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The new F1 regulations are supposed to bunch up the field in terms of performance and make the cars easier to follow. In essence, changes have been introduced to improve racing and the show for the fans.
Even if these new changes don't work, there are still tracks on the calendar that never disappoint when it comes to action, racing, and even the basic challenge of driving a Formula 1 car. In this piece, we rank the top 5 tracks on the calendar that produce great racing regardless of the regulations.
#5 Baku City Circuit – F1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix
The Azerbaijan GP has been a surprise success ever since its inception. The first glimpse of the track layout does not appear conducive to great racing. Over the years, though, it has turned out to be a gem on the calendar, with Baku hosting some of the most memorable races every season.
Be it the race in 2017 when Daniel Ricciardo stormed through the field to win it or the race in 2021 when Lewis Hamilton overshot the red flag restart and floundered a certain podium, the entertainment quotient of the track is pretty high.
The track, with its long straights, provides a great opportunity for overtakes, while at the same time, the proximity of walls leaves no margin for error. The track has been a welcome addition to the calendar and has proved its worth time and again.
#4 Circuit Gilles Villenueve – F1 Canadian Grand Prix
A high-speed street circuit is how Circuit Gilles Villeneuve should be described. A valuable part of the F1 calendar since 1978, the circuit has produced some fantastic races. The track is conducive to some great racing and the unpredictable weather too adds to the drama.
It was home to one of the best races ever in F1 in 2011 when Jenson Button came back from the last position to win the race on the final lap. The circuit has been missing for the last two seasons with the COVID-19 restrictions. This season, however, if it all works out, we should see the F1 circus make its customary stop in Canada.
#3 Silverstone Circuit – F1 British Grand Prix
For anyone who saw the British GP last season, the battle between Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton will be imprinted in their minds. The first lap battle between the two championship contenders was a testimony to the track's characteristics that make it conducive for wheel-to-wheel battles.
The Silverstone circuit has been part of the F1 calendar since the inception of the sport. It has played venue to some of the best battles of all time, like the one between Michael Schumacher and Damon Hill (1995), or between Lewis Hamilton and Kimi Raikkonen (2007), and of course, between Sebastian Vettel and Fernando Alonso (2014). The track has some of the best atmospheres you'd see in any race all year and this is what makes Silverstone stand out on the sport's calendar.
#2 Autódromo José Carlos Pace – F1 Brazilian Grand Prix
The 2021 Brazilian GP featured one of the best drives through the field as Lewis Hamilton went through the entire field during the sprint race and the Grand Prix to finally snatch the win from Max Verstappen. Last year's race was just one of the many races where the track at Sao Paulo has a sensational race.
The track's high altitude, its undulating nature, and its demand on both the engine and aero side make the track one of the favorites for many drivers. After witnessing races like the one in 2019 or the one in 2016, it's hard not to rank the track in Sao Paulo as one of the best on the sport's calendar.
#1 Spa Francorchamps – F1 Belgian Grand Prix
One of the most disappointing outcomes of the 2021 season was the suspended race at Spa. With excessive rain and potentially unsafe conditions, the race was considered unsafe to start. What this did, however, was rob fans of potentially the best race of the season.
Barring last year's event, Spa has been home to some of the best wheel-to-wheel action of all time. Be it the race-long battle between Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton in 2017 and 2018, or be it the overtake of the century by Mika Hakkinen on Michael Schumacher, the circuit produces great wheel-to-wheel battles all the time.
One of the most picturesque circuits on the calendar, it has been hosting F1 races since the very beginning of the sport and is famous for its Eau Rouge corner (the fastest in the sport's history). The track has been made their own by some of the elites like Michael Schumacher, Kimi Raikkonen and Sebastian Vettel in the past. Spa is a track that separates the men from the boys, which is why it ranks very high amongst fans and drivers alike, across the globe.
