Max Verstappen, Lando Norris and more lead calls for Belgium to stay on the Formula 1 calendar

Max Verstappen and Lando Norris have led the calls for the Belgian Grand Prix to remain on the Formula 1 calendar.

F1 returns to the world-famous Spa-Francorchamps circuit in Belgium this week, a track hugely popular with drivers and fans that the sport has visited since its inaugural season in 1950.

However, it may be the last race to be held at the venue, with Spa’s contract up after this weekend and looking increasingly unlikely to be renewed given that there limited space left on the 2023 calendar.

New races in Las Vegas and Qatar have been slated for next year and with the return of South Africa also in the pipeline, there is great fear that historic grand prix in Belgium, Monaco and other European countries will be forced to make way.

This news has not gone down well with drivers, not least Verstappen, with the Belgium-born world champion saying: ‘It would be a big shame to lose Spa.

‘It’s my favourite track in the world. I think it’s just an amazing track in a Formula 1 car.’

‘It’s a shame, [Spa is] one of the coolest circuits of the whole season,’ added McLaren racer Norris, who is half British, half Belgian.

‘It’s a historic race for Formula 1. Same with like Monza [Italy], Monaco and stuff. I feel it should always be on for as long as Formula 1 is around.

‘I guess a lot of things are just about money nowadays, which is the issue. It’s a business.’

F1 CEO Stefano Domeciallo recently defended the calendar changes and refuted claims that he was ‘selling the soul’ of the sport, but Verstappen’s boss Christian Horner believes more could and should be done to safeguard F1’s heritage.

‘Monza, Silverstone [UK], Spa, they’re the big and historic ones, we should ringfence those and protect those,’ the Red Bull team principal