Wolff: New venues shows F1 error in using ‘supermarket car park' tracks

Toto Wolff feels the success of traditional tracks in 2020 proves Formula 1 has taken the wrong direction with many of its new circuits, calling them "oversized supermarket car parks"

F1 was forced to heavily revise its 2020 calendar as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic that forced 13 of its planned 22 races to be cancelled.

The series worked to secure a number of new European venues on the calendar, making use of previously unused tracks such as Portimao and Mugello, as well as visiting former hosts in Imola and the Nurburgring.

This weekend's Turkish Grand Prix will mark the return of Istanbul Park to the calendar after a nine-year absence, with the track being popular among drivers and teams.

Fans have called for many of the new tracks to become permanent fixtures on the F1 calendar after providing exciting racing and being challenging for the drivers.

Mercedes F1 team principal Wolff said the way classic tracks punished drivers for mistakes proved how the wrong approach has been taken towards circuit design in recent years.

"I've been always very vocal about that I disagree with the direction that we have taken with racing on oversized supermarket car parks," Wolff said.

"It takes the factor of the driver and his skill away.

"I really like racing at Imola, and I really like racing in Mugello and the tracks where you actually are really penalised if you make a mistake.

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"We need to bring gravel traps back to make sure when you're flying off, you can't rejoin without any damage to your car.

"You can adapt most of the circuits to that kind of standard, but these classic and historic race tracks will always have soul."

Wolff felt some of the newer tracks on the calendar had gained their own reputation and identity over the years, but may need adjusting to be more challenging for drivers.

"You can say that from the modern circuits, Bahrain has a soul also, because we have been in Bahrain for a long time, and we have these guys who have been loyal partners for a long time," Wolff said.

"Maybe we just need to adapt these circuits in exactly the way I've described.

"Again, I'm not a circuit designer, I'm just giving you my feedback from an ex-racing driver and based on the TV pictures that I've seen from Mugello, Portimao and Imola."