Category: Formula 1

Esteban Ocon has admitted to making “mistakes” when he raced Force India Formula 1 team-mate Sergio Perez, with their rivalry generating several collisions.

Going into his first full season in Formula 1 after a nine-race stint at Manor, 20-year-old Ocon had a lot to prove in 2017. The Mercedes protege teamed up with Perez, who was a six-time podium finisher ahead of his seventh F1 campaign.

“Yeah, it was a lot of pressure,” Ocon admitted in F1’s latest Off The Grid video. “I was racing against someone very experienced, you know, Checo. He was a consistent scorer in the midfield – probably the most consistent.”

There was potential for decent results at Force India’s VJM10 was the fourth-quickest car overall, but several incidents cost the team a sizeable amount of points. Ocon squeezed Perez into the wall at Baku, where both cars were running in the top five; the Mexican likewise crammed the sister car towards the inside wall on the run down from La Source to Eau Rouge, on two separate occasions, at Spa-Francorchamps.

This prompted strong words from an upset Ocon, who told media after the race: “I don’t know if he wants to die or something. Today, we lost a lot of points. We took a lot of risk. We risk our lives for nothing and no reason.”

Drama occurred again in 2018, as a collision between both Force Indias sent Ocon into the wall at the start of the Singapore Grand Prix, with Perez blamed by the team.

Esteban Ocon, Force India F1 Team VJM11 removed from the track

Photo by: Lars Baron / LAT Images via Getty Images

With hindsight, the Frenchman views these multiple incidents in the context of his impetuosity.

“I started clearly on the back foot in the first race [of 2017],” he explained. “But then I managed to catch up well after that. And then we were racing very closely. And there were moments where I did mistakes, there were moments where I don’t feel it was necessarily my fault.

“I was very young. I was inexperienced. I wanted to push hard and show people what I was capable of.

“At the time, we were just racing hard and trying to race as the best we can. And that’s also why we got so many points that year. Because we were racing very well together.

“There are things that I would have liked to change. Like Spa, for example. These kinds of moments, it shouldn’t have happened. It cost the team points.

“You know, I’ve made mistakes over my career, and things that I shouldn’t have done in racing. But that’s how you learn from it. We all make mistakes, but it’s how you overcome those.

Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team

Photo by: Lars Baron / LAT Images via Getty Images

“That’s the way I saw racing back then. The track was what matters the most. Still, I believe that the track is what matters the most, but things could have happened in a different way. And with how much respect I had for Checo at the time – and I still have now – I would have preferred things to go in a different way.”

Things went so awry that Force India briefly enforced team orders, despite its comfortable position in the constructors’ championship – after the 2017 Belgian Grand Prix, it lay fourth with 103 points, behind Red Bull (199) and ahead of Williams (45). The outfit maintained this position in the standings from round three to the final race of the year.

“We finished with a very good championship finish position for the team,” Ocon added. “With fourth place. A top 10 finish in my first full season. So, yeah, it was very solid for sure.”

Force India couldn’t afford costly crashes in light of its tricky financial situation which led to a Lawrence Stroll-consortium acquiring the team in mid-2018; it now races as Aston Martin.

We want to hear from you!

– The Autosport.com Team

The Formula 1 calendar is as big as it’s ever been with 24 circuits to visit for drivers, team staff and media – where no one track is the same.

So for a bit of off-season fun, we have rated all current venues – except Madrid, which is due to debut this year – based on four criteria: layout, history/atmosphere, location and facilities. 

Here is what our F1 writers said, having judged each track based on the entire experience.

1. Best circuit layout

The first, and perhaps most difficult one to judge, is the layout itself. Does the circuit provide great racing, or is it at least one of F1’s most challenging tracks which puts driver skill to the ultimate test? As we have seen in recent years, those two objectives don’t always align with each other. But by judging each circuit on both, we have come to a balanced outcome.

Filip Cleeren – Interlagos has it all

This has been an interesting category to judge because of the reasons outlined above. Yes, Suzuka and Monaco are outstanding as a challenge, but combining those thrills with action-packed racing and overtaking has become a lot rarer in modern day F1, largely down to the cars. Sao Paulo’s Interlagos circuit is one of a few that manages to do both, thanks to its bowl-shaped design that features plenty of camber, making several racing lines possible. Add in a long main straight and a sprinkle of rain, the end result provides an entertaining cocktail that seldom disappoints – long may it continue! 

