Automobilista 2 is the best bet for Formula One fans who want to recreate races from history without car or track mods: The content in the sim spans several decades for both vehicles and tracks, but no season is complete - so we were wondering which three tracks would benefit the most seasons' calendars in the sim.
Not all F1 seasons represented in AMS2 are obviously covering one specific year, but regardless of year, there are no less than 14 different F1 classes in the sim, spanning from the mid-1960s to modern day Grand Prix machinery. For an overview of what belongs where, check out our Ultimate F1 Season Guide for Automobilista 2.
Most seasons have at least half of their circuits of their calendars accurately represented in the sim, especially if you count those tracks that may not be accurate to how they were raced back then, but are still close - Monaco comes to mind, as there is only a modern-day representation (called Azure Circuit) in AMS2.
With so many seasons being available, we looked at which tracks would make the most sense to add to the sim if Reiza Studios wanted to expand the calendars of as many years of F1 as possible. Here are the top four.
Image credit: Porsche Newsroom
Zandvoort was part of the very first F1 World Championship in 1950 and hosted the series until 1985 with the exceptions of 1954, 1956-1957, and 1972. It has returned to the calendar in 2021.
The Dutch circuit has been transformed from a high-speed course passing through the dunes to a slower, but safer version after F1 had initially left in 1985. In addition to the modern version, multiple vintage versions would be needed to accurately portray each classic season as chicanes have been added at Bos In and Hondenvlak. A circa-1973 version would likely make the most sense, as the next significant change was only introduced in 1979.
Paul Ricard first appeared in 1971, then alternated with Charade, then Dijon until 1984 with the exception of 1975 and 1976, when it hosted the French Grand Prix in back-to-back years. From 1985 to 1990, Le Castellet was the exclusive home of the race until Magny-Cours took over. The track returned in 2018, but is absent from the 2023 season.
The track has not seen major layout alterations throughout the years, save for a short version being used from 1986 to 1990 after Elio de Angelis' fatal testing crash. Its surroundings have been altered significantly, though, with the track now featuring generous tarmac runoff areas, so a historic version would still be a good call due to its different nature - going off the track in the 1980s had much different consequences in the 1970s and 1980s.
Image credit: Porsche Newsroom
The Mexican Grand Prix has only ever had one home, and it was originally called Magdalena Mixhuca - from 1963 to 1970, the circuit in Mexico City was a staple on the F1 schedule. Financial issues and the death of Mexican start Pedro Rodríguez meant the event took a break until 1986, when F1 returned to a revised circuit now called Hermanos Rodríguez after Pedro and his brother Ricardo, who had died in 1962, also while racing.
The revised circuit held the race until 1992 and was famous for its fearsome final turn called Peraltada, which is now mostly bypassed via the section passing through the stadium on the inside of the corner at the modern track. The Mexican Grand Prix made another return in 2015 with a yet-again upgraded track that still somewhat resembles the classic layout, but is significantly different.
Next to the modern version, the layout used for the track's 1980's return would make the most sense for AMS2, as it would cover the 1986, 1988, 1990 and 1991 seasons.
Image credit: Red Bull Racing
It may be hard to believe, but the Hungaroring has hosted the Hungarian Grand Prix 39 times as of 2023 - it all started in 1986 when Europe was still split by the Iron Curtain. Since then, the track has seen a few modifications, most notably the elimination of the chicane at what is now Turn 3 (which was not supposed to be there in the first place, but an underground spring uncovered during construction required its temporary addition), Turn 1 which is now tighter, and Turn 12.
While most likely not a popular choice within the community, the track would fit on the calendars of ten AMS2 F1 seasons. The modern version would cover three classes as it was last changed in 2003, and a 1989-2002 version (sans the Turn 3 chicane) would cover even more. Since said Turn 3 chicane was the only notable difference of the original version, it would be easy to include this as an alternate layout as well.
Not all F1 seasons represented in AMS2 are obviously covering one specific year, but regardless of year, there are no less than 14 different F1 classes in the sim, spanning from the mid-1960s to modern day Grand Prix machinery. For an overview of what belongs where, check out our Ultimate F1 Season Guide for Automobilista 2.
Most seasons have at least half of their circuits of their calendars accurately represented in the sim, especially if you count those tracks that may not be accurate to how they were raced back then, but are still close - Monaco comes to mind, as there is only a modern-day representation (called Azure Circuit) in AMS2.
With so many seasons being available, we looked at which tracks would make the most sense to add to the sim if Reiza Studios wanted to expand the calendars of as many years of F1 as possible. Here are the top four.
