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Top 10 Legendary F1 Circuits

By Philippe Laguë

Mythical for their history and age, for the feats that have taken place there, for the tragedies and dramatic events that have unfolded on their grounds, these ten circuits deserve their place in the F1 Pantheon.

1. Nürburgring

“When a driver tells you he’s not afraid of the Ring, there are two possibilities: he’s lying or he’s not going fast enough to understand what the Ring is.” – Jackie Stewart

When it comes to legendary motorsport circuits, there’s the Nürburgring… and then there are the others. A standard measure for assessing a driver’s talent and courage, the Ring has its Ringmeisters, a term that refers to those who master it best. Among them are Alberto Ascari, Juan Manuel Fangio, and Jackie Stewart, a three-time winner of the German GP. Three other drivers have won twice: Tony Brooks, John Surtees, and Jacky Ickx. Its distinctive feature is its extraordinary length: the northern section, the famous Nordschleife, where the Grand Prix was held, is almost 23 kilometers long and has 176 turns! The circuit takes its name from the Nuremberg castle located near the Eiffel mountains. The immortal Fangio marked the greatest victory of his career in 1957, after a comeback, breaking the lap record several times, even surpassing the time that earned him pole! The Ring has also seen many tragedies: five drivers died during the German GP, but it is especially the terrible accident of Niki Lauda, recounted in the film Rush, that captures the imagination. In a cruel irony, the sporting authorities, deeming the circuit too dangerous, decided at the beginning of the 1976 season to replace it with Hockenheim starting the following season… A new configuration of the Nürburgring, shorter and more compliant with modern safety standards, was inaugurated in 1984 for several Grand Prix. However, the Nordschleife is still used by both amateur drivers and car manufacturers eager to prove the effectiveness of their models. How the Ring remains, after 90 years of existence, THE reference.

2.

**Monaco

“Driving in Monaco is like riding a bike in an apartment” – Nelson Piquet

Like the Nürburgring, the Monaco circuit dates back to the 1920s and serves as a benchmark for measuring talent. The comparison ends here: while the German circuit is known for its vastness, the Principality is known for its narrowness. The race takes place on the streets of the city, not on a permanent circuit. This makes Monaco the slowest circuit, but also one of the heaviest, as it is lined with walls and rails that require ultra-precise control. Atypical, if anachronistic: if it still features on the calendar, it is primarily a matter of tradition. Also prestigious: a victory in Monaco has added value. With a few exceptions (including Piquet, who hates it), it is THE Grand Prix that every driver dreams of winning, especially since many of them “play at home,” having chosen the Principality as their residence. When the Nürburgring has its Ringmeisters, Monaco also has its masters: Ayrton Senna leads with six triumphs over Graham Hill and Michael Schumacher, tied with five. The Brazilian should have had two more: in 1984, his irresistible rise was interrupted by the controversial decision of race director Jacky Ickx to stop the race on the 31st of 78 laps due to torrential rain; in 1988, he suffered one of his rare 11 laps at the end while leading comfortably. Another peculiarity of Monaco is that it is the only Grand Prix where drivers have been saved by… frogs! Alberto Ascari, in 1954, and Paul Hawkins, in 1965, submerged in the waters of the harbor. Its narrowness makes overtaking risky (understatement!), Monaco is less conducive to epic comebacks than other tracks. Conversely, the streets of the Principality have been the scene of several bizarre Grand Prix events, some linked to an elimination race: only four drivers finished the race in 1966; three in 1996… Gilles Villeneuve’s victory in 1981 is also legendary: no one else could have won with a single seat so incompatible with the Monaco twisty track. That day, the Quebec driver showcased the full extent of his talent, with a true exercise in balance. Indeed, three drivers have won their only Grand Prix in Monaco: Jean-Pierre Beltoise, Olivier Panis, and Jarno Trulli.

