Which F1 Track Has The Most Corners?

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F1 cars are all about cornering. Their high downforce gives them the ability to take corners at incredible speeds, sometimes even close to 200 miles per hour. Each track on the calendar is unique in that it has a different number of corners, and some F1 tracks have a lot more corners than others.

The F1 track with the most corners is the Jeddah Corniche Circuit in Saudi Arabia, with 27 in total. It’s a fast paced street circuit which makes it one of the most exhilarating tracks on the calendar as well. The F1 track with the fewest corners is the Red Bull Ring in Austria, with 10.

Not only does each circuit have a different number of corners, but each corner is also unique. There are some incredible corners that only a Formula 1 car can blast through at high speeds, and below we take a look at not only the tracks with the most corners, but also the best corners in F1.

F1 Corners Explained

Naturally, a circuit with more corners usually means longer lap times in Formula 1. Corners mean that the cars have to slow down, navigate through the corner, and build up their speed again. This is why we don’t often see quick lap times on circuits with a lot of corners even if they are relatively short. However, it does depend more on the layout of the circuit.

One scenario where the lap times and number of corners don’t correlate involves Monaco and Monza. Monaco has eight corners more than Monza does, yet a lap at Monaco is somewhere in the region of 1 minute 13 seconds, whereas at Monza it’s about 1 minute 25 seconds. So, number of corners doesn’t always correlate with lap time.

Flat Out Corners

This is largely down to what is defined as a corner in F1. Some corners, like hairpins and 90 degree turns, are clearly corners indeed. However, others are more of a kink in a straight, like “turn 2” at the Red Bull Ring. Drivers take it flat out, and barely change direction, yet it’s still classed as a corner. There are multiple cases like this on the 27-corner Jeddah Circuit.

However, some corners that drivers take flat in modern F1 cars do involve a definite change in direction, like Copse at Silverstone or 130R at Suzuka. These are spectacular corners that the drivers can take flat out due to the massive amount of downforce they have. The best example is Turkey’s quadruple-apex turn 8, which is effectively a super long hairpin, that the drivers take flat out.

The 3 F1 Tracks With The Most Corners

1. Jeddah Corniche Circuit, Saudi Arabia – 27 Corners

The Jeddah street circuit is relatively new to the Formula 1 calendar. Construction on the track was only completed around a week before Formula 1 was due to race there in 2021. It’s the fastest street circuit on the F1 calendar, and it has the most corners of any track on the calendar as well.

A lot of the corners on the Jeddah circuit are really just kinks that the drivers barely even notice, never mind lift off the throttle. However, given the narrow aspects of the circuit, some of these are more challenging than other kinks on slower or more open sections of other tracks. There are arguably only around 20 (or fewer) proper corners on the circuit, but 27 officially.

The circuit was deemed by many to be incredibly dangerous because of the high speeds that the cars would reach in the narrow sections of the track, combined with several blind corners. Although nothing serious happened at the inaugural Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, it remains a serious concern and changes may be made to the track in the future.

2. Marina Bay Street Circuit, Singapore – 23 Corners

The Marina Bay Street Circuit in Singapore is a track that has received a lot of praise and love from Formula 1 fans and drivers alike. It was host to Formula 1’s very first night race, and the first of the modern street tracks to be added to the calendar.

The track has held up well during its time in Formula 1, and has recently signed a seven year deal to host Formula 1 until at least 2028. The circuit has 23 corners in total, and before 2021 it was the circuit with most corners on the Formula 1 calendar. The Singapore Grand Prix rarely fails to deliver excitement, and the street circuit is a real challenge for the drivers to conquer.

3. Baku City Circuit, Azerbaijan & COTA, United States – 20 Corners

In third place for the F1 tracks with the most turns we actually have two circuits. Both the Baku street circuit and the Circuit of the America in Texas have 20 corners. Before the 2021 layout changes, the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi had the third most corners with 21.

The Baku City Circuit in Azerbaijan is a relatively new circuit, first appearing on the calendar in 2016. The Baku street circuit has played host to some of the most dramatic moments in recent Formula 1 history, making it a real fan favorite.

The Circuit of the Americas, or COTA, in Texas has been on the Formula 1 calendar since 2012. It has been the only US Grand Prix on the Formula 1 calendar since Indianapolis was removed after the 2006 season, but 2022 sees Miami join as a second US GP.

The Track With The Most Corners In Formula 1 History
The Jeddah Circuit in Saudi Arabia might have 27 corners, which is a lot for a modern Formula 1 circuit. However, it’s nowhere close to the highest number of corners on a circuit in Formula 1 history. That record goes to the Nürburgring’s Nordschleife layout which has an incredible 154 corners over nearly 13 miles.

