Perhaps the greatest Grand Prix here was in 1998, where Michael Schumacher in the lead, lapping 3s faster than anyone else, came up on David Coulthard in 8th — a full 2m 13s behind — to put the Scott a lap down. Just as John Watson commented on television that he hoped Coulthard “doesn’t do anything too rash to stop Michael from going by and getting those points,” Coulthard suddenly backed off to let Schumacher overtake. But Coulthard kept his car in the racing line, and blinded by the spray from Coulthard’s tires, Schumacher plowed into the back of the McLaren at full speed, ripping off the front right suspension to transform his Ferrari into a three-wheeled monster. Official Spa Site.

The circuit itself has remained virtually unchanged from its original, the Rascasse turn was slightly altered for the 2003 race but the major change was in 2004 when the formerly cramped pit complex was moved and replaced. Because of its tight confines and punishing nature, Monaco has often thrown up unexpected results. Surprising winners include Jarno Trulli in a Renault (2004), Olivier Panis in a Ligier (1996) and Patrick Depailler in a Tyrell (1978). But Monaco has more often seen long dominating strings of victories by some of the sport’s best drivers. For the decade from 1984 to 1993 the race was won by only Frenchman Alain Prost and Brazilian Ayrton Senna, the latter having hoisted the trophy from Monaco’s Prince Ranier III six times. Graham Hill earlier won five times in the 1960s, Michael Schumacher five times and Sterling Moss and Jackie Stewart three times each. Official Automobile Club de Monaco Site.

Located in the Royal Villa of Monza park in a woodland setting north of Milan, Monza has claimed the lives of 52 drivers and 35 spectators, and is still criticised by current drivers for its lack of run-off areas, most notoriously at the first chicane, the Variante della Roggia. Its now-decaying Pista di Alta Velocità banked oval, used for just two 500-mile races in 1957 and 1958, is nonetheless immortalized in the classic 1967 movie Grand Prix. Rubens Barrichello recorded the fastest ever pole position lap at Monza in 2004 when he lapped in 1m 20.089s, 161.802 mph. But in pre-qualifying at the same race (which did not count for grid position) Juan Pablo Montoya came through in 1m 19.525s (162.949 mph), which remains the fastest lap ever recorded in an F1 car. Official Autodromo Nazionale Monza Site.

Controversy has certainly been a feature at the circuit, with the infamous collisions involving Alain Prost and Ayrton Senna, as well as Nigel Mansell’s 1987 practice crash, all making headlines. Most of these controversies result from the race’s frequent role as title-decider, with Piquet, Senna, Prost, Hill, Häkkinen and Schumacher all celebrating World Championship successes here. Suzuka is always remembered for having the most memorable first-corner incident of all time when Senna shunted Prost off off in 1990, settling the championship in his favour. So popular is the Grand Prix among the crazed Japanese F1 fans that tickets are allocated by lottery. Like all tracks, Suzuka has made subtle modifications over the years in the battle against rising speeds, although except for one chicane it remains hardly different today from the version first used for the Japanese GP in 1987. That so little of the John Hugenholtz-designed masterpiece has changed is precisely why several F1 drivers name it as their favorite track. Official Suzuka Circuit Site.

There is no denying Interlagos is one of Formula One’s most atmospheric venues. The track itself may be a bit frayed around the edges, but the circuit positively throbs with enthusiasm from throngs of ultra-passionate Brazilian F1 fans. The track is one of a small proporion of F1 road courses to go in a counter-clockwise direction. Its many low-speed corners requiring quick exits place a great strain on transmissions, leading to numerous retirements, as do the notorious downpours that seemingly appear out of nowhere. In the memorable 1993 Brazilian GP, eventual World Champion Alain Prost spun out after aquaplaning in torrential rains through downhill turns 1-2, now known as the “S do Senna,” or Senna S, in honor of the emotional winner of that race, the late three-time drivers’ champion Ayrton Senna. Perhaps the most thrilling GP race at Interlagos was the finale of the 2008 F1 season, in which Lewis Hamilton passed for 5th and, 39.09s after Felipe Massa had crossed the start-finish line as the winner (and presumptive world champion), won the Formula One World Championship in the last corner of the last lap of the last race of the year. The fastest race lap at Interlagos is a 1:11.473, set by Juan Pablo Montoya in 2004 in a Williams-BMW, a pace that current F1 cars — after a series of engine-displacement and downforce reductions — cannot quite match even in qualifying. Official Interlagos Site.

The circuit has witnessed some memorable F1 racing moments as the home of the Spanish Grand Prix since its opening. In 1991, Ayrton Senna and Nigel Mansell went down the entire front straight side-by-side while dueling for second place, James Hunt screaming with the excitement on British television, with Mansell eventually taking the position and ultimately the race itself — a battle Michael Schumacher calls “one of the coolest moments I’ve seen in F1.” In 1994, Michael spectacularly managed to finish in P2 despite driving more than half the race with only fifth gear. In 1996, Schumacher took his first win as a Ferrari driver, after a dominant performance during a torrential rainstorm. The 1999 race was notable as there was only one reported overtaking move during the race. In 2001, Mika Häkkinen suffered a clutch failure while leading the race on the last lap, handing the win to Schumacher. During the 2006 GP, Fernando Alonso became the first Spanish Formula One driver to win at his home country’s track. Official Catalunya Site.

Current F1 Circuits

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