Formula 1 Circuits

[Chrill]

I had a go myself.

This goes right through Caesars Palace Casino as well as the Bellagio and the Aria Resort and Casino (part of the CityCenter complex). It then snakes its way through smaller roads West of the interstate, and then heads back to the South Las Vegas Blvd.

It's a reasonable 5.19 kilometers (3.22 miles). In typical Tilke-esque manner, there are some long straights with heavy braking zones to enable overtakes. There's also an unnecessarily slow section right within the Aria Resort and Casino, it will be absolutely great for PR reasons but perhaps not for the racing. Maybe. We'll see.

It runs clockwise, with pits in the Northwest part there.

This layout does allow all casinos to remain operational throughout the weekend, albeit with fewer parking spots I suppose.

[Penfold]

Can't remember how my Vegas layout went, but your one here is pretty spiffy.  Always going to end up with a healthy number of sharp corners on a street circuit, but you've managed to inject some variety into proceedings whilst incorporating the main Casinos, and that infuriatingly fiddly section would make Tilke proud!

[Chrill]

and that infuriatingly fiddly section would make Tilke proud!

I doubt he has built a circuit where it crosses itself TWICE. He'd definitely be impressed.

[Chrill]

Here's that twiddly bit from ground level. Put some drones in the air, race at dawn. Boom.

[Penfold]

That is a twiddly bit most delightful.  It puts all other twiddly bits to shame....

[Penfold]

Barcelona Turn 10 almost back to its original form: https://www.racefans.net/2021/02/23/catalunyas-new-turn-10-has-more-gravel-run-off-and-historical-shape/

Now if they would just do something about that horrible final chicane...

[Chrill]

Turn 10 was never the issue. If anything, it was vaguely an almost-place-to-overtake. The final chicane, as you say, is absurd.

[Chrill]

The Miami Grand Prix has now been confirmed for 2022:

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/miami-grand-prix-joins-2022-calendar/6327301/

I think we've discussed this layout in the past, it doesn't look awful and could likely produce some typical modern-style racing. The 2022 cars should look pretty neat going through that sweeping section after turn 1 especially.

[Penfold]

Doubtless not the most scenic part of Miami to race through, but a new venue is always interesting and it does seem to be a reasonable layout.  Honestly, I'm just looking forward to seeing the '22 cars in action, anywhere but Caesars Palace car park will do me....

[Chrill]

Definitely could be a decent track, but I'm afraid the backdrop will be absolutely awful. It's a stadium with a car park around it. At least do the Foro Sol thing and drive those cars through the arena! There must be a viable route through the catacombs somewhere!

[Penfold]

I'm expecting carefully chosen camera angles to preserve the mystique of racing in Miami; no such escape for anyone sat in a grandstand...

[Chrill]

https://www.racefans.net/2021/05/10/fia-looking-at-removing-catalunyas-chicane-for-future-f1-races/

F1 could skip that awful chicane at Catalunya if they return in 2022.

I however gave myself the opportunity to redesign the circuit a bit. Not too much, but I did a few things to slow down a corner or two in order to aid the ability to follow.



Corner 1 is tightened to a more severe braking spot, which also slows down turns 2 and 3 makes it easier to follow through those.
Turn 4 is extended to allow drivers to follow through 3 and dive past into 4.
Turns 5-8 are not changed.
Turn 9, the righthander onto the back straight, is softened to enable a higher cornering speed into Caixa (Turn 10).
Turn 10 is extended and almost a hairpin, once again making it a prime overtaking spot.
Turns 11-12 are not changed.
Bypassing the chicane, we then have a left-kink just before the final corner, which takes onto the now very long start finish straight. Definitely an overtaking spot.

[Penfold]

God knows Barcelona could do with some tweaking, and I like most of your suggestions - not really a fan of hairpins! - but you just know people would be up in arms about cutting trees down to alter the last corner....

[eurobrun]

Looks interesting Chrill, although I genuinely have no issue with Turn 1 / 2 /3, just a shame that they can't get a faster run into it what with the stupid chicane at the end.

As much as I sound a party pooper, I think these track redesign type threads are fun, but its rare that anyone will ever want to redevelop where permeant structures will need tearing down.   Simply too expensive (referring to the last corner).  I think cost is gonna be the thing that limits any redevelopment of Catalunya besides reinstating the original last corners, maybe adding some tech pro barriers. 

Its a shame tho.  I'd like to see them widen turn 4 and apply some banking (not drastic), but enough to allow two lines around the corner.  Can't see it ever happening, as its probably too structural.

[Chrill]

In regards to banking, I'm really curious to see how Zandvoort will fare especially in 2022 with the supposedly easier-to-follow aerodynamic regulations.