Formula 1 fans in Belgium have received a mix of good and not-so-good news regarding the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps. The good news is that the event will continue to be part of the F1 calendar, with a multi-year extension agreed between Formula 1 and the Belgian Grand Prix. The deal, which extends beyond the original agreement that was set to end after the 2025 season, will see Spa-Francorchamps host the race in 2026, 2027, 2029, and 2031. However, the not-so-good news is that the race will no longer be an annual fixture, with Spa missing from the calendar in 2028 and 2030.
The exact reasons behind the exclusion of the Belgian Grand Prix in these years were not disclosed. It’s speculated that F1 may rotate races, possibly allowing other venues a chance to host races without exceeding the current cap of 24 races per season, a limit that F1 teams and organizers are hesitant to surpass. This approach is not entirely new, as F1 has previously rotated race locations, such as the German Grand Prix between Hockenheim and Nurburgring between 2008 and 2014, although this rotation was eventually discontinued.
One potential candidate to fill the gap left by Spa in 2028 and 2030 is the Barcelona Grand Prix, as Barcelona’s contract expires after 2026 and the Spanish Grand Prix will relocate to Madrid beginning in 2026. Barcelona, which has hosted the race at the Catalunya circuit since 1991, could take the open slots.
In 2023, the Belgian Grand Prix drew 380,000 fans over the weekend, with Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton securing victory in the main race. Spa-Francorchamps is a historic circuit, dating back to 1921 and a staple of Formula 1 since its inaugural championship in 1950. F1 President and CEO Stefano Domenicali highlighted the track’s importance, praising its legacy and the recent improvements made to the venue.
