The ‘incredible’ circuit Lewis Hamilton, Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc love that only hosted one F1 race

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The Formula 1 calendar is constantly changing and efforts to become involved in the pinnacle of motor racing are being stepped up around the globe.

Saudi Arabia could be on the cusp of hosting a second F1 race, while a change of location in Spain is set to take place in 2026 with the arrival of the Madrid Grand Prix.

Max Verstappen’s home Grand Prix at Zandvoort will fall off the calendar that year and efforts to make Formula 1 a truly worldwide series are being made by Liberty Media.

The drivers have no say in where they race, with the calendar constantly expanding and putting travelling personnel under increasing pressure.

Verstappen warned that drivers would get ill due to the constant travelling, with Kevin Magnussen, Fernando Alonso and Nico Hulkenberg all missing either races or media sessions due to sickness last year.

However, they all have circuits that they love and would happily travel back to if the opportunity arose.

Speaking to the media, via RACER, back in 2020, Verstappen, Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc were among the drivers who raved about the one-time event held at Mugello.

The calendar was put together at the last minute due to Covid restrictions being implemented around the world, giving several tracks an unlikely opportunity to shine on the world stage.

Why Max Verstappen, Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc loved racing at Mugello

The 2020 F1 season was supposed to start in Australia and the teams had arrived in the paddock for the first weekend of action in March.

Instead, a makeshift 17-race season was organised, with several tracks – including the Red Bull Ring, Silverstone and the Sakhir International Circuit – hosting two races.

F1 organised the Tuscan Grand Prix at Mugello for September as one of three races to be held in Italy.

Asked about the track at the time, Leclerc said: “It’s unbelievable. “All the fast section is pretty impressive.

“I think it is going to be quite a difficult race physically, as FP2, for the neck, you start to feel it already, so the race will be a tough one.”

Verstappen echoed Leclerc’s comments and added: “It’s a very cool track. There are so many fast corners and in a Formula 1 car, to take Arrabbiata one and two flat out, easily, is quite incredible.

“So it’s really nice, really enjoyable to drive.”

READ MORE: Max Verstappen names surprising track he’d love to add to the Formula 1 calendar

Hamilton then compared it to another track which made an unexpected comeback in 2020 and said: “It almost feels like Turkey, the triple left-hander whatever it is there.

“It is incredibly fast through the first, six, seven, eight or nine corners; it’s intense. I have to say it’s amazing to experience it.

“It’s going to be difficult to look after the tyres through that section, but everyone is in the same boat.

“It’s a very, very serious track, all medium and high – don’t think we go lower than third or fourth gear, so it’s so quick. There’s not a lot of run-off area, really, particularly through Turn 8 and 9.”

What happened during the 2020 Tuscan Grand Prix including terrifying crash?

The 2020 season ended up being the end of Hamilton’s dominance of Formula 1 with Mercedes, but he was well on top during the event at Mugello.

He took pole position alongside teammate Valtteri Bottas, with Verstappen on the second row alongside fellow Red Bull driver Alex Albon.

Leclerc was fifth, ahead of both Racing Point cars with Ferrari teammate Sebastian Vettel down in P14.

READ MORE: The five tracks F1 must add to 2026 calendar including one Lando Norris absolutely adores

Verstappen was one of several drivers caught in an opening lap crash, forcing him to retire, before a huge shunt at the safety car restart elminated four more drivers.

Hamilton led from Bottas to secure another Mercedes one-two to add to the collection, while Albon secured one of his two Formula 1 podiums that day.

Leclerc could only come home in P8, sitting between Daniil Kvyat and Kimi Raikkonen.

The track was removed from the calendar in 2021, with races continuing at Monza and Imola.

However, the drivers may have preferred a return to Tuscany over heading back to Emilia Romagna.