The System 1 calendar is as massive because it’s ever been with 24 circuits to go to for drivers, workforce employees and media – the place nobody monitor is identical.
So for a little bit of low season enjoyable, we have now rated all present venues – besides Madrid, which is because of debut this yr – primarily based on 4 standards: format, historical past/environment, location and amenities.
Commercial
Here’s what our F1 writers stated, having judged every monitor primarily based on the whole expertise.
1. Greatest circuit format
The primary, and maybe most tough one to evaluate, is the format itself. Does the circuit present nice racing, or is it not less than one among F1’s most difficult tracks which places driver ability to the final word check? As we have now seen in recent times, these two goals do not all the time align with one another. However by judging every circuit on each, we have now come to a balanced end result.
Oleg Karpov
Stuart Codling
Jake Boxall-Legge
Ronald Vording
Filip Cleeren
Roberto Chinchero
General prime 10
1
Bahrain
Spa
Spielberg
Silverstone
Sao Paulo
Spa
Silverstone
2
Spielberg
Silverstone
Montreal
Spa
Monza
Suzuka
Sao Paulo
3
Montreal
Sao Paulo
Sao Paulo
Sao Paulo
Suzuka
Silverstone
Spa
4
Baku
Montreal
Silverstone
Suzuka
Spa
Austin
Spielberg
5
Sao Paulo
Austin
Monza
Spielberg
Silverstone
Monza
Montreal
6
Silverstone
Bahrain
Melbourne
Austin
Spielberg
Montreal
Suzuka
7
Shanghai
Monza
Austin
Bahrain
Montreal
Spielberg
Monza
8
Suzuka
Shanghai
Bahrain
Monza
Austin
Sao Paulo
Austin
9
Melbourne
Zandvoort
Suzuka
Shanghai
Zandvoort
Baku
Bahrain
10
Austin
Spielberg
Budapest
Montreal
Las Vegas
Shanghai
Shanghai
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 turn out to be lots rarer in modern-day F1, largely all the way down to the automobiles. Sao Paulo’s Interlagos circuit is one of some that manages to do each, because of its bowl-shaped design that options loads of camber, making a number of racing strains potential. Add in an extended essential straight and a sprinkle of rain, the tip consequence gives an entertaining cocktail that seldom disappoints – lengthy could it proceed!
Commercial
Monza is an in depth second and though Suzuka’s racing is not nice, I felt the format 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 go away Bahrain out of my prime 10, although I am going to 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 not truthfully rank circuits primarily based on how pleasant they’re to drive – like about 99.9 % of the world’s inhabitants. For me, what issues much more is whether or not a monitor gives good racing to look at. And, coincidence or not, the easier the format, the higher the racing. I assure that if F1 raced on the Norisring, these can be one of the best races you’d ever see.
Commercial
Chicanes and hairpins after lengthy straights, a number of overtaking alternatives across the lap, and the chance to relaunch assaults are easy, however very environment friendly instruments to offer a superb spectacle. For me, on this class nothing beats the Bahrain Worldwide Circuit, the place the entire first sector gives an ideal area for correct wheel-to-wheel battles, with totally different strains and alternatives to retake the place. Austria is comparable in that regard, and Canada, with its well-known hairpin and lengthy again straight, can also be an incredible place for good racing.
Does Bahrain deserve extra credit score for the racing it gives?
Does Bahrain deserve extra credit score for the racing it gives?
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 actually 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.
Commercial
Majestic Spa-Francorchamps doesn’t all the time ship, but it surely does so typically sufficient – often 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 outdated airfield in the course 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 format is a bit ho-hum but it surely has a method of constructing issues occur.
Bahrain has a compact, intelligent format, 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 will need to have been sniffing glue earlier than inserting it at primary…! Ronald Vording – Silverstone ticks each bins An iconic format and good racing have confirmed to be two (fully) various things, particularly with the soiled air issues that we have now seen in 2025. Silverstone, nonetheless, ticks each bins: the venue of F1’s first world championship race stays iconic and has produced loads of good races in latest historical past.
Commercial
The identical applies to Sao Paulo, whereas Spa-Francorchamps and Suzuka ought to, in my view, nonetheless rank very extremely primarily based on their spectacular layouts. Lastly, the other is true for Bahrain: not an iconic format as such, but it surely 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 must be valued. On the identical time, a few of F1’s newer races have additionally supplied an incredible vibe and fan expertise to turn out to be prompt classics, so the 2 can and may coexist.
