Circuit de Spa Francorchamps
Belgium F1 Track Guide
Belgium F1 Track Guide
As far as circuits on the Formula One calendar go, Spa is a must-visit for casual and hardcore fans alike. Situated in the picturesque Ardennes Forest, Spa has maintained the integrity of times past of fast, dangerous and challenging tracks. Whether it be the mini climates on different parts of the circuit or the incredible views at the top of Raidillon, this is a race not to be missed.
Spa Francorchamps has hosted many memorable races over Formula One’s history, witnessing events such as the Jordan team’s first win, Michael Schumacher’s memorable debut and one of the greatest overtakes of all time by Mika Hakkinen on Schumacher.
While each of our Belgium Grand Prix Packages comes with a pre-defined grandstand ticket, we’ve created this Belgium F1 Track guide to help you choose an alternative.
Circuit Length – 7.004km
Number of Laps – 44
Race Distance – 308.05km
Max Speed – 319.6km/h
Average Temperature in August: 16c
Currency – EUR
Closest Airport – Maastricht Aachen Airport
Language – Dutch, French, German
Time Zone – CEST: +1hr GMT
Sitting at the apex of turn 1’s La Source hairpin, Grandstand Gold 8 gives you the perfect view of the race start as the cars accelerate into their short run into the first corner. Throughout the race, you will be able to see cars from a front-on perspective, fully appreciating the braking ability of a Formula One car. You will also be able to see the cars accelerate out of La Source and into the downhill run to Eau Rouge.
Some spots at Gold 8 will also allow you to witness the teams’ pit crew engage in their race strategy with a view of the pit lane and exit.
Whether it be overtakes into turn one at the end of a DRS zone, multiple pit stops or Lap 1 incidents such as 1998, 2012 and 2018 – action is all but guaranteed in this grandstand.
Gold 8 is a covered grandstand and has a giant screen to help follow the race.
Adjacent to Gold 8, Gold 7 Grandstand provides views of the La Source hairpin as well as the straight into the downhill run to Eau Rouge. The steep drop into the uphill of Eau Rouge is something that needs to be seen to be believed. With cars often side-by-side on the exit of La Source, this section of track is well-known for iconic overtakes and driver bravery such as Mark Webber’s epic overtake on Fernando Alonso in 2011.
The atmosphere in Gold 7 is electric as crowds witness and react to the race build-up, overtakes and pit-stops.
Gold 7 is a covered grandstand and has a giant screen to help follow the race.
Situated on the downhill straight before Eau Rouge, sitting in Silver 1 will allow you witness cars accelerate to speeds of up to 300kph and stay flat to the floor through Raidillon and Eau Rouge.
Directly behind Silver 1 sits the F1 Fan Zone, where you will find plenty of food and drink options, as well as opportunities to test your skills on the F1 simulator or changing an F1 tyre.
Silver 1 is an uncovered grandstand and has a giant screen to help follow the race.
View of the Francorchamps straight from the Eau Rouge ‘Gold’ Grandstand.
Next to Silver 1, the Gold 2 provides similar views of the downhill straight out of La Source into Eau Rouge with the added benefit of cover to help deal with Spa’s inclement weather. As well as this, you will have a direct view of the F2 and F3 pits as the teams and cars prepare for their races.
Like Silver 1, behind Gold 2 sits the F1 Fan Zone with all available amenities.
Gold 2 is a covered grandstand and has a giant screen to help follow the race.
As we head further down the first sector of Spa, Silver 2 sits next to the previous two grandstands as the gradient of the track begins to move upwards to Eau Rouge. You will without doubt be impressed to watch the F1 and indeed the support series’ cars go all-out to get the best entry and exit into Eau Rouge.
Silver 2 gives you a distant view of turn one at La Source allowing you to not miss a moment of the first lap action, as well as the inevitable Safety Car restarts.
Silver 2 is an uncovered grandstand and has a giant screen to help follow the race.
Situated right at the foot of Eau Rouge, Gold 10 is the first of three grandstands that will present you with unrivalled views of the drivers showing full commitment and trust in their car as they enter the fearsome Eau Rouge at full throttle.
