The calendar is ever increasing and has now reached 24 rounds, with sure longstanding venues vulnerable to being usurped by glamorous new places. We final made this checklist in 2022 and after the addition of a number of new tracks since, the time feels proper to have one other go at rating each observe on the calendar.
This isn’t in regards to the location of the observe, the services or whether or not the nation deserves to host a race. It’s all in regards to the circuit itself.
24. Miami Worldwide Autodrome, United States
Miami was the second United States race added to the F1 calendar after Circuit of the Americas. It’s not unfair to say that its major function is being ‘all in regards to the present’. It’s unlucky for F1 followers that that ‘present’ is primarily targeted off observe.
In fact, a avenue circuit in downtown Miami – or alongside the seashore? – would have been higher, although clearly far too bold. As it’s, we now have to accept a brief observe that runs across the car parking zone of the Arduous Rock Stadium. The drivers don’t appear to love it and neither do most F1 followers.
23. Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, Spain
The Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya is a helpful observe for groups as a result of it has a wide range of excessive, low and medium-speed corners. In case your automotive is fast there, it will likely be fast nearly wherever, the speculation goes.
But in its historical past, there have been few genuinely thrilling races and overtaking alternatives have hardly abounded lately. Not less than they’ve eliminated that ghastly chicane earlier than the ultimate nook. Not an terrible driving observe nevertheless it doesn’t serve its major function all that nicely. It’s one other matter whether or not it stays on the calendar or is changed fully by the Madrid Grand Prix as the one race in Spain.
22. Albert Park Circuit, Melbourne, Australia
It’s welcome that Albert Park has returned because the in 2025 as a result of exterior of that – and the situation – not a lot appeals about this parkland circuit. They’ve made a number of minor alterations to the structure lately however even the addition of three DRS zones a number of years again didn’t create the racing that Melbourne deserves.
21. Las Vegas Strip Circuit, United States
As with Miami, this one is all in regards to the location. It’s honest that the place a race is held kinds a part of the equation for F1 however we’re rating the most effective tracks, not the most effective place to have a race. There have actually been worse grand prix circuits in Las Vegas (the Caesars Palace automotive park, for one) and the 2 races have been entertaining, with uncommon circumstances. So maybe it might transfer up the order through the years.
20. The Hungaroring, Hungary
Quite a lot of the tracks within the decrease reaches of the checklist are in (or close to) among the world’s biggest cities however (usually) don’t produce thrilling races. The Hungaroring is one other. Budapest is a implausible metropolis however this observe doesn’t fairly reside as much as its billing.
Its label as “Monaco with out the partitions” is a bit of unfair and inaccurate as of late, however the one place the place adjustments of place occur is on the finish of the pit straight, and with the help of DRS. That isn’t an issue only for the Hungaroring, thoughts you. Solely seven tracks have hosted extra grands prix, which is one thing.
19. Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, Mexico Metropolis
There’s a theme rising. Mexico Metropolis is one other high-quality place to have a race and this circuit is actually not a horrible observe like some ranked under it. But the stream of it is rather unusual. The baseball stadium advanced is a sight to behold however does really feel low-quality in addition to low-speed. The races listed here are normally entertaining, although. The altitude at the least provides one thing uncommon to the combo, however you’d wrestle to see it actually being missed had been it to drop off the calendar.
18. Circuit de Monaco, Monte Carlo
In my earlier checklist in 2022 Monaco was within the high 10 with the caveat that it was there as a result of it represents a singular problem. It’s undoubtedly the most effective qualifying session of the 12 months, with a lot in danger. But it’s predictably the worst race as a result of the fashionable vehicles are too large and carry an excessive amount of downforce to make overtaking greater than a distant chance. It’s arguably not match for contemporary F1.
In 2022 I additionally posited that one thing wanted to alter and steered a three-stop race. This 12 months the FIA have made a major change: a compulsory two-stop race.
17. Marina Bay Road Circuit, Singapore
All avenue circuits are a compromise in a method or one other. That is one other one for the “nice location however questionable observe” class. I don’t assume anybody would need to see Singapore hauled off the calendar nevertheless it suffers the constraints that many metropolis avenue circuits do.
Briefly, it’s tight and twisty and presents few real overtaking probabilities. With the circumstances (usually scorching and humid), a close to two-hour race and people obstacles in shut, it’s removed from a cake stroll for the drivers.
