After confirming the addition of several new races to the Formula 1 calendar for 2023, Spa-Francorchamps was one of the historic venues that was threatened with losing its place, because only eight appointments had been reserved for tests on European land.
However, the doubts surrounding the return of Formula 1 to South Africa and China have changed the landscape in recent weeks, giving the promoters of the Belgian Grand Prix the opportunity to reach an agreement with the general director of the category, Stefano Domenicali .
Over the weekend of what could have been the last F1 race at Spa for the foreseeable future, both sides quickly negotiated a one-year contract extension that will keep one of the Grand Circus’ most historic events on the calendar. of 2023.
The date has not been confirmed, but with Spa being a late addition to the 2023 calendar after being absent from previous provisional calendars, it is highly likely that it will be forced to relinquish its traditional late summer date, possibly moving to July.
” Formula 1 can confirm that the Belgian Grand Prix will be on the 2023 calendar after reaching an agreement to extend our collaboration. Further details on the 2023 calendar will be announced in due course,” the top-flight statement said. .
Spa’s offer to renew its current contract contract included a great effort by its organizers to have reviewed and renovated the aging facilities of the circuit, as well as the historical mismanagement of traffic. In turn, the Belgian Grand Prix also made some modifications to improve entertainment on and off the track at the request of F1.
However, despite the one-year extension, Belgium’s long-term future remains up in the air, as the intense discussions of the last few months will soon start to repeat themselves if they want to keep their slot on the calendar beyond the next season.
