There are a dwindling number of classic tracks on the F1 calendar, but the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, home of the Belgian Grand Prix, is an old-school beauty of a venue that is loved by drivers and fans alike.
Following hot on the heels of another traditional F1 track at Silverstone this season, Spa is a weekend to savour and the circuit contains some of the most famous high-speed corners in the sport.
The track has now been in operation for more than a century and was on the schedule for the first season of the F1 World Championship in 1950.
Its iconic corners include Eau Rouge, Raidillon and Blanchimont, which are up there with Becketts at Silverstone and 130R at Suzuka as some of the most famous challenges in motor racing.
Location
Again, like Silverstone, Spa-Francorchamps, is nestled in the middle of the countryside. It is located in the Ardennes Forest, approximately five miles south-east of the town of Spa itself and close to Stavelot and Malmedy.
The track is in Eastern Belgium, just over 30 miles south-east of Liege and 85 miles from the capital city of Brussels.
F1 teams based near Spa-Francorchamps
The nearest F1 team factory to Spa-Francorchamps is the Audi HQ at Hinwil in Switzerland, which is just under 400 miles away.
After that comes the two Italian-based teams - Ferrari at Maranello - around 600 miles away, and Racing Bulls at Faenza which is approximately 700 miles away.
The home of Red Bull, in Salzburg, Austria, is only 450 miles away, but the Red Bull Racing F1 team operates out of Milton Keynes in England.
When was Spa-Francorchamps built?
The location was identified in the early 1920s when local newspaper owner, Jules de Thier, was looking for a site to host a race and the track officially opened in August 1921.
Track length and layout
There have been two clear phases in the history of Spa-Francorchamps, with a sprawling monster of a track that was eight-and-three-quarter miles long staging races from 1922 to 1978. The final configuration of that track was considered the fastest race track in the world.
In 1979, a transition to a safer, more modern circuit saw the length of a lap more than halved to just 4.3 miles.
It remains a huge test of driver talent and bravery, though, with the iconic Raidillon-Eau Rouge section a supreme challenge. F1 cars can take the sweeping uphill corner flat out at 190mph. Another key section of the track is the fast left-hander at Blanchimont.
When was the first race at Spa-Francorchamps?
The first motor race at Spa took place in 1922, with the 24 Hours of Francorchamps first held in 1924, while the first Grand Prix event was hosted the following year.
The 1925 race was won by the legendary F1 driver Alberto Ascari in an Alfa Romeo, while Tazio Nuvolari won there for Maserati in 1931.
The first Formula 1 race at Spa was won by Juan Manuel Fangio for Alfa Romeo in 1950 and the Argentinian later won at the track for two other teams as he triumphed for Maserati in 1954 and Mercedes in 1955.
Most F1 wins at Spa-Francorchamps
Seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher holds the record for most Belgian Grand Prix wins with six, including three victories in a row from 1995 to 1997.
Ayrton Senna and Lewis Hamilton each have five wins at Spa and the British driver's successes have spanned 14 years from 2010 to 2024, although he didn't cross the line first in his most recent victory as George Russell was disqualified after the race when his car was found to be underweight.
Max Verstappen has won the race three times, in 2021, 2022 and 2023, while Oscar Piastri added his name to the roll of honour when winning for McLaren last season.
Other events hosted at Spa-Francorchamps
Spa is also a popular venue for sports car and endurance racing and the events hosted at the track this season include:
- Formula 1 Austrian Grand Prix Weekend (Including F2, F3 and Porsche Super Cup)
- 12 Hours of Spa
- 6 Hours of Spa (World Endurance Championship)
- International GT Open
- Spa Classic
- Supercar Challenge
- 8 Hours of Spa (Motorcycles)
- British GT Championship
- French F4 Championship
- 24 Hours of Spa
- European Le Mans Series 4 Hours of Spa
- Porsche Super Cup Deutschland
- Porsche Sprint Challenge Benelux
Lap record
The current lap record at Spa-Fancorchamps is 1:44.701 and was set by Sergio Perez in the Red Bull Racing RB20 during the 2024 F1 Belgian Grand Prix.
Read the full list of lap records for every circuit on the Formula 1 calendar.
Weather
Once more like Silverstone, rain can never be discounted at Spa. The current hot spell across Europe is likely to persist but there is a chance of thunderstorms entering the equation at some point over race weekend.
Rain often adds to the spectacle at Spa as showers can be unpredictable, but it can also ruin it, with the 2021 Belgian Grand Prix consisting of just two laps behind the safety car as conditions were too wet to race.
