Belgian GP becomes F1’s first rotational race, won’t be held in 2028 or 2030

The Belgian Grand Prix at the widely adored Spa-Francorchamps circuit will remain on the F1 calendar for the next six years… except for the 2028 and 2030 seasons, where it, er, won’t.

As part of a new deal struck with F1, the track will skip two out of the next six years, allowing the sport to visit other venues.

It hasn’t been announced where F1 will go instead, but with races in Barcelona and Imola set to end this year and the Dutch GP going out in a blaze of orange flares in 2026, there’ll be no shortage of takers for Spa’s spot on the calendar. Even if it’s only temporary.

The 2024 season was the longest in F1 history with 24 races, just one shy of the maximum number allowed in a single year.

Spa was on the calendar in the inaugural F1 campaign in 1950 and has since hosted 57 grands prix, making it the fourth-most visited F1 track behind only Monza, Monaco and Silverstone.

“The Belgian Grand Prix was one of the races that made up our maiden Championship in 1950, so as we kick off our 75th anniversary year it is fitting that we can share the news of this important extension,” said Stefano Domenicali, president and CEO of F1.

“Spa-Francorchamps is rightly lauded by drivers and fans alike as one of the finest racetracks in the world and it has played host to some incredible moments over its many seasons in Formula 1. In recent years it has undergone significant work to improve the facility and overall fan experience, and I would like to pay tribute to the promoter and the Government of Wallonia for their dedication and passionate support for Formula 1 in Belgium."

Come on then, where should F1 go instead when Spa’s put into Sleep Mode?