Image credit: Porsche Newsroom
4th: Zandvoort
Seasons: 6 (1966/1967 - F-Vintage Gen 1, 1969/1970 - F-Vintage Gen 2, 1974 - F-Retro Gen 1, 1978 - F-Retro Gen 2, 1983 - F-Retro Gen 3, 2022 - F-Ultimate Gen 2)Zandvoort was part of the very first F1 World Championship in 1950 and hosted the series until 1985 with the exceptions of 1954, 1956-1957, and 1972. It has returned to the calendar in 2021.
The Dutch circuit has been transformed from a high-speed course passing through the dunes to a slower, but safer version after F1 had initially left in 1985. In addition to the modern version, multiple vintage versions would be needed to accurately portray each classic season as chicanes have been added at Bos In and Hondenvlak. A circa-1973 version would likely make the most sense, as the next significant change was only introduced in 1979.
3rd: Paul Ricard
Seasons: 7 (1978 - F-Retro Gen 2, 1983 - F-Retro Gen 3, 1986 - F-Classic Gen 1, 1988 F-Classic Gen 2, 1990 - F-Classic Gen 3, 2019 - F-Ultimate 2019, 2022 - F-Ultimate Gen 2)Paul Ricard first appeared in 1971, then alternated with Charade, then Dijon until 1984 with the exception of 1975 and 1976, when it hosted the French Grand Prix in back-to-back years. From 1985 to 1990, Le Castellet was the exclusive home of the race until Magny-Cours took over. The track returned in 2018, but is absent from the 2023 season.
The track has not seen major layout alterations throughout the years, save for a short version being used from 1986 to 1990 after Elio de Angelis' fatal testing crash. Its surroundings have been altered significantly, though, with the track now featuring generous tarmac runoff areas, so a historic version would still be a good call due to its different nature - going off the track in the 1980s had much different consequences in the 1970s and 1980s.
Image credit: Porsche Newsroom
2nd: Hermanos Rodriguez - Mexico City
Seasons: 8 (1966/1967 - F-Vintage Gen 1, 1969/1970 - F-Vintage Gen 2, 1986 - F-Classic Gen 1, 1988 - F-Classic Gen 2, 1990 - F-Classic Gen 3, 1991 - F-Classic Gen 4, 2019 - F-Ultimate 2019, 2022 - F-Ultimate Gen 2The Mexican Grand Prix has only ever had one home, and it was originally called Magdalena Mixhuca - from 1963 to 1970, the circuit in Mexico City was a staple on the F1 schedule. Financial issues and the death of Mexican start Pedro Rodríguez meant the event took a break until 1986, when F1 returned to a revised circuit now called Hermanos Rodríguez after Pedro and his brother Ricardo, who had died in 1962, also while racing.
The revised circuit held the race until 1992 and was famous for its fearsome final turn called Peraltada, which is now mostly bypassed via the section passing through the stadium on the inside of the corner at the modern track. The Mexican Grand Prix made another return in 2015 with a yet-again upgraded track that still somewhat resembles the classic layout, but is significantly different.
Next to the modern version, the layout used for the track's 1980's return would make the most sense for AMS2, as it would cover the 1986, 1988, 1990 and 1991 seasons.
Image credit: Red Bull Racing
1st: Hungaroring
Seasons: 10 (1986 - F-Classic Gen 1, 1988 - F-Classic Gen 2, 1990 - F-Classic Gen 3, 1991 F-Classic Gen 4, 1995 - F-V12, 1997 - F-V10 Gen 1, 2001 - F-V10 Gen 2, 2011/2012 - F-Reiza, 2019 - F-Ultimate 2019, 2022 - F-Ultimate Gen 2)It may be hard to believe, but the Hungaroring has hosted the Hungarian Grand Prix 39 times as of 2023 - it all started in 1986 when Europe was still split by the Iron Curtain. Since then, the track has seen a few modifications, most notably the elimination of the chicane at what is now Turn 3 (which was not supposed to be there in the first place, but an underground spring uncovered during construction required its temporary addition), Turn 1 which is now tighter, and Turn 12.
While most likely not a popular choice within the community, the track would fit on the calendars of ten AMS2 F1 seasons. The modern version would cover three classes as it was last changed in 2003, and a 1989-2002 version (sans the Turn 3 chicane) would cover even more. Since said Turn 3 chicane was the only notable difference of the original version, it would be easy to include this as an alternate layout as well.
