“It’s basically like driving on a big parking lot between two white lines”

The Covid-19 pandemic has thrown the Formula 1 calendar upside down and has led to many unusual circuits being used this season. Older circuits such as Nürburgring and Mugello in particular made popular returns.

We won't see these circuits on the calendar of 2021, but we will see brand new circuits like in Saudi Arabia and Vietnam. However, this isn't entirely a good development, according to some drivers.

“I would say generally it’s street circuits and old circuits that are the best,” said Kevin Magnussen to Motorsportweek.com.

Some new tracks get the approval of the Danish driver, but the fact that these tracks are completely flat makes it less exciting. “It’s basically like driving on a big parking lot between two white lines. That’s not too exciting.” Street circuits are also the Haas driver's favourite. “Street circuits, of course, are exciting as you’re driving between walls on a street at full speed.”

This weekend Formula 1 will return to Istanbul for the first time since 2011. Although Magnussen has never raced there before, he's excited by what is to come. “It looks pretty cool from what I’ve seen. Istanbul is one of the newer circuits that looks pretty interesting.”