The Hardest F1 Tracks in the 2025 season
By Donna
With millions of passionate car and racing fans gearing up for a thrilling Formula One season, global searches for ‘F1 2025’ have skyrocketed to 2.7 million in just the past month, with excitement for this year’s driving championship at an all-time high.
From March to December, the world’s top drivers will battle across 24 action-packed Grand Prix, pushing the limits of speed and skill. The 2025 season kicks off on March 14th at the iconic Albert Park Circuit in Melbourne, setting the stage for months of intense and impressive action behind the wheel.
With anticipation building, we’ve analysed a range of data from expected weather to the number of safety car (SC) outings to uncover which 2025 F1 circuits will be the toughest tests of driver ability - and which may offer an easier journey.
- Autodromo Nazionale Monza is named the hardest F1 track in the world for 2025
- Las Vegas Strip Circuit in the U.S. labelled as the easiest track of the season
- Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve, Canada and Lusail International Circuit, Qatar, have had the largest number of drivers (5) not finish the course
- Autodromo Nazionale Monza is set to be the wettest track, with an expected 13.33m of rainfall
- Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve has seen the highest number (39) of safety car outings of all time
Built in 1922, Autodromo Nazionale Monza in Italy is one of the oldest and most iconic F1 tracks and has been named the most difficult for 2025. Spanning 53 laps and 11 corners, the 5.8 km circuit is a true test of skill and precision.
Since 2022, six drivers have failed to finish the race, and the track’s history includes three fatalities during F1 events.
Set for 5th-7th September, the race is expected to see 13.34mm of rainfall - the highest of any circuit this season. With no traction control or stability aids, these wet conditions could make Monza even more treacherous, pushing drivers to their limits.
Marina Bay Street Circuit, Singapore, is the second hardest course. The impressive lap record (1:35.867) is currently held by Lewis Hamilton (2023), but twelve drivers have failed to finish the F1 race since 2022.
Featuring 19 intense corners and 62 laps, the circuit has seen 26 safety car deployments in its history, proving its difficult nature. This year’s race (3rd-5th October) might not be any easier, with expected temperatures of 27.8°C adding to the challenge for drivers, potentially causing some strain on vehicles.
Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium, ranks as the third hardest F1 track of the 2025 season, with 44 laps and 19 corners. At 7km, it is the longest circuit on the calendar and has seen 26 safety car deployments, highlighting its difficult conditions.
This circuit also boasts the greatest elevation change in F1, with a staggering 102.2m difference between its highest and lowest points. This surpasses the Red Bull Ring in Austria - the second-highest elevation track - by 38.7m, adding another layer of challenge to this legendary circuit.
The Silverstone Circuit is undoubtedly the most famous course in the UK and one of the most iconic worldwide, hosting the first F1 World Championship race in 1950. It has earned a place in the top five most difficult courses of the 2025 season - and here’s why…
The course stretches over 5.891km, one of the longest in F1, and sees drivers take on 52 laps of pure endurance and skill. But with temperatures predicted to hit highs of just 14.5°C on race day, drivers are in for a mild ride.
Located by the Red Sea in Saudi Arabia, the Jeddah Corniche Circuit is one of the fastest tracks, with average speeds exceeding 250 km/h. The track is fairly new to F1, with its first introduction in 2021, but it has already grabbed a spot in the top five hardest tracks.
Although the circuit features just 50 laps - the second-fewest on the 2025 calendar - it compensates with a challenging 27 corners, the most of any F1 circuit. With three DRS detection zones, among the highest in the season, overtaking opportunities are plentiful. However, these zones can turn aggressive moves into potentially disastrous moments at high speeds.
Las Vegas Strip Circuit has been hailed as the easiest F1 track of the 2025 season. The race takes place from 20th-22nd November, so drivers can expect no rain - thankfully. The track is also made easier by its small number of laps at just 50, as well as three generous straights and 17 corners.
Mid-November brings mild conditions, with temperatures averaging 10.7°C over the past three years - ideal for keeping cars and drivers performing at their peak. With minimal impact on race conditions, the weather has played little role in disruptions, as seen in 2024 when only two drivers failed to finish. Expect a smooth race with little interference from the elements.
Known for hosting Formula 1’s Spanish Grand Prix, Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, is an iconic track in motorsport - and also the second easiest course for 2025, according to our analysis.
The race consists of 66 action-packed laps and has had no racers fail to cross the finish line for the last two F1 seasons - indicating a lower difficulty level. With just 11 SC deployments in its history, it’s one of the least disrupted circuits on the calendar, setting the stage for a smooth but equally competitive race.
Shanghai International Circuit in China re-entered the F1 calendar in 2024 and has hosted the Chinese Grand Prix since 2004.
Featuring 56 laps, 16 challenging corners, and a compact 5.4km layout, this circuit delivers fast-paced racing with minimal disruption. There have been no fatalities in its history, and last year, only three drivers failed to see the chequered flag. The track’s gentle 7.4m elevation change makes it one of the smoothest climbs of the season, ensuring a focus on racing skill rather than dramatic elevation shifts.
