Spa-Francorchamps, and many racing fans in Belgium and the Netherlands are no doubt in suspense: will the iconic circuit remain on the Formula 1 calendar beyond 2023? According to Belgian media, there will be a definitive answer in the near future. Everything seems to depend on the Kyalami circuit in South Africa. If all (financial) problems are solved there so that F1 can be in 2024, the Belgian Grand Prix will probably be the child of the bill. Is that justified?
Fair is fair: Spa-Francorchamps is among the most popular circuits among drivers. The 'corner' Eau-Rouge is one of the fastest in the world and it is challenging to push the throttle all the way up Raidillon. It is also one of the most dangerous stretches of track on the planet. Unfortunately, Anthoine Hubert paid with his life for a mega-crash at the top of Raidillon and after Eau-Rouge during the 2019 F2 race. This terrible accident was not isolated. There have been many big crashes at the same spot in recent years.
Hammering on improvements
As much iconic as it is loved, the circuit in the Belgian Ardennes is out of date. The facilities - for teams and visitors - are seriously outdated. If you step into the gates of Spa-Francorchamps as a fan or driver, you imagine yourself ten, maybe even twenty years back in time. Formula One Management (FOM) and the FIA have also seen this. It is one of the reasons they keep pushing for improvements. A delegation from FOM and FIA would soon visit the circuit, to assess the next set of adjustments.
The circuit management already introduced a modified Eau-Rouge last season, including wider exit lanes. In other places, bigger gravel beds were also used to try to increase safety. Meanwhile, the grandstands are also being modernised one by one. Until recently, there was little luxury on the grandstands, which are often on steep slopes and difficult to reach. Getting something to eat or drink, or making a sanitary stop is often an exercise that takes quite some time.
Fans keep coming
Yet the Grand Prix is already - apart from a few tickets for Friday and Sunday - completely sold out. Even the sky-high prices, the relatively small number of laps (44) the drivers race past and the prospect of a huge rain shower (and the obvious mud puddle in the car park afterwards) are apparently taken for granted. The fans are not abandoning the Belgian circuit, although this is mainly due to Max Verstappen' s popularity and the short distance from the Dutch border.
Will it all be enough to get a contract extension? A full house is anything but a decisive criterion for FOM. If the circus descends on any other place in the world, the grandstands will undoubtedly burst at the seams too. Besides, Spa-Francorchamps is still a dangerous track, despite all the major modifications. And let's also be honest: in recent years, the Belgian Grand Prix has certainly not been a spectacle. Also, there is little to no entertainment for the fans around the races, unlike nowadays the majority of Grands Prix. Not to mention how difficult it is to get to the circuit and leave afterwards.
South Africa wants to take over place
Last year, it became clear that the Belgian Grand Prix retained its spot on the calendar for this season because the Kyalami circuit in South Africa was not ready for the world's biggest motor racing circus due to all sorts of organisational and financial problems. It seems to have been agreed at the time that it would be indicated by 31 March last whether a South African Grand Prix would be possible, after which the ultimate verdict would be up to the FIA and FOM. That date has been, and meanwhile there are strong noises that Kyalami still hasn't got its act together. That would open the door for a new, two-year deal for the Belgians.
Procrastination does not seem to be an abandonment in this case. It is a long-held desire of Formula 1 to hold a Grand Prix on the African continent. A perfectly legitimate thought, especially now that F1 is emphatically presenting itself as a global sport. If not Kyalami, FOM will certainly look for an alternative venue in Africa. Even fans in the last continent without a Grand Prix have the right to see their favourite sport up close.
History disappears
That as a result there is no longer a place for a race in Belgium - which does not meet the new standards - is justifiable. Of course it is a shame. But choices have to be made. Proponents no doubt point to history and the fact that so many legendary Grands Prix have already disappeared. There is little to argue with that. At the same time, there are also a lot of historic circuits still in use by F1; Monza, Silverstone, Imola, Zandvoort, Suzuka, Interlagos, Monaco.
Naturally, there will be disappointment among fans coming from the vicinity of Spa-Francorchamps, should it be decided that Formula 1 will no longer visit. As long as Max Verstappen is active, there is an extremely good chance that the world's premier motorsport class will remain 297 kilometres from Spa for them to see. There may also be a fallback option to Germany, where Audi is reportedly actively exploring options to host a Grand Prix in its home country. The Nürburgring and Hockenheim are easily accessible by car from the Netherlands and Belgium.
In Formula 1, everything can change overnight. At the moment, it is not a foregone conclusion that F1 will leave Spa-Francorchamps behind. Should it do come to a farewell, there are plenty of reasons that justify this painful decision.
