Top 10 greatest circuits in Formula 1 history

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Top 10 greatest circuits in Formula 1 history

From Spa to Silverstone, GPFans ranks the best F1 tracks in the sport's storied history

Ian Parkes & Sam Hall

Wednesday 20 January 2021 12:30 Updated: 23:48

There are over 70 circuits have hosted a Formula 1 grands prix, and there is a considerable split in the opinion between fans over which are the best. Silverstone? Spa? Suzuka? Everyone has a personal favourite and it's an issue that will be debated forever.

But that won't stop us trying. GPFans writers Sam Hall and Ian Parkes put their heads together and came up with their own ultimate top 10.

In creating this list, we took into account the following criteria:

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1) The number of iconic moments seen at a circuit, 2) The history of the track, 3) The level of challenge that a venue presents to the driver.

Without further ado, here we go. Disagree? Let us know!

10. Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Montreal, Canada

If ever there was proof a circuit does not require a modern-day mix of corners of varying degrees and speeds to produce thrilling racing, then the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve is it.

Named after Canada's racing hero, who spent six seasons with Ferrari and who was tragically killed during qualifying for the 1982 Belgian Grand Prix at Zolder at the age of 32, the track is set on semi-permanent roads on the Île Notre-Dame in the middle of the St Lawrence Seaway.

Home to the Canadian Grand Prix since 1978, the simple design features a hairpin, two decent straights, a couple of sharp turns and a chicane that has become home to the 'Wall of Champions' where many famous names have ended up crashing.

Jean Alesi en route to his only F1 victory - Canada '95

9. The Circuit of the Americas, Austin, United States

The Circuit of the Americas is the newest track to figure on this list by some distance. First on the Formula 1 calendar in 2012, the Texan venue may not have the history of many of its predecessors, but it features due to the pure driving challenge it presents.

Borrowing heavily from Suzuka, Istanbul, Silverstone and others, the steep 133-foot climb from the grid into turn one is something that is truly unique to COTA.

Race starts are often chaotic as a result of the extremely late braking the climb allows for, and the sharp turn-11 hairpin onto a kilometre-long back straight, again ending with a heavy braking zone, ensure that overtaking never comes at a premium.

Hamilton leads the charge up to turn one

8. Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari, Imola, Italy

Named after Ferrari's founder and his son, but more accustomed to simply being known as Imola due to its proximity to the Italian town. Although racing was first staged in 1953, it was not until 1980 that F1 paid a visit.

The circuit initially staged the Italian Grand Prix that year, but after that race returned to its spiritual Monza home, Imola became the venue for the San Marino Grand Prix from 1981 until 2006.

The high-speed nature of the track made it a favourite, but its renowned Tamburello curve drew infamy due to the number of incidents and ultimately led to tragedy with the death in 1994 of Ayrton Senna.

Senna leads the 1986 San Marino Grand Prix

7. Hockenheim (1970-2001), Germany

Hockenheim first hosted the German Grand Prix in 1970 before becoming the regular event venue in 1977.

Although many will regard the 2019 German Grand Prix as one of the most entertaining races F1 has ever seen, it is the older version of the circuit that features on this list.

Cars would scream through from the stadium section into the forest, with drivers able to max their cars on the long straight punctured only by three tricky chicanes. This was Germany’s answer to Monza, and it was every bit as iconic as it’s Italian counterpart.

Jochen Rindt leading Clay Regazzoni at Hockenheim in 1970

6. Silverstone (1997-2009), United Kingdom

The Northamptonshire venue has undergone numerous transformations over the years, but it is the one that was reprofiled in 1997 and ran to 3.194miles (5.14km), with Copse and Priory altered to make them quicker, that gets our vote here.

Silverstone has always been a mecca for motorsports fans, from its days after being transformed from an old airfield base, right up to the present day and its attraction of around 350,000 fans across the three days of a race weekend.

The Maggotts-Becketts-Chapel complex of sweeping bends, leading into the Hangar Straight and on into Stowe are long-held favourites with virtually every driver. Its current guise, from 2010, is still exciting, but arguably not as enjoyable for the drivers.