PlanYourAustralianGrand Prix

Known for strong support events, chaotic races and one-of-a-kind atmosphere, the Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix is one for the bucket list. 

In Melbourne, the only thing harder than squeezing into the post-race tram is choosing the right place to watch the F1 race. It’s fair to say that some of the grandstands are a little underwhelming, and you may look back on your photos and curse all that debris-fencing. But there are also some real gems too, and the best grandstands at Albert Park deliver unforgettable views and fantastic race-day experiences.

In this guide I review and compare all the grandstands in Melbourne—what you’ll see from each seat, which offer the best photo opportunities, proximity to fan zones, and the best value for money. If you’re trying to decide where to sit for the Australian Grand Prix, start here.

Like most main straight grandstands, the racing isn’t the main draw of the Fangio grandstand. But these are the best seats in the house to see the race build-up, the start, lightning-fast pit stops, post-race interviews and the podium celebrations.

With little wheel-to-wheel racing at Albert Park, wherever you are, it’s not a terrible idea to snap up tickets for the Fangio grandstand on Sunday.

If possible though, my tip though would be to choose Fangio for Friday. That way you can enjoy the people-watching and pitlane activity during practice, but be somewhere with at least a chance of racing on Sunday.

Let’s face it, Albert Park has never been a circuit for overtakes. But if there’s one place that stands out as a spot where a driver might pull off a move, it’s into turn 1. The tight right-hander at the end of the main straight sees plenty of chaos too, and the sight of 20 F1 cars piling into here on the first lap is worth the ticket price alone.  

Just alongside, but with a little-too-distant view of turn 1, the Moss Grandstand feels like the store-brand version of the Jones Grandstand. It doesn’t quite have the same knock-out views, but it offers something similar, with a price tag that won’t blow the budget.

This grandstand is on the outside of the circuit between the grid and turn 1, beside the footbridge to the track interior. These seats provide a view of the often action-packed turn 1, and being alongside the first braking zone, there’s a good chance to see some wheel-to-wheel duels under DRS. Its distant location isn’t optimal for turn 1, though, and this pocket-sized grandstand lacks any rows high enough to see over the debris-fencing. 

And just a note on that footbridge—while it makes getting to the Fan Zone easy peasy, its placement does little to enhance the view from these seats. In fact, it blocks any view you might have had up the main straight, so just don’t expect to see anything of the starting grid from here. 

Considering the eye-watering price tags of other turn 1 grandstands (looking at you, Jones and Brabham), the Moss grandstand is a great value alternative. This is the best choice of seats in the low-budget price range in Melbourne.

Further down, on the exterior of Turn 1, the Jones Grandstand puts you right next to the corner. As with the Moss Grandstand, the view from many seats is hindered by the branches of trees, and that pedestrian bridge makes sure you won’t see much further than the pit lane exit. 

Albert Park’s rampant foliage is more of a problem to upper rows, but then lower rows have to contend with an eyeful of catch-fencing, so pick your poison. For me, the upper rows are better value—just accept you won’t see far up the straight and make the most of the excellent turn 1 views instead. 

While it’s not without flaws, the Jones Grandstand is still one of the best grandstands for turn 1 action and overtakes.

Located at the inside of turn 1, drivers exit the tight left-hander and ease the throttle around the long, curved left-hander of turn 2. These seats are perfectly placed for the thrills and spills of the first lap of the race.

It’s a large grandstand with a slightly different experience depending on which blocks your seats are in. 

There’s no clear winner here—both sides of the grandstand have something to offer—just grab a seat in the top half to dodge that fence.

Brabham is also close to the F1 Fan Zone, so there’s plenty to do between sessions. This, and the views, makes it my pick for the best grandstand at Albert Park.

Turn 3 has been the scene of several horror crashes over the years. Martin Brundle had his airborne escapades in his Jordan here in 1996, and Fernando Alonso made a faithful recreation in his McLaren 20 years later.

Turn 3 always has the potential for an opportunistic pass, too. It’s not uncommon to see drivers squabbling for position here and around the following section of the track.

