As Formula 1 prepares for its 75th year as the world’s top motorsport series, F1 has seen its fair share of terrible circuits in its history.
Since its inception in 1950, F1 has raced on six continents. However, new tracks were not always success stories.
While some circuits made an instant impression, factors beyond their control curtailed their tenure in the sport.
But other circuits, when mentioned, are met with an expression of haughty derision, not missed after their departure.
Some circuits do not last long in the cutthroat world of F1, whether due to bad design, political factors, a lack of overtaking that created procession races, or ill-thought-out locations.
While the circuits selected below are just the tip of the proverbial iceberg, they are the most prominent of the last 40 years.
Korea – Korean International Circuit, Yeongham
South Korea burst onto the F1 scene in 2010, hosting a thrilling inaugural race as the five-way title battle reached its conclusion.
Sadly, this proved to be the high point for the Yeongham International Circuit, as the track never lived up to its potential.
The location proved to be the most problematic issue for the teams to overcome, with the track 250 miles from Seoul.
This led to logistical nightmares, as the teams required extensive transport from Seoul airport, hardly an easy task in F1’s modern era.
Such was the discontent over Korea commentator Martin Brundle bemoaned, “Do we really have to go there?” during a live broadcast.
The terrain also played a significant part in the circuit’s negative perception, as it was built in swampland, resulting in a far-from-pictureque setting.
Billed as a ‘destination race’, the lofty ambitions of the organisers included a large marina within the track, which never came to fruition.
After failing to match its thrilling first race, Yeongham hosted its final Grand Prix in 2013 after an organisational disaster.
An on-track incident led to the deployment of the Safety Car; however, after accidentally being let out ahead of it, a fire truck greeted the cars.
After 2013, Korea held provisional status for the next two years before being dropped from the calendar, with F1 yet to return.
Korea was a disappointing mistake, a victim of hype, unfulfilled promise, and an awkward location, which resulted in apathy towards the track.
Spain – Valencia Street Circuit
The early 2000s saw a boom in an attempt to replicate street racing similar to Monaco by bringing F1 to the centre of cities (and, in theory, the fans).
Valencia joined the F1 circus in 2008, debuting alongside Singapore’s now famous night race, but only the latter remains on the calendar.
Indeed, the circuit now lies in ruins, abandoned after its final race in 2012. Nature is reclaiming the place where once V8 cars screamed in harmony with excited fans.
This track had several major issues that contributed to its collapse despite never failing to fill its grandstands: location, funding and a layout devoid of any personality.
The location in the port of Valencia, sharing the location with America’s Cup sailing, should have been picturesque, with the track providing action over this backdrop.
Instead, the tight and twisty nature of the circuit caused overtaking to become a commodity, with the feature of a bridge proving to be a bit of a lame duck.
The track’s design struggled further due to the decision to paint all the walls, concrete and kerbs the same colour scheme. This resulted in a disorientating experience when watching TV.
However, it was funding that sealed Valencia’s fate. Although fan numbers attending the race were good, maintenance costs and hosting fees were causing headaches behind the scenes.
The organisers ran out of funds to carry out essential work to the track. Although enthusiastic when the contract was signed, the Valencia government refused to step in to help the organisers.
Falling off the calendar not long afterwards, Valencia remains a destination for die-hard F1 fans to pilgrimage, standing on the ruined remains of a once proud and packed F1 circuit.
It was a costly failure, and few mourn its loss.
Paul Ricard: 2018-2021 iteration
The original Paul Ricard circuit, which F1 visited between 1969 and 1991, had a primarily positive history until Elio de Angelis died in 1986.
Dramatic changes were made to the circuit to shorten its length, cutting out the corner where de Angelis lost his life. This dramatically impacted the spectacle, with the French Grand Prix moving to Magny Cours until 2008, when the race fell off the calendar entirely.
F1 returned to Paul Ricard in 2021. It is now mainly a test venue, but it is undoubtedly an eyesore for anyone blessed with the gift of sight.
All traces of grass, gravel and personality were replaced by a vast sea of differently coloured painted tarmac. Far from purely decorative, the colours indicated the level of grip found if a driver strayed off the racing line. Blue resulted in low level grip, while red bordered extreme.
While this mattered little to the fans happy to see France’s return to the F1 calendar, it became clear that organisers had severely underestimated the level of interest in the race weekend. Fans flocked to the circuit, generating extreme queues.
Fans missed sessions stuck in traffic, while further delays upon arrival led to a poor experience inside the circuit. Organisers placed a cap on numbers in 2021, but the damage was already done.
Despite witnessing a dramatic crash on the opening lap in 2018, Paul Ricard became known for its location rather than its on-track action. It fell off the calendar in 2021, with no plans to return.
United States – Caesar’s Palace
F1 has raced in Las Vegas before the street circuit on The Strip was introduced in 2023. However, all traces of the sport’s last visit to Sin City are now long gone, which might be for the best.
In the 1980s, F1 Supremo Bernie Ecclestone planned to tap into the vast and lucrative American market and set his sights on the fabled city.
The idea was simple: drivers and teams would stay in Las Vegas, and the hotels would attract racegoers to the gambling tables, added to the calendar as the season’s final race. However, in this case, the house most definitely lost.
Instead of a street circuit, organisers created a track in the car park behind the Caesar’s Palace Hotel. High concrete walls masked the cars, creating a viewing problem for the few fans who did turn up due to the sweltering Mojave heat.
The track’s tight, twisting zig-zag nature and the heat caused car and driver issues galore as they struggled under the strain.
Instead of a championship fight in its inaugural year of 1981, Alan Jones dominated in his Williams, compiling further misery on the organisers.
The track was shortened for 1982, but the same fundamental issues plagued the race. Fans stayed away, not wanting to catch Sunstroke, and the location of a car park had as much chance of being ignored as a bull at a fine china tea party.
F1 did not return for 1983, with the circuit in deep financial crisis, and it proved unpopular. Visit the site today, and a hotel now stands there. Even if not agreeable to gambling, it makes a better spectacle than the debacle attempt to host a race in a car park.
Feature Image Credit: Goodwood via Steve Etherington/LAT Images)
