We’re now halfway through F1’s first break of the year and this got me thinking about the circuits that I would’ve loved to see the sport return to in an ideal world. So, here’s my list of the tracks that I think are overdue a permanent place on the F1 calendar.
- Nürburging
Now I was back and forth between the Nürburgring and Hockenheim when thinking about the best F1 tracks that Germany has to offer, but ultimately it came down to preference as both circuits are more than deserving of hosting their own Grand Prix’s. Whilst there is a part of me that wanders what a modern day Formula 1 race would look like at the Nordschleife, reality pulls me back down to Earth and reminds me that a race like the Eifel Grand Prix in 2020 is much closer to what we would see. The ‘old’ Nürburgring is much revered for its endless complexities, imposing a level of intense intimidation on any driver that dared to conquer the ‘Green Hell’. But without taking away from the infamous track in its original configuration, the current circuit that would be suitable for F1 could still deliver an undeniably thrilling race given the changeable conditions and the remaining remnants of the original track that still remain on the current GP circuit.
2.Kyalami
With F1’s ever extending calendar, surely it makes sense for Kyalami to make its grand return to Formula 1? The sport does not currently have any races in Africa and given the vastness of the continent, there must be a circuit available to welcome F1 back. Well… almost, Kyalami is a Grade 2 certified circuit at the moment which doesn’t quite make the cut for Formula 1, if the murmurings of F1 retuning to Africa are to materialise a significant amount of work will need to be done to ensure that the circuit if ready for F1. Drivers have already vocalised their support to make a return to Africa and whilst this alone will not move us any closer to a Kyalami GP, it definitely doesn’t hurt to have the drivers on side.
3. Sepang
A return to Sepang seems like a no brainer, often regarded as Hermann Tilke’s magnum opus it has boasted a plethora of classic races that solidified it as a Formula 1 staple… until it wasn’t. There were a few contributing factors that saw this titan of F1 bow out from the sport, but with the interest and popularity of F1 at an all time high, a return to Malaysia doesn’t look too implausible. The last race that we had at Sepang was in 2017 so the track should still be suitable to regain its status as an F1 classic and provide many more legendary races that we will talk about in years to come.
4. Istanbul Park
When you hear Istanbul Park, the first things that comes to mind is turn 8, this iconic sector of the track has become its defining characteristic and you would be hard-pressed to find a better onboard than when the drivers steam around this circuit during a qualifying lap. We saw a return to Istanbul Park in 2021 and I don’t think it should’ve left in 2022. Looking at the 2023 calendar there are a few races that could easily be replaced without anyone really noticing and I think plugging that gap with the Turkish GP would be universally welcomed by those within the sport.
These tracks making an eventual return to Formula 1 is anyone’s guess at the moment, but if the calendar continues to grow who knows what the future has in store.
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