Which F1 Race Has The Most Laps?

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If you’ve watched multiple Formula 1 races, you may have realized that each track has a set amount of laps. To many people it might seem random, but the number of laps is dependent on the length of the track. But which F1 race has the most laps?

In F1, the Monaco Grand Prix is the race with most laps. This is because it’s the shortest track on the calendar at just over 2 miles long. The lap count for each Grand Prix is based on a set distance of at least 305 km (189.518 miles), but Monaco only reaches a total race distance of about 260 km.

The length of the track determines the number of laps of a given F1 race, and as each track is a slightly different length, there are usually varying numbers of laps. Below, we go through the rules about F1 race lengths, and discuss the F1 races with the most and fewest laps over the years.

How Many Laps Is An F1 Race?

An F1 race varies in terms of the number of laps, as this is decided by the length of the track itself. The current F1 regulations state that an F1 race must consist of the smallest number of laps that takes the total race distance to at least 305 km, or 189.518 miles.

The race distance is always roughly the same in Formula 1 no matter which circuit the cars are racing on. Race distance in Formula 1 will always cover 305 kilometers (about 190 miles). This rule has been in place since 1989, so all circuits will have the same amount of laps each season, provided their layouts don’t change.

Each circuit is unique in terms of its length, and in order to be able to cover the full race distance of 190 miles, each circuit will need a different number of laps. Shorter circuits will require more laps and longer circuits will need fewer laps.

How To Determine The Number Of Laps

To get the number of laps of an F1 race, you simply divide 305 km by the circuit’s length in kilometers. This will equal the number of laps that the race needs. The only exception to this rule is Monaco, which runs a distance of about 162 miles, simply because the cars run at lower speeds, and there is a time limit to contend with as well.

Formula 1 races have a time limit of two hours. As long as the cars are running and the track is green, the race has to run from start to finish within two hours (this can increase if there are safety cars/red flags). Running the Monaco Grand Prix for longer than 162 miles would risk the race being longer than two hours in case of rain or a safety car period (which is highly likely at Monaco).

History Of Race Distance In Formula 1

Formula 1 race distances have not always been the same though. The current “190 miles in under two hours” rule was implemented in 1989, which makes it relatively recent in the long history of Formula 1.

Prior to this rule, Formula 1 races were run for more than 190 miles and up to three hours between 1950 and 1957. This is because the cars were much slower, meaning that it was practically impossible for them complete 190 miles in under three hours.

In 1984 the total race distance was set at 190 miles (305 kilometers), including the formation lap at the start of the Grand Prix. This means the races were slightly shorter than what they are today. In 1989 the rule was implemented for races to be run at 190 miles (305 kilometers) in under two hours, excluding formation laps.

What F1 Race Has The Most Laps?

The F1 race with the most laps on the calendar is Monaco. The Monaco Grand Prix has a total of 78 laps on race day, which is very high for Formula 1. No other circuit on the calendar has more than 72 laps, with Zandvoort in the Netherlands having the second highest number of laps.

On the current calendar there are a couple of circuits that have quite a high lap count. A number of circuits have lap counts that go into the 70s. Some notable examples are the Red Bull Ring, Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, the Hungaroring, the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez and Interlagos.

The Monaco street circuit is one of the most glamorous and famous events on the entire Formula 1 calendar. It’s also the shortest circuit on the calendar which is why it has the greatest number of laps in order to complete the race distance, even though its total race distance of 162 miles is shorter than that of other races (190 miles).

Which F1 Race Has The Fewest Laps?

The F1 race with the fewest laps is the Belgian Grand Prix at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, which runs the full race distance of 190 miles in just 44 laps. This is the fewest number of laps by a long way, with the second fewest being Jeddah in Saudi Arabia with 50 laps.

Spa is the longest lap on the Formula 1 calendar at around 4.3 miles. The Spa circuit is one of the most beloved circuits on the Formula 1 calendar by both fans and drivers. With long straights and sweeping fast corners, it’s an incredible experience to witness a Formula 1 car driving around Spa, even on the television screen.

What F1 Race Had The Most Laps Ever?

The F1 race with most laps was the Indianapolis Grand Prix which, during the 1950s, held 500 mile Grands Prix that totaled 200 laps. The longest F1 race outside of Indianapolis was the 77-lap 1951 French Grand Prix at the Reims-Gueux course, which totaled 601.832 km, or 373.961 miles.

The 2011 Canadian Grand Prix holds the record for the longest race duration. The race was only 70 laps, but it took a total of 4 hours 4 minutes and 39.537 seconds to complete. The race was stopped for two hours due to heavy rain. Following this, the rule was brought in that a race has to be completed within four hours, including red flags.

What F1 Race Had The Fewest Laps Ever?

The 2021 Belgian Grand Prix was the F1 race with the fewest laps. The race lasted just one lap, which was completed under the safety car, with a total time of 3 minutes and 27.071 seconds, and a total distance of just 6.880 km (4.275 mi).

The shortest race without a red flag goes to the 2003 Italian Grand Prix with a total time of 1 hour 14 minutes and 19.838 seconds, and the race had 53 laps. The race ran the full required distance of 190 miles, but it was just done exceptionally quickly!

This is mainly because of how fast the Monza circuit is. It’s the fastest track on the calendar, and it had an average race speed of 247.585 km/h (153 miles per hour) which was the fastest ever average race speed of a Grand Prix.

How Many Laps Are There In Each F1 Race In 2022?

CountryTrackTrack Length (km)Track Length (miles)Race Distance (km)Race Distance (miles)Number of Laps
BahrainBahrain International Circuit5.4123.362308.238191.53057
Saudi ArabiaJeddah Corniche Circuit6.1753.836308.750191.84850
AustraliaAlbert Park Circuit5.3033.295307.574191.11858
ItalyAutodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari (Imola)4.9093.050309.049192.03463
United StatesMiami International Autodrome5.0413.132308.370191.61257
SpainCircuit de Barcelona-Catalunya4.6552.892306.049190.17066
MonacoCircuit de Monaco3.3372.073260.286161.73378
AzerbaijanBaku City Circuit6.0033.730306.049190.17051
CanadaCircuit Gilles Villeneuve4.3612.709305.270189.68570
Great BritainSilverstone Circuit5.8913.660306.198190.26252
AustriaRed Bull Ring4.3182.683306.452190.42071
FranceCircuit Paul Ricard5.8423.630309.690192.43253
HungaryHungaroring4.3812.722306.630190.53170
BelgiumCircuit de Spa-Francorchamps7.0044.352308.052191.41444
NetherlandsCircuit Zandvoort4.2592.646306.648190.54272
ItalyAutodromo Nazionale Monza5.7933.599306.720190.58853
RussiaSochi Autodrom5.8483.633309.745192.46653
SingaporeMarina Bay Circuit5.0633.146306.720190.58661
JapanSuzuka Circuit5.8073.608307.471191.05353
United StatesCircuit of the Americas (COTA)5.5133.425308.405191.63356
MexicoAutódromo Hermanos Rodríguez4.3042.674305.354189.73871
BrazilAutódromo José Carlos Pace4.3092.677305.879190.06471
United Arab EmiratesYas Marina Circuit5.5543.451305.355189.73858

Final Thoughts

The Monaco Grand Prix is the F1 race with the most laps, with a total of 78 laps to cover a 260 km (162 mile) race distance. While it is the F1 race with the most laps, it is also the shortest F1 race. The F1 race with the fewest laps is the Belgian Grand Prix, with a total of 44 laps.