FOR Formula One fans, few race tracks capture the pure essence of motorsport racing quite like Belgium’s Spa-Francorchamps.
Located in the Ardennes forest, the 7km circuit has a special place in the hearts and history of F1 and beyond.
GettyThe iconic Belgium Grand Prix is under threat[/caption]
GettySpa-Francorchamps is a traditional track with some of the best racing in motorsport[/caption]
GettyBut the glamour of new F1 tracks like Las Vegas mean Belgium’s place is under threat[/caption]
GettyIt is already now on a rotation contract from 2026[/caption]
Whether it’s the tricky La Source (Turn One), the breathtaking ride up Eau Rouge and Raidillon (Turn Three, Four and Five) or the sweeping double left-hander at Pouhon (Turn 12), there is something to get every petrol head excited.
And that is not to mention the countless iconic races which have graced F1 there over the years – with Belgium being one of the original grand prix in F1’s first season in 1950.
From Michael Schumacher‘s maiden F1 win at Jordan in 1992 to Lewis Hamilton‘s epic battles with Kimi Raikkonen and Sebastian Vettel in 2008 and 2018 respectively, raceday there is rarely dull.
Indeed, reigning F1 world champion Max Verstappen named it as one of the six circuits which should have protected status on the calendar, alongside Silverstone, Suzuka, Interlagos, Zandvoort and Imola.
However, the modern pressures of F1 – which has seen the demand for glitz and glam skyrocket as scores of influencers and celebs with only a passing interest in the sport choke out those who genuinely care – mean some of the most iconic tracks on the calendar are at risk.
Imola has lost its contract from next season in place of another controversial street track in Madrid, while Zandvoort is celebrating the final Dutch Grand Prix in 2026.
Spa’s place in the F1 calendar has already been reduced to a rotation piece for the next six years, with its absence sure to be felt in 2028 and 2030 in the wake of potential new venues such as Thailand or Argentina.
However, gone are the days when the relative danger of a circuit is tolerated by FIA and F1 chiefs.
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F2 driver Anthoine Hubert tragically lost his life following a high-speed multi-car collision at Raidillon in 2019, while four years later Dutch driver Dilano van ’t Hoff was also killed in the same spot during a race in Formula Regional.
Circuit chiefs responded in 2022 by investing in gravel traps, widening run-off areas and moving barriers, but some said the changes did not go far enough.
Wet races there are a particular concern too, with the 2021 Belgium Grand Prix being abandoned after just two laps driven behind the safety car due to the almost non-existent visibility on the track.
The spray issue of F1 tyres is far from Spa’s fault, but a growing desire for races in parts of the world where weather conditions are more guaranteed, such as the Middle East or even the warmer states in the USA, mean money talks.
A record 380,000 fans attended the F1 weekend in Spa last year, yet lucrative money-spinning deals with new tracks including Las Vegas and Miami in the expanding US market are choking an already congested calendar.
Indeed, the move to three races in the States came before the release of the new F1 movie.
The film, produced by Apple and starring Brad Pitt, broke box office records as it grossed $463million worldwide on a reported budget of $200-$300m.
Spa is a traditional track, but a fair share of the latest generation of fans following the success of Netflix‘s Drive To Survive series and any more after the film tend to be more ensnared by the spectacle of the host tracks.
Monaco has suffered the opposite issue to Spa, being a place where the race result is all but decided by Saturday’s qualifying due to a lack of overtaking opportunities, but with the glamour to justify its continued existence.
The real question for all parties in the coming years is whether F1 is really willing to abandon what made it the most popular motorsport in the world, the racing, in favour of money-spinning events catered for celebs and social media stars.
In many ways it could be argued that it represents a battle for the soul of the sport, and some tough debate could be in line for CEO Stefano Domenicali in the future.
F1 returns to Spa this weekend after a two-week break in the 2025 season, with the backdrop of Christian Horner‘s abrupt Red Bull exit sure to make headlines before any cars even hit the track.
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