Formula 1 has not raced at the Nordschleife since the 1970s due to it being one of the most dangerous circuits in the world, and not suited to modern F1 cars. Multiple drivers lost their lives at this circuit, and it was also the site of Niki Lauda’s horrific fiery accident at the last race there, in 1976.

The Nordschleife is still used today by other forms of motorsport, such as endurance and GT racing, but it is too long and too dangerous to host Formula 1 races. The circuit posed a real challenge to teams, but especially to drivers who had to navigate their way through 154 corners throughout a Grand Prix – and before racing simulators were around to help them learn the track!

2022 F1 Tracks By Number Of Corners

CircuitNumber of Corners
Jeddah Corniche Circuit, Saudi Arabia27
Marina Bay Street Circuit, Singapore23
Baku City Circuit, Azerbaijan20
Circuit of the Americas, USA20
Imola Circuit, Italy19
Miami International Autodrome, USA19
Circuit de Monaco, Monaco19
Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium19
Silverstone Circuit, Great Britain18
Sochi Autodrom, Russia18
Suzuka Circuit, Japan18
Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, Mexico17
Albert Park Circuit, Australia16
Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, Spain16
Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi16
Bahrain International Circuit, Bahrain15
Circuit Paul Ricard, France15
Autódromo José Carlos, Brazil15
Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Canada14
Hungaroring, Hungary14
Circuit Zandvoort, Netherlands14
Monza Circuit, Italy11
Red Bull Ring, Austria10

What Is The Slowest Corner In F1?

The Monaco hairpin, also known as the Fairmont Hairpin, is the slowest corner on the Formula 1 calendar, and the cars go just 30 miles per hour through here. Formula 1 cars do not have a great turning circle, so in order to get the car to turn more they need to slow down as much as possible.

Formula 1 is not synonymous with being slow, but there are a few slower corners on the calendar. The slowest corners are usually the hairpin corners, as the cars need to shed off a huge amount of speed before turning 180 degrees and going the opposite direction.

The Fairmont Hairpin is tight and narrow, which means drivers have to slow down even further through this corner in modern Formula 1 cars, which are much bigger than cars of the past. We’ve seen many traffic jams and low speed collisions at this corner in past races, and that likely won’t change in the future!

What Is The Fastest Corner In F1?

The fastest corner in F1 is either Suzuka’s 130R or Spa’s Blanchimont, both of which modern F1 cars can take at around 190 mph. These corners requires a lot of bravery and commitment, but can be taken at full throttle in a modern F1 car thanks to the cars’ massive amounts of downforce.

F1 cars’ incredible downforce and aerodynamics gives them the advantage over all other motorsports through high speed corners. This is a Formula 1 car’s biggest strength, and it’s what sets them apart from other racing cars.

The 8 Best Corners In F1

1. Eau Rouge And Raidillon Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps

First up is the famous Eau Rouge/Raidillon combination at Spa. The corner’s name translates to “red water” and (roughly) “steep slope/path/road”, which represents the close by river, and the steep run up Raidillon. This corner has been famous for years now, and it has long been one of the most challenging corners on the circuit.

On TV it might not look as steep as it actually is in real life, but Raidillon has a gradient of nearly 25%. However, that’s not necessarily the problem with Eau Rouge. It’s more the fact that there’s a steep downhill straight before the corner at the bottom of the hill, before it shoots back up again.

At the top of the hill cars are approaching 120 miles per hour before a blind left hand corner launches them back onto the straight again. It takes a huge amount of bravery and confidence to take this corner flat out in a Formula 1 car!

2. 130R – Suzuka Circuit

Suzuka is a fast and flowing circuit, and a favorite of many drivers, teams and fans. The track is famous for several different corners, especially the entirety of the first sector which has a great flow to it and keeps the average speed of the cars incredibly high.

However, it’s when you get to the final sector of Suzuka where the speed really begins to pick up. At the end of the back straight you’ll find the famous 130R, which is a left hand corner with a radius of 130 degrees (hence “130R”) that is taken flat out in a modern Formula 1 car.

Leading up this corner, the cars actually start traveling uphill, but still barrel towards 130R at upwards of 150 miles per hour. By the time they reach the left hand kink the cars are usually doing 190 miles per hour, and they don’t lift off the throttle to get round it.

3. Maggots And Becketts Silverstone Circuit

While not really one corner (much like Eau Rouge and Raidillon), you can’t have Becketts without Maggots or vice versa at Silverstone! This complex of fast corners is another one that is world famous in Formula 1. It’s almost as if these corners were built just for Formula 1 cars.

