Editing Formula One (section)

==Circuits==
{{See also|List of Formula One circuits}}
[[File:Monza aerial photo.jpg|thumb|right|The [[Autodromo Nazionale Monza]], home to the [[Italian Grand Prix]], is the oldest purpose-built track still in use today.]]
[[File:Circuit Sochi.svg|thumb|right|[[Sochi Autodrom]], host venue for the [[Russian Grand Prix]] from 2014 to 2021]]

Formula One races must be held on [[List of motor racing circuits by FIA grade#Grade One|Grade One tracks]], the highest grade-rating issued by the FIA for tracks.<ref name="FIA Super">{{cite web|url= http://www.fia.com/resources/documents/1797101136__Appendix_L_a.pdf |title= International Sporting Code |publisher= FIA |date= 28 March 2007 |access-date= 30 August 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090806060829/http://www.fia.com/resources/documents/1797101136__Appendix_L_a.pdf |archive-date= 6 August 2009 }}</ref> The layout and lap distance of each circuit can vary significantly as long as they stay within the FIA's regulations. In most cases, the tracks run in a [[clockwise]] direction, although there are a handful of tracks in the Championship that run anticlockwise.

A typical circuit features a stretch of straight road on which the starting grid is situated, with the [[pit lane]] normally located right next to it. The pit lane is home to each team's garage, where cars are stored and serviced before a race. During a [[Pit stop#Formula One|pit stop]], drivers enter the pit lane to change their tyres, receive repairs or aerodynamic adjustments from their pit crew, or [[Did not finish|retire]] from the race (if the car is in a condition to do so). Prior to the [[2010 Formula One World Championship|2010]] season, pit stops also facilitated mid-race refueling of the cars.<ref>{{Cite web |date=17 April 2010 |title=Formula 1 – 2010 season changes |url=http://www.formula1.com/inside_f1/rules_and_regulations/sporting_regulations/8692 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100417224427/http://www.formula1.com/inside_f1/rules_and_regulations/sporting_regulations/8692 |archive-date=17 April 2010 |access-date=11 September 2024}}</ref> Special pit roads and track markings help to make sure drivers pit and rejoin the track safely.

Most of the circuits currently in use are specially constructed for competition, but the calendar also features several circuits that use converted public streets to varying degrees. These tracks include [[Circuit de Monaco|Monaco]], [[Albert Park Circuit|Melbourne]], [[Marina Bay Street Circuit|Singapore]], [[Baku City Circuit|Baku]], [[Miami International Autodrome|Miami]], [[Jeddah Corniche Circuit|Jeddah]], and [[Las Vegas Strip Circuit|Las Vegas]]. Three-time World champion [[Nelson Piquet]] famously described racing in Monaco as "like riding a bicycle around your living room".<ref>{{cite web|last=Widdows |first=Rob |url=http://www.motorsportmagazine.com/f1/monaco-challenge-remains-unique/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120424210656/http://www.motorsportmagazine.com/f1/monaco-challenge-remains-unique/ |title=Monaco Challenge Remains Unique |work=Motor Sport Magazine |archive-date=24 April 2012 |date=24 May 2011 |access-date=18 April 2024}}</ref> The Monaco Grand Prix holds a unique exception to the FIA's minimum race distance requirement—the Grand Prix only needs to last enough laps to cover a distance of 260&nbsp;km, versus the standard 305&nbsp;km.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hardy |first=Ed |date=4 December 2023 |title=How long is an F1 race? Laps, time, distance and more explained |url=https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/how-long-is-an-f1-race-laps-time-distance-explained/10554259/ |website=Motorsport.com |access-date=11 September 2024 |url-status=live |archive-date=2 January 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250102100530/https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/how-long-is-an-f1-race-laps-time-distance-explained/10554259/}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile |date=31 July 2024 |title=FIA 2024 Formula 1 Sporting Regulations – Issue 7 |url=https://www.fia.com/sites/default/files/fia_2024_formula_1_sporting_regulations_-_issue_7_-_2024-07-31.pdf |page=4 |publication-date=31 July 2024 |quote=5.4 The distance of all races, from the start signal referred to in Article 44.10 to the end-of-session signal referred to in Article 59.1, shall be equal to the least number of complete laps which exceed a distance of 305km, with the exception of the two following circumstances: a) The distance of the race in Monaco shall be equal to the least number of complete laps which exceed a distance of 260km.}}</ref>

Circuit design to protect the safety of drivers is becoming increasingly sophisticated, as exemplified by the [[Bahrain International Circuit]], added in {{F1|2004}} and designed – like most of F1's new circuits – by [[Hermann Tilke]]. Several of the new circuits in F1, especially those designed by Tilke, have been criticised as lacking the "flow" of such classics as [[Spa-Francorchamps]] and Imola.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Scott |first=Mark |date=1 October 2019 |title=Hermann Tilke responds to criticism of his track designs |url=https://www.planetf1.com/news/hermann-tilke-responds-to-criticism |access-date=28 December 2024 |website=PlanetF1.com |language=en |url-status=live |archive-date=19 January 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250119072652/https://www.planetf1.com/news/hermann-tilke-responds-to-criticism}}</ref> His redesign of the Hockenheim circuit in Germany for example, while providing more capacity for grandstands and eliminating extremely long and dangerous straights, has been frowned upon by many who argue that part of the character of the Hockenheim circuits was the long and blinding straights into dark forest sections. These newer circuits, however, are generally agreed to meet the safety standards of modern Formula One better than the older ones.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Briggs |first=Gemma |date=21 March 2009 |title=Tilke, tailor, circuit maker |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2009/mar/21/hermann-tilka-formula-one-designer |access-date=11 September 2024 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250120181721/https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2009/mar/21/hermann-tilka-formula-one-designer |archive-date=20 January 2025}}</ref>

The [[Circuit of the Americas]] in [[Austin, Texas|Austin]], the [[Sochi Autodrom]] in [[Sochi]] and the [[Baku City Circuit]] in [[Azerbaijan]] have all been introduced as brand new tracks since 2012. In 2020, [[Algarve International Circuit]] debuted on the F1 calendar as the venue of the [[Portuguese Grand Prix]], with the country having last hosted a race in 1996.{{Efn|name=POR-COVID}} In 2021, [[Circuit Zandvoort]] returned to the F1 calendar as the [[Dutch Grand Prix]], having last hosted a race in 1985.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Verstappen beats Hamilton at Dutch GP, retakes championship lead |url=https://www.espn.com/f1/report/_/id/600001768 |date=5 September 2021 |access-date=11 September 2024 |website=ESPN |language=en |url-status=live |archive-date=27 November 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241127054216/https://www.espn.com/f1/report/_/id/600001768}}</ref> The [[Las Vegas Grand Prix]] entered the sport in 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Las Vegas to host Formula 1 night race from 2023 |url=https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/breaking-las-vegas-to-host-formula-1-night-race-from-2023.69O9nKLwKraqAhR5rr8TQg |date=31 March 2022 |access-date=27 May 2024 |website=Formula1.com |language=en |url-status=live |archive-date=14 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241214183737/https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/breaking-las-vegas-to-host-formula-1-night-race-from-2023.69O9nKLwKraqAhR5rr8TQg}}</ref>