March is nearly here and that can only mean one thing – the Formula 1 season is finally about to commence.
To celebrate, experts at Sky Sports have got artificial intelligence (AI) to come up with the ‘greatest F1 track on Earth’.
Based on input from thousands of fans, the 3.7-mile-long circuit takes elements from multiple Grands Prix, including epic landmarks like the Suzuka ferris wheel in Japan.
Also featured is the legendary Eau Rouge of Spa in Belgium, the Hairpin Hotel in Monaco and the uphill climb at Circuit of the Americas.
Silverstone is included in the pouring rain, with the revered RAF Red Arrows flying overhead to bring some colour to a typical British summer day.
Sky Sports surveyed more than 4,000 fans about their ideal F1 track and used AI to bring it to life digitally
AI depicts the great British circuit being pelted with rain and the Red Arrows flying overhead, along the Maggots, Becketts and Chapel Curve, described as Silverstone’s fastest and most iconic sequence of corners
‘The best things about Formula 1 are the passionate fans, the variety of circuits across the globe and the demands each one brings,’ said F1 World Champion and current Sky Sports analyst Jenson Button.
‘I would have loved the opportunity to compete on this track as it combines many of the things that make F1 the most unique sport in the world – the glamour of Monaco, the speed of Monza and not forgetting the unpredictable weather of Spa.’
For the project, Sky Sports surveyed more than 4,000 fans about their ideal F1 track and the elements they would include.
Digital designers then used specific prompts in generative AI creative platform Midjourney to visualise how the greatest track might look, both in still images and an animation.
The result, described as the ‘greatest Formula 1 track on Earth’, starts with the the uphill climb of Circuit of the Americas’ first straight in Austin, Texas.
It then passes through Italy’s Imola Circuit and Monza Circuit, which has Rome’s iconic Colosseum in the distance.
Next up is the Circuit de Monaco, complete with the F1’s slowest and tightest corner at Grand Hotel Hairpin and the Swimming Pool, an integral part of the Monaco Grand Prix since the race’s inception.
The ‘greatest track on Earth’ starts with the first straight of the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, featuring Turn 1’s uphill braking zone
The Parabolica, a long, sweeping right hand bend located at the Monza circuit in Italy. The Colosseum, an iconic Italian landmark, can be seen in the distance
Acque Minerali at the Imola circuit in Italy, aptly named after the nearby mineral springs, is the third section and boasts a scenic backdrop
Pictured, the Swimming Pool, an integral part of the Monaco Grand Prix since the race’s inception
The iconic hairpin turn: Monaco features Formula 1’s slowest and tightest corner at the Grand Hotel Hairpin, Monte Carlo
Next, the dream track enters the Eau Rouge at Spa, Belgium, named after a 10-mile-long stream that runs alongside the circuit.
Also from the Belgian Grand Prix is the Kemmel Straight, a section surrounded by the Ardennes Forest, known for challenging conditions and unpredictable weather.
Following the Castle Section at Baku City Circuit in Azerbaijan the track enters the legendary Silverstone in Northamptonshire.
AI depicts the great British circuit being pelted with rain and the Red Arrows flying overhead, along the Maggots, Becketts and Chapel Curve, described as Silverstone’s fastest and most iconic sequence of corners.
It then heads to Japan’s Suzuka Circuit set against a the iconic ferris wheel, pink blossom and Mount Fuji towering in the background.
This is followed by the corner between the Brabham and Jones stands at the Melbourne Grand Prix, named after Australian racing icons Sir Jack Brabham and Alan Jones.
However, the AI appears to have trouble getting the Australian flag correct, with four yellow stars instead of six white ones.
One of F1’s most fabled corners, Eau Rouge at Spa in Belgium is named after a 15km long stream that runs alongside the circuit
The Kemmel Straight, surrounded by the Ardennes Forest, is known for its challenging conditions and unpredictable weather
Castle Section at Baku City Circuit in Azerbaijan (a 1.4 mile stretch ) boasts the narrowest point teams visit throughout the year and proves a difficult challenge for even the most experienced drivers. Silverstone’s Red Arrows and Suzuka’s Ferris wheel can be seen in the distance
The ‘greatest track’ features epic the iconic Suzuka ferris wheel in Japan complete with pink blossom and Mount Fuji towering in the background
Named in honour of Australian racing icons Sir Jack Brabham and Alan Jones, the eleventh section is the corner between the Brabham and Jones stands at the Melbourne GP
‘The greatest track on Earth’ finally finishes up at the Interlagos Circuit of the São Paulo Grand Prix.
It features the Senna ‘S’, an S-shaped part of the track named after the legendary Brazilian racing driver Ayrton Senna.
Look closely and you’ll see a statue of Senna, who was tragically killed at the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix when his car crashed into a concrete barrier.
Bringing the AI track to an end in Brazil, the last section runs from Turn 14, known as Junção, and into Interlagos’ final sector.
Sky Sports, which has exclusive broadcast rights to live F1 races, is trying to entice fans to subscriptions before the Grand Prix season starts next month.
The 2024 calendar comprises a record 24 Grands Prix, starting with the Bahrain Grand Prix on March 2.
The Senna ‘S’, named after the legendary Ayrton Senna, is renowned as one of Formula 1’s most iconic overtaking spots
Bringing the race to an end in Brazil, the thirteenth section of ‘The Greatest Track On Earth’ runs from Turn 14, known as Junção, and into Interlagos’ final sector
