The three best and worst tracks on the Formula 1 calendar

The F1 season has come and gone, but the discourse won’t stop over the winter while the teams are hard at work on their 2026 cars.

F1 is nothing without the tracks, so here are my three favorite and least favorite tracks on the F1 calendar. I will take the whole weekend into account, not just the race.

That is why a track like Monaco won’t be here. While it has the worst Sunday on the calendar, it has by far the best qualifying session, keeping it off the list.

First, some honorable mentions. For the best tracks, Circuit of the Americas, Baku, and the Red Bull Ring.

For the worst, Barcelona (although it seems to be improved for the new cars), Hungary, and Qatar. Now, onto the real list.

#3 Worst: Mexico City

Mexico City comes in as the first of my least favorite tracks.

I will give it credit that the atmosphere is absolutely incredible, but that isn’t enough to save it from this list.

Turn one is the only good overtaking zone on the track, and the high-speed section of turns seven through eleven is ruined because everyone is running the highest downforce setups due to the altitude.

The stadium section is also just not enjoyable to drive, as the difficult traction zone doesn’t make a difference when it is impossible to overtake in that area.

#3 Best: Bahrain

People have many complaints about some Middle-Eastern tracks being poorly designed, but Bahrain is never one of them.

There have been many incredible races on this circuit, my favorite being the 2022 battle between Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc.

It perfectly balances having difficult sections while also having extremely entertaining races.

The heavy braking zones, such as turns one and four, as well as the three DRS zones, present many opportunities for passing.

Turn ten is arguably the most difficult corner on the entire calendar, as it is a heavy downhill braking zone where you also have to turn the car and focus on getting a good exit into the DRS straight without managing to lock up the front-left tire.

The Grand Prix being at night also adds a few points, as the aesthetic of night races is phenomenal.

#2 Worst: Abu Dhabi

This one might be controversial, but all I really see Abu Dhabi having going for it is the fact that it is a title decider.

The track did get better when they got rid of chicanes at what is now turns five and nine, but the racing is still just not great.

Turn five is the only corner that can really provide overtaking, but it is difficult to be close enough without DRS.

The first DRS zone is followed by a chicane, where you will likely get shoved off track on exit if you try to go down the inside, and the second is followed by a higher speed corner where it isn’t easy to overtake.

When most passes happen in a straight line, it doesn’t provide good racing.

While it does boast the most exciting ending to a race in F1 history with Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen’s one-lap title shootout in 2021, the overall circuit is poorly designed.

#2 Best: Silverstone

If you ask the average F1 fan to name their favorite track, the most common response would be Silverstone.

The British Grand Prix has been on the calendar and hosted at Silverstone every year but four since the sport was founded, and it remains a phenomenal race.

I’ll get to this more with my #1 track, but rain always spices up a race weekend.

Making the right call when the track is wet can provide unpredictable results, such as Nico Hulkenberg going from P19-P3 to claim his first F1 podium in July 2025.

It is a track that is easy to learn but hard to master, and there isn’t a more satisfying place to watch a driver have the car pushed to the absolute limit.

There are so many opportunities for passing, and it seems like every year, there is something unexpected that happens.

#1 Worst: Miami

This track is set up in a parking lot, has boring racing, and also loses points for being a sprint weekend.

Where I gave Mexico credit for having personality, Miami is the exact opposite. The track atmosphere is just incredibly boring and feels too corporate.

There isn’t anything redeeming about the layout either.

Turn seven is the worst corner on the calendar, in my opinion, and there isn’t a section of the track that is fun to drive.

The only real chance for overtakes is on the two long DRS straights, and I give that the same sentiment I gave Abu Dhabi.

Abu Dhabi has the small saving grace of title implications, Mexico has the saving grace of the atmosphere, but Miami has nothing.

#1 Best: Interlagos

Interlagos provides great races year in and year out, much of that aided by Mother Nature.

Brazil is always rainy at this time of year, and that rain always causes chaos.

That is how we saw Verstappen go from P17-P1 in his statement win of 2024, that is how we saw Kevin Magnussen score his first career pole position in 2022, and Hamilton on intermediates overtaking Timo Glock on dry tires in the 2008 Grand Prix helped him snatch the title away from Felipe Massa on the final lap of that season.

Every corner can set up an overtake here, as even through turn two or turns six, seven, eight, and nine, where overtaking isn’t directly possible, a good run sets you up for overtakes in either turn four or turn ten.

The track is a dream to drive on in a time trial and also an incredible place for racing.

A trip to São Paulo is never missed, and it is the track I look forward to the most every year.

Edison Pellumbi is a first-year student studying broadcast journalism. To contact him, email him at ejp5889@psu.edu.