F1 Races by continent

[u/no_more_good_namez]

In 2027 Asia will have more tracks than Europe for the 2nd time in history. (I'm counting Istanbul and Baku as part of Asia.)

[u/apacheotter]

Man, I hate this graph

[u/Alfus → u/apacheotter]

So how much GP's are in Asia if we excluding the Middle East?

[u/julesvr5 → u/Alfus]

China, Japan, Singapore

[u/JuliusE2 → u/julesvr5]

The Bahrain GP was in Asia aswell (not middle east)

[u/Lower_Sink_7828 → u/JuliusE2]

That's an one-off.

[u/JuliusE2 → u/Alfus]

*many

[u/Puzzleheaded-Ad8771 → u/Alfus]

the middle east is in asia

[u/JuliusE2 → u/Puzzleheaded-Ad8771]

That‘s what they meant. If you exclude the middle east from Asia, you take it away. Thus meaning that it was a part before

[u/DullMind2023 → u/apacheotter]

Why?

[u/JStormz → u/DullMind2023]

100% stacked area chart is certainly a choice.

[u/cosHinsHeiR → u/JStormz]

Idk if it's me but the smoothing makes it far harder to read too.

[u/Anustart15 → u/DullMind2023]

The spike in European races also ends up looking like a spike in Asian races despite being the exact opposite

[u/slyfox1908 → u/apacheotter]

Colonialism was a mistake

[u/Kstantas]

I guess this big European spike in 21st century is 2020?

[u/no_more_good_namez → u/Kstantas]

Yup, also the only year F1 has not raced on a single street circuit.

[u/Baksteen-13 → u/no_more_good_namez]

Pretty sure Sochi is classified as a street circuit no?

[u/no_more_good_namez → u/Baksteen-13]

Sochi is classified as a race circuit on wikipedia and thats what I used. I think it's in a weird spot with Albert Park and Montreal where they're all kinda tracks and street circuits.

[u/Baksteen-13 → u/no_more_good_namez]

ahh interesting! I didn’t know that since it’s official name was: Sochi International Street Circuit

It consists of part permanent track and part road section and has a smaller layout that only runs the permanent section :)

[u/Hawksteinman → u/Baksteen-13]

I thought it was Sochi International Autodrome 😭

[u/Baksteen-13 → u/Hawksteinman]

Also one of it’s names it had multiple over the years :)

[u/JPBCFC97 → u/no_more_good_namez]

is the Aus GP counted in this graph from 2020 as F1 did technically go there?

[u/no_more_good_namez → u/JPBCFC97]

No it isn't, I just included tracks F1 actually raced at so the middle eastern races this year are also not included.

[u/Kdlbrg43 → u/Kstantas]

What happened in 2020?

[u/Evoluxman → u/Kdlbrg43]

What a question to ask lmao. I guess it will be funny when kids ask that question in 10-15 years and you pretty much have to take them for a 30 min crash course just for a single year

[u/Kstantas → u/Kdlbrg43]

COVID Pandemics

I actually wasn't fan of sport at the time, but I (turns out, correctly) guessed that due to different restrictions some races just was canceled because it was impossible to organize them while maintaining safety

[u/ValentineRita1994 → u/Kdlbrg43]

My God. Only 6 years and people have already forgotten the most impactful global event that's happened in the past 20 years.

[u/whyisthishas → u/ValentineRita1994]

The past 80 years I'd argue

[u/Lanky-Football857 → u/Kdlbrg43]

Not much tbf

[u/Rainbow_Sex → u/Lanky-Football857]

Yeah pretty boring year honestly

[u/YouADemon]

Europe is definitely appealing the Istanbul and Baku classification.

[u/xander012 → u/YouADemon]

Both are geographically in Asia.

[u/docthelettuce → u/xander012]

istanbul is a transcontinental city but istanbul park is in asian side

[u/prank_mark → u/xander012]

There is no official geographic distinction between Europe and Asia

[u/xander012 → u/prank_mark]

There is a general consensus on where the boundary is the bosporus, Urals and the caucasus mountains. In all cases Istanbul Park and Baku are on the asian sides of these boundaries

[u/prank_mark → u/xander012]

Opening Wikipedia is so easy, yet it seems so hard for some people

Asia and Europe

The boundary between Asia and Europe is unusual among continental boundaries because of its largely mountain-and-river-based characteristics north and east of the Black Sea. Asia and Europe are considered separate continents for historical reasons; the division between the two goes back to the early Greek geographers.[citation needed]

In the modern sense of the term "continent", Eurasia is more readily identifiable as a "continent", and Europe has occasionally been described as a subcontinent of Eurasia.[68]

[...]

