Set to be jam-packed with high-octane drama, the twisting and turning saga continues to unfold in Japan next week.
But which races stand out as the most memorable in F1 history? And which circuits are the absolute greatest? Inspired, the speed enthusiasts at BestBettingSites.com analysed YouTube views to firstly uncover the most unforgettable races to date, and further revealed the greatest F1 circuits of all time by considering factors such as venue capacity, circuit layout, lap record, max speed, and many more.
|
Rank |
Race |
Total number of YouTube views |
|
1 |
24,000,000 |
|
|
2 |
11,000,000 |
|
|
3= |
10,000,000 |
|
|
3= |
10,000,000 |
|
|
5= |
9,900,000 |
|
|
5= |
9,900,000 |
|
|
7 |
9,500,000 |
|
|
8= |
9,300,000 |
|
|
8= |
9,300,000 |
|
|
10 |
8,500,000 |
BestBettingSites.com can reveal that the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is the most iconic Formula 1 race, garnering a whopping 24 million views on YouTube to date. The title-deciding race witnessed rivals Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen entering the season finale neck and neck on points.
Verstappen ultimately clinched his maiden victory in high drama, overtaking Hamilton in what became one of the most controversial final laps in F1 history, ever. The 2022 British Grand Prix has proven to be the second most unforgettable to racing fans, earning an impressive 11 million YouTube views.
Despite a chaotic start that saw a scary multi-car collision, with Alfa Romeo's Zhou Guanyu barrel-rolling out of the race at Turn 1, the Grand Prix still featured several sensational moments after the restart, including Hamilton’s beautiful double overtake, as well as the big three (Ferrari, Red Bull and Mercedes) going wheel-to-wheel until the very end. Tied for third place are the 2022 and 2023 Australian Grand Prix, both accumulating a staggering 10 million views on YouTube.
The fast-flowing Albert Park circuit has been the backdrop for countless memorable F1 duels and heart-pounding races, with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc scoring his first career grand slam in 2022. The 2023 Australian Grand Prix, on the other hand, was a chaotic affair with three red flags and three restarts - a record in F1 history.
Top 15 greatest F1 tracks of all time revealed:
|
Rank |
Circuit |
Average attendance per day |
No. of turns |
Lap length (km) |
Max Speed (km/h) |
% of laps at full throttle |
Final score (/10) |
|
1 |
Monza Circuit, Italy |
112,216 |
17 |
5.793 |
350 |
84% |
9.05 |
|
2 |
Imola Circuit, Italy |
43,333 |
19 |
4.909 |
350 |
84% |
8.69 |
|
3 |
Circuit Silverstone, UK |
160,000 |
18 |
5.891 |
329.5 |
70% |
8.51 |
|
4 |
Jeddah Street Circuit, Saudi Arabia |
47,667 |
27 |
6.174 |
330 |
79% |
7.84 |
|
5 |
Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium |
126,667 |
19 |
7.004 |
319.6 |
70% |
7.75 |
|
6 |
Suzuka Circuit, Japan |
66,667 |
18 |
5.807 |
328 |
66% |
7.47 |
|
7= |
Baku City Circuit, Azerbaijan |
28,333 |
20 |
6.003 |
337 |
75% |
7.42 |
|
7= |
Red Bull Ring, Austria |
101,333 |
10 |
4.318 |
327.4 |
79% |
7.42 |
|
9 |
Albert Park, Australia |
104,779 |
16 |
5.278 |
250 |
65% |
7.21 |
|
10= |
Nurburgring, Germany |
44,000 |
15 |
5.148 |
316 |
74% |
7.19 |
|
10= |
Interlagos Circuit, Brazil |
78,667 |
15 |
4.309 |
331 |
64% |
7.19 |
|
12 |
Miami International Autodrome, US |
80,985 |
19 |
5.412 |
320 |
58% |
7.15 |
|
13 |
Circuit of the Americas, US |
146,667 |
20 |
5.513 |
325.3 |
59% |
7.09 |
|
14 |
Circuit Paul Ricard, France |
66,667 |
14 |
5.842 |
343 |
58% |
7.03 |
|
15 |
Circuit Zandvoort, Netherlands |
101,667 |
14 |
4.259 |
330.7 |
55% |
6.91 |
The data has also been visualised into a graphic, available for editorial use here.
Monza Circuit, Italy has been revealed to be the greatest F1 circuit with an impressive high score of 9.05/10. Fabled as the ‘temple of speed’, drivers spend 84% of lap time on full throttle with maximum speeds hitting a mind-boggling 350 km/h, due to its iconic blend of long straights and high-speed corners. Having hosted the most grand prix (72 races!) since the World Championships began, the historic track has been a witness to incredible wins, including McLaren’s 1-2 in 2021 with Daniel Ricciardo.
Taking second place is Imola, scoring a remarkable 8.69/10. Weaving through 19 turns, the 4.9 km Italian track which runs counter-clockwise has produced exhilarating races over the years, with a lap record time of 1:15:484 - one of the quickest on the F1 calendar.
The Silverstone Circuit ranks third (8.51/10), with the 2023 British Grand Prix being the second best-attended race on record, reaching a whopping attendance of over 480,000 per day on average. Boasting a huge capacity of 160,000 and a lap length of 5.891 km, Max Verstappen currently holds the lap record at 1:27:097, which he set in 2020. Races at Silverstone are also relatively unpredictable with over two-thirds (62%) of races ending with winners who didn’t start on pole.
Billed as the world’s fastest street circuit, one of the youngest F1 tracks Jeddah Street Circuit, Saudi Arabia, comes fourth (7.84/10), while Belgium’s Spa-Francorchamps (7.75/10) - the longest on the F1 calendar at 7.004 km - completes the top five.
