{"id":465354,"date":"2026-06-07T12:18:13","date_gmt":"2026-06-07T12:18:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/465354\/"},"modified":"2026-06-07T12:18:13","modified_gmt":"2026-06-07T12:18:13","slug":"george-russells-tips-for-doing-the-monaco-grand-prix-on-a-budget","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/465354\/","title":{"rendered":"George Russell\u2019s tips for doing the Monaco Grand Prix on a budget"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201cI moved to Monaco at the start of 2023, so I\u2019ve been here a little while now,\u201d Mercedes driver George Russell, speaking exclusively to Herald Travel, said.<\/p>\n

\u201cObviously, as a British driver, the UK will always be home. I grew up in the countryside, in Norfolk, and that\u2019s a very different lifestyle to Monaco.<\/p>\n

\"GeorgeGeorge Russell highlights affordable options like staying in nearby France and using general admission areas. Photo \/ Supplied<\/p>\n

But what\u2019s surprised me most [about living here] is probably the sense of community. From the outside, people see the glamour, the yachts, and the sunshine. But, day to day, it\u2019s actually a really practical place to live as an athlete. You can train properly, recover properly, get in the sea, ride, run, and you\u2019re surrounded by people who understand the demands of the sport.\u201d<\/p>\n

Of course, doing Monaco as a super VIP \u2013 stay, watch and party on your own superyacht \u2013 is a dream for many F1 fans, but it costs multiple millions. You can, though, do the race on a budget, but you\u2019ve got to properly plan it out \u2013 and well ahead of time, ideally as soon as the next season\u2019s calendar is confirmed by F1\u2019s governing body, the FIA.<\/p>\n

Your biggest expense will be accommodation, and all you have to do is walk across the border into France for much lower prices. Places like Cap-d\u2019Ali as well as Beausoleil and Saint-Antoine, which all have Airbnbs (or equivalent). The latter are walkable within 10-12 minutes. You can save even more cash by cooking dinner with ingredients sourced from the local Carrefour supermarkets.<\/p>\n

You\u2019ll then need a ticket to the Monaco Grand Prix. The cheapest option is La Rocher, or The Rock, which is a general admission area high above the track with views over the final sector, including pit lane and the final chicane on to the main straight. It\u2019s \u20ac45 ($90) on the Friday, \u20ac75 ($150) on Saturday and \u20ac130 ($260) on Sunday.<\/p>\n

\"RussellRussell emphasises the unique experience of Monaco, noting its challenging circuit and iconic status. Photo \/ Unsplash<\/p>\n

And it\u2019s an option rated by Russell, who \u2013 like all the drivers \u2013 grew up obsessed with the pinnacle of motorsport, and values what it takes to be trackside.<\/p>\n

\u201cLa Rocher is definitely the proper hardcore fan experience,\u201d Russell says.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou need to be committed, get there early, and be ready for a long day. But Monaco is unique because every corner has something special. You\u2019re not watching F1 cars on a normal circuit; you\u2019re watching them squeeze between barriers on streets you can walk down the next day.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"FansFans can see the race from La Rocher for \u20ac45 ($90) on Friday, \u20ac75 ($150) on Saturday and \u20ac130 ($260) on Sunday. Photo \/ Supplied<\/p>\n

It\u2019s worth upgrading to a grandstand seat, though, and here you can mix and match with a series of one-day tickets that suit your preferences and budget. Russell, of course, has plenty of experience guiding his family and friends on this.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s very cool to see the cars through Casino Square because that\u2019s such an iconic image of Monaco,\u201d Russell says. \u201cBut for pure commitment, I\u2019d say the Swimming Pool section is one of the best places to watch. The speed change, the precision, the way the car rides the kerbs \u2013 that\u2019s where you see just how close to the limit everyone is.\u201d<\/p>\n

Casino Square (B-grandstand) is expensive on Sunday (\u20ac1150\/$2300), but \u20ac175 or $350 on Friday, while the best Swimming Pool stand (N) is \u20ac650\/$1300 for the race; and for Russell, it\u2019s where he gets the biggest thrills in the car.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s fast, narrow, and there\u2019s no margin for error. You\u2019re arriving with so much speed and the walls are right there, so you need total confidence in the car and in yourself,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what Monaco is all about. It\u2019s not the highest-speed circuit on the calendar, but the sensation is huge because everything is magnified. A small lock-up, a tiny snap of oversteer, or being a few centimetres offline can be the difference between the perfect lap and being in the wall. When you hook up that section properly, especially in qualifying, it\u2019s a pretty special feeling.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"RussellRussell sits 43 points behind Kimi Antonelli as the title fight heads to Monaco. Photo \/ Unsplash<\/p>\n

Russell will certainly feel the pressure this year; the Brit goes into the race 43 points behind his precocious Mercedes teammate Kimi Antonelli. Monaco may be just round six of 22, but both have eyes on the world title \u2013 and so a win in the Principality is crucial, especially for Russell to claw back ground against the young Italian.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt would mean a huge amount,\u201d Russell says. \u201cMonaco is one of those races every driver wants on their CV. There are certain Grands Prix that carry a bit of extra history and prestige, and Monaco is right at the top of that list.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou spend so much time on these roads away from the race weekend, but when the barriers go up and the circuit comes alive, it becomes something completely different. To win here would be one of the biggest moments of my career.\u201d<\/p>\n

Whether you\u2019re an F1 driver or fan, Monaco is the ultimate destination. But for those in the know, you truly can have the champagne experience on a beer budget.<\/p>\n

More of Monaco on a tight budget<\/p>\n

\"GeorgeGeorge Russell says living in Monaco lets him train and recover like an athlete. Photo \/ UnsplashFree things to do include exploring local gardens such as Jardins Saint-Martin and the Princess Grace Rose Garden.The iconic Monte Carlo Casino is also free to walk through. The lobby is stunning and you can take a casino tour for \u20ac10. March\u00e9 de La Condamine is your go-to market and food hall for fresh, seasonal and well-priced produce such as fresh meat, fish and wine, as well as small shops and cafes. Believe it or not, Monaco bars do indulge the punters with \u201chappy hours\u201d. Try Brasserie de Monaco, La Rascasse and Horizon Rooftop Restaurant & Champagne Bar. The latter boasts a Champagne happy hour from 6pm to 8pm. Take the electric-powered Bateau Bus for a fast yet scenic crossing between Monaco-Ville and Monte-Carlo. Pay onboard. One way costs \u20ac2 cash or \u20ac1.50 by credit card.The train to Monaco from Nice takes 25 minutes. Great savings can be made if you make Monaco a day trip. Avoid expensive bottled water; there are public water fountains across the city.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\u201cI moved to Monaco at the start of 2023, so I\u2019ve been here a little while now,\u201d Mercedes…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":465355,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[13916,2033,11357,31787,8473,2082,29188,12856,56768,10813,62540,60051,3025,111,139,69,90,48211,47527,18833,11763,235742,213,6934,223,3765,235743],"class_list":["post-465354","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-sports","tag-asked","tag-bell","tag-budget","tag-doing","tag-done","tag-for","tag-formula","tag-george","tag-glamorous","tag-grand","tag-mercedes","tag-monaco","tag-most","tag-new-zealand","tag-newzealand","tag-nz","tag-on","tag-ones","tag-prix","tag-round","tag-russell","tag-russells","tag-sports","tag-stewart","tag-the","tag-tips","tag-titlefighter"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/465354","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=465354"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/465354\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/465355"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=465354"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=465354"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=465354"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}