44 replies to this topic

[CountDooku]

So I've had a think overnight and come to the conclusion that COTA, in my opinion, is the best F1 track on the calendar today. It somehow manages to combine all the things I think fans want the most from an F1 track: be challenging and risky, provide great close racing, and provide a bit of unpredictability.

 

COTA nails every single one of them with excellent design (basically unashamedly stealing all the best corners from existing tracks) and gives very high speed corners (a la Suzuka esses, Siverstone M-B complex and the delightful Istanbul Turn 8 rip-off), a challenging technical sector which allows cars to run close to set up passes, lots of variability for strategy, overtaking opportunities in all sectors even without DRS, huge elevation changes with great vantages, straights long enough to overtake, the Tower, a great atmosphere with supporting activities, and I love the red, white and blue paint used all around the circuit.

 

My only gripe is the rapidly ageing track surface. They really need to sue the P****** who laid down the tarmac for compensation!

 

Previously if you'd asked me for the best F1 circuits I would have told you Spa, Suzuka and Monza in that order with Silverstone a close fourth. Now I think about it I think COTA should head that list and I'd love to visit it soon! Thoughts? 

Edited by CountDooku, 23 October 2017 - 09:21.

[Nonesuch]

It's good that there are many different tracks, and it's always nice when tracks that aren't that special to drive make for interesting races.

 

But if you only get to pick one, it's not a contest. It's not even close.

 

[CountDooku]

It's good that there are many different tracks, and it's always nice when tracks that aren't that special to drive make for interesting races.

 

But if you only get to pick one, it's not a contest. It's not even close.

 

 

That's the thing, I think Spa works because it's raced on alongside the Monacos and Hungarys of this world to give some variety. It's at the top end on the speed stakes whilst somewhere like COTA is smack bang in the middle.

[V8 Fireworks]

•  Monte Carlo - MON
• Montreal - CAN
• Baku - AZE
•  Silverstone - GBR
• Hungaroring - HUN
• Spa - BEL
• Monza - ITA
• Marina Bay - SGP
• Sepang - MYS
• Suzuka! - JPN
• Interlagos - BRA

You can replace the rest, the rest are rubbish.   

[V8 Fireworks]

So I've had a think overnight and come to the conclusion that COTA, in my opinion, is the best F1 track on the calendar today. It somehow manages to combine all the things I think fans want the most from an F1 track: be challenging and risky, provide great close racing, and provide a bit of unpredictability.

 

Huh?  The runoff area is nearly 300m wide in some places.  COTA is a bore.  A modern far too wide ultra-safe circuit.

 

A ultra-safe circuit like COTA is great for doing track days in your 1979 Alfa Romeo Alfetta with zero star safety rating (not having anything to hit in your wildly unsafe old Alfa is fantastic  ), but a snoozefest for watching professional motor racing.  Bathurst or Nordschleife would be much better to spectate.

Edited by V8 Fireworks, 23 October 2017 - 10:07.

[Laster]

I really like CotA, it provides great racing, but with it’s humongous run off areas it is not punishing to drivers who make mistakes. All those instances of drivers leaving the track in attack and defence does compromise it’s enjoyment for me.

Spa remains my favourite with the likes of Suzuka and Interlagos close behind. I also have a soft spot for Canada as a race track I go well on in every F1 game I’ve played.

[Marklar]

For racing COTA is probably among the best, however there are other factors which are important, such as the challenge of the track or tradition. So Spa stays my favourite ahead of Suzuka

[JeePee]

COTA is just a huge parking lot with two lines drawn on it. Make the red stuff from grass, and I'll might call it a good circuit.

 

Same story for Spa nowadays.

 

Suzuka wins this one for me hands down. One of the few left which is a REAL challenge for the drivers.

[Darth Sidious]

I love Montreal. Low downforce package required so the cars are lively and drivers are challenged, wall of champions just after the chicane to catch out the unwary, tarmac run-off in places where it's needed but grass everywhere else. Walls and grass - that's what circuits need more of. Changeable weather conditions, close to a lively city and easy to access, slipstreaming and overtaking was possible even before the DRS days.

 

Spa, Suzuka, Monza and Brazil get tips of the hat, too.

[Torpedo]

Baku is the best track for me. It's dangerous, it's controversial and it gave us a great race this year.

[GoldenColt]

Suzuka all the way. Spa is overrated.

[messy]

Suzuka beats Spa these days for me, because it's such a challenge. It's got the history, it's had some good races (even if it's not the best for overtaking admittedly), it's probably the purest challenge for a driver nowadays. Spa has lost its lustre now for me. I know the actual track layout hasn't been radically changed, but the challenge has gone somewhere along the line, and a lot of the races are rubbish.

I love Albert Park, Montreal, Interlagos, Monaco and the Red Bull Ring, too.

Who voted for Shanghai? I bloody hate that one.

[DaytimeUTT]

Well the whole point of COTA was to take the best parts of tracks around the world and put them into one. We have Maggots and Beckets, Turn 8 of Turkey, and whatnot.

