The Belgian Grand Prix has secured a brand new contract that may preserve it on the Method 1 calendar for 4 out of six years from 2026-2031.
It’s the first deal of this kind signed by F1, which is searching for to search out methods of accommodating new occasions in an already crowded calendar.
The contract dictates that the historic Spa-Francorchamps circuit will host races in 2026, 2027, 2029 and 2031.
Nonetheless, in 2028 and 2030 Belgium will likely be changed by one other race.
The small print of which different venues will rotate with Spa are but to be confirmed.
Barcelona, in Spain, and Imola, in Italy, each wish to preserve their races, though they’re out of contract after this 12 months.
The Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya is being changed because the venue of the Spanish Grand Prix by a brand new circuit in Madrid from subsequent season.
The Dutch Grand Prix’s deal ends after 2026 however organisers within the Netherlands might wish to revive it sooner or later, and F1 can also be exploring methods of returning the French and German races to the calendar.
France is the birthplace of motorsport, whereas Germany can also be one of many oldest venues, however each have turn into unviable in current seasons.
France returned to the schedule in 2018 however fell off the calendar once more after 2022, whereas Germany has not hosted a race since 2019.
A return of the Turkish Grand Prix, final held in 2021 after returning to the calendar in 2020 because of the pandemic, can also be an possibility.
Rotation of European races additionally provides F1 an possibility so as to add new races exterior the game’s European heartland, which at present accounts for about one third of the calendar.
F1 is engaged on a race in Rwanda, in central Africa, on a brand new circuit being constructed exterior the capital Kigali, which won’t occur earlier than 2028 on the earliest.
Thailand can also be excited by a race, however that might possible not be earlier than 2030. The prospects of a return of South Korea to the calendar, which had been explored in each Seoul and Busan, are diminishing.
F1 president Stefano Domenicali mentioned: “The Belgian Grand Prix was one of many races that made up our maiden championship in 1950, in order we kick off our seventy fifth anniversary 12 months it’s becoming that we are able to share the information of this essential extension.
“Spa-Francorchamps is rightly lauded by drivers and followers alike as one of many best race tracks on this planet and it has performed host to some unbelievable moments over its many seasons in Method 1.
“In recent times it has undergone important work to enhance the power and general fan expertise, and I wish to pay tribute to the promoter and the Authorities of Wallonia for his or her dedication and passionate help for F1 in Belgium.”
Final 12 months introduced F1’s longest ever season, at 24 races, a schedule that continues this 12 months, which begins in Australia on 14-16 March.
The staff’s contracts with F1 dictate a most of 25 races a 12 months.
These offers need to be renegotiated for the interval beginning in 2026, F1’s subsequent regulatory interval, however there’s widespread settlement that the game is already on the higher restrict of what’s doable by way of the calendar, and the utmost variety of races just isn’t anticipated to vary within the new contracts.
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, 2025-01-08 10:00:00
