Kimi has the perfect description for Abu Dhabi “the first few turns are good, there after it is shit.”

*F1 fans:* Tilke’s tracks are all the same. *Most NASCAR tracks:* Ha! Amateurs.

Still waiting for that track design that has cars drive on the ceiling with downforce...

Sepang not on calender is such a travesty. Amazing track, crazy weather and exciting race.

Liked Tilkedromes: get removed from the calendar Hated Tilkedromes: stays on the calendar for bloody forever

"Snaily boi" needs to be the official name of that Vietnam corner.

the old ''classic'' tracks weren't build to host F1.. they were build in general by the locals who used both public roads and followed the landscape upon adding/changing stuff. Spa is a great example for this. This is the difference which might be the issue with Tilke tracks is that they are purpose-build.. they aren't ''natural'' . Suzuka is another example in that Suzuka was originally a bike track for the 500cc class (MotoGP now). This is why the Casio-triangle chicane and the S's in sector 1 are as narrow as they are... they were made to fit bikes... not F1 cars.

F1 teams car settings data: 'Melbourne', 'Monaco', 'Monza', 'Spa', 'Suzuka', 'Silverstone'...'Tilkedrome'.

It would have been interesting to make a comparison to non-Tilke-circuits

Please make a part 2 covering all the tracks Tilke played around with that didn't get covered in this video

That "oh dear" perfectly encapsulates how Sochi feels.

Malaysia is a beautiful track in person. The whole track is in a big bowl. You can't see any of it until you enter the grounds. When you sit on the outside at turn 9 you can see through the grand stands to the other side and almost see the whole circuit. You get at least two braking points on either side to see overtaking. I saw F1 there in 2007 and motogp there in 2008. Beautiful track and gift store. I still have the circuit keychain and mini trophies.

I vote for Chain Bear F1 to be the new F1 track designer

We need new F1 tracks to be designed in ms paint with a mouse with the free draw option

The problem with his later turn-8 clone is they’re not turn-8 enough. The original turn 8 was looooong.

In my opinion Brno has a very cool layout. But only MotoGP uses it so far :(

"Artificial" springs to mind. No surprise though. The great tracks all follow the landscape. Elevation change is KEY.

Friendly reminder that Tavo Hellmund and Kevin Schwantz played major part with creating COTA layout. Tilke was only assisting.

"you can always look at the colour changing hotel if the race bores you"🤣 Burnnn🔥🔥

It's not that Tilke designs bad tracks, its the F1 officials that want and demand such tracks.

Your feet will stay warm here because no socks are being blown off 4:39

Thank you so much for making videos Stuart. I would have never been able to become a fan of F1, a sport that I now love, if it weren't for your videos showing how remarkable and complex this sport is. As an American I have been able to spread profusely my passion to family who had never even consider to watch or follow F1, and your videos have consistency been the most engaging and informative, and downright entertaining that exist for Formula 1. I'm very thankful that I found your channel last year and for the endless joy it has brought to me, as well as how close F1 has brought me to my family, who are all fans now. We drove 800 miles interstate in order to all gather to watch the Monaco GP together, then following with binge-watching your technical videos. I would not posses the capacity to enjoy the sport nearly as much as I can if it were not for what you do. Cheers!

How much can you blame Tilke for Sochi? He had to build it around the olympic park, I'm guessing he didn't have much freedom in the space provided.

I always liked Sepang. When it first came up in 99, it was really cool and unique. However, I do agree: His other tracks were all rather similar, which is a shame and such a waste of opportunities. And I agree with your conclusion: We need some variety. One or two Tilke tracks in the calendar (Sepang and CotA for instance) would be really cool. But we'll always gonna need Interlagos, Monte Carlo, Monza, Spa, and Suzuka. Those five combined are unbeatable. I also loved the old Hockenheimring, it was really unique. The new one isn't bad, exactly, but it's simply another Tilke track. I also liked the old Silverstone; Haven't really gotten used to the new layout, it seems just like a half hearted attempt to lengthen the track. Magny Cours is interesting, as is Estoril. I like Melbourne and Montreal, too. They've also got a unique taste.