[CountDooku]

I'm surprised Shanghai isn't getting much love. Excellent track IMO.

[Trust]

For me Spa was always the best track since I started watching F1. And after attending it last year, it cemented its 1st place in my heart.

[GoldenColt]

I'm surprised Shanghai isn't getting much love. Excellent track IMO.

One of my strongest circuits in F1 games, really nice circuit indeed. 

[johnmhinds]

You've allowed people to vote for multiple things.

 

it's going to mess with the poll results.

[CountDooku]

You've allowed people to vote for multiple things.

 

it's going to mess with the poll results.

 

Done on purpose and should still give a clear result. 

[SenorSjon]

CotA is ruïned by the runoffs. Spa dropped from first place for the same reason. There is really a lot of tarmac in places it shouldn't be, while Suzuka remains one of the last old skool tracks. But there, the tarmac machines are getting closer and closer to the track.

[Nonesuch]

I'm surprised Shanghai isn't getting much love. Excellent track IMO.

 

Shanghai always feels as though they lost all inspiration halfway through, and then just added a massive straight and a corner to connect it back to the start.

[AustinF1]

Suzuka is the best imho. Then Spa, Monaco, Interlagos, Red Bull Ring, Montreal, Monza, & Melbourne, in no particular order.

 

COTA is nice, but it could have been one of the top 2 or 3 if the FIA hadn't softened the layout Hellmund wanted.

[Risil]

On the evidence of yesterday's race, I have COTA right underneath current F1's holy (and intercontinental!) trinity of Spa, Suzuka and Interlagos.

 

My only quibble with the OP is that the ageing track surface feels like a bit of a benefit. Seeing drivers struggle to get the car stopped, and going all opposite-lock through the medium-speed corners is part of the attraction.

[ArrowsLivery]

Suzuka, Montreal, and Interlagos are my top three at the moment. Spa has been butchered beyond repair by the FIA safety fanatics. As for Cota, sector three doesn’t work for me, the fake Hockenheim bit is crap. I also hate the red margins, and as we found yesterday the way they are policed is moronic.

[AustinF1]

On the evidence of yesterday's race, I have COTA right underneath current F1's holy (and intercontinental!) trinity of Spa, Suzuka and Interlagos.

 

My only quibble with the OP is that the ageing track surface feels like a bit of a benefit. Seeing drivers struggle to get the car stopped, and going all opposite-lock through the medium-speed corners is part of the attraction.

 I don't mind a little character, but I think we've passed that stage now ... after only 6 years ... and the bumps are only getting worse all the time - generally bumpy all over, but with some really bad ones entering and exiting 5, just past the 10 apex, in the T11 braking zone, down the back straight, a bad one that took Vinales out on lap 1, into 19, and a down the front straight and esp in the T1 braking zone.

 

 

Alonso's Q3 lap. Pretty nice, but it also highlights how bumpy the track has become and where the bumps are.

 

Lewis drove Bolt around before the race in the green AMG GT-S & almost lost it after hitting the big bump on the exit of 5. Maybe even got a little bit of air. Very nice save.  It was a pretty big moment. The whole crowd there took a big gasp. Might explain why Bolt said it was a bit scary.

 

 

Edited by AustinF1, 23 October 2017 - 18:56.

[Augurk]

Melbourne - AUS

Montreal - CAN

Red Bull Ring - AUT

Spa - BEL

Monza - ITA

Marina Bay - SGP

Sepang - MYS

Suzuka! - JPN

COTA - USA

Interlagos - BRA

 

 

Actually didn't expect it to be this many. Was doubting about Monza but just couldn't see the calendar without it. Makes the Spa to COTA streak one of the best periods on the calendar. Real shame we're going to miss Sepang. 

[AustinF1]

 

My only gripe is the rapidly ageing track surface. They really need to sue the P****** who laid down the tarmac for compensation!

 

Th tarmac isn't the problem. It's the soil underneath. The soil out there is a very porous clay that absorbs a lot of water (& expands a lot) when it rains and then sheds it (& shrinks a lot) afterward. The result is a lot of major  pitching and heaving of the soil. I haven't heard that they went with a cheap builder. There have been rumors that corners were cut, but I don;t know what, exactly, that entails and haven't heard that it was the builder cutting the corners.

[PayasYouRace]

I'm surprised Shanghai isn't getting much love. Excellent track IMO.

 

I agree. One of Tilke's best but doesn't get seen that way by many.

[P123]

For racing COTA is probably among the best, however there are other factors which are important, such as the challenge of the track or tradition. So Spa stays my favourite ahead of Suzuka

I don't see Spa as having any more challenge than COTA. It has just as much Tilke'd run-off as any new circuit. Last year Max was able to return to the pits after his T1 incident without bothering with most of the actual circuit. It also provides for crap racing, unless it's wet. Suzuka races can also be a bore, but unlike Spa there does seem a greater importance to keeping it tidy compared to most other tracks.

