F1: 5 Best Street Circuits of all time
Street circuits are a type of track which divides fan opinion but have become more numerous in recent seasons. Some fans dislike the lack of overtaking and general low speeds of street tracks, while others love the close racing and the lack of a margin for error. The cities in which the street circuits are located also provide mesmeric backdrops to the on-track action. Currently, five Grands Prix take place at street circuits, just under a quarter of the 2019 calendar, and there have been plenty more in the past too. Here are the five best Formula 1 street circuits of all time.
#5 - Long Beach
Formula 1 has had a difficult history in the United States, but one of the better circuits to host the US GP is Long Beach. Although the track is more famous for its IndyCar races these days, the Long Beach Street Circuit hosted eight F1 Grands Prix between 1976 and 1983 as the Western race of the USA. Los Angeles provided a fantastic backdrop to the race, but there was plenty of action on the low-grip road course to grab your attention.
The best race around the circuit was probably the final one in 1983, where John Watson won after starting in 23rd position, the lowest place that anyone has ever done so and a record that still stands to this day. Only 12 drivers finished a race that had a typically high rate of attrition for the time as Alain Prost, Keke Rosberg, Patrick Tambay and Nelson Piquet all suffered troubles during the Grand Prix. The tight walls and the bumpy surface made Long Beach a true challenge and it would be amazing to see F1 return to the track in the future. With there being strong rumours of a second American race in Formula 1, Long Beach could well find itself back on the calendar again.