Method 1 has raced at greater than 70 completely different tracks all over the world, and stalwarts like Silverstone and Monza have hosted grands prix in virtually each season of the sequence. Not each observe has been fairly so profitable, nevertheless, and F1 determined by no means to return to some circuits for all method of causes.
In whole, 10 tracks have hosted only a single grand prix over F1’s 75-year historical past, together with amenities throughout America, Europe and Africa. These racetracks have been referred to as on to host occasions whereas F1 struggled by means of world pandemics, or to attempt to carry the sequence to new audiences all over the world. However F1 elected by no means to return to some venues because of all the pieces from difficult observe circumstances to poor ticket gross sales.
Pescara Circuit – 1957 Pescara GP
The longest circuit Method 1 ever raced at had one of many shortest stints as an F1 venue, with the Pescara Circuit on the Adriatic coast internet hosting only a single race in 1957.
The observe began within the city of Pescara, Italy, earlier than winding its approach across the surrounding space on a 16-mile-long loop that packed in additional than 30 corners and two eye-wateringly lengthy straights.
Throughout its one and solely official F1 race, Argentine racer Juan Manuel Fangio claimed pole place, however in the end misplaced out within the race to the Vanwall of Stirling Moss. The end result was overshadowed by fears of driver security on the observe, with Enzo Ferrari even going as far as to cease his staff from competing within the race. Security considerations continued after the occasion and, following a two-year break, it was downgraded to run Method 2 races solely.
Ain-Diab, 1958 Moroccan GP
A yr later, Method 1 trialled an occasion in Morocco as a part of the 1958 championship. For the occasion, a avenue course was constructed across the street between Casablanca and Azemmour, which coated virtually 5 miles.
Phil Hill leads Mike Hawthorn, Ferrari Dino 246
Photograph by: Motorsport Pictures
Whereas the observe hosted a non-championship occasion in 1957, the ‘58 season marked the one time a Moroccan race supplied up factors for the drivers’ and constructors’ championships. In reality, because the final race of the 1958 season, the Moroccan race determined that yr’s champion as Mike Hawthorn’s second-place end earned him sufficient factors to say the crown.
The Ain-Diab circuit was one other with security considerations, nevertheless, after a critical crash left Stuart Lewis-Evans in hospital the place he in the end died because of accidents he sustained within the incident.
AVUS, 1959 German GP
Method 1’s most unorthodox observe was the Automobil-Verkehrs-und Übungsstraße in Germany, or the AVUS for brief. For its debut F1 championship race in 1959, the circuit was somewhat over 5 miles lengthy and comprised of two 180-degree turns that have been related by a pair of parallel straights.
This wild structure meant that speeds have been excessive, as a lot as 117mph within the race, however spectator engagement was low as crowds would get brief burst of motion separated by a lot quieter intervals.
The observe was house to a formidable banked nook that was nicknamed “the wall of loss of life” by drivers and a number of other racers flew excessive of the nook in competitors. The dangers related to these banked turns and the political motivation behind its inclusion on the F1 calendar, in the end, paved the way in which for its removing from the schedule. It most likely wasn’t a observe that was missed by many drivers, and Stirling Moss even branded it a “dump.”
Circuito de Monsanto, 1959 Portuguese GP
Portugal has been a daily on the F1 calendar, with tracks in Portimão and Estoril internet hosting occasions in current a long time. Earlier than establishing store at these everlasting tracks, F1 raced on a avenue circuit in Lisbon in 1959.
Roy Salvadori, Aston Martin DBR4/250, leads Maurice Trintignant, Cooper T51 Climax
Photograph by: Motorsport Pictures
Constructed within the suburbs of the Portuguese capital, the three.4-mile observe was a favorite of sportscar racers earlier than F1 arrange store within the late Fifties. The race was received by Stirling Moss in his Cooper Climax, with the Brit ending a lap forward of his team-mate Masten Gregory in second. The large speaking level of the race, nevertheless, was a harmful crash that noticed Australian driver Jack Brabham fly out of his automotive and land on the racetrack.
Circuito de Monsanto was, in the end, deserted because of its structure and building, which comprised a wide range of observe surfaces, blind corners and slim sections that made it harmful for drivers. Racing continued on the website throughout different sequence till the Seventies, when it was completely dropped as a world motorsport venue.
Sebring Worldwide Raceway, 1959 United States GP
Today Sebring is a Mecca for endurance racing, however again within the Fifties it hosted F1 racing and the ultimate spherical of the 1959 championship.
The observe F1 raced on was a far cry from the ability that now hosts the 12 Hours of Sebring. The 5.2-mile observe in Florida comprised of 12 turns that took F1 equipment of the day round three minutes to navigate.
Whereas Sebring holds the title as being the primary purpose-built course to host an F1 race in America, its time on the calendar was short-lived, after drivers complained in regards to the lack of consistency in observe floor and points with upkeep of the ability.