Monza is a close second and although Suzuka’s racing isn’t great, I felt the layout is just too good to dismiss. I do value the challenge and beauty of a circuit, so compared to my peers, I’m the only to leave Bahrain out of my top 10, though I’ll admit including Las Vegas is somewhat contradictory. For all of its pomp, it hasn’t failed to entertain yet.

Oleg Karpov – Good racing matters

I am no racing driver, so I cannot honestly rank circuits based on how enjoyable they are to drive – like about 99.9 percent of the world’s population. For me, what matters far more is whether a track provides good racing to watch. And, coincidence or not, the simpler the layout, the better the racing. I guarantee that if F1 raced at the Norisring, those would be the best races you’d ever see.

Chicanes and hairpins after long straights, multiple overtaking opportunities around the lap, and the possibility to relaunch attacks are simple, but very efficient tools to provide a good spectacle. For me, in this category nothing beats the Bahrain International Circuit, where the whole first sector provides a perfect arena for proper wheel-to-wheel battles, with different lines and opportunities to retake the position. Austria is similar in that regard, and Canada, with its famous hairpin and long back straight, is also a great place for good racing.

Does Bahrain deserve more credit for the racing it provides?

Photo by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images

Stuart Codling – Spa delivers often enough

Great driver circuits don’t always make for compelling racing, as evinced by the fact that the 20th anniversary of the last truly memorable Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka (Kimi Raikkonen’s charge from 17th to victory in 2005) has now passed. So with a heavy heart I downgraded that venue.

Majestic Spa-Francorchamps doesn’t always deliver, but it does so often enough – usually with the assistance of the fickle Ardennes microclimate – for me to give it top marks. Plus more of its challenging sections are open to spectators than Suzuka’s.

For a drab, windy old airfield in the middle of nowhere (with apologies to the sturdy burghers of Towcester), Silverstone delivers in both challenge and spectacle. Interlagos completes my top three for the same reasons adumbrated by Fil, followed closely by the US and Canadian GP venues, for different reasons; Montreal’s actual track layout is a bit ho-hum but it has a way of making things happen.

Bahrain has a compact, clever layout, and has come into its own with the shift to a night-race format and the abrasive surface’s habit of ruining Pirellis. But still, I feel Oleg must have been sniffing glue before placing it at number one…!
 
Ronald Vording – Silverstone ticks both boxes
 
An iconic layout and good racing have proven to be two (completely) different things, especially with the dirty air problems that we have seen in 2025. Silverstone, however, ticks both boxes: the venue of F1’s first world championship race remains iconic and has produced plenty of good races in recent history.

The same applies to Sao Paulo, while Spa-Francorchamps and Suzuka should, in my opinion, still rank very highly based on their spectacular layouts. Finally, the opposite is true for Bahrain: not an iconic layout as such, but it does have enough ingredients for good racing – just think about that Leclerc versus Verstappen battle in 2022.

2. History and atmosphere

The second category is history, atmosphere and fan experience. F1 is nothing without its rich 75-year history, so venues that are deeply rooted in F1 culture should be valued. At the same time, some of F1’s newer races have also provided a great vibe and fan experience to become instant classics, so the two can and should coexist.

Oleg Karpov – Nothing beats Monza and its tifosi

There are places on the F1 calendar where you just feel the vibe and fully embrace it. And it comes in different flavours. To witness Monaco, with its harbour, road closures and just the sheer logistics of a grand prix weekend, is something truly unique. Then there is the music-festival atmosphere of Zandvoort or Silverstone, and the craziness of the Mexican GP paddock.

All of these races are unique and unlike any others, and it’s a bloody difficult task to rank them. But to me, nothing beats the Italian GP, with the charm of the Parco di Monza and the passion of the tifosi, with Austria right up there as well – a place that has become completely different in recent years, with all the Max Verstappen fans turning it into a Dutch province for a week. Add to that the beautiful Styrian mountains and the local Gasthofs and restaurants, and it makes for an incredible experience.

Ronald Vording – Japan’s fans are unmatched

In terms of experience and fan enthusiasm, Japan is unmatched for me. The fans are extremely respectful and dress up in the most creative ways. It is an experience in its own right. Elsewhere, you can really feel the history and the passion of the tifosi in Monza, while Monaco remains unique in terms of setting. With a photographer’s tabard, you can watch the action right behind the barriers, which makes the trackside experience absolutely unique – a personal highlight of the F1 season every single year. You simply can’t get any closer to the action than that.

