Breaking news

Formula 1

Barcelona circuit reshapes Turn 10 for 2021

Formula 1 and MotoGP venue Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya will reinstate a modified layout of the old Turn 10 following safety improvements made in conjunction with the FIA and FIM.

Lewis Duncan

Lewis Duncan

Edited: May 7, 2021, 5:03 AM

Copy link

Share on Facebook

Share on Twitter

Share on WhatsApp

Share on Linkedin

Share on Pinterest

Share on Viber

Add as a preferred source

Lando Norris, McLaren MCL35

The original Turn 10 at the Catalan circuit was a long left-hander which fed into the long right at the top of the hill at Turn 11.

However, F1 abandoned this version of the corner in 2004 in favour of a tighter sharp left in a bid to improve safety, while also using the universally disliked final chicane at Turns 14/15 instead of the old penultimate corner.

MotoGP continued to use the original layout of the circuit up until the 2016 Catalan Grand Prix, following the death of Moto2 racer Luis Salom when he crashed at the old penultimate corner.

Due to the proximity of the barrier to the circuit at Turn 10, MotoGP switched to the F1 Turn 10.

Changes to the run-off area at the old penultimate corner for 2018 meant MotoGP could revert to that layout of the corner, though continued to use the F1 Turn 10.

However, the circuit will reshape the original Turn 10 into a slightly tighter version of its old layout, with the double left complex comprising Turns 10 and 11, with work set to be completed for the 2021 season.

"During January, Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya will be reshaping the layout of the current Turn 10, located at the entrance of the legendary Stadium area," a circuit statement read.

"This project, which was analysed during the past seasons together with the FIA and the FIM, will improve the safety conditions at both car and motorcycle races.

"Traditionally, Formula 1 used the inner variant of Turn 10 and 11, while MotoGP used the historic layout.

"However, a few years ago, the FIM decided to use the same layout as the car races.

"For the 2021 season, and in agreement with the FIA and the FIM, Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya has designed a new and unique variant for Turn 10, that will be located between the two current layouts.

"This change will allow for an extension of the run-off area at the turn, thus increasing the safety distance, and it will also lead to a return to the origins of the layout."

The changes to the circuit are another in a series of initiatives which have been agreed upon by F1 and MotoGP's respective governing bodies as the FIA and FIM work closer together on matters of track safety.

This news follows on from the announcement last month that circuits which host both F1 and MotoGP events from 2022 will have to have the LED light panels at marshal posts fitted.

We want your opinion!

What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?

Take our 5 minute survey.

- The Motorsport.com Team

Read and post comments

Read also :

Share Or Save This Story

Copy link

Share on Facebook

Share on Twitter

Share on WhatsApp

Share on Linkedin

Share on Pinterest

Share on Viber

Previous article FIA finalises entry fees for 2021 Formula 1 season

Next article Perez set for 2021 Red Bull F1 deal

Top Comments

There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?

View More & Comment

More from

Lewis Duncan



MotoGP 2025: Full rider line-up revealed

MotoGP

MotoGP Sep 19, 2024

MotoGP 2025: Full rider line-up revealed



A year on from Marquez’s Germany MotoGP meltdown, has Honda improved?

MotoGP

MotoGP

German GP

Jul 5, 2024

A year on from Marquez’s Germany MotoGP meltdown, has Honda improved?



What’s behind MotoGP’s right-hander chaos in Germany practice?

MotoGP

MotoGP

German GP

Jul 5, 2024

What’s behind MotoGP’s right-hander chaos in Germany practice?

Latest news



The ten closest finishes from the 2026 NASCAR season

NASCAR Cup

NAS NASCAR Cup 9 h

The ten closest finishes from the 2026 NASCAR season



‘Lewis suspected a conspiracy’ – Nico Rosberg explains how Lewis Hamilton F1 rivalry went awry at Mercedes

Formula 1

F1 Formula 1 9 h

‘Lewis suspected a conspiracy’ – Nico Rosberg explains how Lewis Hamilton F1 rivalry went awry at Mercedes



BMW "proud of what we achieved" after securing runner-up in 2026 WEC

WEC

WEC WEC

Monza

11 h

BMW "proud of what we achieved" after securing runner-up in 2026 WEC



The numbers that reveal how sprint races have turned the MotoGP title fight upside down

MotoGP

MGP MotoGP

Qatar GP

13 h

The numbers that reveal how sprint races have turned the MotoGP title fight upside down

Feature

Discover prime content



How seizing every chance – and making it happen – keeps Pierre Gasly’s fire burning

Formula 1

By Jake Boxall-Legge

How seizing every chance – and making it happen – keeps Pierre Gasly’s fire burning



Tough love and F1 titles – A key life lesson behind Wolff's Mercedes success

Formula 1

Sao Paulo GP

By Ronald Vording

Tough love and F1 titles – A key life lesson behind Wolff's Mercedes success



How Brazil showcased everything that's good about F1 - plus some that isn't

Formula 1

Sao Paulo GP

By Filip Cleeren

How Brazil showcased everything that's good about F1 - plus some that isn't



Top 10 F1 cars of the 1970s

Formula 1

By Kevin Turner

Top 10 F1 cars of the 1970s

Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.

From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.

You have 2 options:

Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here

Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page

Manage Alerts

Subscribe