F1 News
Belgium helps Spa to keep its place on the F1 calendar
- GPblog.com
The contract between Spa-Francorchamps and Formula 1 expires this year and no new contract has been signed yet. Rumours say that the future for the circuit in F1 is anything but certain. Both the government of Wallonia and the federal government of Belgium are now interfering in the negotiations.
The negotiations between Formula 1 and the Belgian circuit have been going on for some time. The contract of Spa expires this year, as do the contracts of Le Castellet in France and those of Monaco. The European numbers on the calendar seem to have to make way for the new additions in the Middle East and the United States. The battle for a place on the 2023 F1 calendar has not yet been lost and the Belgian government understands that.
Belgian government supports Spa-Francorchamps in negotiations with F1
"The Walloon and federal governments have jointly confirmed their support for Spa-Francorchamps in a letter to Formula 1," writes the Belgian Nieuwsblad.be. According to Economy Minister Willy Borsus, a meeting was held last Tuesday between representatives of the circuit, The GP organisation, F1 management and the region. The Minister said he was personally involved in the dossier together with Walloon Prime Minister Elio di Rupo and Prime Minister Alexander de Croo. Borsus is reported to have told the Walloon Parliament that he is certain of a future for Spa in F1.
What support the region or the federal government wants to offer the circuit and the event has not been clearly discussed, but in all likelihood it will be financial support. After all, the Belgian Grand Prix does not have to prove itself worthy of F1. Spa-Francorchamps is considered one of the most iconic F1 circuits.