The Tifosi celebrate during the Podium Ceremony

Photo by: Sam Bagnall / Motorsport Images

Stuart Codling – Monza is an utterly magnificent venue

With its parkland setting, whispering trees, crumbling concrete banking, elderly timing towers and supremely passionate fans, Monza simply cannot be surpassed for either history or atmosphere. Walk behind the grandstands and it’s easy to imagine the likes of Fangio, Farina and Ascari roaring past on the other side. It’s an utterly magnificent venue.

Atmosphere must be inclusive, which is why I left Austria out of my top 10 on account of safeguarding issues and general boorishness in recent seasons.

Jake Boxall-Legge – There’s just something special about Suzuka

Most of my colleagues have gone for Monza, but I’m uniting with Ronald and picking Suzuka for this. Monza has an exceptional atmosphere and over a century’s worth of history going for it – and yet, there’s just something special about Suzuka. Monza is synonymous with Ferrari, and the sheen of Rosso Corsa throughout the grandstands is reflective of that; Suzuka feels more like a celebration of Formula 1 as a whole, rather than just one team or driver. Even safety car driver Bernd Maylander gets a banner.

Further down my order, Spa-Francorchamps is a popular pilgrimage for fans all over the world, and Sao Paulo has a Senna-influenced magic to it – one that hit new peaks this year with wide Latam support for Gabriel Bortoleto, Franco Colapinto, plus honorary citizen Lewis Hamilton.

3. Location

The third criterion is the circuit’s wider location and its appeal, which is an integral part of the experience for fans and staff alike. What else does the grand prix host have to offer off the track?

Filip Cleeren – Melbourne just edges Sao Paulo and Singapore

We are extremely privileged to travel to some of the world’s great cities, and Melbourne just edges Sao Paulo and Singapore for me with its combination of city life and nature, its diverse food scene and relaxed lifestyle. I moved to Barcelona after attending a Spanish Grand Prix way back when, and of all the other places on the list, Melbourne is probably the other city I could see myself relocate to.

What also helps is that Albert Park is right in the middle of the city, so fans can just hop on the tram to get to the event. The buzz is even bigger when Australia hosts the season opener, and F1 really takes over the town during race week in a way it does in few other cities. It’s important to preserve traditional road courses, but it’s also not hard to see why Liberty Media is keen on these destination cities. The key is finding the right balance.

Stuart Codling – Austin hits the right notes

Out of town but close enough for that not to be a problem, COTA has a distinct sense of place as well as being in close proximity to Austin’s fun and bohemian city. There’s probably a touch of recency bias in me placing it above Melbourne since I haven’t attended the Australian GP in ages.

One hallmark of Bernie Ecclestone’s reign was the migration towards white-elephant venues miles from anywhere. But if Formula 1 really wants to grow its audience, it needs to embrace the great world cities: that way attending a grand prix can become part of a holiday and have a broader appeal. The Mexico GP is a great example of a destination race in a place which is fascinating to visit.

Melbourne’s Albert Park is an instant favourite for most people who are lucky to attend the Australian Grand Prix

Photo by: Glenn Dunbar / Motorsport Images

Ronald Vording – Why I’m enjoying the US races

I’m the only one with two American cities in my top three, and I feel that requires some (or maybe a lot of) explanation. I admit: in terms of pure F1 experiences and with an old-school racing heart, those venues certainly don’t belong at the top. But when it comes to the wider region, I personally love spending some extra time in Florida, exploring the Florida Keys, or to go hiking in the national parks of California and Nevada – or indeed, even the Grand Canyon. It makes these destinations worth visiting, just like Japan, thanks to a couple of extra days in Tokyo, or Singapore, due to the versatility of that city.

But this part of the ranking is probably the most difficult one because what about Budapest, Baku or Austria? If the past few years have taught me anything, it’s that all F1 destinations (well, almost all…) have their own charm.

Jake Boxall-Legge – Everybody loves Melbourne

This was the easiest to pick – everybody loves Melbourne; a city of sport, culture, great coffee, and lovely people. The circuit’s location in the middle of the city makes travelling to work a joy, with walks through Albert Park en route. And, since the timetable is generally amenable to those at the track, there are chances to enjoy the city’s offerings of live entertainment and stellar culinary offerings at night.

