Formula 1 rolls into its most prestigious race of the season this weekend when the Monaco Grand Prix takes over the seaside city-state with the highest GDP per capita of any country in the world.
Red Bull has won every race in 2023 as the circuit heads to Monte Carlo, where cars will race around the world-famous casino seen in James Bond movies, which also sponsors the F1 race. Red Bull’s Sergio Perez is the grand prix’s defending champion, while fellow teammate Max Verstappen won the 2021 event.
As of Thursday afternoon, the cheapest ticket for a grandstand seat on Sunday on F1’s website was $954. If you’d prefer to watch from the water, hospitality companies offer yacht seating on three different vessels for between $2,600-$3,800. VIP terrace packages were going for nearly $5,000.
On the ground, a major change in operations will see F1 produce the race broadcast for the first time, supplanting the long tradition of local hosting. F1 already produces the world feed for every other race on the schedule.
F1 is keen on presenting the best aspects of a race that saw record U.S. viewership last year on ESPN, which is reportedly paying at least $75 million annually for F1 rights. The broadcast audience will likely grow again this year as Disney moves the Monaco race to network coverage on ABC at 9 a.m. ET on Sunday.
