The Belgian Grand Prix has secured a new four-race deal, extending its place on the Formula 1 calendar until 2031. As part of a new rotational system, the Spa-Francorchamps circuit will host F1 races in 2026, 2027, 2029, and 2031, while sitting out in 2028 and 2030.
Previously, organizers set the Belgian GP’s contract to expire after the 2024 race, with them seeking a new five-year extension. However, with increasing competition from potential new venues, especially in Asia, Formula 1 has opted to introduce a rotational system for some European races. As a result, Spa will be part of this system, ensuring a longer-term agreement that provides stability for the circuit while also allowing F1 to introduce new venues without exceeding its limit of 24 races per season.
This new arrangement brings relief to Spa, which has relied on financial backing from the Walloon government to host the race. The extended deal will allow the venue to amortize its investments and move away from a series of short-term contract extensions that have created uncertainty in recent years.
The Belgian Grand Prix’s future was hanging in the balance, with F1 eager to expand its global footprint. The decision to place Spa on a rotational basis follows similar moves for other European races, with both Barcelona and Imola facing expiring contracts. While Imola’s deal ends this season, Barcelona’s contract will expire in 2026, after which they will relocate the Spanish Grand Prix to Madrid.
The landscape of European Grand Prix slots has changed recently, with the organizers of the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort announcing that the race will be discontinued after 2026. Spa-Francorchamps, known for its iconic Ardennes forest setting, has a long history in Formula 1, having been one of the original seven races on the 1950 championship calendar.
After hosting races in Zolder and Nivelles in the early years, F1 returned to a modernized version of Spa in the 1980s. Spa has remained a fan and driver favorite, with the Belgian Grand Prix being a staple on the calendar since 1985, with only two interruptions in 2003 and 2006.
As the F1 calendar continues to evolve, Spa’s place in the sport’s future seems secure, ensuring that fans can continue to enjoy the thrills of the legendary Belgian Grand Prix for years to come.
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