Suzuka is also fun; since it’s a long trip out, it’s sensible to go a few days early to explore Tokyo or Osaka before shinkansen-ing it to Nagoya. Singapore and Montreal were high on my list too, largely for food-based reasons; both trips I prepared for by watching the respective episodes of Anthony Bourdain’s The Layover. Montreal’s yearly traffic nonsense just put it behind Singapore. Plus, one needs to give a shout out to Budapest too –  go for the race, stay for the plethora of restaurants and palatial architecture. 

4. Circuit facilities

Our fourth category is the circuit’s facilities. How enjoyable is it to spend time, watch the action and work at the race track? Is it easy to get in and out? A clear trend emerges in which F1’s newest venues are leaving Europe’s heartland in the dust…

Filip Cleeren – Red Bull Ring is a European oasis
 
This is a ranking from a journalist’s perspective, so you’ll have to indulge is for valuing creature comforts like a spacious and conveniently located media centre that actually overlooks the main straight. That used to be a given, but the media are gradually being elbowed out to make room for VIP areas. On a European continent that generally lags behind the flyaway races, Spielberg’s impressive Red Bull Ring is a welcome oasis. Austin is second due to its excellent all-round facilities, while I’m a big fan of being able to walk into the circuit in Singapore. 
 
Oleg Karpov – Austria is in a league of its own
 
Hermann Tilke and his company may get some criticism for track designs – more often than not, completely unjustified, in my humble opinion – but the Aachen firm definitely knows how to take care of circuit infrastructure. And the facilities at modern tracks are just a night-and-day difference compared to the good old Barcelonas and Spas, although some of the historical tracks have been refurbished in recent years – and the new pit buildings at Silverstone or the most recent one at the Hungaroring are definitely great. Still, the luxurious conditions at the likes of Abu Dhabi or Qatar beat refurbished historical tracks.

But even in that category, the Red Bull Ring is almost in a league of its own – with journalists’ opinions probably being biased simply because the media centre at the Austrian track is a paradise, with a gigantic panoramic view of the entire track from an excellent working space.
 
Jake Boxall-Legge – This is where the Middle Eastern races shine

Although there are legitimate criticisms to be made about the value of some of the Middle Eastern circuits – although these can be carried over towards many other venues on the F1 calendar – one cannot deny that the facilities are generally great.

Bahrain kicked off the high-spend infrastructure with a big paddock and a villa for each team, but I think Abu Dhabi tweaked it slightly more successfully. The massive screens mean you don’t need to injure your neck to look up for two hours, the media centre is right in the thick of the paddock, there’s a harbour for quiet contemplation, and the teams can all stay next to the track as Yas Island hosts a plethora of hotels.

Most flyaway races score high marks for their facilities while many European rounds struggle to keep up.

Photo by: Andrew Ferraro / LAT Images via Getty Images

Stuart Codling – Austin edges Mexico
 
I see Jake has joined Oleg’s glue-sniffing club in putting Abu Dhabi top of this list! Every year it feels as if this venue is hosting a grand prix for the first time, such is the litany of rookie errors. You can’t even get to the place where you’re supposed to pick up your credentials without being screamed at by a security guard. I’ll pass, thanks.

I’m not wedded to the need for a big window in the media centre overlooking the main straight, hence I rate Austin and Mexico above several venues which have better views. Both are super-convenient for paddock access, offer convivial environments, and serve up excellent local cuisine (those of vegetarian persuasion may take a different view).

In previous years Mexico would have ranked above Austin for me on account of its superior coffee offering, but in 2025 they dropped the baristas in favour of three machines, only one of which was working at any given time. Yes, yes, first world problems…

Our overall top 10

We want to hear from you!

– The Autosport.com Team

The Formula 1 calendar is as big as it’s ever been with 24 circuits to visit for drivers, team staff and media – where no one track is the same.

So for a bit of off-season fun, we have rated all current venues – except Madrid, which is due to debut this year – based on four criteria: layout, history/atmosphere, location and facilities. 

Here is what our F1 writers said, having judged each track based on the entire experience.

1. Best circuit layout

The first, and perhaps most difficult one to judge, is the layout itself. Does the circuit provide great racing, or is it at least one of F1’s most challenging tracks which puts driver skill to the ultimate test? As we have seen in recent years, those two objectives don’t always align with each other. But by judging each circuit on both, we have come to a balanced outcome.