[CountDooku]

Th tarmac isn't the problem. It's the soil underneath. The soil out there is a very porous clay that absorbs a lot of water (& expands a lot) when it rains and then sheds it (& shrinks a lot) afterward. The result is a lot of major pitching and heaving of the soil. I haven't heard that they went with a cheap builder. There have been rumors that corners were cut, but I don;t know what, exactly, that entails and haven't heard that it was the builder cutting the corners.

Nah, you guys hired cowboy builders in the literal and figurative sense to build it! If the Victorians could build London on dodgy clay soils in a much wetter climate I’m sure it can be managed for an F1 circuit. 😝🤠

[Ricardo F1]

Still Spa and Suzuka.  COTA is definitely up there though, really fun track.

[AustinF1]

Nah, you guys hired cowboy builders in the literal and figurative sense to build it! If the Victorians could build London on dodgy clay soils in a much wetter climate I’m sure it can be managed for an F1 circuit.

I'm not saying it can't be built correctly. The builder is highly reputable. I think the problem lies elsewhere.

 

ETA: However, the wetter climate in London isn;t necessarily a disadvantage. Compared to Austin, I would imagine the soil/clay in London maintains a much more stable moisture content.. In Austin, we tend to get our rain in large amounts and then go a long time without any. Thus the soil experiences much bigger swings in moisture content and expands and contracts a great deal. 

Edited by AustinF1, 23 October 2017 - 22:31.

[MattK9]

Spa, Suzuka, Interlagos need no explaination.

 

Shanghai for me is a great track but not everyone agrees. T1/T2 is unique and creates overtaking (without DRS) into the hairpin at the end of the first sector.

 

Never seems to be a dull race in China

[SkaP187]

Always had a weak spot for Malaysia and as I can still vote for that one I will. Japan and Canada will complete my trio.

[SkaP187]

Would love to see Interlagos old original layout though.

[SenorSjon]

Th tarmac isn't the problem. It's the soil underneath. The soil out there is a very porous clay that absorbs a lot of water (& expands a lot) when it rains and then sheds it (& shrinks a lot) afterward. The result is a lot of major  pitching and heaving of the soil. I haven't heard that they went with a cheap builder. There have been rumors that corners were cut, but I don;t know what, exactly, that entails and haven't heard that it was the builder cutting the corners.

 

Welcom to the Netherlands. A flat road inherits bumps within a few years in some parts of the country. So no news it happens at other countries as well. A full foundation helps, but is very expensive.

[Dabash]

Spa

Silverstone

COTA

Suzuka

Monza

 

 

COTA is good but the flow of Spa and Silverstone make them top for me. Suzuka flows as well but the difficulty in overtaking makes it less of a spectacle. COTA for me is ruined by the mickey mouse S3 and the massive run off areas.

Edited by Dabash, 24 October 2017 - 09:46.

[CoolBreeze]

Depends what is the description of a best track? The flow? The challenge?

 

I would definitely say Suzuka. You can just go on non stop. Even Spa feels a bit boring after  a but, but definitley not Suzuka. However, because of the nature of the track..it's a bit tight, and the crap aeros the cars have these days, it's become a really hard circuit to follow closely and overtake

[V8 Fireworks]

Still Spa and Suzuka.  COTA is definitely up there though, really fun track.

 

I think Road Atlanta, Road America, Watkins Glen and even Sears Point are better, not to mention Laguna Seca of course.

Edited by V8 Fireworks, 24 October 2017 - 10:28.

[Ruusperi]

Suzuka for obvious reasons.

Monza. Since the loss of old Hockenheimring, Monza is the only one with unique character.

Melbourne. Underrated gem of the calendar. The sole track that hasn't been tilketized over the years, meaning that even after a small mistake you find either wall or gravel trap.

 

Spa was good before it became a car park.

[OO7]

These days Spa only has one fast corner.

[Lights]

Only voted for 1: Suzuka.

 

Obvious reason being that no other (permanent) track makes drivers make as many mistakes, and it's also able to punish them.

It also has a fantastic flow to it. The only downside is the difficulty to overtake, but that also makes the overtakes that do happen better.

[CountDooku]

WTF people! Are fans saying that the current Monza is matched by Sepang (a great track admittedly), Monte Carlo, Melbourne and the Redbull Ring?

 

Monza to me is pure, pure magic. Northern Italy in the summer, the dappled sunlight passing through the trees to hit the track, nestled within the banking of the legendary oval. Monstrous F1 cars roaring (or whooshing given the V6Ts) past at v-max. BIG BRAKING! Hop over the kerbs, mash the throttle, wheelspin, hug the slipstream of the car ahead before coming out inches before you run into him. Ascari! Parabolica! The Tofosi cheering you on and invading the track after every win!

 

The place is F1 personified and typifies all that is beautiful about the sport.

[Tsarwash]

They are all quite rubbish these days if you ask me. This sport could do so much better. 

[FredrikB]

Should have been SPA, but no. Not anymore. Not with all the gravel gone. You can completely **** up Pohoun, for example, and GAIN time from it.

Suzuka is no 1 for me.

[SR388]

Baku has a damn castle in the race track. I love it.

Well done Baku.