The international geographic community has never reached a universal agreement on continental borders, especially with regard to the Caucasus region between the Black and Caspian seas. As Encyclopædia Britannica explains:

"The watershed of the Greater Caucasus, the backbone of the system, traditionally has been part of the line dividing Europe and Asia, but Europe's eastern boundary has been the subject of much debate. One widely accepted scheme draws the dividing line along the crest of the Greater Caucasus range, putting the portion of the region north of the line in Europe and the portion south of it in Asia. Another puts the western portion of the Caucasus region in Europe and the eastern part (the bulk of Azerbaijan and small portions of Armenia, Georgia, and Russia's Caspian Sea coast) in Asia. Still another scheme identifies the Aras River and the Turkish border as the line of continental demarcation, thereby locating Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia in Europe."[95]

[...]

One formal means by which states are grouped into one specified continental area or another is by using the definition used for statistical purposes by the United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD):[18] According to UNSD, "assignment of countries or areas to specific groupings is for statistical convenience and does not imply any assumption regarding political or other affiliation of countries or territories".[106] Furthermore, the UNSD classification often differs from those of other United Nations organizations. For instance, while UNSD includes Georgia and Cyprus in Western Asia, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization and UNESCO include both states in Europe.[107][108]

The Council of Europe and the European Political Community includes transcontinental or Eurasian states, such as Armenia, Azerbaijan, Cyprus, Georgia, and Turkey as members. Cyprus is a member of the European Union, whereas the European Parliament noted that Armenia and Georgia are eligible to apply for EU membership "like any other European state".[109][110][111] On 14 December 2023, Georgia was officially granted EU Candidate status.[112] On 12 February 2025, the Armenian parliament unanimously adopted a law initiating Armenia's accession process to the EU.[113] Turkey, despite having territories in both Asia and Europe, is still a candidate for EU membership.

The Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe defined the eastern boundary of Europe to be the Ural Mountains, Ural River, and Caspian Sea. However, it also included all of the territory of the then-Soviet republics of Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia, as well as areas of Turkey north of the 39th parallel (among other areas[clarification needed] of Turkey).[114]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boundaries_between_the_continents

[u/CL16_ScuderiaFerrari → u/prank_mark]

Doesn’t Wikipedia also say that Oceania isn’t a continent, and instead Australasia (AUS + NZ + PNG) is, which would mean every other country in the pacific wouldn’t have a continent? I think that’s stupid myself.

[u/Schrojo18 → u/CL16_ScuderiaFerrari]

Yes oceania isn't a continent but a group of countries as a continent doesn't group a lot.

[u/cosHinsHeiR → u/CL16_ScuderiaFerrari]

Continet doesn't really have a precise definition. It can be used to mean a vast landmass, or to group together all dry land in an area. The uses vary by country and iirc english speaking ones use the first definitions so Oceania is not a continent but a region or something.

[u/themcsame → u/CL16_ScuderiaFerrari]

Oceania is dependent on classification; Australasia isn't geological at all.

which would mean every other country in the pacific wouldn’t have a continent?

Kind of...

There's actually an 8th continent that we've recently discovered (within the last 10 years or so I think?) called Zealandia that's mostly submerged. New Zealand, New Caledonia and a tiny amount of Australian territories sit on this continent rather than the Australian continent.

In reference to what you were saying, that really only adds dependent territories. But obviously, if we disregard Australasia and opt for the Australian continent, we also end up with New Zealand sitting in that group.

But otherwise, yes. It's just how we classify them. They're just not quite as permanent as continents. By and large, they're destined to be swallowed up again in however many millions of years

[u/julesvr5 → u/xander012]

Turkey wants to join the EU though so they seemingly consider themselves being in Europe

[u/xander012 → u/julesvr5]

They do control Eastern thrace which is part of Europe

[u/Worried-Pick4848 → u/xander012]

Neither is geographically in Asia, Azerbaijan is on the outskrts of Europe, but is in Europe. So is Istanbul.

If you call both nations culturally Asian I'll agree with you, but since you said geographically, they are definitely both Europe.

