Rumours on Belgian Grand Prix's future making 2023 negotiation process difficult

Belgian Grand Prix promotor Vanessa Maes admits that speculation and rumours about the future of the race are making negotiations with Formula 1 difficult.

Along with Monaco and France, the Belgian race's contract will end after this season.

The big issue for traditional European races is an influx of interest from new, cash-rich venues in hosting races - from America and the Middle East, plus South Africa and China want a return to hosting F1 races.

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Rumours making it difficult

In an interview with HNL.de, when asked about the current situation regarding the Belgian race's future, Maes said: "We are in discussion with the promoter of F1, Formula 1, and those conversations are not easy. The ongoing rumours don't make it any easier.

"Sometimes I read we will stick with it, sometimes that we should have no illusions and another time that we are in between. I do not participate in this speculation. I assume that F1 is really looking forward to a future with a GP in Belgium and, more specifically, in Spa. Also, in the political world, all forces are mobilised to keep Spa-Francorchamps on the F1 calendar."

Spa-Francorchamps is one of the most iconic venues in motorsport and one of the most popular with fans and drivers alike, which provides one of the biggest tests in the sport.

This weekend's race at the Spa-Francorchamps track is expected to happen in front of a sell-out crowd of around 360 000, which is significant following last year's crowd of 75 000 due to Covid-19 restrictions.

"There are only 25 places on the calendar, and everyone is pulling out all the stops to win a Grand Prix next year," Maes told De Telegraaf in a separate