This part of the circuit is crucial for lap time, as a poor entry and exit out of this series of corners will compromise a driver’s run up the following Kemmel straight. As such, you will see drivers going all-out for the perfect line through this corner, especially during qualifying on Saturday.
Gold 10 is a covered grandstand and has a giant screen to help follow the race.
New for the 2022 season, grandstands Gold 3 and 4 sit at the top of Eau Rouge. Sitting here gives you not only the best view of cars entering Eau Rouge but sitting at such an elevated position you will also be able to see parts of the final Bus Stop chicane on the far end of the track and a distant view of turn 1.
Eau Rouge has to be seen to be believed, walking through the track that leads into these set of grandstands is an incredible experience that can only be truly appreciated in person.
As an added bonus, conveniently Gold 3 and 4 you will have multiple options for food, drink and amenities at the base of each stairway without having to leave either grandstand.
Opposite this grandstand is a DJ booth where music will play to keep you entertained between sessions, and is only a short walk into the F1 fan zone.
Gold 3 is a covered grandstand and has a giant screen opposite to help follow the race.
View from Gold 3 on a slightly misty Friday free-practice.
View from Eau Rouge Gold 4 on a slightly sunnier day.
Situated at the end of the Kemmel straight, the Combes grandstand gives you an opportunity to see side-by-side action as the cars draw close to each other at the end of the longest DRS zone on the track.
With views of the circuit undulations and the picturesque Ardennes forest as a backdrop, the Combes grandstand encapsulates the essence of Spa-Francorchamps. The view of Combes descends all the way to turn 13 as the cars navigate the tricky yet fast second sector of Spa.
Combes is an uncovered grandstand and has a giant screen to help follow the race.
View from the exit of Les Combes.
Perched at the top of Turn 10, here you will see the cars navigate the tricky Les Combes chicane and exit into the sweeping downhill corner of turn 10. This is an elevated section of the track and allows you to take in an Instagram-friendly view of the circuit and cars, especially as the sun begins to get lower and lower.
Silver 4 is a covered grandstand and has a giant screen to help follow the race.
Aptly named, Speed Corner grandstand sits on the exits of one of the fastest viewable sections of the track. This grandstand gives you an authentic experience of the Spa circuit. You will witness the cars glued to the track as drivers endeavour to get the best exit out of the speed corner and into the rapid sector 3.
Visibility wise, the lack of catch fencing is also a bonus as the grandstand is sat at a safe distance from the track, allowing you an unobstructed view of the cars which allows for some stunning photo opportunities.
Speed Corner grandstand is uncovered and has no screen.
Gold 6 sits at the final corner of the track known as the Bus Stop chicane. Over the years this section of track has seen many different versions and remodeling, and now features a heavy braking right hand corner into a tight left hander onto the start/finish straight.
Gold 6 allows you to witness cars hit the brakes into the final chicane and is one of many overtaking spots at Spa. This grandstand also provides views of the tight entry into the Spa pitlane.
Gold 6 is a covered grandstand and has a screen to help follow the race.
Sitting at the main straight, Golds 1 and 9 give you the best view of the starting grid while also looking directly into the pit lane. Whether it is Free Practice, Qualifying or the race proper, you will be able to appreciate the teams at their frenetic best, working on the cars and executing sub-3 second pit-stops.
Sitting on the main straight will allow you to also witness the start procedure for the race as the teams prepare their cars for battle, as well as a direct view of the podium celebrations.
One of the shorter main straights on the calendar, the Gold 1 and 9 grandstands allow you to see not only the start/finish line but also the exit of the final corner as the cars activate their DRS for the short run into La Source.
Gold 1 & 9 are a covered grandstands and have a giant screen to help follow the race.
Set aside specifically for those aged 17-27, this grandstand will give you a fantastic view overlooking the Blanchimont section of the track as the cars enter the fast third sector of the Spa circuit. Similar to grandstands Gold 3 & 4, there is a DJ booth playing music between sessions which adds to the already electric atmosphere.
