Every 2026 F1 Grand Prix track ranked from best to worst ahead of new season
This might be controversial...
The 2026 F1 season will match 2025 as the joint-longest in the sport's history with the teams and drivers heading to 24 circuits this year.
However, there are a few tweaks, with certain rounds being moved around as F1 continues to work to net zero.
Like we have seen in many recent seasons, 2026 will also provide the first ever grand prix at the Madrid street circuit which is scheduled for 13th of September.
The 'Madring' will be replacing Imola on the calendar, with work still continuing in the Spanish capital to ensure the circuit is ready.
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Ahead of the new season getting underway in Melbourne, SPORTbible composed a ranking of all the tracks F1 heads to in 2026 and there can only be one winner...
The 2026 F1 calendar ranked from 24th to 1st
24th- Madrid Street Circuit (Spain)
A track that is not yet finished and completely unproven.
Virtual simulations of the track haven't been met with much optimism for strong racing, and grip is expected to be low given it's a street circuit.
23rd- Lusail International Circuit (Qatar)
Originally built for motorcycle racing, the winding corners of Lusail is popular amongst drivers but it's extremely exhausting in the race given the level of G-force they experience.
Conditions in Qatar are often brought into question, with the FIA using a mandatory two stop in previous years, however, while a good spectacle, racing remains near enough impossible here.
22nd- Miami International Autodrome (USA)
One of the biggest spectacles on the calendar, the Miami GP has all the glitz and glamour associated with F1, however, the 2025 LEGO parade may be the most exciting grand prix we have seen so far.
Miami has used for a sprint races, and overtaking is possible, with Oscar Piastri pulling off a great move on Max Verstappen last year, however, given its potential, Miami still leaves me wanting more.
21st- Shanghai International Circuit (China)
By far the most unique turn one in the entire calendar, but that's about as good as it gets for the Chinese Grand Prix which is rarely named as a favourite for both drivers and fans.
Located 22 miles from the heart of Shanghai, the paddock has often been described as a bit of a ghost town but as F1 continues to return after a brief hiatus it could become a staple of the F1 season.
20th- Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya (Spain)
Despite racing in Barcelona improving significantly since the changes made to the final sector in 2023, it remains a track far more useful for pre-season testing than Formula 1 racing.
The track is well known for being a 'tyre muncher', with heavy degradation providing strategic jeopardy, but not encouraging wheel-to-wheel action.
19th- Zandvoort (Netherlands)
An iconic track from the past, with it's eye-catching banked corners feeling like a Monza throwback, but unfortunately the big wide cars of the modern era don't allow it to live up to it's full potential.
However, unpredictable weather conditions on the banks of the North Sea and one of the most passionate fan bases make it an interesting watch.
Let's hope the 2026 cars allow for more moves like Charles Leclerc's on George Russell last season.
18th- Las Vegas Strip Circuit (USA)
Despite often receiving huge criticism, the first three Las Vegas Grand Prix have provided some extremely good racing action and the cold track temperatures often lead to surprises in qualifying.
It will never be a favourite for the F1 purist, but if we can get more races like 2023 it's definitely a track I look forward to.
17th- Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez (Mexico)
Another an extremely unique track with one of the best podiums of the season in the stadium section.
The longest run to turn one on the calendar always provides great action from the start with multiple areas to overtake, however, it could be one of the more difficult tracks for the 2026 cars to be optimised.
16th- Hungaroring (Hungary)
Often described as Monaco without the walls, the Hungaroring is a fan favourite for lots of reasons with shocks and surprises always on the menu.
However, like many of the great classic circuits, overtaking has proved very difficult for a number of years with turn one the only real opportunity drivers have at making a move stick.
15th- Circuit de Monaco (Monaco)
The crown jewel of the F1 calender, the Monaco Grand Prix will always have the eyes of the world glued to their screens regardless of overtaking issues.
While the track is basically impossible to race on during a grand prix, Saturday's qualifying remains one of the most exciting sessions of the entire season, with drivers pushing the cars milimeters from the walls.
14th- Bahrain International Circuit (Bahrain)
A modern classic, the Bahrain Grand Prix usually allows for decent racing, with it already proving itself to be one of the more suitable tracks for the 2026 cars.
High tyre degradation can often lead to alternative strategies, with lots of corners for overtaking action.
13th- Albert Park Circuit (Australia)
Back as the season opener, the tight streets of Melbourne are not forgiving of driver error, with grass and gravel traps surrounding the circuit.
