The Belgian Grand Prix is one of the events whose contract will expire at the end of 2025. At a time when the promoter Spa Grand Prix is at the negotiating table with the leaders of F1, Domenicali’s exit naturally raises some concerns in the stronghold fans fiercely attached to the national event. Contacted by DH – EnginesVanessa Maes remains confident while not excluding the option of rotation if it proves inevitable.
gullI hope we can announce some good news in a few weeks.
“We are still in negotiations”she explains to us. “We are in a better position than in 2021 where the future of the Grand Prix was clearly threatened. We have made a huge effort to meet the expectations of F1. Rotation, let’s be honest, we don’t want it. But if it is to prevail, choices will have to be made. Better to have Spa-Francorchamps on the rotating calendar than no Spa-Francorchamps at all. If necessary, we will request a financial arrangement. We are in Belgium, and we must ensure the viability of the event“.
“There is no contract yet for post-2025 but we are moving forward”continues Vanessa Maes. “But after the recent release of Stefano Domenicali, we think it should go quickly. I hope we can announce some good news in a few weeks. We remind you that in 2025, Spa-Francorchamps will be the only European event on the F1 calendar to have a sprint race during its weekend, which is a guarantee of confidence on the part of Formula 1 decision-makers.”
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The general director of Spa Grand Prix also gave some news concerning the attendance of the future edition of the Grand Prix, with a good start of ticketing: “Currently, 50% of tickets have been sold, while there are still nine months before the event.”.
In 2024, a total of 330,000 spectators attended the Belgian GP, not including all staff operating at the event. That is 380,000 people over the three days of the Grand Prix. Without forgetting that Spa-Francorchamps is by far the drivers’ favorite circuit, something Stefano Domenicali, as former director of Scuderia Ferrari, knows better than anyone.
So many parameters which give us hope that Belgium will not fall into the straitjacket of countries forced into rotation. Fingers crossed!
