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10/04/2024

Race tracks are often used across different motorsport championships, but only five Grade 1 tracks currently host the pinnacles of four- and two-wheeled sport: F1 and MotoGP.

Many more have been used for both championships in the past – so what are those circuits?

Circuit of The Americas – USA

F1

MotoGP

Series debut

2012

2013

Years on calendar

2012-19; 2021 – present

2013-19; 2021 – present

Number of races

11

10

Most wins

Marc Marquez (7)

Lap record (on current layout)

Charles Leclerc (1m36.169s, 2019)

Alex Rins (2m03.126s, 2023)

Circuit of The Americas ended the USA’s five-year absence from the F1 calendar when it became the new host of the United States Grand Prix in 2012.

It was only two years after construction of the circuit had begun as COTA became America’s first purpose-built track for FIA and FIM (the F1 and MotoGP governing bodies) events to replace Indianapolis, which hosted USA’s last F1 grand prix in 2007.

Watching this state-of-the-art venue get built, MotoGP wanted in on the action, so a deal was agreed for COTA to make its debut on that calendar in 2013. It was named the Grand Prix of the Americas as at the time USA had two other rounds on the calendar – US GP held at Laguna Seca and the Indianapolis GP at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Valtteri Bottas, Alfa Romeo C43

Valtteri Bottas, Alfa Romeo C43

Photo by: Alfa Romeo

COTA has since featured every year on both calendars – bar the COVID-struck 2020 season – as it has become a very popular track amongst drivers, riders and fans alike.

This is due to its fast nature with long straights and high-speed bends which makes a lap very fun while paving the way for some excellent racing. The long run-off areas also make COTA suitable for MotoGP as they provide ample space for riders to slow down before hitting a barrier.

But, there is an almost 30-second difference between the COTA lap records for F1 and MotoGP. This comes as no surprise though because, although the top speed of an F1 car is similar to a MotoGP bike, it has far superior cornering speed which is particularly needed in COTA’s bendy sector one.

COTA is also a big circuit at 3.4 miles which means differences in lap times are generally bigger.

Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya – Spain

F1

MotoGP

Series debut

1991

1992

Years on calendar

1991 – present

1992 – present

Number of races

33

32

Most wins

Michael Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton (6)

Valentino Rossi (6)

Lap record

Max Verstappen (1m16.330s, 2023)

Johann Zarco (1m39.939s, 2021)

Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya was advertised as the Grand Prix of the Olympic Games as the Spanish city held the 1992 edition.

The track was therefore built as part of the development programme for that year’s summer games, having opened to the public in 1991 when it replaced Jerez as F1’s new host of the Spanish GP.

A year later, Barcelona started hosting the European motorcycle GP – Jerez was the Spanish motorcycle GP – until 1995 before switching to the Catalan GP.

Jorge Martin, Pramac Racing

Jorge Martin, Pramac Racing

Photo by: MotoGP

Barcelona has remained on both calendars ever since, while on many occasions being used in testing for F1 and MotoGP. As a result, competitors of both series are incredibly familiar with Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya and it is also popular amongst some due to its high elevation changes, fast corners and long main straight which makes it a challenging and exciting track.

However, the circuit’s future is in doubt because Madrid will become the new host of F1’s Spanish GP from 2026, which is also the year Barcelona’s MotoGP contract expires.

Losail International Circuit – Qatar

F1

MotoGP

Series debut

2021

2004

Years on calendar

2021; 2023 – present

2004-19; 2021 – present

Number of races

2

20

Most wins

Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen (1)

Casey Stoner and Valentino Rossi (4)

Lap record

Max Verstappen (1m23.196s, 2021)

Pedro Acosta (1m52.657s, 2024)

Qatar is a fairly new addition to the F1 championship, but it has been a MotoGP staple for many years.

Losail International Circuit made its MotoGP debut in 2004 to become somewhat of a pioneer for the Middle East. It was one of the first countries to bring motorsports into the region alongside Bahrain, which joined F1 in 2004.

The circuit made further history four years later as Qatar hosted MotoGP’s first-ever night race. Qatar has only missed one MotoGP season – 2020 – since its debut due to COVID, while in 2021 it hosted two rounds because of the pandemic.

That was also the year Losail made its F1 debut where it hosted that season’s third-to-last round.

Alex Albon, Williams FW45

Alex Albon, Williams FW45

Photo by: Williams

Qatar’s second race came in 2023 – it was absent in 2022 due to the FIFA World Cup – where it received criticism from drivers and fans alike as the extreme conditions enforced a three-stop strategy, while many drivers struggled with the weather including Logan Sargeant who retired due to exhaustion.

The Qatar GP does not have the same problem though, as it is held at a much different time of year where temperatures are lower.

It is also no surprise that it has stayed on the MotoGP calendar for so long because, similar to Austin and Barcelona, fast bends, long straights and big run-off areas makes it ideal for bikes.

Silverstone – United Kingdom

F1

MotoGP

Series debut

1950

1977

Years on calendar

1950-54; 1956-85 (intermittently); 1987 – present

1977-86; 2010-17; 2019; 2021 – present

Number of races

57

22

Most wins

Lewis Hamilton (8)

Jorge Lorenzo and Kenny Roberts (3)

Lap record (on current layout)

Max Verstappen (1m27.097s, 2020)

Alex Rins (1m59.346s, 2022)

Silverstone held F1’s inaugural grand prix in 1950, although it wasn’t until 1987 that it finally became the British GP’s permanent venue after sharing with Aintree and Brands Hatch.