[u/xXxTornadoTimxXx → u/Worried-Pick4848]

Istanbulpark is on the Asian side of the Bosporus, so it is geographically in Asia.

Also Baku is South of the Caucasus mountains so geographically also in Asia.

[u/Fart_Leviathan → u/Worried-Pick4848]

A very small part of Azerbaijan is technically Europe, but Baku, the city itself where the race is, is not located in that part, nor is it on the European continent by any definition.

Istanbul is a transcontinental city, so there is a tiny bit of credence, but the track is on the Asian side.

[u/Danthr01]

At this point the middle east should be counted outside of asia due to the sheer number of races there

[u/Repa24]

Europe :(

[u/_masterofdisaster → u/Repa24]

If you’re going to call yourself a World Championship, you gotta go around the world. Just because Americans don’t get that doesn’t mean it would be any less silly elsewhere

[u/pjo33 → u/_masterofdisaster]

You‘re so right, we should drop all the great legacy tracks which have provided decades of entertainment and great racing in favour of another glorified drivers parade in a Middle Eastern street circuit.
That’ll improve the sport!

[u/twociffer → u/pjo33]

another glorified drivers parade in a Middle Eastern street circuit permanent track that uses a few public roads in order to not have to comply with the rules for FIA Grade 1 Circuits.

FTFY

[u/Nice-Physics-7655 → u/pjo33]

I get what you mean but given that like half of the european circuits haven't delivered interesting races in recent years and the only new european track being madrid doesn't help your point

[u/Schrojo18 → u/Nice-Physics-7655]

That's because they keep taking away the good ones

[u/Haxemply → u/pjo33]

Newsflash: they are doing exactly that

[u/NoiceAndToitt → u/pjo33]

Ah yes… if only my middle eastern self could think of a European track that is a street circuit and shit for overtaking.

Well, now that I can’t, of course you must be right.

[u/syscall0x01 → u/_masterofdisaster]

F1 is called world championship because drivers can be from anywhere.

It has nothing to do with where they race, but who can become champion (anyone in the world).

[u/-Shatzy-]

Oil money

[u/ChrisDewgong]

My first ever race was the last race held in Africa, the 1993 South African Grand Prix.

Screw you F1, for taking away the one interesting fact I had to share.

[u/PaulRingo64 → u/ChrisDewgong]

Hasn’t happened yet

[u/guavapassionfruit]

F1 originated from Europe but is becoming a global sport. This progression is only natural and is good for the sport in the long run.

[u/no_more_good_namez → u/guavapassionfruit]

I agree, although I do think its a shame the growth in asia has been driven by races in the middle east rather than india, korea, china ect. since those races (aside from being deeply dull) are typically empty or full of europeans on holiday.

[u/Rich_Housing971 → u/no_more_good_namez]

It actually makes sense if you think about it. Eruopeans on holiday is their primary demographic. They want rich people to attend races so they can charge more, so having it in places that already have existing rich people there is ideal.

Also why they expanded into Vegas and Miami- two rich tourist destinations.

[u/TheInternetBanana → u/guavapassionfruit]

I agree if we actually got some good classic tracks from other continents and not the wastelands or boring city tracks.

[u/Baksteen-13 → u/guavapassionfruit]

it becoming more global absolutely is a good thing, but it’s only happening now as a result of oil money and not as a goal to make the sport better.

[u/random929292 → u/guavapassionfruit]

Asia when broadly defined as the OP has done here includes 63 percent of the worlds population so it makes sense that more are there. Europe is 8.4 percent of the worlds population.

[u/Imperito → u/random929292]

Equally, Europe is the home of F1 and as a result it will always have an outsized role and I think there's nothing wrong with that either.

[u/Oceansnail → u/Imperito]

Aren't F1 headquarters in Las Vegas?

[u/ManOnlyLurks → u/[deleted]]

It's the same with football. Our sports are being taken over by outside commercial interests ti the detriment of English fans.

That said, same with NFL. American fans missing "home" games which are taken overseas

[u/RandomFluffyBoi → u/[deleted]]

It's Europe's fault for not bringing enough money to the table then. You think they'd have races in Abu Dhabi and Vegas if they can generate the exact same revenue at Spa or Zandvoort?

[u/ManOnlyLurks → u/RandomFluffyBoi]

The US economy is the largest in the world and so an obvious and natural market to expand into. At least the US has motor racing heritage.

