What they’re and why they will host F1 races

Method 1 has a packed calendar that takes in 24 tracks throughout 21 international locations in 5 continents, however it takes greater than a pleasant ribbon of tarmac to hitch the championship.

F1 and the FIA have strict tips over what circuits can host a grand prix and so they have to be labeled as Grade 1 to qualify. This is the highest degree of the FIA’s seven-tiered system that covers every part from drag strips to rally levels.  

The FIA grading system units out the foundations and necessities for various venues, every masking varied security facets or observe traits. For Grade 1 venues, these are all with the intention of constructing the observe secure for vehicles with an influence to weight ratio of lower than 1hp/kg.  

The format necessities of a Grade 1 circuit 

The FIA has a set of primary necessities {that a} observe should meet with the intention to be labeled as Grade 1, however importantly a few of these solely apply to newly constructed venues.  

Firstly, the circuit itself have to be not less than 3.5km and not more than 7km in whole. The FIA additionally mandates that there must be no straights longer than 2km – Baku and its 2.2km straight are a uncommon exception to this rule.  

The subsequent massive necessities relate to the width of various circuits, in order that the tarmac is broad sufficient for vehicles to simply move with out being run into partitions, grass or gravel traps. The FIA mandates that circuits be a minimum of 12m broad, though momentary road tracks like Monaco get an exception to this rule. Within the principality, the observe averages round 10m broad throughout the lap, main some critics to argue that it isn’t match for in the present day’s two-metre-wide F1 vehicles.  

The beginning of the race should additionally meet a number of parameters, with the grid required to be not less than 15m broad and the beginning line positioned “ideally” 250m from the primary nook. Spots on the grid have to be spaced 6m aside, though for F1 this rises to 8m, and the primary flip ought to present a change of course of not less than 45 levels and have a radius of lower than 300m.  

There are additionally guidelines across the pitlane, which must be not less than 12m broad and adjoining to the start-finish straight. Pit entry and exit factors can’t intervene with the racing line, so vehicles don’t collide when rejoining the observe. 

Different guidelines cowl the gradient of a circuit, which may’t be greater than 2% on the beginning/end straight, and any banking on observe shouldn’t exceed 5.7 levels – though there are exceptions to this rule for Turns 3 and 14 at Zandvoort.  

The protection necessities of a Grade 1 circuit  

The rules round F1 circuits do not simply apply to the format of a observe, because the FIA additionally has strict necessities on the subject of circuit security.  

Runoff and crash barrier necessities range throughout every circuit

Picture by: Zak Mauger / LAT Pictures through Getty Pictures

Firstly, there are guidelines across the obstacles and runoff necessities for Grade 1 tracks, which differ from decrease grade circuits because of the greater speeds of the vehicles that race on them. These range observe by observe and depend upon nook layouts and the varieties of runoffs used – whether or not that’s grass, gravel or an extended tarmac escape highway earlier than a mix of deceleration beds, stopping obstacles, and energy-absorbing obstacles. 

Away from the observe itself, the FIA additionally has strict necessities concerning the medical services on website. From Grade 4 upwards, the medical centre have to be a everlasting fixture of the observe and for high-level occasions like F1, there must be not less than two docs current throughout the race weekend. There should even be not less than two surgeons on website who’re in a position to deal with accidents reminiscent of burns, spinal accidents and concussions.  

When it comes to the tech and services that have to be current in each medical centre, the FIA requires tools like ventilators, heart-rate screens, oxygen provides, x-rays, ultrasound tools, and extra. 

What different guidelines should Grade 1 tracks meet?  

The FIA has a complete host of different stipulations round the kind of circuits that may host F1 races. There are guidelines across the drainage on the straights in order that venues don’t get waterlogged, which incorporates reducing groves into the tarmac to assist waterflow and having a slope of as much as 1.7 levels.  

There may be additionally a posh method to calculate the variety of vehicles that may run on a Grade 1 observe, however F1 has its personal guidelines for the variety of runners.  

Promoting boards have to be safe

Picture by: Sam Bagnall / Motorsport Pictures

Then, there are guidelines round promoting tools at races, with the FIA mandating that promoting boards across the outdoors of the circuit have to be secure and safe, and so they shouldn’t intervene with drivers or officers’ visibility. Monitor surfaces should not allowed to hold adverts, and any advertisements on run-off areas mustn’t cut back the skid resistance that slows vehicles down within the occasion of a collision. 

Lastly, on the subject of the fan expertise, the FIA doesn’t have a algorithm round capability or infrastructure, however it does require that public areas are accessible to followers with disabilities. At the least, the FIA suggests putting in a chosen viewing space for disabled spectators, specialist bathroom services, reserved parking locations and paved pathways that enable folks in wheelchairs to get round. 

Each FIA Grade 1 circuit world wide 

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– The Motorsport.com Crew