It’s never justified to keep Spa, Monza, Silverstone or Monaco off the calendar. Shame on F1
I as much as anyone wants to see a race in South Africa again, but how is Spa the only one they'll consider dropping for it?
Being allowed an allocation on the F1 calendar is like an auction and places are given to countries which pays the highest for them.
Apart from Monaco, which only pays about $15M to host the event, SPA is one of the other countries paying the lowest at $22M.
Countries in the Middle East are paying between $40-$55M
Paul Ricard was also paying $22M and that is why they are no longer in the calendar.
Get read of monaco its so boring track the cars,are,to big for it
Agreed,
They could replace that with a pedal car race for the F1 drivers once a year as a charity event.
Two laps of that would be a 100 times more interesting.
Blimey, I didn't realise Monaco put their hands in their pockets at all, the dwarf used to let them have it for nothing so the rich and famous could rub shoulders with celebrity, its never been a race just a boring procession with an occasional bit of excitement, I didn't like the guy but Nelson Piquet likened it to 'riding round your sitting room on a unicycle'. Let it go OR run it without points being awarded I reckon
As a South African, I don't really want a race here. Between the rampant corruption and load sheddong (frequent systematic rolling blackouts), I'd be embarrased to have the F1 spotlight here.
Spa is one of the greatest tracks, if not the greatest. But hey, let's replace it with boring tracks from corrupt countries, that don't care much about human rights.
South Africa does not only have internal problems, he also supports russian invasion.
I'd wager a bet that you will find most South Africans disagree,however,the government is having their pockets lined by both the Russians and Chinese....so they will continue to keep their people in poverty and remain in control,happy with the deteriorating country as long as the fat cats keep getting fatter.
Talking about human rights.... there are 3 races in the US. But I guess that's fine, because they kill for "your" rights? ?
If talking about a global sport, I don't think one should only look at friendly countries of the western world. You should only have a race if you agree to become enemies with Russia? Please...
I just feel sorry for people who justify genocide. Something has gone wrong with parenting and education of these people.
To destroy a army structures or deliberately find civilian targets. There's a huge difference. Something you will never understand.
You can't be serious!!! You have been living under a rock for the last 70 years?
There is no friendly countries of western world or being enemy of russia. It's being against a genocide, it's as simple as this. There is african country that has sent military aid to Ukraine, so not all are the same. And you don't need to become enemy of any country to be on the right side.
And again the talking point is present time, what russians have done and doing. Not what they are up to. They have already crossed all the red lines. The future doesn't matter anymore.
So yeah, hopefully Spa stays and South Africa will spend money on their people. On fight against corruption and inequality. Not waste it for rich men having fun. First fix problems, then start wasting money.
The topic was why russians can not compete? I think you're seeing things, maybe it is very present in your head. I guess the voices you hear also keep telling you that you're very educated.
"Undeveloped countries", you mean the ones where 12 year old kids are given rifles and drugs to go shoot whatever moves? Or you ment with undeveloped the whole of Africa, Asia and South America!?
What part of the world has been developed according to you, please enlighten me.
But sure, nothing comes even close to what the russians are up to.
Like I said, education. The topic was why russians cannot compete. This means, we are talking about PRESENT time. Not future, not past, not 70 years back, not 7 years back, not 2 years back, but present. If war stops today, then little by little there would be return of russian to sporting world. Even the way the war was first 8 years, there was no problem with russian sportmen. Problems started with full invasion, with mass rapings and mass murders in villages, with thousand of kids being kidnapped.
You can talk as much as you want, you cannot justify it. And no, nobody is doing something similar as what russians are doing.
And how should undeveloped countries help in this war, when they have big problems themselves?
Education.
I just assumed you wouldn't be 700 years old.
0 countries in africa care, zero countries in south-america care, very few countries in asia care.
I guess they are just not real people in your educated eyes.
Why just 70 years, maybe let's look back700 years?
So it was education in your case.
Also there's many type of wars. You don't find similarities from near past to this russian genocidal war, where the main object is wipe one nation off the earth, to bomb civilian apartments, not enemy army forces, but CIVILIANS. To kidnap their kids, to mass murder whole villages.
If it would be ordinary war, like it used to be first 8 years, people would not care as much. But it's not. There's a reason why people don't wanna see russian sportmen or women. But I'm sure you still don't understand a thing...education ;)
This is ridiculous. If you want a race in South Africa, drop Monaco or Miami.
"seriously outdated"
Which modern track offers the drivers a similar challenge?