The ME petrol states will spaff their money on anything as desperate attention seeking and to try and be relevant. Look at Saudis football league... if the money dries up they are a cultural and sporting afterthought.

[u/slyfox1908 → u/guavapassionfruit]

“What’s good for Europe is good for the world.” — Europe

[u/Longjumping_Ad_5407 → u/guavapassionfruit]

Not so good how many races are in the USA and Middle East considering most of the tracks in those locations are absolute dog shit

[u/RolandGrazer]

Whats the North American spike in the 80s?

[u/DuckSwagington → u/RolandGrazer]

Bernie's white whale was breaking into the US market and making F1 the biggest racing series over there, so he kept putting a lot of shit street tracks onto the F1 calendar when he first gained control of FOM. Miami isn't even the first F1 track to race in an American parking lot nor is the Vegas GP the first time F1 has raced there.

[u/Spockyt → u/RolandGrazer]

I’m not sure if there is one, I think it might be more the lesser quantity of races making the 2-4 North American GPs a year be a larger percentage, plus Africa and there being 2 South American ones (Argentina & Brazil) pushing it down a bit further.

I think the shrink after the 80s is Mexico dropping off the calendar, plus it going from 2 US races (US GP West/Dallas/Detroit/Caesars Palace) to 1.

[u/Storm_Chaser06 → u/RolandGrazer]

Detroit, Dallas and Phoenix

[u/syscall0x01]

Disaster. Most manufacturers are in Europe, engineering IP, auto industry, racing culture...

[u/_ferko]

Europeans will look at this and still say that Europe doesn't have enough races.

[u/Spockyt → u/_ferko]

You’d rather Losail than Hockenheim, Miami than Portimao, Jeddah than Imola?

It’s not like it’s Road America, Fuji and Kyalami that’s been added.

[u/CheeseMakerThing → u/Spockyt]

It even applies to races in Europe, we're cycling Spa with a heap of shit in Madrid

[u/Spockyt → u/CheeseMakerThing]

Technically Spa rotates with Barcelona, Madrid is there permanently in their place. Don’t think that detracts from your point though.

[u/xLeper_Messiah → u/Spockyt]

Jeddah than Imola

Absolutely yes, the only thing Imola has going for it is pretty scenery & passionate fans. The track itself doesn't consistently produce good racing for F1 cars.

[u/Spockyt → u/xLeper_Messiah]

I agree Imola isn’t great, but Jeddah also doesn’t produce great racing, and is a disaster waiting to happen. At least Imola made safety changes, Jeddah is custom designed to be the most dangerous street circuit possible. Flat out blind corners with walls that will send the cars back at the racing line? You couldn’t have designed circumstances better suited to replicate Hubert’s accident if you tried.

[u/ConfidentPeanut12 → u/Spockyt]

the most dangerous track is Spa and F1 still races there when they shouldn't

[u/kirk7899 → u/_ferko]

Most say that cause the tracks that are being replaced produce very poor racing

[u/GBreezy → u/_ferko]

They want it to be the world championship the same way baseball has a world series

[u/Jorrie90 → u/GBreezy]

Said no European.

[u/YourCuntIsABot → u/Jorrie90]

yeah, not once have I read anything like that

they are basically making something up just to argue against it

[u/xLeper_Messiah → u/GBreezy]

There was a Canadian team in the World Series just last year! It technically counts!!

[u/ValentineRita1994]

No Canadian GP in 2007 or 2008? How would that have affected the championship fight?

[u/pioneeringsystems → u/ValentineRita1994]

There was a Canadian GP both of those years.

[u/Grasshop → u/pioneeringsystems]

Correct, 2009 there was no Canadian GP

[u/djwillis1121 → u/[deleted]]

Why?

[u/no_more_good_namez → u/[deleted]]

The champions league is famously a european championship, F1 isnt, its a world championship.

[u/dreamyghost1 → u/[deleted]]

“european sport” its called the f1 world championship not the f1 european championship lol

champions league on the other hand was called the european cup earlier

[u/dreamyghost1 → u/[deleted]]

so that means most of it should be enjoyed by europeans, great logic

[u/dreamyghost1 → u/[deleted]]

So you’re telling me that the F1 WORLD championship should not be enjoyed by the entire WORLD?

[u/dreamyghost1 → u/[deleted]]

thank you.