In 1977, Silverstone started hosting the British GP. Silverstone lost the rights to Donington Park in 1987 before regaining it in 2010, however, biking fans have since failed to warm to the circuit hoping for the Leicestershire track to return.

There have also been moments of controversy for both series at the English venue. In 2018, the circuit was resurfaced to remove significant bumps that proved problematic for MotoGP riders. But Lewis Hamilton was critical of this as he said the circuit is “the fastest it’s ever been” yet called it “wasted money, which could’ve gone to much better use”.

Marc Marquez, Repsol Honda Team

Marc Marquez, Repsol Honda Team

Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

Later that year, the MotoGP round had to be cancelled after lengthy delays on the Sunday as the resurfaced track proved unable to drain rainwater and was deemed too dangerous to race on. Nevertheless, while MotoGP fans might want a return to Donington Park, Silverstone and F1 are intrinsically linked to one another with it being many people’s favourite circuit due to its atmosphere, challenging corners and many overtaking spots.

Silverstone is also a long lap at 3.6 miles meaning it is no surprise that of the five circuits on both calendars, the British track has the biggest difference – 32 seconds – between its lap records for F1 and MotoGP.

Red Bull Ring – Austria

F1

MotoGP

Series debut

1970 (as Österreichring)

1996

Years on calendar

1970-87; 1997-03; 2014 – present

1996-97; 2016 – present

Number of races

37

12

Most wins

Max Verstappen (5)

Giacomo Agostini, Kenny Roberts, Eddie Lawson, Kevin Schwantz, Mick Doohan, Andrea Dovizioso (3)

Lap record

Carlos Sainz (1m05.619s, 2020)

Andrea Dovizioso (1m23.827s, 2019)

Austria made its debut on the F1 calendar when its Styrian circuit was named the Osterreichring, which was a highly daunting configuration that remained until 1995 – eight years after the venue had left the series.

The circuit was totally rebuilt for 1996, when the now-named A1-Ring replaced the fearsome Salzburgring as host of the MotoGP Austrian GP. F1 came to the new track in 1997, which was also its final year hosting motorbike racing for quite some time due to low crowds. Austria then stayed on the F1 calendar until 2003.

Red Bull founder Dietrich Mateschitz bought the circuit in 2004, hence the venue’s current name, aiming to revive it to what it once was and F1 finally returned to the track in 2014, two years before MotoGP did the same.

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB19, Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF-23, Carlos Sainz, Ferrari SF-23

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB19, Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF-23, Carlos Sainz, Ferrari SF-23

Photo by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images

In that time, the Red Bull Ring has become a popular destination for fans due to its central European location which makes it easier for international travellers. It is also very well suited for both series because it is a very quick lap with challenging bends, elevation changes and fast straights.

It is also a short lap at only 2.7 miles causing the difference in lap time between F1 and MotoGP to be smaller than it is at circuits like COTA, Losail and Silverstone. Since 2022 though, MotoGP has used a slightly different layout as a chicane follows Turn 1 so that bikes are not going as quick into the Turn 3 hairpin at the top of the hill.

Circuits to have previously hosted races in F1 and MotoGP

Circuit

Country

F1 debut

Last F1 appearance

MotoGP debut

Last MotoGP appearance

Anderstorp Raceway

Sweden

1973

1978

1971

1990

Algarve International Circuit

Portugal

2020

2021

2020

2024

Autodromo Oscar y Juan Gálvez

Argentina

1953

1998

1961

1999

Autodromo Internacional Nelson Piquet

Brazil

1978

1989

1995

2004

Buddh International Circuit

India

2011

2013

2023

2024

Circuit Bremgarten

Switzerland

1950

1954

1949

1954

Circuit de Charade

France

1965

1972

1959

1974

Circuit del Jarama

Spain

1968

1981

1969

1998

Circuit de Jerez

Spain

1986

1997

1987

2024

Circuit Paul Ricard

France

1971

2022

1973

1999

Circuit Zolder

Belgium

1973

1984

1980

1980

Donington Park

United Kingdom

1993

1993

1987

2009

Circuito Estoril

Portugal

1984

1996

2000

2012

Fuji Speedway

Japan

1976

2008

1966

1967

Hockenheimring

Germany

1970

2019

1957

1994

Hungaroring

Hungary

1986

2024

1990

1992

Indianapolis Motor Speedway

United States

1950

2007

2008

2015

Interlagos

Brazil

1972

2024

1992

1992

Imola

Italy

1980

2024

1969

1988

Istanbul Park

Turkey

2005

2021

2005

2007

Kyalami Circuit

South Africa

1967

1993

1983

1992

Magny-Cours

France

1991

2008

1992

1992

Montjuic Circuit

Spain

1969

1975

1951

1976

Mosport International Raceway

Canada

1961

1977

1967

1967

Monza

Italy

1950

2024

1949

1987

Mugello

Italy

2020

2020

1976

2024

Nurburgring

Germany

1951

2020

1955

1997

Reims-Gueux

France

1950

1966

1954

1955

Rouen-Les-Essarts

France

1952

1968

1953

1953

Sepang International Circuit

Malaysia

1999

2017

1999

2024

Shanghai International Circuit

China

2004

2024

2005

2008

Spa-Francorchamps

Belgium

1950

2024

1949

1990

Suzuka Circuit

Japan

1987

2024

1987

2003

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