F1 could now scrap historic Grand Prix after 2025 with final talks due this week

Follow us on Google Discover

Liberty Media will hold talks with the CEO of Spa-Francorchamps this week to discuss the future of the Belgian Grand Prix with it only on the Formula 1 calendar until 2024.

That is according to HLN, which reports that Spa CEO Melchior Wathelet has worked intently in the background fighting to secure a longer-term contract. Talks between the organisers of the Belgian GP and Liberty Media chiefs are now edging closer to a positive verdict for 2025.

Spa currently only has a contract with Liberty Media and Formula 1 to host the Belgian GP in 2024. Its place on the calendar has also been hanging by a thread for the last few years. But the regular demise of aims to revive the South African GP has seen F1 keep returning to Spa.

Spa is set to seal a contract to host the 2025 Belgian GP

It was very likely that the 2022 Belgian GP would be F1’s last visit to Spa for some significant time. Yet the plans to bring the South African GP back for the first time since 1993 collapsing saw Liberty Media give Spa a contract for 2023. This year’s triumphs sealed it another year.

Wathelet impressed Liberty Media with how Spa hosted side events across the 2023 Belgian GP weekend. So, with the South African GP again off the table, Liberty Media awarded Spa a contract for 2024. But talks remained ongoing to try and negotiate a longer-term extension.

Liberty Media could still scrap the Belgian GP after 2025

Spa hoped to secure a contract to host the Belgian GP until at least 2026 or 2027. Wathelet has been working on the project for several months and talks with Liberty Media are now in the final stages. But it is likely that Liberty Media only hands Spa another one-year contract.

Talks will continue this week over the final details of Spa’s contract to host the Belgian GP in 2025. Yet Liberty Media is giving the historic circuit no guarantees about its place on the F1 calendar beyond that. Confirmation of its contract for the 2025 season is also not imminent.