Spa has new plans for the F1 future to stay in the race calendar

The Belgium Grand Prix, along with France and Monaco, was one of six grand prix on Formula One's inaugural world championship in 1950.

Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps in a file photo (image credits: twitter)
By Niranjan Shivalkar | Jun 10, 2022 | 2 Min Read follow icon Follow Us

The Belgian Grand Prix, along with France and Monaco, was one of six grand prix on Formula One’s inaugural world championship in 1950. All three events are now in jeopardy, with their contracts expiring as the series’ marketing-savvy owner Liberty Media prioritizes financial concerns over history or reputation. While Monaco may claim that its history makes it vital, Spa-Francorchamps will not make the same error. With Qatar, Las Vegas, and China (re)joining a preliminary 2023 calendar that includes 24 races, and plenty of desire from across the world to extend that number even further.

The American way

Traditional events outside of the so-called destination races, as Liberty likes to call them, races in important international markets, adjacent to or inside the center of major metropoles have found it more difficult to maintain a seat on the schedule. The Americans are determined to make every grand prix into a mini-Super Bowl, bling and all, whether traditional racing fans and venues like it or not, riding the wave of Formula 1’s increasing worldwide popularity.

Bringing more entertainment

Belgian GP, F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali and his crew have made it apparent that if Spa is to have a future, it must adopt the same entertainment-driven model. And Spa is prepared to believe it. “It’s true that there has been a request from F1 to bring more entertainment. They said history is great, but we need more. We have decided to listen and follow their new way of delivering F1 events.”

“The American way, with all the entertainment that goes with it. We are planning all sorts of entertainment, with DJs, exclusive events, fans zones and activations around the circuit. You can say our legendary grand prix will also get the necessary bling. If we want to continue hosting races in the future, we have to modernize.”

Read more: F1 confirms Las Vegas night race from 2023

The track upgrades

The track’s long-term €80 million renovation project, which allowed the return of the Spa 24 Hours for bikes but also benefits car racing and spectators, is also an important piece of the puzzle, as is a concerted effort to alleviate the horrendous traffic issues that face last year’s race, with driving rain turning parking facilities into mud baths.

It remains to be seen whether all of this is enough to impress F1 and earn a new deal. Spa has been in constant touch with Formula One, with event director Vanessa Maes traveling to Imola and de Boever present in the Barcelona paddock, as well as chairman and Walloon politician Melchior Wathelet.