Belgian Grand Prix set to secure new F1 contract

The Belgian Grand Prix is set to remain on the F1 calendar for 2025.

The Spa-Francorchamps circuit's future has been hanging in the balance in recent years and saw its biggest threat in the form of a bid that would have brought back the South African Grand Prix at Kyalami.

But Spa's future for next season was given a boost when that bid fell through earlier this term.

As HLN reports in Belgium, the race has secured its future by virtue of a contract extension up to and including the 2025 campaign.

Scrutiny

Spa's has been under scrutiny over safety for the last decade after a number of big incidents, specifically at Eau Rouge and Raidillon.

Anthoine Hubert's fatal crash in 2019 was the final straw for many as focus moved to track changes to improve safety, which made their debut last season.

But another young driver died this year when Dilano van 't Hoff was killed in a FRECA race held in treacherous conditions just a month before F1 returned.

The circuit is actively learning from its dark memories, though it remains a challenge for drivers of all experience.

Further hurt was caused in 2021 as the F1 race was washed out, though a schedule change this term proved only a slight improvement as Saturday's schedule was affected by rain.

One thing that has helped the event's cause to remain in F1, other than its heritage, is the success of now-three-time World Champion Max Verstappen.

His Oranje Army floods the circuit from neighbouring The Netherlands to create a special atmosphere for the Red Bull driver.