Lusail International Circuit is Qatar’s first-ever Formula 1 Grand Prix venue, debuting in F1 in 2012, and has been found as the fifth easiest course of the 2025 season. The course's highest elevation is minor, at just 5m from lowest to highest point and features only 16 corners.
You can expect smooth racing conditions, as the weather has been consistently dry on race weekend (28th-30th November) for the past three years. With temperatures settling at a comfortable 24.9°C, it's warm enough for optimal performance but not scorching - meaning the cars and tyres won’t face any extreme challenges. Perfect conditions for an action-packed race!
Located in the heart of Austin, Texas, Circuit of The Americas (COTA) stands as the only purpose-built F1 track in the U.S., delivering a thrilling mix of two long straights and 20 corners inspired by classic circuits.
Since its debut in 2012, COTA has maintained a remarkable safety record, with just 12 safety car deployments and no fatalities, earning its reputation as the fifth easiest track of the 2025 season.
Despite some of the complexity of various tracks in the 2025 season, an aspect not as favourably considered is the temperature on the day.
We analysed the average temperature at each course on the dates the race took place over the last three years to predict which courses are set to be the hottest.
- Jeddah Corniche Circuit, Saudi Arabia (18th-20th April) - 30.9°C
- Marina Bay Street Circuit, Singapore (3rd-5th October) - 27.8°C
- Bahrain International Circuit, Bahrain (11th-13th April) - 26.9°C
High temperatures push both cars and drivers to their limits. Faster tyre wear (caused by heat) means more pit stops, while intense cockpit heat can increase dehydration risks, weakening driver performance. The heat also strains engines and brake cooling systems, raising the threat of overheating.
Rain can make an F1 race increasingly more difficult for drivers and can cause a whole host of risks during races. By analysing weather data from the last three years on the dates each track hosted its race, we have predicted the top three wettest courses of 2025.
- Autodromo Nazionale Monza, Italy (5th - 7th September) - 13.34mm rain
- Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari, Italy (16th - 18th May) - 7.96mm rain
- Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium (25th - 27th July) - 6.69mm rain
Rain reduces grip, increasing the risk of skidding and aquaplaning on the track. Without traction control, F1 cars become harder to control. Visibility drops and cooler brakes may be less effective, adding to the challenge of wet conditions.
In F1, a Safety Car is used to slow down the race in dangerous situations such as collisions, bad weather, debris, or stranded cars. Drivers must follow the SC at a controlled pace until it is safe to resume racing.
We worked out which of the 2025 courses have seen the most SC outings in their history to identify which may be the most likely to see hazards occur.
- Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve, Canada - 39
- Albert Park Grand Prix Circuit - 35
= 3. Circuit de Monaco - 34
= 3. Autódromo José Carlos Pace - 34
Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve topped the list with 39 outings, four more outings above the second-place contender, Albert Park Grand Prix Circuit (35). Las Vegas Strip Circuit and Miami International Autrodrome claimed the least number of outings, with just two and three respectively - impressive.
The F1 season is full of excitement, but it's also marked by some disappointments, with drivers occasionally failing to finish races due to crashes or vehicle damage. We found out which track saw the most drivers fail to complete the race in the 2024 season - giving us a hint as to which circuits could bring failure again this year.
Rank | Circuits | Number of DNFs |
|---|---|---|
1 | Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve, Canada | 5 |
2 | Baku City Circuit, Azerbaijan | 4 |
3 | Suzuka Circuit, Japan | 3 |
Both Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve and Lusail International Circuit put drivers to the test, with five DNFs each, but this number wasn’t the highest in recent years. In 2023, the Albert Park Grand Prix Circuit saw a staggering eight drivers fail to cross the finish line. Here’s hoping for a more successful showdown in 2025.
Although most of us won’t find ourselves getting behind the wheel of an F1 vehicle this year, or experiencing the scorching heat of Jeddah, you can instead enjoy the more predictable UK weather sitting in a reliable lease car that fits the whole family. It may not be a Mercedes-AMG F1 W15 E Performance but perhaps a more UK road-friendly Mercedes C-Class - either way, we offer a wide range of rental and lease vehicles fit for any purpose you may need.
Using a variety of different metrics, we analysed the 2025 F1 circuits to identify the most difficult track. We looked at the following to identify which track would seemingly be the most difficult:
- Number of laps
- Number of corners
- Number of straights
- Number of DRS detection zones
- Number of DRS sections
- Circuit length (km)
- Race distance (km)
- Elevation change of highest to lowest point in M
- Direction of track (clockwise / anticlockwise)
- How many racers did not finish from 2022-2024 (this includes both accidents and car faults)
- Safety car outings
- Number of deaths during F1 races
- Number of primary run-offs
- Average temperature (°C) at each destination during the F1 season (Based on same dates last 3 years)
- MM of precipitation in each destination during the F1 season (Based on same dates last 3 years)
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