Filip Cleeren – Interlagos has it all

This has been an interesting category to judge because of the reasons outlined above. Yes, Suzuka and Monaco are outstanding as a challenge, but combining those thrills with action-packed racing and overtaking has become a lot rarer in modern day F1, largely down to the cars. Sao Paulo’s Interlagos circuit is one of a few that manages to do both, thanks to its bowl-shaped design that features plenty of camber, making several racing lines possible. Add in a long main straight and a sprinkle of rain, the end result provides an entertaining cocktail that seldom disappoints – long may it continue! 

Monza is a close second and although Suzuka’s racing isn’t great, I felt the layout is just too good to dismiss. I do value the challenge and beauty of a circuit, so compared to my peers, I’m the only to leave Bahrain out of my top 10, though I’ll admit including Las Vegas is somewhat contradictory. For all of its pomp, it hasn’t failed to entertain yet.

Oleg Karpov – Good racing matters

I am no racing driver, so I cannot honestly rank circuits based on how enjoyable they are to drive – like about 99.9 percent of the world’s population. For me, what matters far more is whether a track provides good racing to watch. And, coincidence or not, the simpler the layout, the better the racing. I guarantee that if F1 raced at the Norisring, those would be the best races you’d ever see.

Chicanes and hairpins after long straights, multiple overtaking opportunities around the lap, and the possibility to relaunch attacks are simple, but very efficient tools to provide a good spectacle. For me, in this category nothing beats the Bahrain International Circuit, where the whole first sector provides a perfect arena for proper wheel-to-wheel battles, with different lines and opportunities to retake the position. Austria is similar in that regard, and Canada, with its famous hairpin and long back straight, is also a great place for good racing.

Does Bahrain deserve more credit for the racing it provides?

Photo by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images

Stuart Codling – Spa delivers often enough

Great driver circuits don’t always make for compelling racing, as evinced by the fact that the 20th anniversary of the last truly memorable Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka (Kimi Raikkonen’s charge from 17th to victory in 2005) has now passed. So with a heavy heart I downgraded that venue.

Majestic Spa-Francorchamps doesn’t always deliver, but it does so often enough – usually with the assistance of the fickle Ardennes microclimate – for me to give it top marks. Plus more of its challenging sections are open to spectators than Suzuka’s.

For a drab, windy old airfield in the middle of nowhere (with apologies to the sturdy burghers of Towcester), Silverstone delivers in both challenge and spectacle. Interlagos completes my top three for the same reasons adumbrated by Fil, followed closely by the US and Canadian GP venues, for different reasons; Montreal’s actual track layout is a bit ho-hum but it has a way of making things happen.

Bahrain has a compact, clever layout, and has come into its own with the shift to a night-race format and the abrasive surface’s habit of ruining Pirellis. But still, I feel Oleg must have been sniffing glue before placing it at number one…!
 
Ronald Vording – Silverstone ticks both boxes
 
An iconic layout and good racing have proven to be two (completely) different things, especially with the dirty air problems that we have seen in 2025. Silverstone, however, ticks both boxes: the venue of F1’s first world championship race remains iconic and has produced plenty of good races in recent history.

The same applies to Sao Paulo, while Spa-Francorchamps and Suzuka should, in my opinion, still rank very highly based on their spectacular layouts. Finally, the opposite is true for Bahrain: not an iconic layout as such, but it does have enough ingredients for good racing – just think about that Leclerc versus Verstappen battle in 2022.

2. History and atmosphere

The second category is history, atmosphere and fan experience. F1 is nothing without its rich 75-year history, so venues that are deeply rooted in F1 culture should be valued. At the same time, some of F1’s newer races have also provided a great vibe and fan experience to become instant classics, so the two can and should coexist.

Oleg Karpov – Nothing beats Monza and its tifosi

There are places on the F1 calendar where you just feel the vibe and fully embrace it. And it comes in different flavours. To witness Monaco, with its harbour, road closures and just the sheer logistics of a grand prix weekend, is something truly unique. Then there is the music-festival atmosphere of Zandvoort or Silverstone, and the craziness of the Mexican GP paddock.

All of these races are unique and unlike any others, and it’s a bloody difficult task to rank them. But to me, nothing beats the Italian GP, with the charm of the Parco di Monza and the passion of the tifosi, with Austria right up there as well – a place that has become completely different in recent years, with all the Max Verstappen fans turning it into a Dutch province for a week. Add to that the beautiful Styrian mountains and the local Gasthofs and restaurants, and it makes for an incredible experience.

