P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Belgian Grand Prix president Melchior Wathelet said Spa-Francorchamps’ new Formula 1 contract reflects the series’ desire to downsize to “eight GPs in Europe”.
Spa-Francorchamps is a beloved F1 classic venue, and fans are thrilled that it will continue to host the Belgian GP with a contract extension beyond 2025. The recent deal confirmed that Spa will host the race in 2026, ’27, ’29, and ’31, rather than annually. Formula 1 only wants eight GPs in Europe, making it challenging to secure a permanent long-term contract for Spa. F1 has 10 European races on the calendar currently, but there are talks of downsizing to eight in the future. CEO Stefano Domenicali hinted at the possibility of rotational European Grand Prix races, potentially involving Spa and Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. Despite uncertainties, Spa’s new deal is a significant step, indicating a future where the circuit could host F1 annually again.
