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We think that something needs to combine difficulty, speed, and the creation of hazardous circumstances in order to be truly challenging. For example, the huge long left-hander at turn three in Sochi is really hard on your body, but it's hardly "tough" until you're being pushed. Formula One Circuits With The Most Challenging Corners That's why we've selected a few, some of which you may find obvious, others of which may be a bit trickier than you think.
To be fair to the other circuits, we decided against including our own Madgwick, a rather nasty double right hander. Since adding more than 100 bends to this list would be necessary, we have left off the whole Nordschleife. Therefore, the most challenging corners that spring to mind are these.
Formula One Circuits With The Most Challenging Corners
1. Bahrain's eleventh birthday
This notorious overtaking area presents a whole new kind of challenge. Drivers must continue to feather the throttle and apply the brakes softly in order to maintain control and resist the drag of the steady uphill departure. Strong deceleration is required when entering and exiting with this fourth-gear left-hander.
The sand surrounding the course is one of the challenges it faces, according to Marcus Ericsson of Sauber. Depending on the wind and weather, this might end up being a decisive factor.
Located in the middle of the course, turn 11 is one of the season's most difficult left-hand turns. I'm also excited about the amazing overtaking opportunities it offers.
Read also: List of Formula One Circuits 2024: Unveiling the Thrilling Tracks
2. Signes Paul Ricard
After a lapse of ten years, Signes returns to the calendar in 2018. The Signes is perhaps the fastest turn in motorsport, with cars easily reaching 340 kph (210 mph). Its broad right-hand sweep gives brave drivers plenty of room to pass, but the exit's steep braking zone makes this strategy only for the brave.
Romain Grosjean and Haas stated that the chicane in the center of the main straight should assist in passing. It will be running at maximum power before a huge braking zone.
If a driver protects his line when braking at the chicane, he might not have a viable way out. At Signes, a flat-out circuit, the car in the rear could have another opportunity to overtake, potentially placing it two abreast!
3. Eau Rouge Spa
This famous left-right pattern ends in a blind summit, where drivers are uncertain of where they will land when they reach the crest since they cannot see the exit. There is an 18% gradient.
Fernando Alonso, a driver for McLaren: "As a driver, it's just incredible every time you enter the Eau Rouge complex, whether it's for qualifying, practice, or the race. I don't think there's a corner like that in Formula One.
Your body feels strangely constricted before being freed and launched skyward up the steep slope. Much of it has to be done instinctively because you can't see the exit as you traverse the hill. It's the one element of the racetrack that you have to constantly get perfect since you might gain or lose a lot of time.
4. The Copse at Silverstone
Lewis Hamilton reacted suspiciously to the 2017 season's increase in speed for this sweeping seventh-gear right-hander, which featured a blind entry and a very sharp apex with a minimum speed of 280 kph (175 mph).
Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes: "It will happen soon. Everyone is surprised by how much faster Silverstone will be compared to previous years. The last race was amazing. In this physical race, the G we are pulling will be at least one, if not two, steps ahead of us. It will be a lot of fun.
Sergio Pérez, Force India: "I'm definitely looking forward to this track," Sergio Pérez stated. I would really like to know if Copse will be flat. Let's see. Some cars could pull into their apartment at some point during the weekend.
5. The 15th birthday of Sepang
The deadly climactic hairpin on the Malaysian Grand Prix course was changed in 2016 to make it as terrible as a vengeful Balrog. The rising bank toward the exit makes the bend as difficult from a technical and strategic perspective. Due to the painful camber adjustment, drivers who want to set the quickest time must swing to the outside, which allows them to pass on the inside of the traditional racing line.
Daniel Ricciardo of Red Bull: "It's not the most enticing on the schedule. It's challenging. That must be one of its benefits. You cover a lot more territory because you take the inside, but the negative banking sort of washes it away, leaving you on the outside. The curve isn't nice, in my view; you're struggling to hold on as the track fades away.
"They did a nice job of adding some mystery to the circuit," said Jolyon Palmer of Renault. However, braking is difficult because of the off-camber, which is always aggravating.
It's quite easy to make mistakes when locking and igniting anything in the exit. Although it's a more interesting bend from a technical standpoint, driving through it irritates me. You never feel like you've mastered it because of its fairly sloppy nature.
Read also: Lights Out & Away We Go! The Ultimate Guide to
6. Silverstone Becketts/Maggots
Most people agree that the most challenging and complex turn combination in racing is Maggots/Beckett. There is a double-downshift and another rapid right near the exit after a quick left and fast right.