While the on-track action around Turn 3 can be on point, these grandstands might as well be out in the bush. There are a few food and drink stalls nearby, so you won’t have to live off witchetty grubs — but it’s a longish walk to the main fan zones. That means limited choice and not much to keep you entertained between sessions unless you’re up for a bit of a walkabout.

Formerly named the Piquet Grandstand, the stand was renamed the Hill Grandstand after Damon Hill, the first winner of the Grand Prix at Albert Park in 1996.

From many seats in the grandstand, the view of turn 4 will be blocked by trees, so while you can look forward to a clear view of turn 3, consider it a bonus if you can see turn 4 as well. As is so often the case around this circuit, the catch-fencing is guaranteed. 

A large and very necessary run-off area separates the Hill grandstand from the track, making it feel a little distant. It means you’re getting a broad view of this exciting corner, but bring a pair of binoculars if you want to see the giant screen.

The Ricciardo Grandstand has moved from its original location at the exit of turn 4. It’s now on the interior of the track between turns 3 and 4.

Though the fence remains, it offers a better and closer view than the Hill Grandstand and is also partially covered. From seats in the Ricciardo stand, fans can follow the racing from the exit of turn 3 and around turn 4. 

There’s also a popular general admission spot next to the grandstand if you want to get a closer look at cars entering turn 3—well worth checking out while you’re in the neighbourhood.

This grandstand was a new grandstand for 2022 (first called Summerland, and renamed Stewart for 2023). Turn 5 is a moderately fast, swooping corner. It’s a beautiful place to see F1 cars do their thing, even if it’s a spot that generally sees little real action. 

There’s scant run-off here, so it feels close to the racing and keeping up with the action elsewhere is easy with a well-placed giant screen. If you’ve got a seat in the right side of the grandstand, you’ll have a clear view of the approach too, from where the cars power out of turn 4.

The view of this short straight is fence-free too—ideal for photography if you’ve got a telephoto lens handy.

After a bit of a point and squirt first sector consisting of tight corners and short bursts on the throttle, turns 6 and 9 mark the start and end points of the fast sector 2, where the cars really stretch their legs.

On the exterior of the circuit, the Button and Clark grandstands offer fans in Melbourne a rare chance to see F1 cars at speed. Throw in a magnificent backdrop of the Albert Park Lake and you’ve got the makings of a classic Australian GP view.

One of the new grandstands for 2022 (previously The Balconies), the Button grandstand is in the spot of a long-popular general admission area.

The grandstand gives a bit of extra elevation, letting fans take in a greater expanse of the track. The view is of the fast, sweeping turn 8 and it’s a great vantage point to admire the incredible downforce of an F1 car cornering at speed.

This isn’t a place you’d expect to see overtaking though, and on a weekend ticket, the excitement may soon start to wane. This is a good one-day option to get a change from the usual 90-degree right-handers that the Albert Park circuit is known for.

Introduced in 2022, the new Clark grandstand keeps the name of the original, but the view is very different. Turn 8 has by this point tapered out to what is effectively a straight in an F1 car. Slip-streaming passes can happen here, and at these immense speeds, are very exciting when they do.

Tip: If you’ve got seats here for the weekend, take some time to visit the nearby general admission area at Brocky’s Hill.

After the long back straight, turns 9 and 10 are a fast, sweeping switchback. It’s always a pleasure to see an F1 car thread between the curbs, flicking left then right all in the blink of an eye. Depending on your exact seats, you may be able to see a long way down the following straight that leads to turn 11.

Overtaking is rare but not impossible here — unless you’re Carlos Sainz in 2022, where an ill-judged pass on Mick Schumacher saw him ending his race in the gravel trap.

This part of the circuit is far from the main Fan Zone, but there’s no shortage of activities and food and beverage options in this area. Nearby, the general admission area is one of the most popular, so you can always be sure of a great atmosphere in this neck of the woods.

The fast-flowing middle sector funnels cars into the sharp Turn 11. At the end of a long straight and DRS zone, there’s every possibility of overtaking into the heavy braking zone.

Formerly The Pinnacles, the Vettel grandstand is on the exterior of the track and has the best view of turn 11. Unlike the Webber grandstand opposite, the grandstand features a broader view that includes the approach and exit of the corner. This is one grandstand though where it pays to be in the lower rows, for better views of the preceding straight and corner entry.

