Circuits and the calendar
Street and permanent circuits, why races feel different, and how the season is laid out.
The calendar is a world tour. Each circuit has its own character, so cars and strategies change from weekend to weekend. Browse the full schedule on the calendar page.
Permanent and street circuits
- Permanent circuits are purpose-built race tracks, like Silverstone, Spa or Suzuka. They are usually wider, with more run-off space.
- Street circuits use closed public roads, like Monaco, Baku or Singapore. They are narrow and unforgiving, with walls close to the cars, so qualifying is extra important and Safety Cars are common.
Why races look different
- Lap length changes from track to track, so the number of laps changes too, but the distance stays around 305 km (Monaco is shorter).
- Some circuits have long straights and need low downforce. Others are twisty and need lots of downforce.
- Some races are held at night under floodlights, and the weather can change everything.
Sprint weekends
A handful of weekends each season (six in 2026) include a sprint, and those race pages have a Sprint tab. See the race weekend.
Round numbers
Each race is called a round (R1, R2 and so on). The calendar lists them in the order the races are held.