Worst circuit on the calendar?
Discussion
A weekend without F1, so here's a thread to argue over that will soon be forgotten once racing resumes 
So many new circuits these past few seasons, and quite a few returning after an extended hiatus.
But which is worst? It has to be on the present calendar or under contract and expected to return.
I'm going to disallow choosing Sotchi, that's done with.
I'm guessing Paul Ricard is going to be a popular choice (my choice)
And inevitably Monaco because it's "totally unsuited for modern F1, it's a pointless procession!" etc.
The battle for third s
ttest might be the most interesting.
Debate
So many new circuits these past few seasons, and quite a few returning after an extended hiatus.
But which is worst? It has to be on the present calendar or under contract and expected to return.
I'm going to disallow choosing Sotchi, that's done with.
I'm guessing Paul Ricard is going to be a popular choice
(my choice)And inevitably Monaco because it's "totally unsuited for modern F1, it's a pointless procession!" etc.
The battle for third s
ttest might be the most interesting.Debate
Sandpit Steve said:
Let’s see what Miami and Vegas look like first, before we go too mad.
We can never ask the question then, because these days there's always at least one new circuit looming!I can't see any new circuit throwing up a race sufficiently dull enough to get voted as worst in its maiden year tbh. New circuits always bring some form of drama.
Although out of the two I'm thinking Miami will be the least engaging.
Imola. I don't get the love it got when it returned in 2020.
Never the same post-94 when originally cars could slipstream down the front straight and all the way up to Tosa.
Now excessively butchered by two chicanes. The first one has a high speed entry. It should be re-profiled to allow for better overtaking opportunities but in all these years this has never happened.
Ironically, fans want the old circuits but Imola is a track masquerading as a street circuit when Liberty wants to add more street circuits.
I don't mind Sochi. There are a couple of sections that I like such as the left hander carousel and the quick left into a right (no wonder drivers have maps with numbers). 90min race in Sochi is much bearable than two hours of Singapore GP.
Never the same post-94 when originally cars could slipstream down the front straight and all the way up to Tosa.
Now excessively butchered by two chicanes. The first one has a high speed entry. It should be re-profiled to allow for better overtaking opportunities but in all these years this has never happened.
Ironically, fans want the old circuits but Imola is a track masquerading as a street circuit when Liberty wants to add more street circuits.
I don't mind Sochi. There are a couple of sections that I like such as the left hander carousel and the quick left into a right (no wonder drivers have maps with numbers). 90min race in Sochi is much bearable than two hours of Singapore GP.
I cannot bring myself to hate Monoco because I enjoy the quali so much, I just accept that quali will be the highlight and 8min you tube highlights for the race later on.
Some of the tracks that don't provide good overtaking do provide a good watch if you enjoy the spectical of the cars abilities / dynamics and can be very testing for the drivers. It depends what you are after.
Dunc.
Some of the tracks that don't provide good overtaking do provide a good watch if you enjoy the spectical of the cars abilities / dynamics and can be very testing for the drivers. It depends what you are after.
Dunc.
It is hard to pick the worst, as there are many contenders on the current calendar but, in the spirit of the exercise, I'll go for Yas Marina, Abu Dhabi.
Why?
Because this was a clean sheet of paper with money no object and yet they ended up with a flat characterless circuit. More care was put into the hotel (etc) than the circuit itself. On those grounds, it is a massive waste of potential.
Marina Bay is awful. Jeddah tops that as it is dangerous too. Albert Park was average (at best) but has been made worse with this years changes. But, at least, street circuits have an excuse (compared to Yas Marina) as they have to work with what they have got.
Miami looks ultra bland and gives me Valencia 2.0 vibes - endless walls/high fencing with nothing in the surroundings to give you a sense of which part of the track you are. I'd be very surprised if the layout generates decent racing or eventiful races like, say, Baku or Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.
I think Las Vega will be terrible. When all the promotional material just plugs the city/the surroundings and not 'this track will produce fantastic racing', you know you're on to a loser.
