Spa-Francorchamps, a successful trial by fire?

The pressure was very high in Belgium, both on the track and behind the scenes. If Max Verstappen made a magnificent comeback by winning in the Ardennes, it was behind the scenes that the victory was the most beautiful. At the end of the 55th Belgian Grand Prix held at Spa-Francorchamps, the organizers can be relieved: on a purely sporting level, the event was a success. The reward: a renewal of the contract for 2023. After several months of long and difficult negotiations, the Belgian meeting is saved for next season.

Let's not rejoice too quickly: if the Belgian Grand Prix was saved, it is also thanks to the end of discussions between F1 and Kyalami, in South Africa. Beyond 2023, the future still remains unclear for the Walloon route in the premier category. To convince the governing bodies of the Formula 1, Stefano Domenicali in the first place, we had to start by producing a perfect 2022 edition…

Sporting and popular success at Spa-Francorchamps…

On a sporting level, it's difficult to fault the circuit, which is still fabulous. Better yet: the work carried out on the route has proven its effectiveness. No one went wide anymore in the Source bend or in the Ickx bend, after the long Brussels straight. The slightest error was punished, like Nicholas latifi at Combes. The widening of the Raidillon loophole did not affect the spectacle and the legendary corner was just as demanding as before. Certainly, the overwhelming victory of Max Verstappen quickly cut short the suspense. Let us nevertheless remember the daring excesses ofEsteban Ocon or the beautiful resistance ofAlexander albon.

A sporting success, but also a popular one: 360 people went to the circuit during the three days of the event. A record attendance, which is enough to make the organizers of the Grand Prix smile. “The results are extremely positive, Vanessa Maes, general director of Spa Grand Prix, told the Belga news agency on Monday. Everyone is happy, whether spectators, our subcontractors and the FOM. We received congratulations from Stefano Domenicali (Formula 1 President). I'm a fairly reserved person, but I think I can say that we had a very good Grand Prix. In the opinion of some, it was one of the best, if not the best in years. »

Spa-Francorchamps had pulled out all the stops: new stands (including the Raidillon stand with 4 seats), entertainment galore, a stage with international DJs Oliver Heldens and Armin van Buuren, a restaurant hanging 600 meters away from the ground, a demonstration of “The Flying Man”, Franky Zapata… The Grand Prix was transformed into a show for three days, taking up the modern standards imposed by the new locations of Formula 1 such as Miami or Saudi Arabia.

…but still some imperfections

The 2022 Belgian Grand Prix has therefore passed the test on a sporting level and on a popular aspect. On the other hand, the weekend did not go without hiccups. If the crowds reached records, the exit from the circuit caused traffic problems. “The circuit is not surrounded by six motorways directly at the exit, so it is obviously difficult, explained Vanessa Maes the day after the ordeal. In addition, there were two accidents which extended the traffic time by approximately 45 minutes. Despite this, I would like to underline the very good collaboration with the federal police. We also received feedback from people who found that access to the circuit was easier than in previous years. »

Thousands of spectators found themselves stuck in parking lots for several hours. Excesses even took place with fights between spectators. “We arrived at the car at 17:05 p.m. It's 20:57 p.m. and we're just leaving the field, confided a disgruntled spectator to our colleagues at RTL Info. We paid 16 euros per day to park. Friday and Saturday it was complicated, but today it was catastrophic. There were people fighting in the parking lot because they couldn't take it anymore. We were left there without explanation. » “A scandal in Francorchamps! Four hours to leave a parking lot and still stopped in the same place! “, shouted another angry spectator. 

What future for the Belgian Grand Prix?

If the future of the Belgian Grand Prix is ​​assured for 2023, Vanessa Maes also keeps an eye on the longer term while highlighting the difficulties in having a place on the next calendar. “We’re going to take it step by step. It is confirmed for 2023, but we will discuss the longer term in due course. It was very difficult to sign for 2023 because places are expensive. But, among the Grand Prix at the end of their contract, we are the first to have resigned. »

The question now is: did the promoters manage to convince Stefano Domenicali? If Vanessa Maes claims to have received congratulations from the president of Formula 1 on the organization of the Walloon event, will they be enough to stay in 2024? If the Belgian Grand Prix has all the elements to remain a sporting and popular success, the crux of the matter is money. Aligning with new players like Las Vegas or Qatar is mission impossible. Problem: the passive of a circuit, as glorious as it is, no longer seems to be enough. Monaco is in the hot seat, France and Germany are already ejected... As harsh as the reality is, Spa-Francorchamps will have to line up the tickets to keep its entry ticket on the calendar.

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