17-27 stand is an uncovered grandstand and has a giant screen to help follow the race. The seating is unreserved.
Grand Prix schedules are normally released in the weeks leading up to the event. While schedules do change year on year, the schedule from 2022 (below) should give a good indication of what to expect and when.
FRIDAY 26th AUGUST | EVENT | TIME |
---|---|---|
FIA Formula 3 FIA Formula 2 Paddock Club Paddock Club FIA Promoter Activity FORMULA 1 FIA Formula 3 Paddock Club Paddock Club FIA Formula 3 FORMULA 1 Promoter Activity FIA Formula 2 Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup FIA Formula 2 | Practice Session Practice Session Paddock Club Track Tour Paddock Club Pit Lane Walk F1 Car Presentation Historic F1 Demonstration FIRST PRACTICE SESSION Qualifying Session Paddock Club Track Tour Paddock Club Pit Lane Walk Press Conference SECOND PRACTICE SESSION Historic F1 Demonstration Qualifying Session Practice Session Press Conference | 10:25 – 11:10 11:35 – 12:20 12:30 – 13:00 12:30 – 13:30 12:30 – 13:30 13:05 – 13:25 14:00 – 15:00 15:30 – 16:00 16:05 – 16:35 16:05 – 16:35 16:30 – 17:00 17:00 – 18:00 18:05 – 18:20 18:30 – 19:00 19:25 – 20:10 19:30 – 20:00 |
SATURDAY 27th AUGUST | EVENT | TIME |
---|---|---|
Formula 1 FIA Formula 3 Formula 1 Paddock Club Paddock Club FIA Formula 3 Promoter Activity FORMULA 1 Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup Paddock Club Paddock Club Promoter Activity FORMULA 1 Formula 1 Formula 1 FIA Formula 2 Promoter Activity Paddock Club FIA Formula 2 F1 Experiences | Teams Press Conference Sprint Race (15 Laps or 40 Mins +1 Lap) Team Pit Stop Practice Paddock Club Track Tour Paddock Club Pit Lane Walk Press Conference Zapata vs F1 Car THIRD PRACTICE SESSION Qualifying Session Paddock Club Track Tour Paddock Club Pit Lane Walk Red Devils Aerobatic Display QUALIFYING SESSION Press Conference AMG 55th Anniversary Demonstration Sprint Race (18 Laps or 45 Mins +1 Lap) Historic F1 Demonstration Paddock Club Pit Lane Walk Press Conference F1 Experiences Champions Club Grid Walk & Trophy Photo | 10:05 – 11:05 10:35 – 11:20 11:30 – 12:00 11:30 – 12:00 11:30 – 12:00 11:50 – 12:20 12:05 – 12:30 13:00 – 14:00 14:30 – 15:00 15:05 – 15:35 15:05 – 15:35 15:15 – 15:30 16:00 – 17:00 17:00 – 18:00 19:00 – 19:20 18:00 – 18:50 19:00 – 19:20 19:00 – 19:40 19:10 – 19:40 19:25 – 20:25 |
SUNDAY 28th AUGUST | EVENT | TIME |
---|---|---|
FIA Formula 3 FIA Formula 2 Air Display FIA Formula 2 Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup Paddock Club Paddock Club Formula 1 Formula 1 Promoter Activity Formula 1 Air Display FORMULA 1 | Feature Race (18 Laps or 45 Mins +1 Lap) Feature Race (25 Laps or 60 Mins +1 Lap) Red Bull Aerobatic Display Press Conference Race (12 Laps or 30 Mins) Paddock Club Track Tour Paddock Club Pit Lane Walk Drivers’ Parade AMG 55th Anniversary Demonstration Red Devils Aerobatic Display National Anthem Red Devils Fly Past GRAND PRIX (44 LAPS OR 120 MINS) | 08:50 – 09:40 10:20 – 11:25 11:30 – 11:35 11:45 – 12:15 12:05 – 12:40 12:55 – 13:25 12:55 – 13:55 13:00 – 13:30 13:35 – 13:50 14:10 – 14:20 14:44 – 14:46 14:46 – 14:47 15:00 – 17:00 |
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