The Webber grandstand’s new location is a big improvement on the main straight bore-fest it used to be. Now at the interior of the circuit at turn 11, it offers fans here a view of this crucial corner. 

Tucked inside turn 11, most of the preceding straight is out of sight, but there is a broad enough view to be able to see the full scope of the corner, including much of the braking zone.

While by no means an overtaking spot, the Lauda Grandstand offers a view of this medium-speed corner that is much more expansive than many views at Albert Park. 

Both the approach and exit to the corner clearly visible, cars are in view for longer than usual, and with upper rows offering partially fence-free views, it’s a perfect spot for photographs.

The final two corners at Albert Park are critical, and it’s where some of the circuit’s most popular grandstands are. After the fast-flowing second sector, the tight left-hander of turn 13 has a habit of tripping drivers up. 

After passing the pitlane entry, drivers take on the final turn — a long, fast, right-hander that feeds onto the main straight. The optimal line through here can mean the perfect hot lap in quali, and in the race, the chance to make an overtake. That translates to drivers and cars on the edge of ability and grip — and sometimes over it.

The best seats in this area offer the chance to see both of these very different corners, and in some cases, the main straight too. And as if all that on-track action isn’t exciting enough, these grandstands are also a short walk from one of the main fan zones.

The Schumacher grandstand is at about the midpoint between turns 13 and 14. Spectators here can see the final two corners of the circuit, and the pit lane entrance is opposite. Fans sitting in the right side of the stand (blocks G, H, J) in the upper-most rows are in a prime position to photograph the cars in the low-speed penultimate corner.

Giant screens accompany this grandstand, but placement isn’t ideal, especially for those seated in the middle blocks of the grandstand. The Schumacher grandstand is partially covered.

Ah, the old Prost vs. Senna rivalry, reborn in grandstand form. Fittingly side by side at the final corner, the Prost and Senna grandstands offer similar views. But while I’m a Senna fan through and through, in this particular showdown, it’s Prost that takes the win. 

The Prost Grandstand, on the outside of the final corner, not only has the perfect view of this but also a more distant view of the preceding one. It’s the view down the main straight though that sets it apart and makes it a contender for the best spot to watch F1 in Melbourne, especially on race day. 

From here you’ll be able to see the pre-race preparations on the grid, DRS duels and the winner taking the chequered flag. The view can vary depending on the section your seats are in, so try to get seats in the middle blocks if you have a choice. 

Although you can see the pit entry, don’t expect to see any pitlane action from here — that all takes place further down. As with the Schumacher stand, some seats in the Prost Grandstand are covered.

The Senna grandstand affords fans here a single-corner view with none of the wow factor of the other grandstands. In fact, even the final corner is too distant for many, leaving you with not much to look at. 

Opposite the grandstand are the support pits. That’s something, I guess, but if you’re an F1 fan, it’s not what you came to see. A combination of distance and fencing on both sides of the track ensures you can’t see the F1 pits or very far down the main straight. In fact, even though it’s closer to the grid than the Prost Grandstand, it’s harder to see from these seats.

Giant screens are again too far away and not giant enough. Overall, the Senna Grandstand is the weakest of this trio of grandstands and some of the less desirable seats at the circuit overall.

Choosing the right grandstand at Albert Park can make or break your race weekend. For first-lap chaos and the best chance of seeing an overtake, Brabham is hard to beat — and it’s my top pick overall. Jones gets you close to Turn 1, too, though with a few compromises, while Moss offers similar views at a more forgiving price.

If it’s the thrill of raw speed you’re after, head for Clark or Button at Turn 8 — one of the few spots where you’ll see F1 cars really stretch their legs. For a good mix of technical driving and photogenic views, Stewart at Turn 5 or Lauda at Turn 12 are solid options.

For start-line build-up, pit stops, and the chequered flag, Fangio on the main straight is where you want to be. But if you’re after a more dynamic view of the final corners and a glimpse of the straight, Prost remains one of the best grandstands at Albert Park.

Whatever you choose, this guide should help you land in a spot that makes your Australian Grand Prix weekend one to remember.