Oleg Karpov
Stuart Codling
Jake Boxall-Legge
Ronald Vording
Filip Cleeren
Roberto Chinchero
General prime 10
1
Monza
Monza
Suzuka
Suzuka
Sao Paulo
Monza
Monza
2
Spielberg
Sao Paulo
Monza
Monaco
Suzuka
Suzuka
Sao Paulo
3
Melbourne
Spa
Spa
Monza
Monza
Monza
Suzuka
4
Monaco
Zandvoort
Sao Paulo
Silverstone
Mexico
Mexico
Spa
5
Mexico
Mexico
Mexico
Spa
Silverstone
Silverstone
Mexico
6
Sao Paulo
Suzuka
Silverstone
Sao Paulo
Melbourne
Melbourne
Silverstone
7
Zandvoort
Silverstone
Zandvoort
Zandvoort
Spa
Spa
Zandvoort
8
Silverstone
Melbourne
Spielberg
Mexico
Zandvoort
Zandvoort
Melbourne
9
Spa
Austin
Melbourne
Montreal
Austin
Austin
Monaco
10
Miami
Montreal
Monaco
Budapest
Spielberg
Spielberg
Spielberg
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 actually distinctive. Then there may be the music-festival environment of Zandvoort or Silverstone, and the craziness of the Mexican GP paddock.
Commercial
All of those races are distinctive and in contrast to any others, and it’s a bloody tough job to rank them. However to me, nothing beats the Italian GP, with the appeal of the Parco di Monza and the fervour of the tifosi, with Austria proper up there as nicely – a spot that has turn out to be fully 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
When it comes to expertise and fan enthusiasm, Japan is unmatched for me. The followers are extraordinarily respectful and gown up in probably the most artistic methods. It’s an expertise in its personal proper. Elsewhere, you’ll be able to 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’ll be able to 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.
Commercial
The Tifosi rejoice through the Podium Ceremony
The Tifosi rejoice through the Podium Ceremony
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 aspect. It’s an completely magnificent venue.
Commercial
Ambiance should be inclusive, which is why I left Austria out of my prime 10 on account of safeguarding points and common boorishness in latest 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 price 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 a complete, fairly than only one workforce or driver. Even security automobile driver Bernd Maylander will get a banner.
Commercial
Additional down my order, Spa-Francorchamps is a well-liked pilgrimage for followers everywhere in 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?
Oleg Karpov
Stuart Codling
Jake Boxall-Legge
Ronald Vording
Filip Cleeren
Roberto Chinchero
General prime 10
1
Spielberg
Austin
Melbourne
Miami
Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne
2
Monza
Melbourne
Suzuka
Monaco
Sao Paulo
Montreal
Singapore
3
Melbourne
Mexico
Singapore
Las Vegas
Singapore
Suzuka
Suzuka
4
Sao Paulo
Montreal
Montreal
Singapore
Suzuka
Spielberg
Sao Paulo
5
Mexico
Singapore
Sao Paulo
Suzuka
Mexico
Budapest
Montreal
6
Singapore
Monza
Budapest
Budapest
Montreal
Austin
Mexico
7
Las Vegas
Monaco
Spielberg
Abu Dhabi
Barcelona
Miami
Spielberg
8
Miami
Spielberg
Silverstone
Baku
Spa
Abu Dhabi
Monza
9
Austin
Budapest
Monza
Montreal
Budapest
Bahrain
Austin
10
Baku
Suzuka
Baku
Spielberg
Austin
Barcelona
Miami
Filip Cleeren – Melbourne simply edges Sao Paulo and Singapore
We’re extraordinarily privileged to journey to a number of 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 life-style. I moved to Barcelona after attending a Spanish Grand Prix method again when, and of all the opposite locations on the checklist, Melbourne might be the opposite metropolis I might see myself relocate to.
Commercial
What additionally helps is that Albert Park is correct in the course of town, so followers can simply hop on the tram to get to the occasion. The thrill is even larger when Australia hosts the season opener, and F1 actually takes over the city throughout race week in a method it does in few different cities. It is necessary to protect conventional street programs, but it surely’s additionally not arduous to see why Liberty Media is eager on these vacation spot cities. The secret is discovering the proper steadiness.
Stuart Codling – Austin hits the proper 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 in all probability a contact of recency bias in me inserting it above Melbourne since I haven’t attended the Australian GP in ages.
Commercial
One hallmark of Bernie Ecclestone’s reign was the migration in direction of white-elephant venues miles from wherever. But when System 1 actually needs to develop its viewers, it must embrace the good world cities: that method attending a grand prix can turn out to be a part of a vacation and have a broader attraction. The Mexico GP is a superb instance of a vacation spot race in a spot which is fascinating to go to.
