The controversy over safety has filled the conversation topics around the Belgian Grand Prix and the Spa-Francorchamps circuit due to the repeated serious accidents in its little more than 7 kilometers in length.
For this reason, the owners of the layout began the works to widen the loophole on the left side of Eau Rouge , in addition to building a new stand, more modern and adapted to the passage of time, getting rid of the iconic house that presided over the ascent.
It is hoped that the cars that lose control will not hit the protections and bounce back towards the track, although the curb that has been placed at the beginning of the slope has continued to be criticized, with a fairly high curb that could cause some difficulties in the curve entry.
“Our new grandstand is officially open!” posted the circuit’s Twitter account. “What a view!”
The Raidillon climb and what is perhaps the most famous twist on the entire calendar, Eau Rouge, has seen Anthoine Huberth lose his life way back in 2019 in the Formula 2 race on Saturday afternoon due to a collision with the protections that put his BWT Arden in the middle of the track. Juan Manuel Correa could not avoid the Frenchman’s car, impacting at a high speed that was fatal for Huberth.
It was not the first nor the last incident in this area of the Belgian track, since, for example, in Formula 1 we saw how Kevin Magnussen lost control of his Renault in 2016 and went straight into the wall, or Lando Norris staying with his McLaren in the middle of the wet asphalt in qualifying for 2021, leaving the Briton vulnerable to the passing of the rest of the cars.
Strong incidents have also occurred in other categories, such as the multiple between Sarah Moore, Abbie Eaton, Ayla Agren, Beitske Visser, Belén García and Fabienne Wohlwend in the W Series last season, or those between Matevos Isaakyan and Piettro Fittipaldi in 2018 in the WEC.
With the remodeling of the track, they hope not to have to experience moments of tension again in which the life of a driver is torn between life and death, although, as is logical, going through curves where one of the legends of Formula 1 said that “he spoke with God”, it is not suitable for all mortals.
