As widely expected, the Spa Grand Prix will move to a rotation system from 2028 – That’s what the announcement about Formula 1’s calendar plans says.
With the confirmation that the Belgian Grand Prix will host four races in six years from 2026, Spa-Francorchamps is the first race to be included in Formula 1’s planned rotation system for some European races.
For a long time, it was considered whether the race should only be held every two years, but Wednesday morning’s announcement provides for a slightly more generous arrangement with four races in six years.
Spa was given a small reprieve after Zandvoort announced that the new one-year contract for 2026 would also be the last, eliminating a contender for one of the European spots on the calendar.
But with Spa still hoping for a long-term deal, negotiations were particularly tough as huge competition for places on the calendar means Formula One was ultimately in a much stronger bargaining position.
However, Spa’s prospects were boosted by a renewed commitment from the Walloon government to long-term security, even if the track loses its annual status on the calendar.
More than €80 million has already been invested in Spa-Francorchamps as part of a gradual overhaul of the aging facility, including the construction of brand new grandstands and improved facilities for fans.
Further investments to bring the race weekend itself into line with Formula One’s vision of a Grand Prix as a holistic entertainment package have also convinced the bosses of the premier class.
While the outcome of the negotiations could have been even worse for Spa, the loss of its status as an annual race, while Saudi Arabia could receive a second GP in the future, will be a bitter blow for motorsport fans.
Is the end in sight for Imola?
The contract extension for Spa has also confirmed that other European races will inevitably follow suit and enter the rotation system. With Spa, Zandvoort and Barcelona all on the 2026 calendar, Imola will be left out in the cold next year, unless Mexico no longer extends its expiring contract after Sergio Perez’s departure from Formula 1.
But Mexican promoter CIE has always emphasized that its event has a strong future even without the local hero,
while Formula 1 boss Stefano Domenicali has long said that it will be difficult for Italy to keep both races. And because Monza received a six-year contract extension in November until 2031, Imola’s fate seems to be sealed.
The venue in Emilia-Romagna helped Formula One by hosting one race each during the 2020 and 2021 Corona seasons, and was rewarded with a long-term contract extension after securing the necessary funding to continue.
But Imola was always one of several European Formula One races that lagged behind in terms of infrastructure and fan experience. While circuits like Spa and Barcelona have improved, the former San Marino Grand Prix venue is seen as the weaker link.
Imola could still join the new rotation system, but Barcelona seems to be in a better position for it.
What happens in 2028 and does the rotation remain in Spa?
While the new deal, with four races in six years, was presented to the public as better news for Spa than originally expected, Belgium is only effectively being given a two-year reprieve before the Grand Prix switches to a two-year rhythm, as originally planned by Formula 1.
One could interpret this as meaning that none of the many Formula One candidates who want to get into the circus, including a second Saudi race in Qiddiya, but also Thailand, South Korea and Rwanda, will be ready before 2027 or even 2028.
It is premature to speculate which of the above projects will materialize in time, as – apart from the ambitious Qiddiya megaproject – the venues in question have not even broken ground yet.
Other countries that have already expressed their Formula One ambitions include Argentina and South Africa. Whichever overseas races materialize, the swap between Spa and another European race gives F1 the flexibility on the calendar to service a new market when the opportunity arises.
And just as Spa’s future was saved in 2023 when a return to South Africa did not materialize, there could be an opportunity for tracks like Imola to fill such gaps in the future. However, Turkey, which proved in 2021 that it too can host a race at short notice, seems to be a stronger candidate.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is known to be keen for Formula One to return to Istanbul Park on a permanent basis, having discussed the prospect with FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem last year.
The company Can Bilim Egitim Kurumlari A.S. was awarded the contract to operate the circuit in April last year, with the express promise of bringing Formula One racing back to the outskirts of the city.
It should be noted that the contract with neighboring Azerbaijan expires in 2026, but Baku is determined to extend it.
Whichever race is added to the rotation after Spa, Wednesday’s announcement is the first step by Formula One in its quest to reach more global markets without exceeding its limit of 24 Grands Prix. And with global demand for a Formula One race as high as ever, there will undoubtedly be more rotational races.