Melbourne’s Albert Park is an prompt favorite for many people who find themselves fortunate to attend the Australian Grand Prix
Melbourne’s Albert Park is an prompt favorite for many people who find themselves fortunate to attend the Australian Grand Prix
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 quite a lot of) rationalization. I admit: when it comes to pure F1 experiences and with an old-school racing coronary heart, these venues actually don’t belong on the prime. However in terms of the broader area, I personally love spending some additional 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 price visiting, similar to Japan, because of a few additional days in Tokyo, or Singapore, as a result of versatility of that metropolis.
Commercial
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 every one F1 locations (nicely, virtually all…) have their very own appeal.
Jake Boxall-Legge – Everyone loves Melbourne
This was the best to choose – all people loves Melbourne; a metropolis of sport, tradition, nice espresso, and beautiful individuals. The circuit’s location in the course of town makes travelling to work a pleasure, with walks via Albert Park en route. And, for the reason that timetable is mostly amenable to these on the monitor, there are possibilities to benefit from the metropolis’s choices of dwell leisure and stellar culinary choices at night time.
Commercial
Suzuka can also be enjoyable; since it is a lengthy journey out, it is smart to go just a few days early to discover Tokyo or Osaka earlier than shinkansen-ing it to Nagoya. Singapore and Montreal have been excessive on my checklist 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 pleasant is it to spend time, watch the motion and work on the race monitor? Is it simple to get out and in? A transparent development emerges wherein F1’s latest venues are leaving Europe’s heartland within the mud…
Oleg Karpov
Stuart Codling
Jake Boxall-Legge
Ronald Vording
Filip Cleeren
Roberto Chinchero
General prime 10
1
Spielberg
Austin
Abu Dhabi
Spielberg
Spielberg
Spielberg
Spielberg
2
Bahrain
Spielberg
Qatar
Bahrain
Austin
Melbourne
Bahrain
3
Abu Dhabi
Mexico
Bahrain
Austin
Singapore
Austin
Abu Dhabi
4
Baku
Bahrain
Miami
Abu Dhabi
Miami
Bahrain
Miami
5
Miami
Baku
Jeddah
Miami
Mexico
Silverstone
Austin
6
Qatar
Silverstone
Spielberg
Singapore
Abu Dhabi
Montreal
Singapore
7
Monaco
Singapore
Silverstone
Zandvoort
Silverstone
Singapore
Mexico
8
Shanghai
Miami
Melbourne
Shanghai
Melbourne
Budapest
Baku
9
Silverstone
Sao Paulo
Baku
Mexico
Bahrain
Abu Dhabi
Silverstone
10
Jeddah
Montreal
Budapest
Qatar
Baku
Barcelona
Qatar
Filip Cleeren – Purple Bull Ring is a European oasis This can be a rating from a journalist’s perspective, so you may need to indulge is for valuing creature comforts like a spacious and conveniently situated media centre that truly overlooks the primary straight. That was a given, however the media are step by step being elbowed out to make room for VIP areas. On a European continent that usually lags behind the flyaway races, Spielberg’s spectacular Purple Bull Ring is a welcome oasis. Austin is second as a result of its glorious all-round amenities, whereas I am an enormous 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, fully unjustified, in my humble opinion – however the Aachen agency undoubtedly is aware of how one can maintain circuit infrastructure. And the amenities at fashionable tracks are only a night-and-day distinction in comparison with the nice outdated Barcelonas and Spas, though a number of 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 undoubtedly nice. Nonetheless, the luxurious situations on the likes of Abu Dhabi or Qatar beat refurbished historic tracks.
Commercial
However even in that class, the Purple Bull Ring is sort of in a league of its personal – with journalists’ opinions in all probability being biased just because the media centre on the Austrian monitor is a paradise, with a big panoramic view of the whole monitor from a wonderful working house. Jake Boxall-Legge – That is the place the Center Japanese races shine
Though there are respectable criticisms to be made concerning the worth of a number of the Center Japanese circuits – though these may be carried over in direction of many different venues on the F1 calendar – one can not deny that the amenities are usually nice.
Bahrain kicked off the high-spend infrastructure with an enormous paddock and a villa for every workforce, however I feel Abu Dhabi tweaked it barely extra efficiently. The large 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 inns.
Commercial
Most flyaway races rating excessive marks for his or her amenities whereas many European rounds battle to maintain up.
Most flyaway races rating excessive marks for his or her amenities whereas many European rounds battle to maintain up.
Stuart Codling – Austin edges Mexico I see Jake has joined Oleg’s glue-sniffing membership in placing Abu Dhabi prime of this checklist! 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 possibly can’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 go, thanks.
Commercial
I’m not wedded to the necessity for an enormous 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, supply 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 one among 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
To learn extra Motorsport.com articles .
