What are the fastest speeds recorded at every F1 circuit?

The current Formula 1 cars are some of the fastest ever, but not all circuits give them the space – or the air – to show it.

Every track on the calendar produces its own peak-speed headline, shaped by altitude, layout, temperature, and how much drag teams are willing to strip away.

The result is a snapshot of how efficiency, power, and compromise play out across 24 very different venues.

Fittingly, as the championship heads to Mexico City this weekend, the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez tops the list once again.

Sitting 2000 metres above sea level, Mexico City’s thin air saps both engine power and downforce, yet the reduced drag lets cars fly down its kilometre-long straight.

Here’s a look at the highest recorded speeds at every venue.

Maximum speeds officially recorded in 2024 grands prix (previous season if wet).

1. Mexico City – 362.5km/h (225.30mph)

The fastest speed of the 2024 season came at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, where the thin air of Mexico City‘s 2,200-metre altitude turns the circuit into a drag-reduction paradise.

The low air density robs cars of downforce but also of drag, meaning teams trim their wings to extremes and still carry incredible speed down the 1.2-kilometre main straight.

It’s a deceptive figure: top speeds look record-breaking, but cornering grip is minimal – drivers often describe it as racing on ice.

2. Baku – 357.7km/h (222.31mph)

Baku‘s long, flat-out run from Turn 16 to the first braking zone is unrivalled in length, allowing cars to reach their absolute limit with DRS wide open for nearly two kilometres.

The combination of low-downforce set-ups and the powerful slipstream effect created by the city’s tight layout routinely pushes speeds past 350km/h (220mph).

What makes Baku remarkable is how this massive straight sits within a narrow, stop-start street circuit – few places in Formula 1 punish a poor aerodynamic compromise as brutally.

3. Spa-Francorchamps – 357.2km/h (222mph)

The run from La Source through Eau Rouge and up the Kemmel Straight makes Spa-Francorchamps one of Formula 1’s purest tests of aerodynamic efficiency.

Cars hit their peak speed at the top of the hill, having carried immense momentum through one of the fastest and most iconic corners in racing.

Because Spa combines long straights with high-speed corners, teams must strike a delicate balance – too much wing and they’re slow on the straight; too little and Eau Rouge becomes a scary gamble.

4. Monza – 357.1km/h (221.94mph)

The Temple of Speed lives up to its name thanks to a layout built almost entirely around long straights and heavy braking zones.

With minimal downforce and tiny rear wings, cars slice through the air with barely any resistance, reaching speeds that define F1 cars’ efficiency.

Yet Monza‘s slipstream effect is just as crucial – a well-timed tow from another car can add several kilometres per hour, turning qualifying into a high-speed chess match where track position is everything.

5. Miami – 355km/h (220.63mph)

Miami‘s long back straight between Turns 16 and 17 delivers one of the year’s biggest speed traps, amplified by the circuit’s low-drag set-ups and generous DRS zone.

The flat-out run contrasts sharply with the tight, technical middle sector, forcing engineers into awkward compromises between straight-line efficiency and mechanical grip.

The freshly resurfaced track in 2024 also helped drivers carry more momentum onto the straight – a subtle change that made the difference between merely quick and seriously rapid.

6. Las Vegas – 350.5km/h (217.84mph)

The Las Vegas Strip Straight gives the city’s new circuit its identity – a glittering, mile-long blast past casinos and hotels where top speeds rival the European power circuits.

Despite the urban setting, Vegas demands a low-downforce set-up, and the long DRS zone keeps engines at full deployment for nearly half the lap.

Cool night temperatures add another twist: denser air improves power and stability, but with low grip on the resurfaced streets, drivers must carefully balance aggression and traction when chasing top speed.

7. Shanghai – 347.4km/h (215.91mph)

Shanghai‘s defining feature is its endless back straight – 1.2 kilometres of full throttle that invites slipstream battles and DRS-assisted lunges into the tight hairpin at Turn 14.

The combination of a long straight and a preceding acceleration zone that unwinds gradually from a tightening corner makes it ideal for building momentum.

Even so, Shanghai isn’t a low-drag circuit overall: the front half of the lap demands significant downforce, so that peak speed reflects not pure aero minimalism, but the circuit’s unusual rhythm and clever energy deployment.

8. Montreal – 347.4km/h (215.91mph)

The Circuit Gilles Villeneuve‘s long straights and stop-go chicanes make it one of the toughest circuits for braking systems, but also perfect for headline speeds.

Teams typically run trimmed-out wings to minimise drag, yet must keep enough downforce for the kerb-hopping chicanes – a delicate set-up trade-off that defines the circuit’s blend of aggression and restraint.

9. COTA – 344.6km/h (214.17mph)

Austin’s long back straight between Turns 11 and 12 delivers one of the highest speeds of the season, helped by a DRS zone that stretches for over a kilometre.

But unlike pure power circuits, COTA‘s combination of high-speed esses and elevation changes forces teams to compromise – too little downforce and the first sector becomes a handful; too much and you lose time on that crucial straight.

The bumpy surface adds another layer of complexity, making Austin’s top-speed runs as much about suspension efficiency as outright power.

10. Jeddah – 341.2km/h (212.06mph)

The Jeddah circuit is a unique blend of street and high-speed track, and its long straights allow drivers to carry high speed despite the city’s tight, twisty sections.

The smooth asphalt and near-flat terrain let teams run relatively low downforce, but the night-time wind gusts along the Red Sea can make the cars twitchy at full throttle.

