Motorsports

With the irony of a Russian-sponsored and liveried American F1 team comes the return of Formula 1 to America, sponsored by a Saudi oil company… Traditionally a Lewis Hamilton stronghold, the circuit is littered with many copies of brilliant corners around the world – and fit together in a string that works!

After replacing Canada and getting cancelled, the Turkish Grand Prix reappears on the F1 calendar in place of Singapore. One of Herman Tilke’s masterpieces, the Istanbul Park circuit threw a spanner into the works last season when a recent resurfacing made the track treacherous.

Formula 1 heads for the Black Sea coast, back to the 2014 Winter Olympic Park, for the penultimate event at the Sochi Autodrom, thanks to the announcement of Igora Drive for 2023. An often criticised circuit, Sochi does have its moments and is a particular favourite of Valtteri Bottas, who is still looking for his first win of the season.

The second triple-header of 2021 is nearly over and we finish at a circuit which just seems to suit the post-2017 cars after 3 years of fantastic races. Verstappen has won two Grands Prix (I deliberately avoided saying “races”), and is taking charge of the title battle between him and Lewis Hamilton. Also don’t forget that it is the second time we will see Sprint Qualifying.

The Belgian not-Grand Prix has just passed, and hopefully we can get over the shortest ever Grand Prix with the long-awaited return of Zandvoort to the calendar. A short track with small runoff and actual grass and gravel as track limits will really challenge the drivers along with the bruising two massively banked corners!

The summer break is nearly over and Formula 1 returns to the mighty Spa-Francorchamps. The longest circuit on the calendar, Spa regularly throws up incredible and unexpected races, just what we need in this season of incredible and unexpected races!

After the first ever Sprint Qualifying weekend in Formula 1 history, the paddock moves on to the Hungaroring for a normal weekend again. However, the weekend will be anything but ordinary as the fallout from the Lap 1 clash between title rivals Hamilton and Verstappen still divides fans.