Jolyon Palmer of Renault stated: "Your foot is stuck down throughout, so Maggots and Becketts are pretty much one corner now." Even if the end isn't exactly level, you're prepared to compromise there in order to get on the right track for the exit.
7. Catalunya's Camps
Extreme torque and sensory deprivation are combined in Formula One's rollercoaster. It is simple for drivers to misjudge their departure and go wide into the astroturf since Campsa, a full-throttle sixth-gear right-hander, begins with a blind entry and transitions from a steep uphill section to a quick downhill exit.
G-force gives you the impression that your body is being crushed, says Mark Webber. Lateral G-force presses your neck, hip, and ribcage into the seat edge during a sharp turn. You have to adapt. The force increases gradually and culminates in the middle of the corner.
However, the G-levels shoot up and down as you press the brake pedal. It's a whole different feeling. When you apply the brakes with extreme intensity, the G-force is intense but quickly disappears.
Turn 8 at Istanbul Park.
At 640 meters, this right-hander is the longest turn of the season. It has four massive apexes, the slowest of which is taken at 260 kilometers per hour (160 miles per hour).
Drivers can feel a maximum torque of 4.5G, which is stronger than a rocket launch and usually the point at which individuals lose their vision, which is usually a helpful sense during a motor race.
Sebastian Vettel of Ferrari: "It's a spectacular turn; we hope to take it flat year after year." It's quick and bumpy that you can hardly see where you're going. You wish yourself luck as you head to sleep.
9. Spa Pouhon
Pouhon is an unpleasant corner that requires precision and has long been a favorite among spectators. There is a challenging downhill entering phase at the beginning of this double-apex left-hander. To position yourself for Pouhon's thrilling flat finish, you must strike both apexes precisely.
Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton: "Pouhon is amazing because you're really pushing the limits of your grip level while experimenting with the throttle and attempting to avoid using the steering to wipe off too much speed.
It is always a wonderful feeling to do it correctly. You truly feel like you're at the limit there, which is quite amazing in an F1 vehicle. I'm always excited to return here.
10. Suzuka, 130R
a staple of motor racing computer games and the eye-catching focal point of one of Formula One's most difficult courses. One of the quickest and most feared double-apex corners in racing, 130R gets its modest moniker from its 130-meter radius.
With a load of 3.5 lateral Gs, this legendary bend, which is taken at 305 kph (190 mph), may make or break a championship campaign.
Kubica Robert, Williams: The 130R is simply fantastic. You're at your absolute limit when you're in seventh place, and it bends. If you get it right, it truly pays off.
Scuderia Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel: "It's uncomfortable. Although it's not as simple as it once was, it's still thrilling.
FAQ's: Formula One Circuits With The Most Challenging Corners
What is the most difficult corner in F1?
Eau Rouge and Radillion are the most hated corners in Formula One. This track is noted for its fast bends and variable weather, making it a difficult circuit for even the most experienced drivers. The track is also known for its lack of run-off zones, which may make accidents more deadly.
What is the most challenging F1 circuit?
So, of course, winning the Monaco Grand Prix is exceedingly tough! The portion through Monte Carlo is the most exhilarating, with breathtaking twists and turns. Furthermore, the Monaco Grand Prix is often raced at a very slow pace as compared to other events.
What is the slowest corner in F1?
It has one of Formula One's fastest bends (the flat out kink in the tunnel, three turns past the hairpin, done at 260 km/h or 160 mph) as well as the slowest (the Fairmont Hairpin, taken at barely 48 km/h or 30 mph).
What is the fastest cornering F1?
The Belgian Circuit of Spa-Francorchamps is the quickest racetrack on the Formula One calendar because of its many rapid turns. During the 2023 season, turns 16 and 17, sometimes referred to as Courbe Paul Frere and Blanchimont, both reached top speeds of 192 mph (310 kph).
What is the longest corner in F1?
Turn 8, which is 640 meters long, makes up around 12% of Istanbul Park's overall circuit. Often referred to as the longest turn in Formula 1, Turn 3 at Sochi Autodrom is little under 700 meters long, although its radius remains constant.
What are the deadliest F1 circuits?
One of the most notoriously hazardous Formula 1 tracks ever is the Imola circuit, sometimes called Autodrome Enzo d Dino Ferrari. mostly because two drivers were murdered on two days at the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix, which was held on the course.
