History Of The Best F1 Tracks

Formula 1 officially started as the highest level of professional racing in 1950. Since then, F1 has earned a worldwide audience that enjoys seeing the best racers compete on the most iconic tracks. What follows below is a history of the best F1 tracks, including their pre-F1 roots and how they’ve adapted to more fans and faster cars.

Autodromo Nazionale Monza

The course known as Monza first hosted races starting in 1922, making it over a century old and the oldest track on the Formula 1 circuit. Monza received upgrades in 1938 to make it a better place to watch races. A new grandstand made room for more fans, and construction began on a restaurant. Unfortunately, World War II started soon after, stopping all public races until 1948.

Drivers and fans know Monza as the “Temple of Speed”, as much of the 5.8-kilometre layout includes long straights. Monza was important in developing Formula 1 with the 1955 construction of the “High-Speed Ring”, consisting of two semi-circular halves with a maximum incline angle of 80% and a total distance of over 4,200 metres. Racers could test out technical improvements to their vehicles and achieve speeds of over 300 kph.

Over the past few decades, Monza has undergone several safety changes to address the rising number of crashes caused by the increasing speed of modern cars. As a result, two of the Lesmo curves designed to slow drivers down were further narrowed and shortened, and they provided more space for drivers to escape when out of control.

Drivers and fans love Monza for the beautiful Milan location and the unbeatable feeling of watching races at one of the fastest tracks in the world. As a frequent host for races during the Formula 1 Italian Grand Prix, Monza is a great place to take in history and delicious food while looking for the best slot website to win some cash on before a race.

Circuit de Monaco

Monaco, one of the smallest and wealthiest countries in the world, started hosting races in 1929 with the blessing of Monaco’s Prince Louis II. The country became home to a fast urban circuit that could bring tourists in to boost Monaco’s economy. The track’s location next to a harbour meant spectators could view races from their yachts, and drivers had a good view of the Mediterranean. The course soon required changes for the safety of drivers and spectators, including making the road smooth. After Italian driver Alberto Ascari plunged into the harbour when he lost control in a turn, the track’s chicanes were shortened and narrowed to slow racers down and prevent similar incidents.

Several significant changes were made in advance of the 1973 race. Hotel construction over the infamous tunnel required tunnel expansion and modifications to the post-tunnel chicanes. The 1980s also saw additional turns added to slow drivers down while headed into the harbour area.

Drivers know Monaco as one of the most challenging circuits in Formula 1 due to its narrow streets, which makes strategy very important since there is little room to overtake competitors. These obstacles also make Monaco a fan favourite.

Silverstone

Silverstone’s home is in Towcester, England, at the site of an old World War II airstrip. The site opened in 1948 when Formula 1 and the Grand Prix were still in their infancy. In an effort to promote professional racing, King George VI attended the 1950 race, which marked the first and only time reigning British Royalty attended a British motor race. Over 100,000 fans attended, though the track was makeshift, with hay bales, canvas barriers, and ropes defining the circuit.

This British raceway is the opposite of Monaco and Monza in many ways, as it is built into the English countryside. Among Silverstone’s turns is one called “Farm” because the turn previously passed a farm adjacent to the track. The natural part of Silverstone makes it a little too friendly to wildlife, as there have been sheep and rabbit-related accidents at the track over the years.

Major renovations took place in 1991, as the Becketts, Maggots, and Chapel corners were revamped. Previously, drivers could take this small series of corners at higher speeds. Today, the corners zigzag more and slow drivers down before launching into another straightaway. This turn alone makes Silverstone a more technically challenging track.

More recently, Silverstone added an area called the “Arena”, which includes grandstands where more fans can watch the race while making turns more open, thus increasing the track’s speed compared to previous changes.

Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps

Known as Spa Circuit, this track is in the Belgian Ardennes Forest. The Spa Circuit overcame a slow start in 1921 when only one driver signed up for the challenge. In 1939, track officials built one of the more iconic corners in Formula history and called it Raidillon, which means “steep path” in French, as it climbs 18 degrees into a turn.

The first season of the Formula 1 Grand Prix brought drivers to Spa Circuit in 1950. After the initial year, the course was extended with the creation of the Stavelot Bend, which intended to go around the Stavelot area. While the natural forest environment was beloved, the course had problems. After officials built multiple chicanes intended to slow drivers down, they found the chicanes themselves were too dangerous, and in 1971, the Belgian Grand Prix was cancelled.

A new track was designed and constructed, eliminating the most dangerous turns, including those at Kemmels, which became a straightaway instead. Spa-Francorchamps continues as two circuits, with the elder track remaining in the natural state of old.

Conclusion

Formula 1 tracks have unique histories. Many of them were built before international motorsports competitions became popular to bring tourism and racing glory to their respective countries. Most racetracks enjoy their historic roots while adapting to modern safety and fan needs. Check out more F1 tracks to learn about the unique stories that led to the modern world championships.