The System 1 calendar is as massive because it’s ever been with 24 circuits to go to for drivers, crew employees and media – the place nobody monitor is identical.
So for a little bit of low season enjoyable, we now have rated all present venues – besides Madrid, which is because of debut this yr – primarily based on 4 standards: structure, historical past/environment, location and amenities.
Here’s what our F1 writers mentioned, having judged every monitor primarily based on the complete expertise.
1. Greatest circuit structure
The primary, and maybe most tough one to evaluate, is the structure itself. Does the circuit present nice racing, or is it a minimum of considered one of F1’s most difficult tracks which places driver talent to the final word check? As we now have seen in recent times, these two aims do not all the time align with one another. However by judging every circuit on each, we now have come to a balanced end result.
Filip Cleeren – Interlagos has all of it
This has been an attention-grabbing class to evaluate due to the explanations outlined above. Sure, Suzuka and Monaco are excellent as a problem, however combining these thrills with action-packed racing and overtaking has change into rather a lot rarer in modern-day F1, largely right down to the automobiles. Sao Paulo’s Interlagos circuit is one of some that manages to do each, due to its bowl-shaped design that options loads of camber, making a number of racing strains doable. Add in an extended important straight and a sprinkle of rain, the tip outcome supplies an entertaining cocktail that seldom disappoints – lengthy could it proceed!
Monza is a detailed second and though Suzuka’s racing is not nice, I felt the structure is simply too good to dismiss. I do worth the problem and great thing about a circuit, so in comparison with my friends, I am the one to depart Bahrain out of my prime 10, although I will admit together with Las Vegas is considerably contradictory. For all of its pomp, it hasn’t did not entertain but.
Oleg Karpov – Good racing issues
I’m no racing driver, so I can’t actually rank circuits primarily based on how fulfilling they’re to drive – like about 99.9 p.c of the world’s inhabitants. For me, what issues way more is whether or not a monitor supplies good racing to look at. And, coincidence or not, the easier the structure, the higher the racing. I assure that if F1 raced on the Norisring, these could be one of the best races you’d ever see.
Chicanes and hairpins after lengthy straights, a number of overtaking alternatives across the lap, and the likelihood to relaunch assaults are easy, however very environment friendly instruments to supply a great spectacle. For me, on this class nothing beats the Bahrain Worldwide Circuit, the place the entire first sector supplies an ideal area for correct wheel-to-wheel battles, with totally different strains and alternatives to retake the place. Austria is analogous in that regard, and Canada, with its well-known hairpin and lengthy again straight, can also be a terrific place for good racing.
Does Bahrain deserve extra credit score for the racing it supplies?
Picture by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Photographs
Stuart Codling – Spa delivers typically sufficient
Nice driver circuits don’t all the time make for compelling racing, as evinced by the truth that the twentieth anniversary of the final really memorable Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka (Kimi Raikkonen’s cost from seventeenth to victory in 2005) has now handed. So with a heavy coronary heart I downgraded that venue.
Majestic Spa-Francorchamps doesn’t all the time ship, nevertheless it does so typically sufficient – normally with the help of the fickle Ardennes microclimate – for me to present it prime marks. Plus extra of its difficult sections are open to spectators than Suzuka’s.
For a colorless, windy previous airfield in the midst of nowhere (with apologies to the sturdy burghers of Towcester), Silverstone delivers in each problem and spectacle. Interlagos completes my prime three for a similar causes adumbrated by Fil, adopted intently by the US and Canadian GP venues, for various causes; Montreal’s precise monitor structure is a bit ho-hum nevertheless it has a approach of creating issues occur.
Bahrain has a compact, intelligent structure, and has come into its personal with the shift to a night-race format and the abrasive floor’s behavior of ruining Pirellis. However nonetheless, I really feel Oleg should have been sniffing glue earlier than inserting it at primary…! Ronald Vording – Silverstone ticks each packing containers An iconic structure and good racing have confirmed to be two (utterly) various things, particularly with the soiled air issues that we now have seen in 2025. Silverstone, nevertheless, ticks each packing containers: the venue of F1’s first world championship race stays iconic and has produced loads of good races in current historical past.
The identical applies to Sao Paulo, whereas Spa-Francorchamps and Suzuka ought to, for my part, nonetheless rank very extremely primarily based on their spectacular layouts. Lastly, the other is true for Bahrain: not an iconic structure as such, nevertheless it does have sufficient substances for good racing – simply take into consideration that Leclerc versus Verstappen battle in 2022.
2. Historical past and environment
The second class is historical past, environment and fan expertise. F1 is nothing with out its wealthy 75-year historical past, so venues which can be deeply rooted in F1 tradition needs to be valued. On the identical time, a few of F1’s newer races have additionally offered a terrific vibe and fan expertise to change into immediate classics, so the 2 can and may coexist.
