Which circuits are on both the F1 and MotoGP calendars?

Race tracks are often multi-functional venues used across different motorsport championships with F1 and MotoGP being no different.   

There are five tracks on the 2024 calendars for both series while many more have been used for either championship in the past – so what are those circuits?   

Circuits on current F1 and MotoGP calendars.

Circuit of The Americas – USA

Circuit of The Americas ended the USA’s five-year absence from the F1 calendar when it became the new host of the United States Grand Prix in 2012. It was only two years after construction of the circuit had begun as COTA became America’s first purpose-built track for FIA and FIM (the F1 and MotoGP governing bodies) events to replace Indianapolis, which hosted USA’s last F1 grand prix in 2007.   

Watching this state-of-the-art venue get built, MotoGP wanted in on the action, so a deal was agreed for COTA to make its debut on that calendar in 2013. It was named the Grand Prix of the Americas as at the time USA had two other rounds on the calendar – US GP held at Laguna Seca and the Indianapolis GP at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. 

Valtteri Bottas, Alfa Romeo C43

Photo by: Alfa Romeo

COTA has since featured every year on both calendars – bar the COVID-struck 2020 season – as it has become a very popular track amongst drivers, riders and fans alike. 

This is due to its fast nature with long straights and high-speed bends which makes a lap very fun while paving the way for some excellent racing. The long run-off areas also make COTA suitable for MotoGP as they provide ample space for riders to slow down before hitting a barrier.   

But, there is an almost 30-second difference between the COTA lap records for F1 and MotoGP. This comes as no surprise though because, although the top speed of an F1 car is similar to a MotoGP bike, it has far superior cornering speed which is particularly needed in COTA’s bendy sector one. COTA is also a big circuit at 3.4 miles which means differences in lap times are generally bigger. 

Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya – Spain

Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya was advertised as the Grand Prix of the Olympic Games as the Spanish city held the 1992 edition. The track was therefore built as part of the development programme for that year’s summer games, having opened to the public in 1991 when it replaced Jerez as F1’s new host of the Spanish GP.  

A year later, Barcelona started hosting the European motorcycle GP – Jerez was the Spanish motorcycle GP – until 1995 before switching to the Catalan GP. 

Jorge Martin, Pramac Racing

Photo by: MotoGP

Barcelona has remained on both calendars ever since, while on many occasions being used in testing for F1 and MotoGP. As a result, competitors of both series are incredibly familiar with Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya and it is also popular amongst some due to its high elevation changes, fast corners and long main straight which makes it a challenging and exciting track. 

However, the circuit’s future is in doubt because Madrid will become the new host of F1’s Spanish GP from 2026, which is also the year Barcelona’s MotoGP contract expires.  

Losail International Circuit – Qatar

Qatar is a fairly new addition to the F1 championship, but it has been a MotoGP staple for many years. Losail International Circuit made its MotoGP debut in 2004 to become somewhat of a pioneer for the Middle East. It was one of the first countries to bring motorsports into the region alongside Bahrain, which joined F1 in 2004.   

The circuit made further history four years later as Qatar hosted MotoGP’s first-ever night race. Qatar has only missed one MotoGP season – 2020 – since its debut due to COVID, while in 2021 it hosted two rounds because of the pandemic.   

That was also the year Losail made its F1 debut where it hosted that season’s third-to-last round. 

Alex Albon, Williams FW45

Photo by: Williams

Qatar’s second race came in 2023 – it was absent in 2022 due to the FIFA World Cup – where it received criticism from drivers and fans alike as the extreme conditions enforced a three-stop strategy, while many drivers struggled with the weather including Logan Sargeant who retired due to a heat stroke. The Qatar GP does not have the same problem though, as it is held at a much different time of year where temperatures are lower. 

It is also no surprise that it has stayed on the MotoGP calendar for so long because, similar to Austin and Barcelona, fast bends, long straights and big run-off areas makes it ideal for bikes.

Silverstone – United Kingdom

Silverstone held F1’s inaugural grand prix in 1950, although it wasn’t until 1987 that it finally became the British GP’s permanent venue after sharing with Aintree and Brands Hatch. 

In 1977, Silverstone started hosting the British GP. Silverstone lost the rights to Donington Park in 1987 before regaining it in 2010, however, biking fans have since failed to warm to the circuit hoping for the Leicestershire track to return. 

There have also been moments of controversy for both series at the English venue. In 2018, the circuit was resurfaced to remove significant bumps that proved problematic for MotoGP riders. But Lewis Hamilton was critical of this as he said the circuit is “the fastest it’s ever been” yet called it “wasted money, which could’ve gone to much better use”.

Marc Marquez, Repsol Honda Team

Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

Later that year, the MotoGP round had to be cancelled after lengthy delays on the Sunday as the resurfaced track proved unable to drain rainwater and was deemed too dangerous to race on. Nevertheless, while MotoGP fans might want a return to Donington Park, Silverstone and F1 are intrinsically linked to one another with it being many people’s favourite circuit due to its atmosphere, challenging corners and many overtaking spots.  

Silverstone is also a long lap at 3.6 miles meaning it is no surprise that of the five circuits on both calendars, the British track has the biggest difference – 32 seconds – between its lap records for F1 and MotoGP. 

Red Bull Ring – Austria

Austria made its debut on the F1 calendar when its Styrian circuit was named the Osterreichring, which was a highly daunting configuration that remained until 1995 – eight years after the venue had left the series.   

The circuit was totally rebuilt for 1996, when the now-named A1-Ring replaced the dangerous Salzburgring as host of the MotoGP Austrian GP. F1 came to the new track in 1997, which was also its final year hosting motorbike racing for quite some time due to low crowds. Austria then stayed on the F1 calendar until 2003. 

Red Bull founder Dietrich Mateschitz bought the circuit in 2004, hence the venue’s current name, aiming to revive it to what it once was and F1 finally returned to the track in 2014, two years before MotoGP did the same. 

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB19, Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF-23, Carlos Sainz, Ferrari SF-23

Photo by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images

In that time, the Red Bull Ring has become a popular destination for fans due to its central European location which makes it easier for international travellers. The Red Bull Ring is also very well suited for both series because it is a very quick lap with challenging bends, elevation changes and fast straights.  

It is also a short lap at only 2.7 miles causing the difference in lap time between F1 and MotoGP to be smaller than it is at circuits like COTA, Losail and Silverstone. Since 2022 though, MotoGP has used a slightly different layout as a chicane follows Turn 1 so that bikes are not going as quick into the Turn 3 hairpin at the top of the hill.  

Circuits to have previously hosted races in F1 and MotoGP