Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps

How it began

The circuit in the Ardennes was laid out in the early 1920s on public roads between Francorchamps, Malmedy and Stavelot; the first Belgian Grand Prix was held here in 1925 and won by Antonio Ascari for Alfa Romeo. The race has been part of the World Championship since its first season: Juan Manuel Fangio won on 18 June 1950.

The old lap, more than fourteen kilometres long, was considered the fastest and most dangerous in the championship; in 1969 the drivers refused to race on it, and after 1970 the Belgian Grand Prix moved to Nivelles and Zolder. A lap shortened to seven kilometres opened in 1979; the championship came back in 1983 and, apart from 1984 at Zolder, has stayed here since 1985; the race was not held in 2003 and 2006.

From 2026 the Belgian Grand Prix is no longer held every season: under an agreement with the championship, the circuit is on the calendar in 2026, 2027, 2029 and 2031.

The track

The 7.004 km lap is the longest on the calendar, and the race is 44 laps. The circuit’s calling card is Eau Rouge and Raidillon: a steep climb over a crest just after the La Source hairpin, followed by the long Kemmel Straight and Les Combes, the main overtaking spot.

From there the track descends through the double left-hander at Pouhon, Stavelot and the fast Blanchimont to the chicane before the pits. Because the lap is so long and the terrain so hilly, it can be raining in one sector and dry in another.

Memorable races

On 30 August 1992 Michael Schumacher took the first win of his career; in all he won at Spa six times — in 1992, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2001 and 2002. Exactly six years later, on 30 August 1998, thirteen cars collided on the first lap in the rain, and Damon Hill won, giving Jordan their first victory. On 27 August 2000 Mika Häkkinen passed Schumacher on the Kemmel Straight, the two of them going either side of a backmarker.

On 1 September 2019 Charles Leclerc won for the first time — the day after Anthoine Hubert was killed in a Formula 2 race at the same circuit. On 29 August 2021 torrential rain reduced the race to a few laps behind the safety car; half points were awarded, and the win went to Max Verstappen.

On 28 July 2024 George Russell crossed the line first, but his car was disqualified for being underweight, and the win passed to Lewis Hamilton.