[u/djwillis1121 → u/[deleted]]

It's called the F1 World Championship, not European Championship. The Champion's league is specifically the European Club football championship. There are other competitions that are world championships in football as well

[u/Arkonat0r → u/[deleted]]

That is very obvious. Europe (17 races) + Australia + Japan + one other Asian (rotating) + Canada + US + Brazil + one other worldwide (rotating) = 24. 70% European, and real World Championship at the same time

[u/Arkonat0r → u/[deleted]]

Yeah, those are quality races in neighbouring countries, politics aside, they could count in the European tally

[u/phonicparty]

What were the Formula 1 races in North America in the 1950s? 

There were none, as far I'm aware - though there were 10 World Championship Indy 500 races that were definitionally not F1 races (were not held to F1 regulations, did not include F1 cars)

[u/WestCentral-550 → u/phonicparty]

Yeah, I think they're counting the 10 Indy 500 races in that era; although they're not using F1 regulations in that era, they were considered part of the World Championship for Drivers and any of its point scorers in the race would be part of the standings in the championship.

That said, technically there were no F1 championship races in 1952 or 1953-the championship was run to F2 regulations. So, it would be more accurate to say that this is the chart of World Championship races per year by continent.

[u/garethchester → u/WestCentral-550]

Plus 'F1 Races by continent' should by definition also include non-championship and national championship races ran to F1 rules.

[u/phonicparty → u/WestCentral-550]

Correct! Gold star

[u/no_more_good_namez → u/phonicparty]

Thank you, I am aware and I chose to include it anyway.

[u/phonicparty → u/no_more_good_namez]

Shame - "World Championship races by continent" would have been straightforward and correct

[u/LugosFergus]

Personally, I prefer stepped edges for this kind of data.

[u/Upbeat_County9191]

Oceania isn't a continent; Australia is.

[u/Cafa20 → u/Upbeat_County9191]

Ragebait, right…?

[u/Upbeat_County9191 → u/Cafa20]

No , officially Oceania is an geographical region including the continent of Australia. But only Australia is the continent. So if a chart says races by continent it should say Australia and not Oceania

[u/cosHinsHeiR → u/Upbeat_County9191]

officially Oceania is an geographical region

Offically what? Continents don't have any "official" border or definition.

[u/Cafa20 → u/Upbeat_County9191]

Yeah, you're doing ragebait. Do better, man.

[u/Upbeat_County9191 → u/Cafa20]

Not ragebait, just basic geography. According to Britannica and National Geographic, Oceania is a geographic region, while Australia is the continent. Depending on where you were educated, 'Oceania' is often used informally as a continent name to include island nations like NZ, but geologically/officially, the continent is Australia. Look it up before calling facts 'ragebait. You do better before sprouting rage bait b,s.

[u/Cafa20 → u/Upbeat_County9191]

It is quite ironic that you tell others to 'do research' and talk about 'basic geography' while demonstrating such a narrow and arrogant view of the subject. If you are going to cite reputable sources like the Britannica, you should actually read their articles in full. Both the Encyclopædia Britannica and the National Geographic Society explicitly state that the concept of a 'continent' is not strictly geological; it is cultural, political, and varies depending on the educational system.
Claiming that using 'Oceania' as a continent is 'informal' or 'wrong' reveals a fundamental misunderstanding of cartography and geopolitics. The world does not use a single, universal model. The 7-continent model, common in the US and anglophone countries, teaches 'Australia' as a continent. However, the 6-continent model, officially adopted across Latin America, parts of Europe, the UN, and the International Olympic Committee, designates Oceania as the continent so that sovereign nations like New Zealand, Fiji, or Samoa are not left continentless or treated as mere colonial footnotes of another country. Furthermore, from a purely geological standpoint, the underlying continental mass is actually called Sahul or Meganesia.

[u/Upbeat_County9191 → u/Cafa20]

Fair enough, you're right that different educational and international systems use different models (like the 6-continent model used by the UN/IOC vs the 7-continent model). My point was just that in strict landmass/geological terms Australia is the core landmass, but I agree cartography models vary globally. It doesn't mean I am wrong and haven't done my own research.

[u/ConfidentPeanut12]

most of the European tracks produce boring races and just aren't fit for modern F1

[u/TheEmpireOfSun → u/ConfidentPeanut12]

Yeah right, because non-european races are so great!