Riverside Worldwide Raceway, 1960 United States GP
Sebring’s removing from the calendar paved the way in which for Method 1’s subsequent crack at breaking America with a race on the Riverside Worldwide Raceway in California. The 1960 US Grand Prix was the second race that yr to happen in America, with F1 additionally together with the Indy 500 as a part of the championship.
Riverside was a preferred observe amongst American street racers when it discovered its place on the F1 calendar, and the race it served up was fairly thrilling. Nonetheless, the grand prix was removed from a industrial success with estimates suggesting solely 5,000 of the promised 70,000 spectators confirmed as much as watch.
Stirling Moss, Lotus 18 Climax
Photograph by: Motorsport Pictures
Poor attendance and monetary points spelled the top of the Riverside race, after the 1960 occasion failed to gather sufficient ticket cash to cowl the prize pot. As such, it was missed for the 1961 season and the ability ultimately closed its doorways within the Eighties.
Zeltweg Airfield, 1964 Austrian GP
Earlier than the Purple Bull Ring took over internet hosting duties, Method 1 trialled an occasion on an previous Austrian Air Drive base that was house to a observe with simply 4 corners.
The L-shaped circuit hosted a non-championship race in 1963 after which made the soar to F1 for the 1964 Austrian Grand Prix. The observe served up Italian racer Lorenzo Bandini’s one and solely win for Ferrari, however sadly wasn’t destined to remain on the calendar for lengthy.
Regardless of Method 1 having ambitions to proceed internet hosting occasions in Austria for longer, the occasion at Zeltweg Airfield was canned till a everlasting observe in Spielberg opened in 1970. F1 made the choice after drivers complained in regards to the slim, bumpy observe and spectators have been left dissatisfied with the poor viewing areas.
Bugatti Circuit, 1967 French GP
France doesn’t host an F1 spherical any longer, after Paul Ricard was scrapped from the calendar after the 2022 season. Lengthy earlier than Paul Ricard even opened its paddock doorways, F1 trailed a race on the Bugatti Circuit, which is situated inside the Circuit de la Sarthe that hosts Le Mans yearly.
The observe used the start of the Le Mans observe, earlier than looping again on itself and utilizing a bit of observe utilized by the circuit’s racing college. The structure wasn’t well-liked amongst drivers, and using the Le Mans pit amenities that have been constructed for 55 automobiles made the F1 equipment look somewhat misplaced.
Chris Amon, Ferrari 312
Photograph by: David Phipps
On prime of this, simply 20,000 folks turned as much as watch over the grand prix weekend, in contrast with the almost 200,000 who flip as much as Le Mans on the identical website. In consequence, F1 returned to the Rouen-Les-Essarts and Circuit de Charade tracks for subsequent French grands prix.
Truthful Park circuit, 1984 Dallas GP
In Method 1’s quest to discover a everlasting house within the U.S., it raced at 12 completely different tracks throughout the nation, together with the Truthful Parks circuit in Dallas, Texas. For the 1984 season, F1 added a race in Dallas following the Detroit Grand Prix and it’s an occasion that went down in historical past for all of the unsuitable causes.
Temperatures north of 37 levels Celsius wrought havoc on the automobiles and observe, with sections of the street that made up the road circuit crumbling underneath the extraordinary warmth. Drivers complained in regards to the troublesome circumstances on the observe and the positioning’s difficult structure, which comprised of largely 90 diploma turns across the Texas State Fairground.
Organisers additionally struggled to show a revenue as attendance dropped and internet hosting charges rose, and confronted backlash from the area people. This good storm of points meant that F1 by no means returned to the streets of Dallas.
Donington Park, 1993 European GP
For the 1993 European Grand Prix, Donington Park discovered its second within the F1 highlight and placed on an almighty present. The race was dominated by a surprising opening lap from Ayrton Senna, who went from fifth to first.
The European GP was an occasion that hopped from observe to trace, so after F1 hosted the occasion at Donnington in 1993 it went on to be run round circuits equivalent to Jerez and the Valencia Road Circuit. Regardless of a plan to return grand prix racing to Donington within the mid-2000s, an absence of money to improve the observe’s amenities meant F1 by no means returned.
Mugello Circuit, 2020 Tuscan GP
When Method 1, and the remainder of the world, put occasions on maintain in 2020, it was feared that the championship could by no means stand up and operating once more within the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes F1 W11, Daniel Ricciardo, Renault F1 Staff R.S.20, Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes F1 W11, Sergio Perez, Racing Level RP20, Daniil Kvyat, AlphaTauri AT01, Alex Albon, Purple Bull Racing RB16, and the remainder of the sphere for the restart
Photograph by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Pictures
Nonetheless, after a mandated manufacturing unit shutdown ended and lockdowns relaxed all over the world, F1 rustled up a shorter calendar for 2020 that included occasions in Europe and the Center East. As a part of that new calendar, an occasion was hosted at Mugello, which is traditionally used for bike racing.
The observe was extensively praised for stepping in as an F1 super-sub, however its structure and lack of run-off areas meant Mugello wasn’t fairly as much as the championship’s standard normal. What’s extra, with F1 dedicated to racing in Imola and Monza, justifying a 3rd race in Italy was difficult.
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