With the addition of Portimão and also Shanghai getting added soon, here are six Grand Prix tracks that we would love to see in F1 22.
Image credit: Codemasters / EA
Before the release of F1 22, Senior Creative Director Lee Mather was asked about the potential addition of circuits not on the F1 calendar. What he said was very intriguing, and that was “watch this space”.
This was back in May. Now it’s August and the first track not on the 2022 schedule has been added to the game; Portimão. The Portuguese Grand Prix circuit was added onto a heavily rescheduled 2020 season calendar, but was only brought into the F1 games for the 2021 edition.
After all that effort was put into making Portimão for F1 2021, it made sense to add it in for F1 22. There’s no reason to waste such a popular circuit.
Then there’s the Chinese Grand Prix which hasn’t been on the F1 schedule since 2019. It has remained on the F1 games since and is confirmed to be added to F1 22 in a future update.
So when Lee Mather said “watch this space”, did he mean just two tracks that have been in last year’s game? Well, it may be wishful thinking but here are six tracks that we want to see in F1 22.
Sepang (Malaysia GP)
Having occupied an F1 schedule slot from 1999 to 2017, the Sepang International Circuit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia is a very popular circuit with drivers and fans alike. With its extremely wide straights and flowing corners, it was seen as a huge absence from the F1 games since last featuring in F1 2017.
Some of the highlights of the track are the flat out turns 5 and 6, also turns 12 and 13 which require immense precision. Turn 14 as well, which requires having to turn and brake at the same time, and then there are of course the two long straights which end with heavy braking zones.
Hockenheim (German GP)
With the last Grand Prix at Hockenheim having been held in 2019, the venue has always been one of those tracks brought up in conversation for a fantasy F1 calendar. Even when it was shortened from its low-downforce Monza-esque configuration for 2002, it didn’t lose its appeal.
The nearly flat-out turn 1 known as NordKurve is always a challenge, since it’s almost impossible not to run off and get warned for track limits. Then there are turns 7-16 which are all extremely satisfying, especially turns 11-12 which encourage carrying a lot more speed than what would be believed is possible.
Mugello (Tuscan GP)
The first of the last-minute replacement circuits for the heavily rescheduled 2020 season, Mugello was always ranked pretty high as a track that F1 had never been to. With its immense elevation change and high speed corners, it isn’t a track for overtaking but tackling it in an F1 car is incredible.
There are many great corners on the track but undoubtedly the most satisfying to drive are turns 6-9. The initial drop through Casanova and Savelli puts a strain on the tyres, then that’s followed by a long flat-out uphill sweep through both Arrabbiata corners. This is an amazing complex that will be extremely enjoyable in an F1 car.
Nürburgring (Eifel GP)
The Nürburgring is the F1 track with the most GP titles. It has played host to the Luxembourg, European and German Grands Prix over the years. It was brought back for 2020 in October, even though the temperatures were rather low.
It’s not a track that requires high speed precision a lot of the time, the first sector can feel like a drag. But once the Mercedes arena is dealt with, turns 5-11 make for some good fun. Turn 7 is a banked hairpin and it’s followed by the uphill flick known as the Michael-Schumacher-S. Overall it makes for a very enjoyable circuit which is criminally underrated.
Istanbul Park (Turkish GP)
In its initial run from 2005 to 2011, the Turkish Grand Prix circuit became universally beloved by drivers and fans alike. So its return as a last minute replacement in 2020 and 2021 was very well received, and it’s easy to see why. Its fast and undulating nature plus its famed quadruple apex Turn 8 makes it a load of fun to drive and it delivers some exciting racing too.
The easy answer when asked about highlights of the track is of course the aforementioned Turn 8. However, there’s also the downhill flick at Turn 1. Then there’s Turn 11 with a gradual incline in the second part of the back straight, which sets up for some great slipstream and outbraking manoeuvres into the last few corners.
Bahrain Outer Layout (Sakhir GP)
For the final new addition to the 2020 schedule, we have the most bizarre circuit of them all. After running a race on the regular layout of the Bahrain International Circuit, instead of opting to run the following week’s race on the same configuration, Formula 1 went for an alternate layout. They took the extension used for the 2010 race, and then took a detour to the Grand Prix configuration’s T13 on what is called, the ‘almost oval’.
The track isn’t that much longer than Monaco at 2.2 miles, but the high speed nature of the circuit means laps are completed in well below the magical minute mark. While no corners really stand out on this layout, the high average speed and hectic nature of such a short lap make it a real challenge. Although Turns 6-8 provide a unique challenge, with the initial corner being so long and bumpy then leading straight into a quick chicane that needs to be taken just right.
What Grand Prix tracks would you like to see come to F1 22? Tell us on Twitter at @OverTake_gg or in the comments down below!
