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F1 History & Stats: Spa-Francorchamps, Belgian GP

Saumil Patel
F1 History & Stats for Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, Belgian GP (courtesy: Mercedes)

F1 History & Stats for Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, Belgian GP (courtesy: Mercedes)

‘Know Your F1 Circuit’ is a new series launched on my F1 blog. The posts under this series will be penned by Saumil Patel, an avid fan of the sport. You can follow the full series throughout the season by using the ‘Know Your F1 Circuit’ tag. This week’s post focuses on the ‘Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps’, the home of Formula 1 in Belgium and arguably one of the most-challenging circuits in the world of Motorsport. 

Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps nestles in the triangular expanse between the towns of Francorchamps, Stavelot and Malmedy in the heart of the hilly Ardennes Forest located in eastern Belgium. The moniker Spa is a misnomer, Spa is actually a bit further northwest.

The current circuit layout (1983 onwards) albeit shorter and tamer retains its core motor sporting genes, much to the credit of its legendary corners Eau Rouge, Blanchimont, La Source and the recently added Pouhon. Long straights and demanding fast corners allow the drivers to test their skills and push their cars to the edge of its performance capability. The uncertain weather adds to the thrill of racing on a dry, wet or dry and wet circuit. For sure, this is the track drivers and teams would be eager to go around.

For the Formula 1 fans, it is a spectacular viewing circuit which does not restrict viewing to a select few in the grandstands. Hike a couple of miles (sometimes braving the elements and muddy slush) and you will find your vantage point.

Before I dig further into the interesting 100-year old history of the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, here are some ‘did you know?’ facts about the circuit and the several races it has hosted.

F1 History & Stats: Spa-Francorchamps, Did You Know?
F1 History & Stats: Spa-Francorchamps

The iconic Circuit Spa-Francorchamps completes a hundred years (1921 – 2021) of hosting exciting, fast and often dangerous motorcar and motorcycle competitive sporting events. Wonder if Jules de Thier and Henri Langlois Van Ophem saw that in their wildest dreams when they charted out the original circuit in 1921.

What started as a 14.9 kms fast and perilous open public road circuit in 1921 is in its current iteration, the longest permanent circuit on the Formula 1 calendar at 7.004 kms and has remained true to its racing DNA. It is still very fast and quite unforgiving. The first Grand Prix was held in 1925 with twelve participants, only two finished. Both were in Alfa Romeos with a 22-minute gap between them.

The circuit has had multiple updates and revisions over the years mainly to increase the safety quotient as the circuit over the years had grown to be fearfully accident prone. The most noteworthy and extensive one was in 1979, when the circuit was modified and shortened from a 14.10 km circuit of using public roads with 24 corners to a 6.96 km permanent circuit with 19 corners due to safety concerns.

The second major renovation commenced around November 2006 and finished in May 2007 at a cost of around €19 million. The Bus Stop chicane was moved back towards Blanchimont and the La Source hairpin moved forward. This freed up much more space for the new pit lane and gave a longer start/finish straight.

F1 History & Stats: Spa-Francorchamps, The Circuit

Easily the most challenging and demanding high speed venue on the Grand Prix calendar, the drivers have regularly voted Spa as the best circuit with Eau Rouge and Raidillon delivering the biggest adrenaline rush.

As with most iconic circuits, corners play a definitive role. Silverstone’s Maggotts – Becketts, Laguna Seca’s Cocrkscrew and Istanbul’s Turn Eight, infuse a lot of character to their respective circuits.

Spa, though is leagues apart. Every corner at Spa is stimulating and larger-than-life. Each corner has its history and some have been the Achilles heel for the champions. Drivers over the years have learned to fear and respect them. Eau Rouge – Raidillon is undoubtedly the biggest test for car and driver. No other circuit presents a bigger challenge even though modern-day cars take them flat out. The addition of Pouhon only elevates the quotient. Even the flat out straights are not so straightforward.

The most successive driver is Michael Schumacher with six wins (1992, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2001 & 2002).

The most successive constructor is Ferrari with eighteen wins (1952, 1953, 1956, 1961, 1966, 1975, 1976, 1979, 1984, 1996, 1997, 2001, 2002, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2018 & 2019)

F1 History & Stats: Spa-Francorchamps, Strategy

This iconic circuit has blistering straights with fast and technical corners which requires the right balance between power and setup. Most teams would be vying for the optimum balance between low downforce for the flat outs and high downforce for the twenty corners. On throttle and off throttle setting which would address both the slow corners and traction stability and a suspension setting for riding out the kerbs in sector two without compromising the front and rear balance.

The asphalt being quite aggressive and tyres being subjected to heavy vertical and lateral forces one can expect medium tyre wear. For the drivers who can preserve their tyres the best strategy would be single stop soft (18 to 20 laps) – medium. The second single stop option is starting on soft for the first 16 laps moving on to hard. The last feasible strategy would be soft 14 laps – soft 14 laps – medium 16 laps.

Saumil Patel is an avid fan of Formula 1. He aims to take you deeper into the sport by uncovering the lesser read. 

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