Ronald Vording – Japan’s fans are unmatched

In terms of experience and fan enthusiasm, Japan is unmatched for me. The fans are extremely respectful and dress up in the most creative ways. It is an experience in its own right. Elsewhere, you can really feel the history and the passion of the tifosi in Monza, while Monaco remains unique in terms of setting. With a photographer’s tabard, you can watch the action right behind the barriers, which makes the trackside experience absolutely unique – a personal highlight of the F1 season every single year. You simply can’t get any closer to the action than that.

The Tifosi celebrate during the Podium Ceremony

Photo by: Sam Bagnall / Motorsport Images

Stuart Codling – Monza is an utterly magnificent venue

With its parkland setting, whispering trees, crumbling concrete banking, elderly timing towers and supremely passionate fans, Monza simply cannot be surpassed for either history or atmosphere. Walk behind the grandstands and it’s easy to imagine the likes of Fangio, Farina and Ascari roaring past on the other side. It’s an utterly magnificent venue.

Atmosphere must be inclusive, which is why I left Austria out of my top 10 on account of safeguarding issues and general boorishness in recent seasons.

Jake Boxall-Legge – There’s just something special about Suzuka

Most of my colleagues have gone for Monza, but I’m uniting with Ronald and picking Suzuka for this. Monza has an exceptional atmosphere and over a century’s worth of history going for it – and yet, there’s just something special about Suzuka. Monza is synonymous with Ferrari, and the sheen of Rosso Corsa throughout the grandstands is reflective of that; Suzuka feels more like a celebration of Formula 1 as a whole, rather than just one team or driver. Even safety car driver Bernd Maylander gets a banner.

Further down my order, Spa-Francorchamps is a popular pilgrimage for fans all over the world, and Sao Paulo has a Senna-influenced magic to it – one that hit new peaks this year with wide Latam support for Gabriel Bortoleto, Franco Colapinto, plus honorary citizen Lewis Hamilton.

3. Location

The third criterion is the circuit’s wider location and its appeal, which is an integral part of the experience for fans and staff alike. What else does the grand prix host have to offer off the track?

Filip Cleeren – Melbourne just edges Sao Paulo and Singapore

We are extremely privileged to travel to some of the world’s great cities, and Melbourne just edges Sao Paulo and Singapore for me with its combination of city life and nature, its diverse food scene and relaxed lifestyle. I moved to Barcelona after attending a Spanish Grand Prix way back when, and of all the other places on the list, Melbourne is probably the other city I could see myself relocate to.

What also helps is that Albert Park is right in the middle of the city, so fans can just hop on the tram to get to the event. The buzz is even bigger when Australia hosts the season opener, and F1 really takes over the town during race week in a way it does in few other cities. It’s important to preserve traditional road courses, but it’s also not hard to see why Liberty Media is keen on these destination cities. The key is finding the right balance.

Stuart Codling – Austin hits the right notes

Out of town but close enough for that not to be a problem, COTA has a distinct sense of place as well as being in close proximity to Austin’s fun and bohemian city. There’s probably a touch of recency bias in me placing it above Melbourne since I haven’t attended the Australian GP in ages.

One hallmark of Bernie Ecclestone’s reign was the migration towards white-elephant venues miles from anywhere. But if Formula 1 really wants to grow its audience, it needs to embrace the great world cities: that way attending a grand prix can become part of a holiday and have a broader appeal. The Mexico GP is a great example of a destination race in a place which is fascinating to visit.

Melbourne’s Albert Park is an instant favourite for most people who are lucky to attend the Australian Grand Prix

Photo by: Glenn Dunbar / Motorsport Images

Ronald Vording – Why I’m enjoying the US races

I’m the only one with two American cities in my top three, and I feel that requires some (or maybe a lot of) explanation. I admit: in terms of pure F1 experiences and with an old-school racing heart, those venues certainly don’t belong at the top. But when it comes to the wider region, I personally love spending some extra time in Florida, exploring the Florida Keys, or to go hiking in the national parks of California and Nevada – or indeed, even the Grand Canyon. It makes these destinations worth visiting, just like Japan, thanks to a couple of extra days in Tokyo, or Singapore, due to the versatility of that city.

But this part of the ranking is probably the most difficult one because what about Budapest, Baku or Austria? If the past few years have taught me anything, it’s that all F1 destinations (well, almost all…) have their own charm.

