Formula 1 drivers welcomed the confirmation the series will return to Spa-Francorchamps next year following the revisions made to the track.
A single-year deal was announced on Sunday which will ensure the Belgian Grand Prix appears on the 2023 F1 calendar.
The improvements made to the track ahead of this year’s race included replacing some asphalt run-offs with gravel and moving barriers further from the track at the Eau Rouge-Raidillon complex. New grandstands were also installed.
F1 drivers praised the changes and said they were pleased to see the track remain on the calendar.
“It’s one of the best tracks in the calendar,” said Sainz. “They’ve also done a very good job with the changes they’ve done on track, putting gravel, getting rid of some Tarmac run-offs, making Eau Rouge safer.
“It’s all changes that are in the right direction, and I think we need to congratulate the circuit for that. It makes for a better show, and we look forward to come back in the future and hopefully it can stay in the calendar long[-term].”
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, whose travelling fanbase filled many of the grandstands around the circuit during last weekend’s grand prix, said he hoped F1 drivers’ vocal support of a contract extension for the event influenced the deal that was struck for 2023.
“It’s my favourite track on the calendar, it’s amazing,” Verstappen beamed after his championship lead-extending win from 14th on the grid. “Especially when the car is really hooked up, like in qualifying it was really enjoyable to drive.
“From my side, I hope we will never stop coming here, but at the end of the day it’s not up to me, but I’m very happy that it’s here and that it’s happening next year.”
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However his team mate Sergio Perez, who finished second, doubts the drivers’ fondness for the circuit had any bearing on the decision to keep it on the schedule:
“I wish to think differently, but I think it was not for the drivers that they’ve kept the place in the calendar,” he said. “It’s great to have Spa. It’s a unique place that we all enjoy coming to. The pure fans really enjoy coming here.”
After a grand prix which featured 49 overtakes in 44 laps, several drivers praised the racing virtues of the venue after being told it would be staying on the calendar for…
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