Formula 1 has announced that the Belgian Grand Prix will remain on the calendar, with race organisers at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps signing another one-year extension deal through to 2025.
- This post contains affiliate links. We may receive a commission if you make a purchase after clicking on one of these links
One of the best-loved circuits on the Formula 1 calendar is set to remain on the schedule for another year as the sport announces the signing of single-year contract extension with organisers of the Belgian Grand Prix. Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps’ long term tenure on the schedule has been in doubt for some time but the circuit’s latest one-year contract secures the Belgian Grand Prix’s immediate future through to 2025.
This is the fourth one-year deal that the circuit has signed in the last three years. A one-year extension was announced in June 2020 due to the 2020 Belgian Grand Prix taking place behind closed doors as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. On the day of the 2022 Belgian Grand Prix, Formula 1 announced a last minute deal to keep the circuit on the calendar in 2023 after plans to revive the South African Grand Prix fell through.
Details of a new contract for 2024 were not publicly announced but the Belgian Grand Prix appeared on the 2024 calendar when it was revealed in early July, all but confirming a new single-season deal had been signed.
The Belgian Grand Prix’s Difficult Recent History
Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps in one of few current tracks which was on the calendar in Formula 1’s inaugural season, albeit in a very different form. Its position on the calendar has come under increasing threat in recent years due to a number of factors.
Safety of the circuit’s layout has been called into question as a result of multiple incidents, including the fatal accidents of Anthoine Hubert in Formula 2 in 2019 and 18-year-old Dilano van ‘t Hoff in a Formula Regional European Championship race earlier this year.
Spa’s unique microclimate, once a selling point of the venue, has also become somewhat detrimental. Fans were left disappointed at the 2021 Belgian Grand Prix when the race comprised of just a handful of laps completed under Safety Car conditions. Rain was also a major factor over the 2023 Belgian Grand Prix weekend, with Saturday’s Sprint action being delayed for lengthy amounts of time due to the weather.
A Brighter Future for Spa?
Despite the setbacks, race organsiers have taken steps to improve the spectacle trackside for those attending. Capacity has increased by 10,000 with the addition of two new grandstands, infrastructure around the circuit has been improved and a greater effort has been made in supplying trackside entertainment in the form of live music concerts.
The recent issues certainly have not deterred fans from attending the Belgian Grand Prix. In 2023, attendance at Spa-Francorchamps over the three-day weekend grew to 380,000 – an increase of 20,000 on the previous year, which itself was a record-breaking figure at the time.
Speaking about the new deal, Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali noted the circuit’s history and the promoter’s willingness to improve the experience for fans trackside:
“Spa is synonymous with Formula 1 having been one of the circuits in our first ever season and is much-loved by fans and drivers alike, so I am delighted to extend our relationship with them until 2025. The promoter has taken big strides in the last few years to improve the fan experience and infrastructure, and work is ongoing between all the stakeholders with a clear focus on delivering safe and exciting racing. I would like to thank the promoter and the Government of Wallonia for their continued support.”
2024 Belgian Grand Prix Tickets Already on Sale
Tickets for the 2024 Belgian Grand Prix went on sale on the day of the 2023 race. A good selection of gold, silver and bronze tickets remain available in our ticket shop. Learn more about the best viewing spots at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps in our detailed guide to buying tickets for the Belgian Grand Prix. Ticket packages from F1 Experiences, Formula 1’s official ticket package partner, are also now available.
The 2024 Belgian Grand Prix is scheduled to take place on July 26-28 as the last round before the summer break.