Oleg Karpov – Nothing beats Monza and its tifosi
There are locations on the F1 calendar the place you simply really feel the vibe and totally embrace it. And it is available in totally different flavours. To witness Monaco, with its harbour, street closures and simply the sheer logistics of a grand prix weekend, is one thing really distinctive. Then there may be the music-festival environment of Zandvoort or Silverstone, and the craziness of the Mexican GP paddock.
All of those races are distinctive and in contrast to any others, and it’s a bloody tough process to rank them. However to me, nothing beats the Italian GP, with the allure of the Parco di Monza and the fervour of the tifosi, with Austria proper up there as nicely – a spot that has change into utterly totally different in recent times, with all of the Max Verstappen followers turning it right into a Dutch province for every week. Add to that the gorgeous Styrian mountains and the native Gasthofs and eating places, and it makes for an unbelievable expertise.
Ronald Vording – Japan’s followers are unmatched
By way of expertise and fan enthusiasm, Japan is unmatched for me. The followers are extraordinarily respectful and costume up in probably the most artistic methods. It’s an expertise in its personal proper. Elsewhere, you possibly can actually really feel the historical past and the fervour of the tifosi in Monza, whereas Monaco stays distinctive when it comes to setting. With a photographer’s tabard, you possibly can watch the motion proper behind the obstacles, which makes the trackside expertise completely distinctive – a private spotlight of the F1 season each single yr. You merely cannot get any nearer to the motion than that.
The Tifosi have a good time through the Podium Ceremony
Picture by: Sam Bagnall / Motorsport Photographs
Stuart Codling – Monza is an completely magnificent venue
With its parkland setting, whispering bushes, crumbling concrete banking, aged timing towers and supremely passionate followers, Monza merely can’t be surpassed for both historical past or environment. Stroll behind the grandstands and it’s simple to think about the likes of Fangio, Farina and Ascari roaring previous on the opposite facet. It’s an completely magnificent venue.
Environment should be inclusive, which is why I left Austria out of my prime 10 on account of safeguarding points and common boorishness in current seasons.
Jake Boxall-Legge – There’s simply one thing particular about Suzuka
Most of my colleagues have gone for Monza, however I am uniting with Ronald and selecting Suzuka for this. Monza has an distinctive environment and over a century’s value of historical past going for it – and but, there’s simply one thing particular about Suzuka. Monza is synonymous with Ferrari, and the sheen of Rosso Corsa all through the grandstands is reflective of that; Suzuka feels extra like a celebration of System 1 as an entire, relatively than only one crew or driver. Even security automobile driver Bernd Maylander will get a banner.
Additional down my order, Spa-Francorchamps is a well-liked pilgrimage for followers all around the world, and Sao Paulo has a Senna-influenced magic to it – one which hit new peaks this yr with huge Latam assist for Gabriel Bortoleto, Franco Colapinto, plus honorary citizen Lewis Hamilton.
3. Location
The third criterion is the circuit’s wider location and its attraction, which is an integral a part of the expertise for followers and employees alike. What else does the grand prix host have to supply off the monitor?
Filip Cleeren – Melbourne simply edges Sao Paulo and Singapore
We’re extraordinarily privileged to journey to among the world’s nice cities, and Melbourne simply edges Sao Paulo and Singapore for me with its mixture of metropolis life and nature, its numerous meals scene and relaxed way of life. I moved to Barcelona after attending a Spanish Grand Prix approach again when, and of all the opposite locations on the listing, Melbourne might be the opposite metropolis I may see myself relocate to.
What additionally helps is that Albert Park is correct in the midst of town, so followers can simply hop on the tram to get to the occasion. The thrill is even greater when Australia hosts the season opener, and F1 actually takes over the city throughout race week in a approach it does in few different cities. It is vital to protect conventional street programs, nevertheless it’s additionally not onerous to see why Liberty Media is eager on these vacation spot cities. The secret is discovering the suitable steadiness.
Stuart Codling – Austin hits the suitable notes
Out of city however shut sufficient for that to not be an issue, COTA has a definite sense of place in addition to being in shut proximity to Austin’s enjoyable and bohemian metropolis. There’s most likely a contact of recency bias in me inserting it above Melbourne since I haven’t attended the Australian GP in ages.
One hallmark of Bernie Ecclestone’s reign was the migration in the direction of white-elephant venues miles from anyplace. But when System 1 actually desires to develop its viewers, it must embrace the nice world cities: that approach attending a grand prix can change into a part of a vacation and have a broader attraction. The Mexico GP is a good instance of a vacation spot race in a spot which is fascinating to go to.
Melbourne’s Albert Park is an immediate favorite for many people who find themselves fortunate to attend the Australian Grand Prix
Picture by: Glenn Dunbar / Motorsport Photographs
Ronald Vording – Why I am having fun with the US races
I’m the one one with two American cities in my prime three, and I really feel that requires some (or possibly a whole lot of) clarification. I admit: when it comes to pure F1 experiences and with an old-school racing coronary heart, these venues definitely don’t belong on the prime. However in terms of the broader area, I personally love spending some further time in Florida, exploring the Florida Keys, or to go mountain climbing within the nationwide parks of California and Nevada – or certainly, even the Grand Canyon. It makes these locations value visiting, identical to Japan, due to a few further days in Tokyo, or Singapore, because of the versatility of that metropolis.
