Several circuits on the 2022 F1 calendar are located within city parks, notably Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Canada, Albert Park in Australia, Monza in Italy and Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico City. Watching F1 racing in a park setting is undoubtedly a positive, but none of these circuits have any elevation changes to speak of, which impacts General Admission and grandstand views. The trackside atmosphere in Mexico City is excellent, but not being able to move around other parts of the circuit (aside from the zone where your grandstand is located) is a big minus.
Among the remaining old-school circuits on this year’s calendar, Circuit Zandvoort scores highly for organization and good views from selected grandstands (Arena, Tarzan) but could still do with more infrastructure investment to improve the fan experience. Interlagos in São Paulo does have some excellent elevated grandstands, but like Mexico City, it’s not possible to visit other parts of the circuit apart from your assigned grandstand zone.
Bahrain International Circuit does produce some great racing under lights but is located in the middle of a flat, featureless desert and only has five grandstands to choose from, with no General Admission access available. Meanwhile, the home of the Russian Grand Prix in Sochi does offer some of the cheapest tickets on the calendar, but the grandstand and General Admission views are nothing to write home about.