Is F1 about to take a Spa break?

Has modern Formula 1’s ‘out with the old and in with the new’ calendar philosophy finally gone too far? We’d suggest so, as there are increasingly loud whispers that the Belgian Grand Prix will be struck from the calendar next season.Reports persist that a draft of the 2023 schedule adds new venues Las Vegas and Kyalami in South Africa (no bad thing, that is a historic race, after all…) plus returns to Qatar and Shanghai in China. However, this influx, mixed with space for only 23 grands prix, means something has to give. Reportedly it is both the French GP at Paul Ricard and the Belgian race at Spa-Francorchamps that will pay the price.

This is particularly hard-hitting due to the potential loss of Spa, which is the oldest race circuit on the calendar. First opened in August 1921 (it pre-dates Monza by 11 months), Spa has undergone huge changes over its history, the most recent being a multi-million euro overhaul of both the run-off and spectator areas, particularly around the world-famous first sector of La Source-Eau Rouge-Raidillon. Last month it welcomed over 80,000 fans for the Spa 24 Hours GT meeting as it warms up to host the 78th Belgian Grand Prix in August. However, its reward now seems to be exclusion from its biggest event of the year.

There is a chance Spa could remain, if Kyalami’s overhaul isn’t completed or China hits a Covid glitch. Spa is a historic, beautiful and supremely challenging circuit (it still has the longest lap of any active GP track, and the greatest change of elevation), which has become a true favourite. Losing it to the financial grunt of Vegas, Qatar and China would be a blow to F1’s heartland.