Jake Boxall-Legge – Everybody loves Melbourne

This was the easiest to pick – everybody loves Melbourne; a city of sport, culture, great coffee, and lovely people. The circuit’s location in the middle of the city makes travelling to work a joy, with walks through Albert Park en route. And, since the timetable is generally amenable to those at the track, there are chances to enjoy the city’s offerings of live entertainment and stellar culinary offerings at night.

Suzuka is also fun; since it’s a long trip out, it’s sensible to go a few days early to explore Tokyo or Osaka before shinkansen-ing it to Nagoya. Singapore and Montreal were high on my list too, largely for food-based reasons; both trips I prepared for by watching the respective episodes of Anthony Bourdain’s The Layover. Montreal’s yearly traffic nonsense just put it behind Singapore. Plus, one needs to give a shout out to Budapest too –  go for the race, stay for the plethora of restaurants and palatial architecture. 

4. Circuit facilities

Our fourth category is the circuit’s facilities. How enjoyable is it to spend time, watch the action and work at the race track? Is it easy to get in and out? A clear trend emerges in which F1’s newest venues are leaving Europe’s heartland in the dust…

Filip Cleeren – Red Bull Ring is a European oasis
 
This is a ranking from a journalist’s perspective, so you’ll have to indulge is for valuing creature comforts like a spacious and conveniently located media centre that actually overlooks the main straight. That used to be a given, but the media are gradually being elbowed out to make room for VIP areas. On a European continent that generally lags behind the flyaway races, Spielberg’s impressive Red Bull Ring is a welcome oasis. Austin is second due to its excellent all-round facilities, while I’m a big fan of being able to walk into the circuit in Singapore. 
 
Oleg Karpov – Austria is in a league of its own
 
Hermann Tilke and his company may get some criticism for track designs – more often than not, completely unjustified, in my humble opinion – but the Aachen firm definitely knows how to take care of circuit infrastructure. And the facilities at modern tracks are just a night-and-day difference compared to the good old Barcelonas and Spas, although some of the historical tracks have been refurbished in recent years – and the new pit buildings at Silverstone or the most recent one at the Hungaroring are definitely great. Still, the luxurious conditions at the likes of Abu Dhabi or Qatar beat refurbished historical tracks.

But even in that category, the Red Bull Ring is almost in a league of its own – with journalists’ opinions probably being biased simply because the media centre at the Austrian track is a paradise, with a gigantic panoramic view of the entire track from an excellent working space.
 
Jake Boxall-Legge – This is where the Middle Eastern races shine

Although there are legitimate criticisms to be made about the value of some of the Middle Eastern circuits – although these can be carried over towards many other venues on the F1 calendar – one cannot deny that the facilities are generally great.

Bahrain kicked off the high-spend infrastructure with a big paddock and a villa for each team, but I think Abu Dhabi tweaked it slightly more successfully. The massive screens mean you don’t need to injure your neck to look up for two hours, the media centre is right in the thick of the paddock, there’s a harbour for quiet contemplation, and the teams can all stay next to the track as Yas Island hosts a plethora of hotels.

Most flyaway races score high marks for their facilities while many European rounds struggle to keep up.

Photo by: Andrew Ferraro / LAT Images via Getty Images

Stuart Codling – Austin edges Mexico
 
I see Jake has joined Oleg’s glue-sniffing club in putting Abu Dhabi top of this list! Every year it feels as if this venue is hosting a grand prix for the first time, such is the litany of rookie errors. You can’t even get to the place where you’re supposed to pick up your credentials without being screamed at by a security guard. I’ll pass, thanks.

I’m not wedded to the need for a big window in the media centre overlooking the main straight, hence I rate Austin and Mexico above several venues which have better views. Both are super-convenient for paddock access, offer convivial environments, and serve up excellent local cuisine (those of vegetarian persuasion may take a different view).

In previous years Mexico would have ranked above Austin for me on account of its superior coffee offering, but in 2025 they dropped the baristas in favour of three machines, only one of which was working at any given time. Yes, yes, first world problems…

Our overall top 10

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– The Autosport.com Team

Riccardo Adami will no longer serve as Lewis Hamilton‘s race engineer at Ferrari as the Italian has taken up a new role within the Formula 1 team’s young driver programme.