I miss Malaysia SO much, love that track

The reason why Austin is such a well-designed circuit, and not boring at all: Tilke just put his signature on it, the actual design is by 1993 MotoGP (then 500cc.) Kevin Schwantz. So, if you want a good track (not a decent-at-best eclipsed by an awful lot of glittering infrastructures) ask drivers (whether former or active) for the design.

Who came here after Imola, Nurburgring and Portimao were added to the calendar :D

I'm still sad about Sepang dropping off the calendar, it was one of the best circuits both for racing and for challenging the drivers

Honestly, Malaisia and Istanbul are god-tier tracks, but India and Korea are fire too imo.

I really really really dig your subtle humour. Thanks for the videos.

10:19 aka the first Corner in Austin was actually designed by Alexander Wurz - it also allows for different lines etc.. In fact he incorporated a lot of suggestions into this track! Maby thats why its so great

One of the problems is not necessarily Tilke's tracks individually but that the fact he gets to design EVERY new F1 track and that he has a very clear and identifiable formula really takes away any sense of excitement about a new track, and the fact that so many of his tracks follow the same formula means they suit the same conditions, the same cars, very similar setups, and lead to samey racing, which creates a predictable spectacle. Quite often the problem is that it felt like, for several years, it wasn't that Tilke had the best ideas for what to do with those circuits; it's just he was the only guy consulted.

We need Sepang back, what an amazing circuit it is, the best ever made by Tilke.

I would love to design a track, I would have some heavy braking zones, long straights... and... double corners... well shit, my tracks would be a copy

When tracks forget about the 3rd dimension they tend to fall flat. :D

All circuits covered: 0:50 Sepang, Malaysia 3:00 Sakhir, Bahrain 4:05 Shanghai, China 4:56 Istanbul, Turkey 6:07 Abu Dhabi, UAE 7:47 Yeongham, South Korea 8:47 Buddh, India 10:16 COTA, USA 11:19 Sochi, Russia 11:59 Hanoi, Vietnam

The US circuit is incredible great for the motoGP races so much fun to watch

I’d like to see how you would design a track? What kind of corners would you mix and why? Would you make it a wide track or narrow?

This is why I'm actually quite happy with Zandvoort returning. Sure, there won't be much overtaking (and I wouldn't be surprised if that makes me change my mind halfway through the first race), but I think it will turn out to be one of the most fun tracks for a actual lap of driving and more importantly, it is something different from most tracks on the calendar. In general I am very much a fan of tracks that flow with the terrain instead of having disconnected corner complexes linked with a straight section.

Seeing this I was just like... ‘Malaysia is And will always be Perfect’ I loved that track so much, sad it’s gone now😕

The problem is Tilke designs the track around hospitality. Not the other way around.

Hermann Tilke is the Imagine Dragons of circuit design.

Turkey wasn't just a good track because it had turn 8, it also was a proper track with challenging corners, good oppurtunities to pass and a verry varied landscape making for some wacky and old school feeling corner entries and exits. Honestly for me the most interesting part of the circuit was the double tight s' at the end of the long back straight where Webber and Vettel collided. Also the end of the first sector is so hard to get right and such a blast to watch during qualifying! If it wasn't for the economy i would advocate for the return of the Turkish GP, since the political climate is... well, altrough still tense its at least stable and terror hasn't been an issue since the last day of 2016.

The best tracks are the ones that are built into the landscape without changing it too much so the flow is natural with height elevation Spa Monaco Suzuka Nurburgring Etc

i need more tracks like Spa or Watkins Glen, they are my favorites and one like suzuka, it is really special

I thought you have not uploaded in a very long time. Turns out your video did not come out on my subscriptions 😅 Glad you mentioned SIC, hope that it will return to host F1

Tilke has also made Chang international curcuit, in Buriram, Thailand. Its a MotoGP track and its all the same. Long straigts, hard braking zones and a ess zone.

Some circuits like the Korean,Istanbul park,sepang and Buddh are really amazing circuits.

I really like tracks that are built out of the terrain already there, it gives it a more organic and I guess nicer feel, it's less artificial... (Unless they suck and are boring of course...)