Hitting 341km/h (212.06mph) requires engineering precision and courage, as one slip at that speed leaves very little margin for error.

11. Yas Marina – 341.1km/h (212mph)

Abu Dhabi’s Yas Marina circuit includes a deceptively fast long straight that runs along the pit complex, where DRS and low-downforce set-ups combine to deliver peak speeds over 340km/h (211mph).

The layout leads to heavy braking into Turn 11 immediately after the straight, forcing teams to compromise between top-end speed and stability under deceleration.

12. Sakhir – 340.2km/h (211.44mph)

Sakhir‘s outer layout is a playground for top speeds, with sweeping straights that allow cars to stretch their engines to the limit.

Low downforce and wide-open DRS zones make it one of the season’s fastest circuits, but the abrasive asphalt and occasional sand gusts keep drivers on edge.

13. Melbourne – 336.3km/h (209.01mph)

The Albert Park circuit offers a unique mix of temporary street layout and permanent racing infrastructure, with its long back straight giving drivers their best chance to hit top speed.

Teams can’t fully sacrifice downforce because the circuit’s tight chicanes and high-speed corners demand grip and stability.

Achieving 336 km/h (209.01mph) requires a delicate compromise between enough downforce and top speed.

14. Silverstone – 335.8km/h (208.70mph)

Silverstone‘s long Wellington and Hangar Straights allow cars to reach impressive top speeds, but the circuit’s flowing corners and high-speed sweepers mean teams can’t fully sacrifice downforce.

Achieving such high speeds requires a careful balance to stay planted through Maggotts and Becketts, yet minimal drag to maximise acceleration down the straights.

15. Zandvoort – 335.4km/h (208.45mph)

Zandvoort’s narrow, undulating layout makes it one of the more technically demanding circuits on the calendar, yet the long straight along the main grandstand allows cars to hit over 335 km/h (208mph).

The seaside winds and steep banking in Turns 3 and 14 force teams to find a balance between downforce and drag, making top-speed runs less about raw power and more about precision set-up.

16. Losail – 334km/h (207.58mph)

Losail International Circuit saw F1 cars reach a peak speed of 337.2 km/h (209.5 mph) during the 2024 season, recorded on the 1.4-kilometer main straight leading into Turn 1.

Despite its relatively compact layout, Losail’s long back straight and minimal elevation changes allow engines to operate at full throttle for over 12 seconds, making it one of the fastest tracks in terms of sustained high speed – though the abrasive surface and frequent wind gusts demand careful tyre and aero management.

17. Interlagos – 333.9km/h (207.52mph)

Top speeds at Interlagos are achieved on the long uphill run from Juncao to the Senna S as cars draft past the pit wall before braking into Turn 1.

The thin air at Sao Paulo’s high altitude reduces aerodynamic drag but also engine power, forcing teams to find an optimal balance between low drag for the main straight and enough downforce to handle the circuit’s twisting infield.

18. Barcelona – 330km/h (205.10mph)

Barcelona‘s Circuit de Catalunya recorded a top speed of 330km/h (205.10mph), reached at the end of the pit straight before Turn 1.

Although known more for its demanding high-speed corners than sheer pace, the revised final sector and DRS zone give teams a valuable chance to trim downforce and chase maximum speed – a rare opportunity at a track that traditionally rewards aerodynamic balance.

19. Red Bull Ring – 328.9km/h (204.41mph)

Austria’s Red Bull Ring is deceptively fast despite its short lap length, with long straights that climb and drop through the scenic Styrian hills.

The circuit’s combination of steep elevation changes and heavy braking zones means top speed is about carrying momentum out of the corners.

Low-downforce set-ups allow cars to reach 328km/h (204.41mph), but the tight first and last sectors demand precision.

20. Hungaroring – 319km/h (198.26mph)

The Hungaroring is often called “Monaco without the walls,” and its twisty, technical layout keeps top speeds modest by modern F1 standards.

The 319 km/h (198.26mph) peak comes on the long straight leading to Turn 1, but teams must run high downforce to navigate the relentless series of medium-speed corners.

21. Marina Bay – 318.4km/h (197.89mph)

Singapore’s Marina Bay Street Circuit is a low-speed, high-stress track, but the short straight after the Esplanade offers a fleeting opportunity to hit 318 km/h (197.89mph).

The humid, night-time conditions and tight city layout force teams to run relatively high downforce, meaning top speed is limited more by aero necessity than engine power.

22. Suzuka – 309.8km/h (192.54mph)

Suzuka‘s figure-eight layout emphasises flowing corners and rhythm over raw top speed, with the longest full-throttle section being the back straight leading to the Degner curves.

Reaching over 300km/h requires careful balancing: teams trim downforce enough for the straight but still need stability for high-speed S-curves and elevation changes.

23. Imola – 306.9km/h (190.74mph)

Imola‘s top speed of 306.9km/h (190.74 mph), typically recorded at the end of the pit straight before Tamburello, is one of the lowest figures on the F1 calendar.

Its short straights and technical flow prevent cars from sustaining full throttle for long, emphasising traction and responsiveness through chicanes and elevation changes rather than sheer power.

24. Monaco – 291.5km/h (181.17mph)

Not surprisingly, Monte Carlo has the lowest top speed on the Formula 1 calendar at 291.5 km/h (181.17 mph), and it’s not achieved on the main straight, but rather on the short tunnel straight before the Nouvelle Chicane.

The tight, twisting street layout leaves almost no room for sustained acceleration, forcing cars to run maximum downforce to maintain agility through the narrow barriers.