Although the current deal with the Spa-Francorchamps circuit ends this year, and it does not have a place on the yet-to-be-published 24-race calendar for next season, Spa is indeed the first booking – pending news on other events. .
The Chinese GP is supposed to return in 2023 after a three-season absence, but COVID measures remain a major issue in the country, and especially in the Shanghai area where the race is held, making it difficult for the F1 is fully committed to organizing the event.
F1 is also hoping to return to South Africa as early as 2023 after a three-decade absence, but the commercial deal for the Kyalami event has yet to be finalized.
Uncertainty over both has opened the door for Spa, but the Belgian promoter will still have to come up with a package that suits F1, even if it doesn’t match the fees paid for events outside of Europe.
Domenicali said he could not give too many details about the 2023 calendar as it is not yet set, but insisted Spa still had a chance.
“As you can imagine, I can’t comment too much on that, because there is respect to discuss and formalize through the World Motor Sport Council with the FIA,” he said. “You have never seen anything [from] me saying that this will be the last year for Belgium.
“I will be cautious with that comment, it is the only thing I would say. It is true that we are working and discussing with other promoters to see if they are ready for a full commitment.
“We’ve always talked about finding the mix of races where we’re going to have at least a third in Europe, a third in the Far East area, and the other in America and the Middle East. So we want to be balanced.
Eau rouge overview
Photo by: Erik Junius
“Of course, we are talking about a business in which the investment, the economic contribution, is very important, but we have always said that the traditional careers, the careers that we know cannot contribute the money that the others contribute, have a respect totally on our part.”
“So this will be respected as well, not only this year, but also in the future. With Belgium we are still talking.”
He added: “There is a lot of respect for these places. But if you remember, Belgium, there were some periods when it was not on the calendar, and they came back again. Memory is sometimes short. It is a great place and that is why we continue in talks”.
“What I can say is that this weekend we are in Spa, so you will see the promoters in my office many times.
Domenicali suggested the circuit has raised its bar this year, partly in response to the 2021 race, which was run in the rain and left spectators frustrated.
French Grand Prix fans in a grandstand
Photo by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images
“I have to say that they have prepared this weekend in an incredible way,” he said. “On Thursday there will be a special day with the drivers with the fans. To recover what happened last year they have done something important.”
“And also in terms of the traffic plan they have presented us with a very interesting proposal. I think that this year we have seen them in a very, very different approach”.
“That is very, very, very useful to know, and very important especially for the people who will be everywhere at Spa this weekend.”
Looking beyond 2023, Domenicali suggested France could return to the calendar, having previously mentioned Nice as a possible venue for a street race.
“We are talking with the French Federation and with the government, because more and more the future is also related to promoters who see this as an investment for the country, for the community.”
“So the talks are very, very open for a big future. And as you know, one possibility, not next year, but in the future, could also be to find a kind of rotating proposal that would allow everyone to be part of the calendar. because I think it’s a matter of respect.”
The imminent announcements of Audi and Porsche programs in F1 from 2026 have also fueled interest in the return of the German GP, but Domenicali stressed that the commercial conditions had to be right.
“We really hope that Germany can come back to the table,” he said. “But it’s one thing to say that we would like to have the [German] Grand Prix. The other thing is to put on the table the things that need to be discussed about the Grand Prix.
“So hopefully soon – with something that could happen soon – there will be a different situation to discuss with us.”