Oh yeah,I forgot,F1 is not about racing anymore.
Enjoy your overpriced Vegas ....lacklustre Miami or Saudi where human rights violations allowed.you to sit on the.most comfortable seats ...
If they want races to be truely 'international' and have one in South Africa, then drop races from countries or regions which have multiple races.
3 each in US and the Middle East would logically be the first ones to be cut instead of a country with only one race.
100% agree.
I'm fully behind a decision to go to South Africa,As I feel Africa needs to be on the calendar and SA is the best option.Kyalami is a amazing track too.
But,not at the cost of Spa.
I'd trade SA for Miami,Nurburgring for Abhu Dhabi,Portugal for Qatar and this will irritate a few,Donnington for Silverstone.
In fact with a majority of F1 teams based in the UK and it's very long history in the sport,I'd rather have it host two races than the ME or USA.
Middle East is not a country. You could say there are already 2 races now in the Benelux.
Fair point
Let's keep putting countries on display that uses human rights abuses to gain their "stature" and put it on display.....noble cause.
I was working in the middle east,and volunteered in my free time with a group of like minded individuals.
Trust me,once you get there,your eyes opens up pretty fast.
So you volunteered, earning nothing? What were you thinking then, volunteering to work in the middle east.
Nobody leaving for work elsewhere who has an airconditioned private bedroom and a car to drive.
The situation you pictured doesn't sound different to an average local company's dormitory, where people "live" while working at said company.
But almost everybody has access to a smart phone with data where I am from, but many of them still sleep on wooden floors without mattress.
For myself, I can only watch youtube highlights of F1 and read sports websites. ....Voluntarily. I don't really have to.
Ignorant.
As a volunteer who helped out in a labour camp in one of the ME countries,I can tell you that none of the labourers had any idea how bad things would be for them.
They are promised one thing and given another.
The one camp I went to,had what they call "hot bunks",where two labourers would share the same mattress (not bed) in a room with about 20 other.The mattresses were next too each other with less than a foot of separation where they kept there personal belongings,usually,no more than a shopping bag full of items.
One labourer would work the dayshigt and the.other the night and depending on who was not working,would have use of the mattress.
Meals were not what you would call nutritious,toilet facilities....you wouldn't believe it.
They get promised a good life and salary,as soon as they arrive their passport gets taken away and they are stuck for 3 years minimum
...The salary they thought they would get,well,first to be deducted is any relocating fees,including air travel,then meals and "lodging"....
I don't know if you have ever seen the eyes of a living human being,who looks like he has no hope,but will do anything to send a little bit of money hole to their families.After 3 years,some of them haven been able to "repay" the debt,they did not know would be thrusted upon them and have to stay another 3 years.
I have huge respect for these guys,zero for the people exploiting them like some kind of disposable labour.
Remember,over 400 labourers died,just building the WC stadiums....now,imagine how many more with the record number of buildings going up there.
I'm not saying you are not a labourer,but trust me,the guys I am talking about doesn't have the disposable income to follow a sport like F1 and there biggest concern is not whether or not Lewis or Max is better.
The worst part of it all for me,is that any of these people are recruited by a agent of their own nationality....a countryman,that knows what he is doing to his follow country man,for some commission.
You are absolutely correct,in the US a deranged person can cause a lot of damage,but in the ME,the governments allow people to be treated like nothing on a daily basis Then they put on their fancy clothes while they smile for the camera to take pictures with world leather from the USA to China.....and everyone knows what is going on.
I'm not pretending anything, I only tried to make clear to you I'd choose Saudi Arabia over the US at any given time.
And as a fact... I am an Asian labourer. And all over Asia we are free to choose where to work and accept a job in the middle east or not.
You are seriously ignorant, Sir.
You'd feel safer,because you wouldn't be a asian labourer,being exploited or being part of a mass execution.....
Don't pretend to know my standing on gun control.
I would feel saver in saudi arabia compared to a mass event in the states where any lunatic on prescribed drugs could empty his guns in a rage.
But I guess that's what's called human rights.
Well,if you knew me....which you don't,I have been against holding races in places like the middle east due to their human rights track records and frankly crappy circuits and also against places like Miami and Vegas....
I'd like to see F1 hosted on the best tracks,that challenge driver and machine and not at venues that can throw the most money at it.
But hey,you want to support what they are doing there...go right ahead.
If it rest easy with you that a sport you follow goes to places with mass excuses,labour that borders on slavery and hundreds dying on work site.....good on you.
It's sport. Why you care so much about countries not willing to adapt your western ways...
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