Adami, who was previously the race engineer with both Sebastian Vettel and Carlos Sainz at the team, will now oversee the testing of previous cars running for the Ferrari Driver Academy and thus relinquishes his trackside role.

Hamilton was paired with Adami for his first season at the Prancing Horse, although the partnership was put under scrutiny when apparent early communication issues were publicly broadcast on F1’s world feed.

While the two achieved early success with Hamilton’s sprint race victory in China, the seven-time champion’s season petered out with a series of Q1 eliminations.

It had been suggested that the relationship between Hamilton and Adami had lacked the requisite chemistry owing to the occasional terseness over the radio, although this was denied by both driver and team.

A communique provided by the team stated that: “Scuderia Ferrari HP announces that Riccardo Adami has moved to a new role within the Scuderia Ferrari Driver Academy as Scuderia Ferrari Driver Academy and Test Previous Cars Manager, where his extensive trackside experience and Formula 1 expertise contributes to the development of future talent and to strengthening performance culture across the program.

Riccardo Adami, Engineer Ferrari

Photo by: Ferrari

“Scuderia Ferrari HP would like to thank Riccardo for his commitment and contribution to his trackside role and wishes him every success in his new position.

“The appointment of the new Race Engineer for car #44 will be announced in due course.”

Adami had been Vettel’s race engineer at the Toro Rosso team, and had also fulfilled a similar role for the likes of Daniel Ricciardo, Sebastien Buemi, and Vitantonio Liuzzi within the Faenza squad. He then reunited with Vettel upon leaving Toro Rosso in 2015.

After 2025’s Australian Grand Prix, Hamilton responded to the assertions that radio traffic between the pair suggested that the two had not meshed, suggesting that people should “go and listen to the radio calls with others and their engineers, they’re far worse”.

Ferrari’s head of track engineering Matteo Togninalli added during the Qatar weekend that “what you see from outside is worse” than the reality of their collaboration.

Regardless, Hamilton will have to form a new working relationship with another engineer; it is unknown whether Ferrari will seek to promote from within, or hire externally.

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– The Autosport.com Team

The Cadillac Formula 1 team took to the Silverstone circuit to shakedown its 2026 car for the first time on Friday.

Cadillac will join the F1 grid as its 11th team in 2026, and ahead of its debut completed a filming day at the British Grand Prix track with Mexican driver Sergio Perez at the wheel.

Perez was joined by team-mate Valtteri Bottas and reserve driver Zhou Guanyu to carry out the shakedown of the American team’s single-seater. Cadillac shared a clip of its first F1 racer running on track, which also offered a preview of the engine note of its Ferrari power unit.

In addition, Zhou also uploaded a video showing himself wearing the Cadillac team kit, while obscuring any image of the car, which will be revealed in a Super Bowl advert next month ahead of the first of F1’s two Bahrain test sessions.

Cadillac reportedly placed stickers over the phone cameras of anyone who could leak images of the car – with exceptions made for the team’s own filming crew. However, some long-distance images of the car in the Silverstone garages have already appeared on social media.

As well as issues with prying eyes around the Northamptonshire track, Cadillac also reportedly experienced difficulties running in the morning. However, it later managed to fire up the engine and began lapping that was made more challenging by the weather at Silverstone.

An Autosport source revealed that Perez is so far the only Cadillac driver to make it out on track, with the Mexican reportedly at Silverstone for the filming day before returning to Mexico – where he will fulfil commercial commitments next week. The six-time grand prix winner travelled to the team’s base to address technical aspects of the car this week before its first outing. Team-mate Bottas also shared on social media that he had been at the team’s base for a seat fit this week.

Cadillac’s on-track debut follows a similar shakedown event for Audi, which has taken over the Sauber team for 2026. The team hosted a filming day at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya last week.

In tests such as this, teams are permitted to run up to 200km and must use different tyre compounds from Pirelli compared with the rubber that will be available at the pre-season tests and during the F1 season.

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– The Autosport.com Team

Formula 1 has had some brilliant showdowns in its 75-year history, and we pick out the best in the latest episode on the greatest races in the world championship.

Experienced motorsport journalist Damien Smith is Autosport’s special guest, joining host Kevin Turner and author Roger Smith to assess our top 10 ranking. Do you agree with the final order?

To find out more about the best GPs of the past 75 years, look out for Smith and Turner’s new book, Formula 1 All the Races: The 100 Greatest Races.

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– The Autosport.com Team