3. Spa-Francorchamps

“(Spa) separates men from boys” – Dan Gurney

From the Monaco twisties to the rollercoaster of the Ardennes, we are in completely different worlds: Spa is a speed circuit, very popular among drivers. The old track also had its detractors: Jackie Stewart, who had his worst accident in 1966, and his compatriot Jim Clark. Despite this aversion, Clark won four years in a row! Spa-Francorchamps, designed in 1921, is the oldest of the “historic” F1 circuits. The original route was nearly 15 kilometers long, just over double the current circuit. Mexican Pedro Rodriguez won the last Grand Prix on the old configuration in 1970. The Belgian Grand Prix then moved to Nivelles, then to Zolder, before returning to Spa in 1983. Michael Schumacher holds the record with six victories, one more than Senna and two more than Clark and Raikkonen. Spa is also one of the few tracks in modern F1 located in the countryside, bordered by trees and hills, providing beautiful images for television. Another classic example of the Belgian circuit is that it can be sunny on one side of the track and raining on the other. And you can’t talk about Spa without mentioning the Eau Rouge Raidillon, a section where the size of the drivers’ testicles is often discussed when they go through without lifting their feet… Some end up in the barriers twice, like Jacques Villeneuve (1998 and 1999). In Villeneuve’s defense, it should also be noted that in 1996 he secured a convincing pole position on the same circuit.

4. Monza

Built in 1922, the Autodrome of Monza remains the fastest track in the F1 championship. Unlike Spa-Francorchamps, which is more demanding in terms of driving and setup, Monza has only one reason for existence: pure speed. This largely explains the heavy toll: 52 drivers (car and motorcycle) have died there. Accidents have not spared spectators: 23 lost their lives in the Emilio Materassi accident in 1928 and 14 in the Wolfgang Von Trips accident in 1961, while other great F1 drivers have died at Monza: Alberto Ascari (1955), Jochen Rindt (1970), and Ronnie Peterson (1978). The first 10-kilometer-long course consisted of two circuits: a 5.5 km road and a 4.5 km oval track with banked turns. It was no longer used after 1962, but it can be seen in “Grand Prix,” a cult film by John Frankenheimer, which takes place in 1966. Monza is also the stronghold of the tifosi, the famous Ferrari fans, responsible for the crowded atmosphere that reigns there. If a Scuderia driver wins at Monza, it’s the pinnacle, nothing less! Even more so if the winner is Italian, like Ascari, who won twice (1951 and 1952), Scarfiotti (1966), or the charismatic Clay Regazzoni, a Swiss of Italian descent, also a double winner (1970 and 1975). However, it is the German Michael Schumacher who holds the record at Monza with five victories throughout his Ferrari career.

5. Silverstone

Like Monaco, Spa, and Monza, Silverstone was one of the circuits of the opening season of modern F1 in 1950 and had the honor of hosting the first race of the championship. Located on a former Royal Air Force (RAF) base, it has been the venue for the British Grand Prix since 1987, after years of alternating with Aintree and Brands Hatch circuits. Ungrateful changes over the years to make it safer, Silverstone only gives Monza the title of the fastest track in F1. Fans and connoisseurs, British fans have been spoiled by their drivers: Lewis Hamilton has crossed the finish line four times; Nigel Mansell and Jim Clark three times. It is worth noting that the Scots have also won the British Grand Prix twice: at Aintree (1962) and Brands Hatch (1964), while Mansell also won the British Grand Prix in 1986. He is the king of Silverstone, with five victories.

6. Brands Hatch

Between 1963 and 1987, the beautiful Brands Hatch circuit hosted the British Grand Prix, alternating with Silverstone. And it was a Brit, Nigel Mansell, who was the last winner of an F1 race at Brands Hatch in 1986. That same year, a serious accident involving four drivers, including Frenchman Jacques Laffite, raised questions about the safety of this circuit, considered outdated. The accident ended Laffite’s career and the arrival of F1 at Brands Hatch. Previously, Swiss Jo Siffert died there in 1971 during a non-championship race featuring F1 and F5000 singles. In a sad irony, Siffert had won his first Grand Prix three years earlier on the same track.

7. Watkins Glen

Contrary to popular belief, the first F1 races on American soil did not take place on the famous Watkins Glen circuit in New York. The first American Grand Prix, won by Bruce McLaren, took place at Sebring in 1959, and the following year, the California circuit Riverside hosted the Grand Prix (victory for Stirling Moss). The great era of “the Glen” began in 1961 and remained uninterrupted until 1980, but it is worth noting that starting in 1976, two Grand Prix were held in the United States: Watkins Glen, New York and Long Beach, California. The former was renamed American East GP and the latter American West GP. It was a great moment for F1 in North America: Canada also had its Grand Prix, with its American (Mario Andretti) and Canadian (Gilles Villeneuve) drivers participating in the championship, as well as American (Shadow, Parnelli, Penske) and Canadian (Wolf) teams. Watkins Glen was also the stage for firsts: Innes Ireland, Jochen Rindt, Emerson Fittipaldi, and François Cevert won their first Grand Prix — the first three on Lotus. It is a fertile ground for the British team, which triumphed seven times at the Glen. Gilles Villeneuve also scored a victory in 1979, eclipsing all his rivals in the rain. Death does not spare “The Glen”: among F1 drivers, François Cevert died in 1973, two years after winning his only victory (the accident is mentioned in the film Rush). The following year, Austrian Helmut Koinigg met a tragic end on the same track during his second F1 start.

