The Everyperson's Guide to the Monaco GP, Pt. 1

St Devote, Turn 1 is the scene of the traditional mad scramble down the home straight through the first turn. The view here is from Grandstand A2.

Nowhere else in the world is it more important to get into the first turn quicker than the other guy. In 2008, Massa led through here first time through. He also threw it away a third through the race by running wide into what is effectively the only run-off area on the whole track (directly below the grand stand. Note, you can also see over the the back half of the track, and also a little way up the hill towards Casino Square.

Sit here if you like:
The mad dash for the first corner and watching your favourite drivers braking from 270kp/h down to 70kp/h in the blink of an eye.

Watch out for:
Carnage on Lap 1. Napping drivers usually turf it here at some stage of the race too.

St Devote again as seen from Grandstand A1. Although much the same as Grandstand's A2 and A3, A1 offers F1 fans the chance to see a bit more of the harbour and the drive out of turn 1. Also, the view of Monaco's pit exit is one to be savored when pit stops are happening.

Sit here if you like:
Boats... And marveling at modern F1 cars hauling up the famous stretch towards Casino Square. Trust me, it's much steeper than it looks here.

Watch out for:
First corner carnage and the crazy race between a driver on a hot lap and one coming out of the pits for track position.

The iconic Casino Square and the mid to high speed turns 2 and 3. Grandstand B is your port of call if you like the view here.

Unlike many parts of the track, a large television screen is front and centre so you can check out the action on other parts of the track. In 08, Coulthard had a big shunt into the outside of Turn 2's barrier, with Bourdais collecting his wrecked car to add to the destruction. Fast, smooth drivers love this part of the track, so your Button's Hamilton's, Vettel's, Webber's and Alonso's will love this bit.

Sit here if you like:
watching the world's best snaking in and out of barriers only 5 metres wide without putting a wheel wrong (hopefully).

Watch out for:
Nose to diffuser racing with the quick guys shaping up for a run towards the hairpin.

Although not really a viable viewing option for anyone not the the first two rows of Grandstand B, the run out of Casino Square down to Turn 4 is interesting because of a large bump on the left hand side of the circuit (hard to see in the picture) that will throw your car off balance if you put a wheel or two over it. It makes for some interesting driving lines. Also, Turn 4 has been known to see keen drivers chance a rare pass.

Sit here if you like:
Craning your neck over the handrails. And seeing drivers bottom out on the bump.

Watch out for:
The odd pass and suicidal lunges into turn 4, like Mr. Trulli's on Lap 12 in 08 (damaged nose).

The back of Turn 4 and the almost non-existent Turn 5 (some don't count this 'squiggle' as a corner of the track, but for this exercise let's just say it is). This is the run down to the infamous Hairpin which I am standing on for this picture. This part of the track is important to get right, especially when in traffic. Cock it up and there's no where to go as you can all see!

Sit here if you like:
Quite simply, you can't sit here. If you're lucky enough to be a marshal, you might get to stand here, but that's about it I'm afraid.

Watch out for:
The odd driver shaping up for a daring pass into the hairpin. Also, contact, particularly in the early laps. Last year there were several instances of contact at this corner (Trulli, Alonso, Webber, Heidfeld and Fisichella to name a few, although most of them got away with a minor bump and no damage).

The wonderful Hairpin made famous for being the slowest corner in Formula One, and also the most dangerous if you're in traffic. Seen from the edge of the track, it's a case of pass here if you dare. This corner is the single most important on the track to get right, as the cars need to have the precise amount of turning circle afforded to them, or it's a short trip to the barrier on the exit.

Sit here if you like:
Like the Turn 4/5 complex, you cannot.

Watch out for:
Debris from an over-eager driver's front wing. Also, the amazing amount of full-lock the drivers get on the steering wheel.

Next we run out of the chicane and down in Portier Corner along the seaside. Herr, the photo is standing on Turn 7 and looking down through 8. Turn 7 can be a tricky one due greasy corner and the quick jink into an off-camber right hander (check out the slope of the road). 8 is another tricky one.

Sit here if you like:
Flaunting your wealth. Not many options as far as seating, though at least the privileged people staying in the two adjacent casinos can peer down this section of the track.

Watch out for:
If you are one of these lucky people, watch out for the effect work tyres has on the line a driver takes through this corner (coming in much narrower as to avoid the outer barriers. Other than that it's pretty unspectacular.

Portier Corner as seen from the track right in front of Grandstand C. Despite it's modest appearance, this corner is a tricky one and crucial if you fancy utilising the one realistic overtaking point on the track (The Chicane). Drivers will want to floor it through the exit and carry that speed into the tunnel.

Sit here if you like:
Seeing the spectacle of the seaside colliding with a racetrack. Hot for 2009 is an excellent opportunity to see those new diffusers that are all the rave as the cars power towards the tunnel. A word of warning, there is no TV screen here which may disappoint you.

Watch out for:
It's a long shot, but sometimes drivers shape up here for a stab at the car in front through the tunnel.

The Tunnel is the fastest corner in Formula One. And it's a lot longer and sharper than it looks on TV. Walking through it is the only way to get an appreciation of what a driver actually see through here. The sudden change from bright light to darkness must scare the proverbial out of the runners!

Sit here if you like:
Again, no can do.

Watch out for:
The quick guys tailing the car in front as close as possible so that they may grab a position or two at the chicane.

Not a corner I know, but an interesting part of the track. I'm standing on the entrance to The Nouvelle Chicane here and it shows you just how big the slope is running into The Nouvelle Chicane. To my right is Grandstand E.

Sit here if you like:
The one and only realistic overtaking point over the whole lap.

Watch out for:
Passing. And this year, KERS cars having a red-hot run into this part of the track.

The Nouvelle Chicane standing beside Grandstand E. Although you can see much on track level, the view from E is a good one, with views spanning all the way across the harbor down to the Swimming Pool. Interestingly, Grandstand E is only accessible by boat, with a free shuttle ferrying the lucky people to and from this grandstand. Don't ask me how they all go to the toilet though...

Sit here if you like:
Again, Overtaking. And Ferry rides.

Watch out for:
Do I really need to point it out? Oh alright... Watch out for Overtaking.

One of the best value for money seats as seen from Grandstand K, the fans get to see all the way through the Tunnel exit down through to the start of the Swimming Pool complex. You can also see the same thing from Grandstand M.

It's worth noting, that to the left of picture coming down out of the Nouvelle Chicane is the Enceinte Terrace (listed as Z1 in the seating guide). This section is very quick and flowing, and understeer is often greeted with a slap against the outside barrier. Oversteer is duly problematic as demonstrated by Ralf Schumacher in 2006 when he collected the inside of the track.

Sit here if you like:
Seeing the cars scream down from the Chicane into a tricky corner complex. You also get a big TV screen up the top of the hill.

Watch out for:
Did that pass on the chicane stick? If not, we'll all know by this corner.

Grandstand M is our vantage point here and as you can see it,s quite spectacular. In front of you is harbor and to your right is the Swimming Pool complex. You will see some of the best action through this little part of track.

Sit here if you like:
Fast flowing F1 action with an awesome backdrop.

Watch out for:
Those who get it wrong through Turn 12 usually have all sorts of trouble making the swimming pool, as demonstrated by Rosberg last year.