Hermann Tilke discusses the highs and lows of circuit design

Legendary Formula One circuit designer Hermann Tilke has provided an insight as to how he and his team go about structuring courses to make them as exciting as possible for the viewers, but insists that it is impossible to make everyone happy with the designs.

His company, based in Aachen, Germany, are responsible for the design of more than 70 tracks around the world in various motorsport disciplines, but even though he is one of the most prestigious circuit designers of all time, he thinks it is impossible to please everyone.

“It is easy to criticise, and impossible to make anything 100% right,” Tilke told the Scotsman.

“There is always a reason for what we do, and the budget is always one of the limiting factors. I’ve had people say: ‘Why can’t you make the straight 100m longer?’ Because we don’t own the land!”

The German insists that the opinion of drivers is important when designing circuits, but surprisingly commented that Formula One would be more exciting if amateur drivers were in place instead of professionals.

“Of course, we talk to them,” he says of drivers.

“The problem is always that we try to make a track difficult for drivers, but we have the best drivers in the world, and in Formula 1 the best technology.

“There are three elements to the racing – the car, the driver and the track – and two of those are close to perfect. If you gave the Formula 1 cars to amateurs, you’d have more exciting races.”

Some figures in the sport have queried whether drivers should be punished more heavily when they go off-track by reintroducing gravel at the side of the regulation track rather than smooth asphalt, but Tilke has shot down this idea, saying it makes financial and safety sense for the cars to have a smooth transition.

“Asphalt is safer, for cars at least,” the 63-year-old continued.

“You can shorten run-off by a third compared with gravel, and when a spins, it stops very quickly. If a car goes into gravel at high speed, they can skip over it and you don’t slow down when you’re flying.

“But if you have a private track day and somebody goes off in their Porsche or AMG, then they are likely to be paying for new parts. €7000 is an expensive spin.”

Finally, Tilke insists that he is still a fan of F1, and likes to see two compatriots do well in the championship.

“I’m an absolute fan. I always will be. I’m an international guy – I always say I’m a German by accident – but I still like the two German drivers, Sebastian [Vettel] and Nico [Hu?lkenberg]. I hope they do well.”