Of the proper circuits, Paul Ricard is the worst.
Why?
Because this was a clean sheet of paper with money no object and yet they ended up with a flat characterless circuit. More care was put into the hotel (etc) than the circuit itself. On those grounds, it is a massive waste of potential.
Marina Bay is awful. Jeddah tops that as it is dangerous too. Albert Park was average (at best) but has been made worse with this years changes. But, at least, street circuits have an excuse (compared to Yas Marina) as they have to work with what they have got.
Miami looks ultra bland and gives me Valencia 2.0 vibes - endless walls/high fencing with nothing in the surroundings to give you a sense of which part of the track you are. I'd be very surprised if the layout generates decent racing or eventiful races like, say, Baku or Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.
I think Las Vega will be terrible. When all the promotional material just plugs the city/the surroundings and not 'this track will produce fantastic racing', you know you're on to a loser.
Of the proper circuits, Paul Ricard is the worst.
Paul Ricard has returned some spectacularly uneventful racing, and the painted track/corners make it hard to watch too.
But for me, the race i rarely ever watch live is Monaco. I'd zip through the highlights show normally. I'd rather see the drivers do a series of qualy challenges - and then race some saloon cars around the track - something small enough to have a chance of overtaking. Yaris GR's would be my vote.
Monaco GP is the very definition of a boring processional 'race'.
But for me, the race i rarely ever watch live is Monaco. I'd zip through the highlights show normally. I'd rather see the drivers do a series of qualy challenges - and then race some saloon cars around the track - something small enough to have a chance of overtaking. Yaris GR's would be my vote
.Monaco GP is the very definition of a boring processional 'race'.
It's weird how much hate Monaco attracts on here. I get it, we're all hardcore motorsport fans and it's undeniable that Monaco cannot deliver a race these days.
But I'm the odd one out. I love quali and I like the general vibe and history of the weekend. The race is normally forgettable but I'm drunk and bbq'ing by that point anyway
But I'm the odd one out. I love quali and I like the general vibe and history of the weekend. The race is normally forgettable but I'm drunk and bbq'ing by that point anyway
Monaco has been a glorified rally stage for decades which I have come to accept as an anomaly on the calendar. It offers a unique challenge like no other.
Monaco GP is like the Queen: flawed but has tradition, history and a queue of people wanting to visit. I envy those who have witnessed the bellowing V12s
Monaco GP is like the Queen: flawed but has tradition, history and a queue of people wanting to visit. I envy those who have witnessed the bellowing V12s
sly fox said:
Paul Ricard has returned some spectacularly uneventful racing, and the painted track/corners make it hard to watch too.
But for me, the race i rarely ever watch live is Monaco. I'd zip through the highlights show normally. I'd rather see the drivers do a series of qualy challenges - and then race some saloon cars around the track - something small enough to have a chance of overtaking. Yaris GR's would be my vote.
Monaco GP is the very definition of a boring processional 'race'.
I'm the other way around, so to speak. I don't like Monaco particularly and watch it through duty. Ricard, on the other hand, is dreadful. One season I just used R5Live and live timing. And PH of course. But for me, the race i rarely ever watch live is Monaco. I'd zip through the highlights show normally. I'd rather see the drivers do a series of qualy challenges - and then race some saloon cars around the track - something small enough to have a chance of overtaking. Yaris GR's would be my vote
.Monaco GP is the very definition of a boring processional 'race'.
TheDeuce said:
kambites said:
Monaco by a country mile. It should have been dropped from the F1 calendar at least 30 years ago.
What would you rather? Watch the last five Paul Ricard weekends or the last five Monaco qualis? 
jsf said:
Jenny Tailor said:
Silverstone. Its an airfield.
Its one of the best F1 circuits there is.It was an airfield over 70 years ago!
Silverstone is an excellent circuit, and barely reflects the old triangular airfield design now. Anyway... What else would a healthy and victorious nation do with a retired airfield other than race cars around it
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