Istanbul is the best tikle race tract.. Turn 8 as said was a killer... best turn of the modern era.

Even though tilke has some tracks which are fine, the best ones always seem to be the traditional ones which evolved over the decades and were adjusted to suit the changing eras

i hope to see malaysia back, i love that track!!!

I'd love to see F1 at Bathurst. I know it's never going to happen, but it sure is insane fun in VR on PC2.

Long and flowing tracks like Silverstone, Suzuka and Spa are so much better. Sure, they do have some sharp corners, but it's not like Tilke's circuits where every straight ends into stupid, slow braking zones/sharp turns.

I miss Malaysia. It was so fun to watch and race.

Great video, but still didn't answer my biggest question: why did Tilke design every track? And how come he had 100% control over the track layout?

13:25 “This video was brought to you by CuriosityStream, an expensive...” Took me a bit to realize you meant expansive.

I do love the elevation changes on courses. SO much could be done to enhance the beauty around the tracks while maintaining safety.

COTA really showcase what an F1 car can do. I was there for the 2018 race weekend, and watched quali near entry of the 'S' section, and can just about see the long right, it really shows how well the cars changes direction, and how much speed they can carry through corners. Watched race near braking zone of turn 1. It does seem to have many different lines through, and good opportunities to race right off the start.

Good insight on your video. I always thought F1 should bring back one track from the from the yester year for each F1 season. For example, 2020 they go to kyalami in 2021 they go to Watkins Glen etc. so that one track is always changing each year.

Will you mention the modified (butchered tracks) he did in a second part

I've been looking for informed opinion pieces on track designs for years! I'm glad to get one from you. Thank you! If you have any more thoughts about tracks I know atleast this subscriber would very much appreciate it if you shared them. Thanks again!

You sometimes forget how many of these new circuits have come and gone in a short time. Malaysia, India, Turkey, Korea.....all built and developed at great cost but then binned from the calendar.

We need more SPAs and Imolas (1994 Version). With new safety-standards. We need more straights and more highspeed-action.

Tilkes Designs are often great to drive but bad for overtaking in my opinion.

Whatever you say, the most important point is that still none of his tracks can compete with the likes of Macau, Bathurst, VIR, Spa, Suzuka, Road Atlanta, etc. the REALLY good tracks all around.

5:15 checo and lewis definitely proved this

It's not like Tilke has completely free hand to do whatever he wants. In Abu Dhabi for example he basically had to draw a racing track in between already planned buildings that frequently changed. Of course, Abu Dhabi is a complete garbage track, but Tilke is not the only one to blame...

Bear: People like COTA ! Jimmy Broadbent: Am I a joke to you ?

Please let the next video be: How to create a good race track

I've wondered why almost half the calendar has samey track traits. Thank you for answering this.

Brilliant video mate. Loved the analysis. Thank you

We need back Turkey, Malesia, India, South Korea Circuits. Those others GPs Repeats and feels the same.

Sotchi to be honest is not really Tilke‘s fault. The location forced the track to build this way. Because the track had to be in the Olympiapark, so he dont have a empty playing field to put a layout together. Abu Dhabi is a perfekt example to have unlimted money, so he tryd to build a perfect curcuit for 40 different layouts.

The best circuit in my opinion is Spa, it's long, fast and with some fantastic elevation changes. One side of the circuit can be dry whilst the other side can be wet making for some truly great racing. My other fave is Le Mans in France, it doesn't have the massive elevation changes like Spa but it's long and fast and the 24hr race is the best race of the year of any series especially after they killed f1 off in 2014. We need a return of some of the traditional circuits.

plenty more of new circuits, this video needs a part 2! And I would love to see your analysis about Interlagos, my favorite track (brazillian bias ?) cause i would like to know with your amazing explanation why the track is so wonderful

Tracks need some memorable quirks like Eau Rouge-Raidillon

It's awesome having Sepang as my home track, I bring my car there every month for trackdays

Nice video once again 👍👍 Minor nitpick, I would not really characterize turn 3 in Bahrain as a "kink" on the straight. It may be different in a high-downforce *very* high acceleration car like an F1 car or LMP, but for street-based cars it's basically just tighter curbing for the turn 2 exit 😁 (i.e. you don't really drive as if it was its own corner, you just use the apex curbing as the outer limit for your exit from turn 2 and then unwind onto the straight between 3 and 4). I think part of what helps Bahrain as well is the elevation change. You don't really notice it on the outer straights (ir on TV), but the inner section from turn 4 to 14 has a decent amount of elevation change with the corners, which gives them a bit more character and uniqueness, and also changes the approach you have to take to them as opposed to corners on a flat circuit.