16. Lusail Worldwide Circuit, Qatar
This observe doesn’t instantly stand out as one notably suited to F1. Certainly, it has held 21 MotoGP races however simply three F1 grands prix. With the high-downforce beasts presently in use in F1, the sequence of medium and high-speed corners pose a problem to drivers each bodily and technically.
In 2023 a number of drivers vomited of their helmets – not helped by the excessive temperatures – and a three-stop race was mandated. Is it a thriller? No. Does it have character? Sure.
15. Jeddah Corniche Circuit, Saudi Arabia
When the Jeddah Corniche Circuit was unveiled a number of years in the past there have been dissenting voices that stated it was too harmful. Certainly, Sergio Pérez described it as “pointlessly” so. Not a lot has modified since then.
There have been a number of monumental high-speed crashes in these early days too and, on paper, the structure does appear nearly insane. But someway it really works (or has accomplished to this point) and has produced fairly a number of thrillers in its time. I’m not actually positive it ought to be categorized as a avenue circuit, both.
14. Baku Metropolis Circuit, Azerbaijan
For the reason that Baku Metropolis Circuit was launched in 2016, it has produced a number of chaotic races and several other snore-fests. The signature nook is the tight and very slim uphill right-hander by the town partitions that presents an exquisite photograph alternative.
Maybe probably the most notable part is the flat out run from flip 16 to twenty by to the beginning/end line which is the longest full-throttle part in F1. It’s breathtaking. But lots of the opposite corners – 90 diploma proper or left-handers – are completely forgettable.
13. Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi
In my earlier checklist, printed in 2022, I ranked the Yas Marina circuit very close to the underside. It was a travesty {that a} observe that produced such little motion and drama held the ultimate race of the season. Fortunately that has modified with the alterations made to the circuit a number of years in the past.
The largest adjustments had been the removing of a chicane on the run all the way down to the primary hairpin (which created an overtaking alternative) and re-profiling a number of different corners later within the lap, which does likewise. They’ve been a hit. I might somewhat have Suzuka or Interlagos because the season-ending race, however this Yas Marina will not be the bore-fest that it was for therefore lengthy.
12. Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Montreal
The observe in Montreal is one other that has suffered through the years as F1 vehicles have superior with growing quantities of downforce. The ‘wall of champions’ on the surface of the ultimate chicane (so referred to as as a result of Damon Hill, Michael Schumacher and Jacques Villeneuve crashed there in 1999) produces fewer incidents now due to how the vehicles strategy the structure. A sprinkle of rain right here can produce chaos, as we noticed in 2024. Nonetheless a problem.
11. Autódromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari, Imola
It was a pleasure to see Imola return to the calendar in 2020 and to see it function on the calendar yearly bar the one when floods led to its cancellation. Have the races there been all that thrilling, although, a little bit of rain apart? I’m not so positive. It’s one other old-school observe that may be a problem for the drivers (and with a ravishing backdrop and undulating terrain) however overtaking comes at a premium.
10. Circuit Zandvoort, Netherlands
There was a interval within the early 2000s the place all of F1’s new tracks (Sepang, Sakhir, Shanghai) had been designed by Hermann Tilke and his associates and, nearly as good as these circuits are individually, began to really feel a bit of samey.
No disrespect to Hermann, however the addition of Zandvoort in 2021 was a welcome change. It was a observe that first featured within the F1 world championship in 1952, though its present guise is vastly completely different from the model that Alberto Ascari gained for Ferrari. Notable corners: the banking at turns one, three and the ultimate flip in addition to the high-speed dart by the sand dunes instantly after.
9. Bahrain Worldwide Circuit, Sakhir
The Bahrain Worldwide Circuit has been on the calendar for greater than twenty years now, and has hosted extra grands prix than Manufacturers Hatch and Paul Ricard. It’s firmly part of the F1 panorama. As each a racing and driving observe you must say that’s deserved.
True, there should not many genuinely high-speed corners and that may be a slight mark towards it. Lately it has produced loads of drama and its abrasive floor tends to result in two-stop races and a few strategic variation. The center sector combines each technicality and pleasure. The outer loop configuration in 2020 was not dangerous both, although the much less stated in regards to the terrible ‘endurance’ structure (used solely as soon as) the higher.
8. Purple Bull Ring, Austria
With regards to scenic backdrops, nothing beats the Purple Bull Ring. Beautiful even on TV and higher in actual life, the Northern Styrian Alps make this a chocolate field of an F1 circuit. It’s the shortest lap on the calendar by time however presents its challenges and overtaking areas, too, notably the super-steep run to the hairpin at flip three.