The most impressive thing about watching a Formula 1 car going through the Maggots and Becketts combination at Silverstone is the direction changes. Formula 1 cars can change direction on a dime, and watching the drivers flick their cars from left to right to get through this complex is incredible.

The drivers approach the corners at close to 190 miles per hour and try to keep their foot flat on the throttle as much as possible through this section. The car’s high downforce helps to push it down into the tarmac as they make their way through this set of corners, almost in a way that looks like they’re defying physics!

4. Parabolica Monza

Monza is known as the temple of speed. It’s the fastest circuit on the Formula 1 calendar in terms of average speed, holding the records for the highest top speed reached during a Grand Prix and the highest average speed set during a flying lap.

However, one corner at Monza stands out above all, and that is Parabolica (now Curva Alboreto), which is the final corner on the circuit. It might not look like much, but Parabolica is difficult to get right, and it can be very punishing if you get it wrong.

Drivers approach the corner at close to 200 miles per hour when they have to pick their perfect braking point and ease the car into the corner. Parabolica itself is a smooth, long corner that drivers need to accelerate out of carefully so as not to spin or run wide on the exit. Parabolica leads out onto Monza’s long main straight, so getting it right can make all the difference into turn 1.

5. Senna S Interlagos

If you see a corner that is named after a legend in the sport, you can be sure that it will be one of the best corners on the calendar! The Senna S is one of the best opening sections to any lap on the Formula 1 calendar.

The corner was named after the legendary Brazilian driver, but it’s famous for being an incredibly challenging corner. Firstly, the driver needs to slow their car down from 190 miles per hour following the long main straight.

The first section of the Senna S is the left hand corner that heads downhill before quickly changing direction to the right and levelling out. It might not be the fastest corner in the world, but it can be a huge challenge for drivers due to the elevation changes. Getting it right is key for the Reta Oposta straight, whether you’re overtaking, defending, or going for pole position.

6. Swimming Pool Chicane Circuit de Monaco

The Swimming Pool Chicane is easily one of the most satisfying corners to watch on the Formula 1 calendar. It’s not as fast as some of the other corners on this list, but watching the cars fly through the narrow streets of Monaco is something special in and of itself.

The Swimming Pool chicane is one of the fastest sections of the track, and it’s a real challenge to get the car as close to the barriers as possible without completely wrecking it. We’ve seen many drivers make mistakes through this section over the years, and one small error can mean you’re walking back to the pits.

Getting this corner right 78 times in a row on a Sunday afternoon is no easy task, which is another reason why it made our list of the best corners on the Formula 1 calendar. Watching the cars through this section shows exactly why these are the best drivers in the world, whether it’s on the first lap or the last lap, it’s always entertaining.

7. Turn 8 Istanbul Park Circuit

The Turkish Grand Prix has had a turbulent time in Formula 1. It made its first debut in 2005 and disappeared from the sport for a while after 2011, only to make its way back as a late entry in 2020, and then appeared again in 2021.

Many Formula 1 drivers and fans love this circuit, and the main attraction is the famous turn 8. In a modern Formula 1 car it is less of a challenge than it has been in the past, simply because of how much downforce a modern Formula 1 car is able to produce.

However, it remains an incredible corner that cannot be overlooked. Turn 8 is taken at no slower than 160 miles per hour, and it is a multi-apex corner. The drivers have to survive massive G-forces for an extended time when taking this corner at full speed, and it’s a great corner to watch as a fan.

8. Castle Section Baku City Circuit

Baku, being a relatively new street circuit, has had a lot of love in recent years. It’s a tight and narrow circuit, but it’s also incredibly fast. However, it is just as challenging as some of the other street circuits.

One section in particular has troubled many Formula 1 drivers ever since the circuit made its debut in 2016. The Castle section is the tightest and narrowest section on the track, and drivers need to carefully navigate through this section to prevent their cars from being damaged.

Drivers approach the castle corner at just over 120 miles per hour, so picking their braking point is incredibly difficult. There’s hardly enough space for one car to get through, so one small mistake can leave a car in the barriers. The sheer concentration required makes this corner an excellent one to watch, and one that really tests the drivers’ abilities.

Final Thoughts

The F1 track with the most corners is the Jeddah Corniche Circuit in Saudi Arabia. It has 27 corners, many of which are taken as flat out kinks in modern Formula 1 cars. This is nearly three times the number of corners at the Red Bull Ring in Austria.