However this a part of the rating might be probably the most tough one as a result of what about Budapest, Baku or Austria? If the previous few years have taught me something, it is that each one F1 locations (nicely, virtually all…) have their very own allure.
Jake Boxall-Legge – Everyone loves Melbourne
This was the best to choose – everyone loves Melbourne; a metropolis of sport, tradition, nice espresso, and wonderful individuals. The circuit’s location in the midst of town makes travelling to work a pleasure, with walks via Albert Park en route. And, for the reason that timetable is usually amenable to these on the monitor, there are possibilities to benefit from the metropolis’s choices of reside leisure and stellar culinary choices at evening.
Suzuka can also be enjoyable; since it is a lengthy journey out, it is wise to go a couple of days early to discover Tokyo or Osaka earlier than shinkansen-ing it to Nagoya. Singapore and Montreal had been excessive on my listing too, largely for food-based causes; each journeys I ready for by watching the respective episodes of Anthony Bourdain’s The Layover. Montreal’s yearly visitors nonsense simply put it behind Singapore. Plus, one wants to present a shout out to Budapest too – go for the race, keep for the plethora of eating places and palatial structure.
4. Circuit amenities
Our fourth class is the circuit’s amenities. How fulfilling is it to spend time, watch the motion and work on the race monitor? Is it simple to get out and in? A transparent pattern emerges by which F1’s latest venues are leaving Europe’s heartland within the mud…
Filip Cleeren – Pink Bull Ring is a European oasis It is a rating from a journalist’s perspective, so you may must indulge is for valuing creature comforts like a spacious and conveniently situated media centre that really overlooks the primary straight. That was a given, however the media are progressively being elbowed out to make room for VIP areas. On a European continent that usually lags behind the flyaway races, Spielberg’s spectacular Pink Bull Ring is a welcome oasis. Austin is second on account of its glorious all-round amenities, whereas I am a giant fan of having the ability to stroll into the circuit in Singapore. Oleg Karpov – Austria is in a league of its personal Hermann Tilke and his firm could get some criticism for monitor designs – as a rule, utterly unjustified, in my humble opinion – however the Aachen agency positively is aware of the right way to maintain circuit infrastructure. And the amenities at fashionable tracks are only a night-and-day distinction in comparison with the nice previous Barcelonas and Spas, though among the historic tracks have been refurbished in recent times – and the brand new pit buildings at Silverstone or the latest one on the Hungaroring are positively nice. Nonetheless, the luxurious situations on the likes of Abu Dhabi or Qatar beat refurbished historic tracks.
However even in that class, the Pink Bull Ring is sort of in a league of its personal – with journalists’ opinions most likely being biased just because the media centre on the Austrian monitor is a paradise, with a huge panoramic view of the complete monitor from a wonderful working house. Jake Boxall-Legge – That is the place the Center Jap races shine
Though there are professional criticisms to be made in regards to the worth of among the Center Jap circuits – though these may be carried over in the direction of many different venues on the F1 calendar – one can’t deny that the amenities are usually nice.
Bahrain kicked off the high-spend infrastructure with a giant paddock and a villa for every crew, however I believe Abu Dhabi tweaked it barely extra efficiently. The huge screens imply you need not injure your neck to lookup for 2 hours, the media centre is correct within the thick of the paddock, there is a harbour for quiet contemplation, and the groups can all keep subsequent to the monitor as Yas Island hosts a plethora of resorts.
Most flyaway races rating excessive marks for his or her amenities whereas many European rounds wrestle to maintain up.
Picture by: Andrew Ferraro / LAT Photographs by way of Getty Photographs
Stuart Codling – Austin edges Mexico I see Jake has joined Oleg’s glue-sniffing membership in placing Abu Dhabi prime of this listing! Yearly it feels as if this venue is internet hosting a grand prix for the primary time, such is the litany of rookie errors. You’ll be able to’t even get to the place the place you’re supposed to choose up your credentials with out being screamed at by a safety guard. I’ll cross, thanks.
I’m not wedded to the necessity for a giant window within the media centre overlooking the primary straight, therefore I charge Austin and Mexico above a number of venues which have higher views. Each are super-convenient for paddock entry, provide convivial environments, and serve up glorious native delicacies (these of vegetarian persuasion could take a unique view).
In earlier years Mexico would have ranked above Austin for me on account of its superior espresso providing, however in 2025 they dropped the baristas in favour of three machines, solely considered one of which was working at any given time. Sure, sure, first world issues…
Our general prime 10
Rating
Race
1
Spielberg
2
Suzuka
3
Silverstone
4
Sao Paulo
5
Monza
6
Melbourne
7
Bahrain
8
Austin
9
Spa
10=
Mexico
10=
Singapore
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