2026 is here and there’s not long to wait before the Formula 1 season gets underway, with Lando Norris set to defend his crown against the likes of Max Verstappen and Sir Lewis Hamilton.
There really is nothing quite like the globe-trotting F1 calendar, with 22 drivers racing at 24 circuits in 21 countries across five continents from March to December.
Some of these tracks can lay claim to be the best in the world but which one takes the crown?
24. Madring, Spain
We can’t really judge the new home of the Spanish Grand Prix until it makes its debut in September, but fans weren’t exactly impressed with the video simulation of the Madrid street circuit.
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23. Lusail, Qatar
While loved by fans of Moto GP, Lusail has proven to be a rather drab addition to the calendar. Consistent problems regarding the Qatar heat and tyre wear have lead some to question its suitability for F1.
22. Yas Marina, Abu Dhabi
No expense was spared on Yas Marina, with a gigantic glowing hotel, marina and Ferrari World built on an artificial island. It’s a pity the architects couldn’t design an entertaining circuit to go with it.
21. Miami, USA
People love to hate the Miami International Autodrome but it’s actually a pretty solid track with plenty of places to overtake. Still, it’s easily the weakest of the North American tracks.
And don’t get me started on that fake marina…
20. Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Certainly the most dangerous track of the year, F1 drivers average 158mph around Jeddah’s narrow walls, with car-destroying crashes and red flags a common sight.
It has its fans but will soon be replaced by a new circuit in Qiddiya – which appears to have been inspired by Rainbow Road from Mario Kart.
19. Zandvoort, Netherlands
Brought back in 2021 thanks to Max Verstappen mania, the Dutch Grand Prix will be off the calendar again after 2026. That’s a shame because Zandvoort is a unique location, with multiple banked turns and an undulating middle sector. Overtaking opportunities limited however.
18. Shanghai, China
China has a strong F1 fanbase and Shanghai isn’t bad. But to me, the circuit has always felt like a lesser-imitation of Sepang in Malaysia and I would much rather bring that race back.
17. Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, Spain
2026 will mark the last year of the much maligned Barcelona track but is it really that bad? Well, yes, it does lack character and aside from the first corner, overtaking is pretty tough.
It didn’t help that it was the venue for pre-season testing for many years, allowing drivers and teams to master the circuit in advance.
16. Baku City, Azerbaijan
It’s thanks to the utter chaos that was the 2017 Azerbaijan Grand Prix, that F1 green-lit more high-speed, dangerous street circuits (see Saudi Arabia and Las Vegas). Baku has produced some brilliant races but more lately has been desperately dull.
In any case, the castle section is just about the most ridiculous set of corners in the history of the sport.
15. Marina Bay, Singapore
The venue of F1’s first night race is also the most gruelling on the circuit for drivers: High humidity, lots of corners, bumpy tarmac, constant gear changes. As a spectacle for fans, it’s just okay.
14. Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, Mexico
As far as atmosphere goes, there’s few better than the Mexico City circuit which passes through a baseball stadium. The revamped track isn’t as good as it once was but still stirs up plenty of drama and controversial incidents.
13. Monte Carlo, Monaco
Iconic. Out-dated. Thrilling. Boring. F1’s crown jewel. The worst race of the year.
Nothing divides the motor racing community more than the famous Monaco street circuit, so the middle of this list seems appropriate for it.
12. Las Vegas, USA
F1 in Las Vegas shouldn’t work. Heck, it didn’t in the 1980s. And yet, somehow, it does.
For all the gimmicks, the track itself is a fast-paced thrill ride that appears to have won over even the most sceptical of fans – if not all the Sin City locals.
11. Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Canada
Named after one of the best drivers to never win the championship, this Montreal track is etched in F1 folklore, thanks in part to the Wall of Champions which has caught out even the sport’s greatest drivers. Just watch out for the groundhogs…
10. Albert Park, Australia
There was a time when few looked forward to heading to Melbourne, but some recent modifications have made the street circuit truly worthy of hosting F1’s curtain raiser – and worth the 4am UK time start.
9. Suzuka, Japan
Adored by fans, adored by drivers, Suzuka boasts some of the best corners on the globe like Spoon, 130R and Degner.
So why isn’t it higher up? Sadly, the last few races – aside from when it’s been raining – have been very tedious. Maybe the new 2026 cars will change that.
8. Sakhir, Bahrain
Possibly the most controversial placing on this list, but Sakhir is a great all round circuit with almost every corner providing an overtaking opportunity. Aesthetically, the decision to move the desert race to the night was inspired.
7. Hungaroring, Hungary
It maybe an oversized go kart track set in a valley, where overtaking is very tricky but there is something very special about the Hungaroring. Come rain or shine, drama and unexpected results always seem to occur.
6. Spa, Belgium
It is criminal that Spa-Francorchamps will not be a permanent fixture on the calendar in the coming years. There truly is nothing like watching F1 drivers tackle the famous corners in the world: Eau Rouge and Raidillon.
5. Circuit of the Americas, USA
F1’s will they, won’t they relationship with the USA was driven by the absence of a track that fans and drivers enjoyed. That all changed in 2012 when parts of the best circuits from around the world were cherry-picked and strung together to form COTA in Austin, Texas. A true, modern classic.
4. Monza, Italy
F1 has raced at the Temple of Speed in all but one of its 76 seasons and it’s easy to see why. Steeped in history, speeds of over 220mph are reached on the fastest track on the calendar which is strung together by sweeping turns and tricky chicanes.
Every driver dreams of winning at Monza and thanks to its unique podium design, the post-race celebrations are like nothing else.
3. Red Bull Ring, Austria
Sneaking onto the podium is this the former Osterreichring, which was saved by Red Bull and has not disappointed since returning to the calendar a decade ago.
Located in the picturesque Styrian mountains, drivers not only battle each other but also fight to stay within track limits on the twisty, fast tarmac.
2. Silverstone, UK
Variable weather, huge crowds, high-speeds, countless overtaking opportunities and iconic corners with even more iconic names like Copse, Stowe, Maggots and Becketts.
The very first F1 circuit is as perfect a venue as you can get.
1. Interlagos, Brazil
The Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace, better known as Interlagos, has everything Silverstone has – plus huge elevation changes, undulating corners and the best atmosphere from the grandstands.
If there’s one thing all F1 fans can agree on, it’s that Brazil not Abu Dhabi should be the venue for the season finale. But for now, it can celebrate taking the No.1 spot on this list.
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