Unpredictable weather also makes it an incredibly difficult race to read for those on the pitwall.
Despite difficulties overtaking, Melbourne rarely delivers an uneventful race.
12th- Jeddah Corniche Circuit (Saudi Arabia)
One of the only modern tracks to instantly become a fan favourite, the Jeddah Corniche Circuit essentially offers fans Monaco on steroids, but with only heavy breaking zone at turn one.
Despite providing some of the fastest most intense battles of the turbo-hybrid era, serious questions are still to be answered on the track's suitability for the 2026 regulations due to it being largely flat out.
11th- Yas Marina Circuit (Abu Dhabi)
After long needed changes to sector one in 2021, the season finale is now one of the more raceable tracks on the calendar with many drivers able to come through the pack in recent seasons.
Hosting the season finale since 2009 (apart from 2011), Abu Dhabi has become a part of the furniture in F1, and if there are still high stakes it can offer some great entertainment.
The track also boasts one of the better on site viewing experiences for fans, with grand stands offering great views of the track.
10th- Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve (Canada)
A short and simple track but that is something F1 probably don't do enough of.
The final sector can provide extremely exciting racing, with the final chicane of the track one of the hardest for drivers to nail when the pressure is on.
Another track where the rain often shakes things up.
9th- Marina Bay Street Circuit (Singapore)
Despite recent changes Singapore remains a difficult track to overtake, but a combination of the extreme heat, track length and city sights make it one of the most iconic in modern Formula 1.
Like all street tracks Singapore is extremely unforgiving, meaning drivers can't switch off for a second during the longest grand prix of the year.
8th- Baku City Circuit (Azerbaijan)
There is almost always chaos in Baku, whether it comes on lap one or 40, it remains one of the most unpredictable races of the season with the iconic castle section providing the aesthetics.
Last won by the season's driver champion in 2022, Baku usually provides an upset, however, the 2.2km home straight could cause issues for team's in 2026.
7th- Red Bull Ring (Austria)
Almost impossible to get to by car, the Red Bull ring is located in the heights of the Austrian mountains and has another rather simple but effective layout for F1 action.
Three consecutive DRS zones have given fans consistent back and forth action, but a lack of slow speed corners could impact racing in 2026.
6th- Suzuka Circuit (Japan)
Despite struggles overtaking in recent years, it feels almost criminal to put Suzuka any lower due to it's iconic winding sector one.
Suzuka is the only figure of eight track on the calendar, and if F1 doesn't work there anymore it's the sport that needs to change, not the circuit.
5th- Circuit of The Americas (USA)
By far the best action we see in the States, COTA is universally loved by both drivers and fans.
The huge climb to turn one offers nail biting viewing, and after the technical first sector drivers can essentially race side by side until the finish line with Verstappen and Leclerc saying 'it was nice to race' in the 2025 cooldown room.
4th- Monza – Autodromo Nazionale Monza (Italy)
I'm sure in Italy it's blasphemous to place Monza outside the top three, but Ferrari's holy ground is unfortunately another victim of the 2026 regulations.
It's a track that always delivers talking points even if overtaking has proven difficult as of late, however, if a Ferrari driver crosses the line first there is no better podium to be apart of.
3rd- Interlagos – Autódromo José Carlos Pace (Brazil)
A favourite for both fans and drivers, Interlagos was made legendary by Ayrton Senna, with Verstappen and Hamilton also both winning from outside the top 10 in recent seasons.
Another track where the weather can turn in an instant, the Brazilian GP is one every F1 fan looks for when the schedule is announced.
2nd- Spa-Francorchamps (Belgium)
Unfortunately we will not be treated to the Belgian Grand Prix on a yearly basis after F1 signed a new deal with the circuit on a rotational basis.
Thanks to recent safety improvements, the infamous Eau Rouge remains the best place in the world to watch an F1 car in full flight.
With unpredictable weather, great corner variation and overtaking opportunities, F1 will not feel the same without Spa.
1st- Silverstone Circuit (Great Britain)
The home of the first ever F1 grand prix, Silverstone takes the top spot for good reason and continues to be a driver and fan favourite.
It's hard to remember the last British GP to disappoint, with many believing it to be the perfectly balanced circuit.
From maggots and beckets to Brooklands, there isn't a bad seat in the house at Silverstone.
Tom Jenkins