F1: 5 Best Street Circuits on the calendar.

The number of street circuits coming into Formula One has been exponentially increasing. Most street circuits are not permanent racing tracks but used for racing by temporarily clearing off the public during the Grand Prix weekend.

Though this involves a lot of effort and man-time to get the circuit ready for the race (as it includes temporary setup of paddocks, pits, grandstands, and fences), the respective governments are ready to invest for this as it develops tourism.

These circuits are race ready, but still would be a little bumpy, slippy, fewer run-off areas and barriers, demanding more skills from the drivers.

With the news of two new additional street circuits to get into the F1 calendar for the 2019 season, one at Vietnam in the center of their capital city Hanoi and other at the streets of Miami, Florida, it is time we get to know about the top 5 street circuits in F1.

Here are the 5 street circuits:

#5 Baku City Circuit, Azerbaijan

The three-year-old circuit has already gained a good fan following as it has seen three different winners and has produced way too many fascinating moments. This Baku city circuit is located at Baku, Azerbaijan in Baku Boulevard which runs parallel to the Baku seafront. The circuit would seem like it was specifically built to showcase the city's historic architectural treasures, be it the 12th century Maiden Tower, the Flame Towers and the skyscrapers lit by LED. The first F1 race was held in 2016 season as European Grand Prix and from 2017 the circuit has been hosting the race as the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

The 6-kilometer-long anti-clockwise layout is now the second longest circuit in F1 and happens to be the fastest street circuit with a top speed close to 360 km/h. Most of the drivers have lauded the circuit for the challenge it offers with a mixture of both long straights and slow technical sections demanding high precision skills with the absence of run-off areas. Pirelli, the tire manufacturers feel that 90% of the damage to rear tires are from the bolts at the pavement which isn't drilled far enough into the ground. Another concern about the circuit is the lack of run-off areas making it dangerous as even common incidents like tire puncture or mechanical failure can cause serious accidents.

#4 Marina Bay Street Circuit, Singapore

Arguably the most scenic circuit in F1 would be the Marina Bay Street Circuit in Singapore alongside the harbor location just like the circuits at Monte Carlo and Valencia. The circuit has been a regular in the F1 calendar since 2008 season and made its mark in the F1 history by hosting the first night Grand Prix under artificial lights. Lion's city's landmarks like Civil War memorial, St Andrew's Cathedral, the theatres on the bay and many more attractions would be surrounded by this unique circuit. The circuit is so unique that at the 18th turn the track goes underneath a section of a grandstand, famously called as the 'Floating Platform'.

Safety Car has been deployed in every single race that has been hosted in this circuit, 17 times safety car has appeared during the last ten Grand Prix. The challenging circuit designed by the KBR Inc. having the FIA's grade 1 license has gone through a lot of critics from the F1 drivers themselves regarding the uneven curbs at the chicane and about the extremely bumpy turns. Lewis Hamilton proclaimed the turn 10 as "the worst corner in F1" after the 2013 race.

#3 Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Canada

The circuit at Montreal, Canada called as the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve not only hosts F1 but also cycling, walking events, jogging and inline skating. This circuit which is located at the manmade island Notre Dame in the middle of the St Lawrence River has hosted the Canadian Grand Prix 39 times since 1978. In between 2002 and 2006 the circuit hosted the Champ Car World Series Grand Prix of Montreal.

The famous part of the circuit is the "Wall of Champions" found at final chicane before the start/finish line where many champion drivers have collided and ended their races. 'Bienvenue au Quebec' meaning 'Welcome to Quebec' slogan was thus put up on that wall in 1999. Apart from the ironically named wall, the circuit layout consists of the Senna 'S' turn at turns 1 and 2, Casino corner at turn 8 referred as 'quick kink' and the 180-degree hairpin curve at turn 10.

#2 Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit, Australia

Also known as the Albert Park circuit, is located around the Albert Lake, Melbourne. The circuit has been regularly hosting the Melbourne Grand Prix since 1996 despite the fact that it has also been hosting the Supercars Championship Melbourne 400. Every year the temporary stands, pits, fences and motorsport infrastructures would be erected two months prior to the race week and would be removed 5 weeks after the event. In the remaining 9 months of the year, the same track roads serve as normal transportation roads for the ordinary street-registered vehicles both clockwise and anti-clockwise.

Though called as a street circuit it can also be classed as a park circuit surrounded by a lakeside stadium, a golf course, restaurants, rowing boathouses and an aquatic center. The track is so smooth and fast despite being a street circuit. The drivers have always liked this course as they feel the corners are placed well consistently, free of bumps and uneven curbs. However, the flat terrain around lake consisting of long narrow straights doesn't support overtaking easily.

#1 Circuit De Monaco, Monaco

Commonly referred as Monte Carlo, Circuit De Monaco which is located at the streets of Monaco, world's second smallest country has hosted Monaco Grand Prix 65 times till date since 1950. The oldest street circuit happens to be the only circuit which does not adhere to the FIA's mandated 305 km minimum race distance, has only around 260 km of the race distance. Though the glamorous circuit has undergone plenty of modifications over the years considering the vulnerabilities involved, the narrow course which does not encourage overtaking demands high skilled precision from drivers.

The lap starts with a sharp 90-degree right turn followed by the uphill course and the long-left hander at Massenet. Then through the Casino square to be followed by short straights leading to Mirabeau corner which is followed by the Monte Carlo's overtaking hub, Fairmount hairpin. After the hairpin, there is another downhill course followed by a double right-hander called as Portier which leads to the tunnel, the most spectacular feature in any F1 circuit. Heading out of the tunnel lies a sharp left-right-left chicane which has been the scene for several accidents, as that section of the circuit is the only place where overtaking is quite possible.

Edited by Shahid Salman