian Grand Prix: The Hungarian Grand Prix, which has seen a boost in attendance figures in recent years, is the third event to offer a dedicated Verstappen Grandstand. Fans in this grandstand in 2019 witnessed Verstappen score his first pole position in Formula 1. The stand is located on the Hungaroring’s Main Straight, and offers views of the starting grid, pit-lane and the final turns of the track. Tickets are priced at €229.
Daniil Kvyat Grandstand at the Russian Grand Prix
Russian fans have had a home driver to support in every running of the event since the Sochi Autodrom joined the calendar as host of the Russian Grand Prix in 2014. The Turn 3 grandstand has been named after their home driver in every season; be that Daniil Kvyat or Sergey Sirotkin.
The uncovered grandstand offers views of the long left hand Turn 3, which has been a spot of high drama in the past; not least in 2016, when Kvyat himself was the catalyst for an incident which saw Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel shunted out of the race.
This year, fans will pack in to the grandstand to support the Alpha Tauri driver. The grandstand is divided into two sections – four-day tickets in the centre are priced at $145 USD, while tickets to either side are slightly cheaper at $136 USD – before early bird discounts. The side tickets are perhaps the best option, as you will also be able to see either Turn 2 or Turn 4, depending on which side you sit. Buy Russian Grand Prix tickets
Daniel Ricciardo Grandstand at the Australian Grand Prix
Since 2017, Daniel Ricciardo has had his own grandstand at the Australian Grand Prix. Riccardo Grandstand Premium is one of only two stands on the inside of the Albert Park track. Located at Turn 4, the covered grandstand offers views of Turns 3-5 and even has its own dedicated catering and bar facilities. Buy Ricciardo Premium Grandstand tickets
Romain Grosjean Grandstand at the French Grand Prix
Romain Grosjean has naming rights over one of the Chicane grandstands at Circuit Paul Ricard, his home event. The Grosjean Grandstand at the 2020 French Grand Prix is located on the entry to the chicane. Tickets for this stand can be purchased through Grosjean’s website, with three day passes costing €289. The passes also include a limited edition Grosjean cap and a meet and greet opportunity with the French driver on qualifying day at the French Grand Prix.
