Next weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix looks set to be the last in Formula 1, at least for the time being.
The circuit is looking set to be dropped from the 2023 calendar, with the venue to be replaced by either South Africa or another money-making race.
The circuit organisers have already planned for next weekend’s race to be its best event yet, after following advice from the FIA to make the GP more entertaining.
The organisers have looked at the “American way” of hosting a Grand Prix, as well as making track changes to Eau Rouge.
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After last year’s washout due to torrential rain, the circuit has also had better drainage installed, to ensure that what happened last year doesn’t happen again.
Despite everything the circuit organisers are doing to make it better for both fans and drivers, Spa still looks set for the axe.
A number of drivers are furious with the yet to be announced decision, including Lando Norris, who is half-Belgian.
Norris “loves” the circuit and insists that there are more important things than “money”, a clear message to championship CEO Stefano Domenicali.
“I personally have a lot to do with Spa of course and I love the circuit,” said the 22-year-old.
“I went to Belgium for many years and spent a lot of time there with my family. I’m looking forward to experiencing the changes and the new tarmac, and a new grandstand at Raidillon. I always look forward to Spa. It’s one of the coolest circuits all season.
“It would be a shame to lose Spa. A lot of things these days are just about money – that’s the problem. It’s a business. It’s a historic race for F1, the same as Monaco.
“As far as I know, they don’t even pay in Monaco and it’s still on the calendar – same with Monza. So I think Spa should always be there as long as Formula 1 exists.”
Sebastian Vettel is also disappointed with the news that Spa looks set to disappear from the calendar, with the four-time World Champion believing people would rather race at Spa than Sochi, Russia.
“Spa is an amazing track,” said the 35-year-old.
“I don’t know any driver that doesn’t like driving at Spa whereas I do know drivers that don’t like the circuit in Russia – not because it’s Russia but because the track is a bit all the same. That (losing the Belgian GP) would be a shame. I have no vote in this but my vote would be to go to Spa. But it would be wrong to lose Spa on so many levels.”
Should the historic race at Spa be dropped, then it may be only a matter of time until the likes of Monza and Monte-Carlo are also axed by the series.
Pierre Gasly “can’t wrap” his head around why Spa is set to go, with the answer seemingly down to money.
“Personally I don’t think it has anything to do with safety, but I can’t wrap my head around the fact that it’s disappearing from the calendar,” said the 26-year-old.
F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has faced backlash over his treatment of Spa, with the venue pulling out all the stops to make it an incredible spectacle worth a spot on the calendar.
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The former Ferrari team principal has explained that the sport is trying to “open up to whole world” and that he’s not “selling the soul of F1”.
“I am not selling the soul of Formula 1,” he said.
“That is the normal change. We are opening up to the whole world. Money is important everywhere. For us too. But we don’t just look at it – the whole package has to be right. If we only looked at the bank account, the racing calendar would definitely look different.”