I think you forgot Valencia Street Circuit, that street circuit around Valencia's port, which had awful gp's but the last one (2012)

Love the content, keep up the great work.

Excellent video! What about a video like this about tracks from 80s and 90s like Estoril or Imola?

I really like some of these tracks especially COTA, but since I started watching around 2015 I didn't get to see live races and drive on alot of them on the f1 games. The concept in South Korea looked amazing

A great video, and as a designer I agree with everything stated, maybe minus the COTA part. It still hasn't grown on me as a fun track that one, but I'll give it some time. Mostly because, and as something that could've been worth mentioning as well, all these tracks also benefit (COTA the most) from huge safety areas on most turns (in some cases almost at a Paul Ricard level) that allow drivers to make lots of mistakes and go virtually unpunished.

He did it so that Scalextric can sell a box with a select number of parts but make several circuits - evidently ;)

Nice to see footage from Ben and Aarav, there

Watching this in 2022 with the new regulations I can say that Tilke designed tracks help in supporting the new overtaking abilities of the cars and some of the better tracks to race at with them.

i just want more spa honestly. I know that spa is the 'holy grail' if that's a good way to put it but just the flow and elevation change of the track makes me love watching overtakes. sebastian vettel in 2019 comes to mind. great video!

I’m curious on how you would create a track, maybe even make a video on it?

get back turkey. most fun track together with spa, suzuka & silverstone.

11:56, yet tilke’s options were limited because of having to thread the circuit around the buildings of the Sochi Olympic park. I would think it would be difficult to design a circuit when you have no buildings to navigate, this is more a street circuit than an actual circuit

I would love to see an F1 short track. Small, slow, tight. Maybe like 5 or 6 turns Keep everyone close together and make every corner a passing opportunity. I think it would a fun watch throughout

Get whoever Polyphony use to design their original circuits for Gran Turismo, Lago Maggiore, Dragon Trail Seaside and Cape Ring spring to mind as incredible tracks but they're far from the only ones

I have to say, Abu Dhabi is one of my favourite races to watch. I like the way the track is interweaved with the hotel and that fast double right hander just before, is exciting and we've seen people get it wrong. While I get the point you're making , I don't think it's totally fair. I mean, you say that long straights with hard braking zones into tight corners are very Tilke-esque and predictable but then go on to tell us that Monza is a fantastic example. The first corner on the Monza circuit is a long straight with a hard braking zone into a tight corner, so what's the difference? Don't get me wrong, I LOVE your videos and the detail you go into, especially when explaining how the cars work, so thank you and please keep making them 😁👍

Few people know it, but Tilke built the awesome Bilster Berg Racetrack. This is only available in RaceRoom to my knowledge. Not an F1 circuit, but rightfully called the „small Nürburgring Nordschleife“

Really good video. An extra tilke touch not mentioned is this idea of a 'back' straight which is longer than the pit straight. Quite clearly designed around F1 DRS zones. Call me old fashioned, but I have no issue with 1 'main' straight a la Fuji. Ultimately we just need some more diversity among circuit designers. There are plenty of others out there, and we now have plenty of Tilke tracks in the calendar, so why not try something or someone new?

Tilke’s Magnum Opus will always be Sepang. What a track!

The only two bad tracks of tilka were really limited by the landscape/buildings oround, when he had "full decision" on the track lines He did really well (in my opinion)

Couldn’t agree with you more about Sochi. Numb track. Great video. Loved the interesting topic on track design.

Great video dude. Interested to see what Hanoi will bring racing-wise