Which circuits are on each the F1 and MotoGP calendars?

Race tracks are sometimes used throughout totally different motorsport championships, however solely 5 Grade 1 tracks at present host the pinnacles of four- and two-wheeled sport: F1 and MotoGP.   

Many extra have been used for each championships previously – so what are these circuits?  

Circuit of The Americas – USA

Circuit of The Americas ended the USA’s five-year absence from the F1 calendar when it turned the brand new host of the US Grand Prix in 2012.

It was solely two years after building of the circuit had begun as COTA turned America’s first purpose-built observe for FIA and FIM (the F1 and MotoGP governing our bodies) occasions to switch Indianapolis, which hosted USA’s final F1 grand prix in 2007.   

Watching this state-of-the-art venue get constructed, MotoGP needed in on the motion, so a deal was agreed for COTA to make its debut on that calendar in 2013. It was named the Grand Prix of the Americas as on the time USA had two different rounds on the calendar – US GP held at Laguna Seca and the Indianapolis GP at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. 

Valtteri Bottas, Alfa Romeo C43

Picture by: Alfa Romeo

COTA has since featured yearly on each calendars – bar the COVID-struck 2020 season – because it has turn out to be a extremely popular observe amongst drivers, riders and followers alike. 

This is because of its quick nature with lengthy straights and high-speed bends which makes a lap very enjoyable whereas paving the way in which for some wonderful racing. The long term-off areas additionally make COTA appropriate for MotoGP as they supply ample area for riders to decelerate earlier than hitting a barrier.   

However, there may be an nearly 30-second distinction between the COTA lap data for F1 and MotoGP. This comes as no shock although as a result of, though the highest velocity of an F1 automotive is just like a MotoGP bike, it has far superior cornering velocity which is especially wanted in COTA’s flexible sector one.

COTA can be a giant circuit at 3.4 miles which implies variations in lap occasions are usually greater. 

Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya – Spain

Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya was marketed because the Grand Prix of the Olympic Video games because the Spanish metropolis held the 1992 version.

The observe was subsequently constructed as a part of the event programme for that 12 months’s summer time video games, having opened to the general public in 1991 when it changed Jerez as F1’s new host of the Spanish GP.  

A 12 months later, Barcelona began internet hosting the European bike GP – Jerez was the Spanish bike GP – till 1995 earlier than switching to the Catalan GP. 

Jorge Martin, Pramac Racing

Picture by: MotoGP

Barcelona has remained on each calendars ever since, whereas on many events being utilized in testing for F1 and MotoGP. In consequence, rivals of each collection are extremely acquainted with Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya and additionally it is standard amongst some as a consequence of its excessive elevation adjustments, quick corners and lengthy important straight which makes it a difficult and thrilling observe. 

Nonetheless, the circuit’s future is doubtful as a result of Madrid will turn out to be the brand new host of F1’s Spanish GP from 2026, which can be the 12 months Barcelona’s MotoGP contract expires.  

Losail Worldwide Circuit – Qatar

Qatar is a reasonably new addition to the F1 championship, but it surely has been a MotoGP staple for a few years.

Losail Worldwide Circuit made its MotoGP debut in 2004 to turn out to be considerably of a pioneer for the Center East. It was one of many first nations to deliver motorsports into the area alongside Bahrain, which joined F1 in 2004.   

The circuit made additional historical past 4 years later as Qatar hosted MotoGP’s first-ever evening race. Qatar has solely missed one MotoGP season – 2020 – since its debut as a consequence of COVID, whereas in 2021 it hosted two rounds due to the pandemic.   

That was additionally the 12 months Losail made its F1 debut the place it hosted that season’s third-to-last spherical. 

Alex Albon, Williams FW45

Picture by: Williams

Qatar’s second race got here in 2023 – it was absent in 2022 because of the FIFA World Cup – the place it obtained criticism from drivers and followers alike as the intense situations enforced a three-stop technique, whereas many drivers struggled with the climate together with Logan Sargeant who retired as a consequence of exhaustion.

The Qatar GP doesn’t have the identical downside although, as it’s held at a a lot totally different time of 12 months the place temperatures are decrease. 

Additionally it is no shock that it has stayed on the MotoGP calendar for therefore lengthy as a result of, just like Austin and Barcelona, quick bends, lengthy straights and massive run-off areas makes it ultimate for bikes.

Silverstone – United Kingdom

Silverstone held F1’s inaugural grand prix in 1950, though it wasn’t till 1987 that it lastly turned the British GP’s everlasting venue after sharing with Aintree and Manufacturers Hatch. 

In 1977, Silverstone began internet hosting the British GP. Silverstone misplaced the rights to Donington Park in 1987 earlier than regaining it in 2010, nonetheless, biking followers have since did not heat to the circuit hoping for the Leicestershire observe to return. 

There have additionally been moments of controversy for each collection on the English venue. In 2018, the circuit was resurfaced to take away important bumps that proved problematic for MotoGP riders. However Lewis Hamilton was crucial of this as he stated the circuit is “the quickest it is ever been” but known as it “wasted cash, which may’ve gone to significantly better use”.

Marc Marquez, Repsol Honda Staff

Picture by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Pictures

Later that 12 months, the MotoGP spherical needed to be cancelled after prolonged delays on the Sunday because the resurfaced observe proved unable to empty rainwater and was deemed too harmful to race on. However, whereas MotoGP followers would possibly need a return to Donington Park, Silverstone and F1 are intrinsically linked to at least one one other with it being many individuals’s favorite circuit as a consequence of its environment, difficult corners and lots of overtaking spots.  

Silverstone can be a protracted lap at 3.6 miles that means it’s no shock that of the 5 circuits on each calendars, the British observe has the most important distinction – 32 seconds – between its lap data for F1 and MotoGP. 

Purple Bull Ring – Austria

Austria made its debut on the F1 calendar when its Styrian circuit was named the Osterreichring, which was a extremely daunting configuration that remained till 1995 – eight years after the venue had left the collection.   

The circuit was completely rebuilt for 1996, when the now-named A1-Ring changed the fearsome Salzburgring as host of the MotoGP Austrian GP. F1 got here to the brand new observe in 1997, which was additionally its closing 12 months internet hosting bike racing for fairly a while as a consequence of low crowds. Austria then stayed on the F1 calendar till 2003. 

Purple Bull founder Dietrich Mateschitz purchased the circuit in 2004, therefore the venue’s present title, aiming to revive it to what it as soon as was and F1 lastly returned to the observe in 2014, two years earlier than MotoGP did the identical. 

Max Verstappen, Purple Bull Racing RB19, Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF-23, Carlos Sainz, Ferrari SF-23

Picture by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Pictures

In that point, the Purple Bull Ring has turn out to be a preferred vacation spot for followers as a consequence of its central European location which makes it simpler for worldwide travellers. Additionally it is very properly fitted to each collection as a result of it’s a very fast lap with difficult bends, elevation adjustments and quick straights.  

Additionally it is a brief lap at solely 2.7 miles inflicting the distinction in lap time between F1 and MotoGP to be smaller than it’s at circuits like COTA, Losail and Silverstone. Since 2022 although, MotoGP has used a barely totally different structure as a chicane follows Flip 1 in order that bikes are usually not going as fast into the Flip 3 hairpin on the high of the hill.  

Circuits to have beforehand hosted races in F1 and MotoGP