How a Former Race Car Driver Built the World’s Most Iconic Tracks

If you've ever watched a Formula 1 race, there's a good chance you've seen a track designed by Tilke. For decades, this German firm has been the go-to name for building the world's most iconic racing circuits .

A giant in motorsport design

Founded in 1984, Tilke Engineers & Architects has become a global leader in the industry. They don't just design tracks for Formula 1 and MotoGP; they handle everything from test facilities to private club tracks .

What makes them stand out is their "all-in-one" approach. They manage a project from start to finish—from the very first concept and 3D simulations to overseeing construction and getting the final safety approval .

From the track to the drawing board

The company was started by Hermann Tilke, who actually began his career as a racing driver before switching to civil engineering .

He started small with projects at the famous Nürburgring, but his career quickly took off. He went on to design some of the biggest circuits in the world, including the Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia, the Shanghai International Circuit, and the Circuit of the Americas in the US. He was even brought in to help redesign the historic Silverstone circuit in 2010 .

Legal trouble in Madrid

Despite their success, the firm is currently facing some drama. They are caught in a legal battle over the upcoming F1 circuit in Madrid.

In 2026, a court in Cologne, Germany, ruled that Tilke could not use design documents belonging to another firm, Dromo Circuit Design . The court found that Dromo's files had been discovered inside Tilke's computer systems as far back as February 2025 .

For now, this court order only applies within Germany. The bigger legal fight regarding the project in Spain is still ongoing .