Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps

Track Info

Location	Stavelot, Wallonia, Belgium
Type	Permanent Road Course
Length	7.004 km (4.352 miles)
Turns	19
Capacity	~100,000
Opened	1921 (current layout from 2004)

Track Characteristics

Spa-Francorchamps is consistently voted by drivers as their favorite circuit in the world. Carved into the Ardennes forest in the Belgian countryside, the 7.004 km lap is the longest on the F1 calendar and features dramatic elevation changes, breathtaking high-speed corners, and some of the most iconic sequences in motorsport. The circuit's sheer length means weather conditions can vary dramatically from one end of the track to the other, with rain falling at La Source while the sun shines at Stavelot.

The Eau Rouge/Raidillon combination is the most famous corner complex in racing. After the La Source hairpin, cars plunge downhill through the left-hand Eau Rouge before immediately climbing steeply uphill and right through Raidillon - a sequence taken flat out in modern F1 cars at well over 300 km/h. The compression at the bottom and the blind crest at the top make this one of the most physically and mentally demanding sections in the sport.

Pouhon is a long, fast double-apex left-hander that tests aerodynamic grip. The Bus Stop chicane at the end of the lap is a heavy braking zone and key overtaking spot. The Kemmel Straight after Eau Rouge/Raidillon is one of the longest flat-out sections in F1 and provides excellent slipstreaming opportunities. Spa rewards brave, committed driving and consistently produces spectacular racing.

Getting There

Nearest Airport	Liege Airport (LGG) is about 60 km north. Brussels Airport (BRU) is approximately 140 km northwest. Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN) in Germany is about 130 km northeast.
Nearest City	Spa (about 10 km from the circuit) and Stavelot (adjacent to the track). Liege is the nearest major city, about 60 km north.

2026 Event Info

Race Name	Belgian Grand Prix
Round	10 of 22
Sprint Weekend	No
TV	Apple TV

Track Record

Lap Record	1:46.286
Record Holder	Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes, 2018)

Notable Past Races

• 2021: The most controversial non-race in F1 history. Constant heavy rain meant only two laps were completed behind the safety car before the race was red-flagged and declared. Half points were awarded, with Max Verstappen classified as the winner despite never actually racing.
• 2018: Sebastian Vettel was hit by a first-lap incident and dropped to the back of the field. Lewis Hamilton took a dominant victory that proved pivotal in the championship battle, as Vettel's title challenge began to unravel.
• 2008: Kimi Raikkonen won after a dramatic final-corner clash between Lewis Hamilton and Felipe Massa. Hamilton was later given a 25-second penalty for cutting the chicane while battling, dropping him to third.
• 2000: Mika Hakkinen overtook Michael Schumacher by using a lapped car as a screen, passing on opposite sides of Ricardo Zonta through the Kemmel Straight. It remains one of the most intelligent overtaking moves ever executed.
• 1998: Damon Hill won for Jordan in a dramatic wet race, giving the team its maiden F1 victory. Teammate Ralf Schumacher finished second for a remarkable 1-2.

Track Facts

• At 7.004 km, Spa-Francorchamps is the longest circuit on the current F1 calendar.
• The original circuit was over 14 km long, using public roads through the Ardennes forest. It was shortened to its current layout in 1979 for safety reasons.
• Spa also hosts the 24 Hours of Spa for GT cars, one of the most prestigious endurance races in the world.
• The circuit's microclimate means rain can fall at one section of the track while another section remains completely dry - a nightmare for tyre strategy.
• The Eau Rouge/Raidillon complex involves a 40-meter elevation change in roughly 300 meters of track distance.

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