F1 circuits history part 16: 2008 and beyond

The one thing that makes me nervous going in to future of F1 is the fact that one design of track is becoming standard. Sure they might have different names, locations, and corner variations, but almost every track since the A1 ring has had the same prototypical design of long flat straights with a hairpin, long flat straight and a hairpin, ect. Call this Herman Tilke or the over regulation of the FIA, whatever. It is something that I believe is very bad for the sport.

As this series has shown, the tracks present as challenges as the cars themselves. There was the roller coaster like feel of Motorsports park in Canada, the tightness of Monaco, the slipstream races of Monza, the punishing marathon of the Nurburgring, and the fast corners of Spa… to name a few. One of the things that I love about motor sports (F1 in particular) is the different challenges which are faced every week and how the teams overcome and adapt.

The challenges these tracks presented are a bigger challenge to the teams then one might think. Take the basic design of the car for example. How long do you make a wheel base knowing a short wheel base will help you on circuits like Monaco with slow tight corners or go with a longer wheel base to give you balance at places like Spa where the addition wheel base give you that extra bit stability?

I am afraid with the Tilke-ization of Formula One tracks that these variations on design will become irreverent as teams strive to answer the same question the same way. I feat the inequity in the sport between the have and the have-not teams will only grow as there is less unknown variables to answer and less room to find that certain edge. Plus who wants to watch the same race at the same track 18-20 times a year?

Again great job.