There are some old-school run-off areas, too, on the surface of turns 4 and 5. That is excellent to see on this age of sanitised circuits. Observe limits are much less of a difficulty than they as soon as had been right here, with the addition of a strip of gravel on the surface of the ultimate nook.
7. Shanghai Worldwide Circuit, China
It’s most likely honest to say that, if the Shanghai Worldwide Circuit had been to drop off the calendar, few tears could be shed. In truth, it did disappear off the calendar for 3 years and it felt like no one a lot cared.
The Tilke-designed observe, although, has options that exist nowhere else. The just about endless sequence of turns one to a few is exclusive in F1. The lengthy again straight presents a strong overtaking alternative and there are a number of different good medium-speed touches on the market. Inferior to Sepang was, however not too far off.
6. Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium
This storied observe is unquestionably not what it as soon as was. It’s nonetheless an exhilarating drive in these trendy vehicles however the problem has actually been neutered. The mix of Eau Rouge/Raidillon calls for drivers drive simply flat out, aside maybe from when they’re carrying very excessive gas.
There are, although, nonetheless loads of difficult technical sections and a few corners the place you maintain your breath watching an F1 automotive totally commit. The situation within the coronary heart of the Ardennes actually aids the spectacle, as does the customarily unpredictable climate. A disgrace that it’ll not function yearly any extra however the Belgian Grand Prix turning into biennial might assist it recapture a way of distinctiveness.
5. Autodromo Nazionale, Monza, Italy
I used to be torn over whether or not to place Monza this excessive within the new checklist. It’s clearly an historic observe that deserves to be on the calendar. Due to its uncommon high-speed structure, it most likely deserves to be within the high 10 right here, too.
Aside from the long term all the way down to the primary – and infrequently second – chicane, there are few overtaking alternatives. The ultimate nook – as soon as referred to as Parabolica, however renamed after the late Michele Alboreto – in addition to the 2 Lesmos corners are up there with probably the most historic on the calendar. The observe is maybe beginning to lose its attraction barely, although the presence of the Ferrari-adoring tifosi at all times brighten it up. Is there objectively a higher sight in F1 than a Ferrari driver on the highest of the rostrum?
4. Suzuka Worldwide Racing Course, Japan
With Spa turning into much less daunting, Suzuka has maybe taken its place as the last word drivers’ circuit on the F1 calendar. In different phrases: a observe the place the individual within the cockpit can actually make a distinction. Other than a number of adjustments to the ultimate chicane and at Spoon Curve, the observe stays largely because it was when it first hosted a grand prix in 1987.
The primary couple of corners are a fearsome mixture and then you definately get into the lengthy, flowing, uphill esses part that’s fairly not like another part on the calendar. True, the quick left-hander at 130R is sort of a non-event now, however observe simply involves life if you see an F1 automotive round it.
3. Autódromo José Carlos Tempo, Interlagos, Brazil
Once I consider Interlagos I consider three issues: large elevation adjustments, monumental yellow and inexperienced curbs and torrential rain. Once more, one other observe that has not modified an incredible deal however one which continues to supply implausible racing and provides the drivers a thrill all through every of its 2.677 miles.
It doesn’t seem like it ought to produce an action-packed race however someway it does, doubtless helped by these endless undulations. Its case can be helped by the very fact it’s normally on the finish of the season, when a championship or two is on the road.
2. Circuit of the Americas, Austin, United States
For a very long time, america was begging for a racing circuit that was worthy of inclusion on the F1 calendar. In 2012 It lastly discovered one of many most interesting racing circuits on the planet, simply exterior of Austin.
A few of the observe takes nods from different well-known corners (the esses part is just like Silverstone’s) however there may be sufficient character elsewhere to offer the observe its personal persona. The brief, sharp rise uphill to the turn-one hairpin is arguably the most effective opening nook in F1. Sure, there are different F1 tracks in America now however none of them is a patch on this.
1. Silverstone, United Kingdom
A uncommon instance of an old-school observe that is still as related as ever in trendy F1. Silverstone has among the finest high-speed corners on the circuit, just like the right-handers at Copse and Abbey. It additionally has among the most fabled turns wherever on the planet, just like the sequence at Maggots, Becketts and Chapel and Stowe.
Put all of them collectively and it flows beautifully, offering the drivers with a problem of talent and bravado. Crucially, and that’s what offers it top-ranking right here, it nearly with out fail produces an exciting race someplace within the subject and very often on the very entrance. The venue’s historical past and the a whole bunch of hundreds of enthusiastic followers that attend yearly assist, too.