8. Imola

The Dino and Enzo Ferrari Autodrome in Imola hosted the Italian Grand Prix for the first time in 1980 and would also be the only one since the race was renamed the San Marino Grand Prix the following year, with the National Grand Prix returning to Monza. Italy won two Grand Prix until 2006. With seven victories, Michael Schumacher is the undisputed king of Imola, especially since six of them were won driving a Ferrari. Imola is also synonymous with controversy: in 1982, stronger than a crisis that divided F1 into two clans (FOCA and FISA), the Grand Prix was boycotted by some teams. The race still took place, but it was marked by the incident involving the two Ferrari drivers, Gilles Villeneuve and Didier Pironi, the former accusing the latter of not respecting team orders and stealing the victory. This was the last race for the Quebec driver who, with rage in his heart, died during the next GP qualifying in Belgium. The Tamburello curve was the scene of two dramas: the terrible accident of Gerhard Berger, from which he miraculously emerged alive in 1989, a tragic precursor to Ayrton Senna five years later. The “Black Weekend” of Imola, characterized by several incidents, continues with history: Roland Ratzenberger dies during qualifying and Senna the next day during the race. Rubens Barrichello, on the other hand, comes close to death when his car literally flies off. This fatal Grand Prix is an indelible stain in the history of F1, which lost two drivers, including one of the greatest, and in the history of the Imola circuit, now inextricably linked to these tragedies.

9. Interlagos

If you associate Brazil with samba and football, you should not forget Formula 1. This country is a great breeding ground for drivers and has given F1 some of its greatest champions. Among them are Emerson Fittipaldi, Nelson Piquet, and Ayrton Senna, who alone have eight world championships. Due to its position on the calendar, the Brazilian GP often plays a decisive role: from 1972 to 2003, it was one of the first races of the calendar and thus served as a barometer; since 2004, it has been held at the end of the season, sometimes awarding the championship. Regardless of its position on the calendar, it is often the stage for moments, especially when a Brazilian driver is victorious: Fittipaldi won two years in a row (1973 and 1974), Carlos Pace in 1975, Piquet in 1983 and 1986, Senna in 1991 and 1993, Felipe Massa in 2006 and 2008. Massa’s second victory in 2008 was probably the most heartfelt in F1 history: he was world champion for a few seconds until Lewis Hamilton managed to catch Timo Glock in the last corner. The Brit won the championship by a point… The record for victories at the Brazilian Grand Prix belongs to Frenchman Alain Prost (6), Argentine Carlos Reutemann, and German Michael Schumacher, tied with 4.

10.

**Montreal

Before accusing us of chauvinism, the Canadian Grand Prix celebrates its 50th anniversary, making it one of the oldest races on the calendar. The first Grand Prix was held at the Ontario Mosport circuit in 1967, the year of the centenary of Canadian Confederation. The first four Grand Prix were held alternately with the Mont-Tremblant circuit, but starting in 1971, Mosport retained its exclusivity. The Canadian Grand Prix celebrated its 10th anniversary with a historic victory: Jody Scheckter triumphed in a Canadian single-seater. Although based in England, Wolf is owned by an Austrian Canadian, Walter Wolf, and the car bears the Canadian flag. A Quebec driver, Gilles Villeneuve, competed in the same Grand Prix in a Ferrari, replacing Niki Lauda, who left before the end of the season (with the championship in hand). The following season, the “little boy from Berthierville” became the first Canadian to race a full F1 season and, most importantly, the first to win his national Grand Prix on home soil in Montreal, where the race is now held. The Notre-Dame Island circuit was renamed Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve a few weeks after his tragic death. The venue for the Canadian GP for nearly 40 years, this circuit has hosted races that are sometimes spectacular, sometimes unusual, or both. Frenchman Jacques Laffite won the last Grand Prix of his career in Montreal in 1981 and Daniel Ricciardo his first in 2014, while Frenchman Jean Alessio and Pole Robert Kubica won their only Grand Prix in Montreal. Michael Schumacher holds the record for the Canadian GP with seven victories, two more than Lewis Hamilton.

Source: antoine-le-pilote.com

The best F1 circuits