Madrid’s addition to the F1 calendar means there are “currently nine street or street-style circuits set to host races in 2026,” and it has "reached a saturation point," according to Luke Smith of THE ATHLETIC. The street races pose a “totally different challenge compared to the more ‘traditional’ circuit layouts in F1.” Yet, the “natural hurdles of designing these tracks -- and making them practically viable means they are often not conducive to good racing.” The proliferation of street tracks on the calendar is “also a consequence of Liberty Media’s push for more ‘destination cities’ on the schedule since acquiring the sport in 2017.” Grands prix are now “so much more than grands prix” -- it is “about everything surrounding the on-track action, too.” But nothing is “more critical than F1’s on-track spectacle.” If the show on the circuit “isn’t exciting or compelling, people will lose interest.” It feels like F1 “has reached its ceiling regarding the number of street tracks on the calendar.” Smith noted new purpose-built facilities “are rare,” but we “can still get close,” something proved by the popular Circuit of The Americas in Austin, Texas. Maintaining the presence of these kinds of circuits on the calendar “is essential for F1 to stay in touch with its history and roots.” F1’s senior leaders “know the balance they need to strike between old and new” ( THE ATHLETIC, 1/23 ).
RISKY SITUATION : ESPN.com’s Nate Saunders noted the question about street racing “resonates given the popularity of purpose-built racetracks” such as Austin's Circuit of the Americas, Spa-Francorchamps, Suzuka and Silverstone. The growth of the calendar in this decade “has led to fears of F1 moving away from more conventional racing circuits and even, in some cases, beloved destinations.” As Las Vegas demonstrated in November, and as Miami has for different reasons in its first two iterations, “any new F1 race -- whether on a street circuit or a more conventional track -- will ultimately be judged by the on-track product.” Other new street circuits “have had their moments, too.” Saudi's race is an “almost frightening spectacle,” given some of the speeds cars carry through the Jeddah Corniche Circuit's “tight and twisty sections, and has featured plenty of overtaking since arriving in F1.” Baku has been a “mixed bag -- either wildly and chaotically entertaining or relatively timid and processional” -- while Singapore last year “produced a gripping spectacle” ( ESPN.com, 1/23 ).
