Which Formula 1 Track Is The Longest?

• The Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium is the longest track on the 2026 Formula 1 calendar at 7.004 km (4.352 mi), more than double the length of the shortest circuit, Monaco, at 3.337 km.
• The longest straight on any current F1 circuit is the 2.2 km Neftchilar Avenue stretch at the Baku City Circuit in Azerbaijan, where cars exceed 350 km/h before braking for Turn 1.
• Not all F1 circuits run clockwise: Interlagos, the Circuit of the Americas, Marina Bay, the Jeddah Corniche Circuit, and Yas Marina all race in an anti-clockwise direction.

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Which Formula 1 Track Is The Longest?

The Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium is the longest track on the Formula 1 calendar at 7.004 km (4.352 mi). Spa is more than double the length of the shortest circuit, Monaco, which measures 3.337 km (2.075 mi), and has held its position as the longest active F1 venue for decades. The gap between the two is more than 3.6 km, a difference that shapes everything from race strategy and fuel loads to the number of laps drivers complete and how many overtaking opportunities a Grand Prix produces.

Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps

The Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps is located in the Ardennes region of Belgium, near the town of Spa. The circuit was first built in 1920 and has been a regular feature of the Formula 1 World Championship since the 1950s. It is known for its challenging and fast layout that includes a mix of high-speed straights and tight corners. The track is 7.004 km (4.352 mi) long, making it the longest track on the Formula 1 calendar.

The circuit features steep elevation changes, with a height difference of more than 40 meters between the highest and lowest points of the track. The most famous corners on the circuit are Eau Rouge, Pouhon and Blanchimont. Eau Rouge is a fast, uphill left-right combination that has become one of the most iconic corners in motorsports. Pouhon is a fast double left-hand corner, while Blanchimont is a fast right-hand corner that leads onto the longest straight on the circuit. The Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps is also one of the most popular tracks among drivers and fans alike.

Spa is more than double the length of Monaco’s Monte Carlo circuit, which measures only 3.337 km (2.075 mi). This difference in length affects the racing, as the longer Spa circuit allows for more overtaking opportunities and a greater variety of strategies. A Belgian Grand Prix covers 44 laps to reach the standard race distance of approximately 305 km, while a Monaco Grand Prix requires 78 laps to cover just 260 km.

Are All F1 Tracks the Same Length?

No, Formula 1 tracks are not all the same length. The length of a Formula 1 track varies from 3.337 km (2.075 mi) at Monaco to 7.004 km (4.352 mi) at Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium. Other tracks on the Formula 1 calendar fall between those two extremes, such as the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Canada at 4.361 km (2.710 mi) and the Circuit of the Americas in the United States at 5.513 km (3.426 mi).

Which Grand Prix Track Has the Longest Straight?

The longest straight on the Formula 1 calendar is found on the Neftchilar Avenue stretch in Baku, measuring 2.2 kilometres in length. This straight is known for its high speeds, with drivers reaching an average speed of over 200 km/h and a top speed of more than 350 km/h. The straight is the primary overtaking zone on the circuit, setting up cars for the heavy brake zone at Turn 1.

Are All F1 Tracks Clockwise?

No, not all Formula 1 tracks are run clockwise. While the majority of Formula 1 circuits run in a clockwise direction, several run anti-clockwise. The Interlagos circuit in Brazil is the most well-known anti-clockwise venue, and the Circuit of the Americas in the United States, Marina Bay in Singapore, the Jeddah Corniche Circuit in Saudi Arabia, and Yas Marina in Abu Dhabi also race in an anti-clockwise direction.

The direction of a circuit is typically determined by the geography and road layout of the site rather than any technical regulation. Many of the sport’s oldest circuits were adapted from public roads, and the natural flow of those roads dictated which way the cars would race. The FIA does not mandate a specific direction, though changing direction at an existing venue would require recertification of safety barriers, run-off areas, and marshalling positions.

What Is the Slowest Corner in F1?

The slowest corner on the Formula 1 calendar is the Fairmont Hairpin at the Monaco Grand Prix circuit, located below the Fairmont Monte Carlo hotel on the descent from Mirabeau. Drivers take the hairpin at speeds of around 40 km/h (25 mph) in first gear, turning the steering wheel almost to full lock to navigate the narrow radius. The combination of low speed, limited visibility, and the tight confines of the Monaco street circuit makes it one of the most challenging corners in the sport, and overtakes at the hairpin are rare because the approach angle and narrow track width leave almost no room for two cars side by side.

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Written by

Jarrod Partridge

Jarrod Partridge is the Co-Founder of F1 Chronicle and an FIA accredited journalist with over 30 years of experience following Formula 1. A member of the AIPS International Sports Press Association, Jarrod has covered F1 races at circuits around the world, bringing first-hand insight to every race report, driver profile, and technical analysis he writes.

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