Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps is a 7.004 km (4.352 miles) circuit carved through the Ardennes forest in eastern Belgium, with 19 corners across a 44-lap race distance of 308.052 km. It is the longest circuit on the F1 calendar and, by near-universal consensus among drivers, the greatest. The original track dates back to 1921, first hosting an F1 championship race in 1950. Sergio Perez holds the lap record at 1:44.701, set in 2024.
The lap begins with the La Source hairpin before plunging downhill into Eau Rouge and up through Raidillon, a compression-and-climb sequence taken flat out at over 300 km/h. The Kemmel Straight that follows is the primary DRS and overtaking zone, where slipstreaming battles produce dramatic side-by-side racing into Les Combes. The middle sector flows through Rivage, Pouhon (a fast double-apex left-hander), and Fagnes. The back section includes Stavelot, Blanchimont (a flat-out left kink at 300 km/h), and the Bus Stop chicane. The massive elevation changes test every aspect of car performance.
Spa has been the site of legendary races. On 30 August 1998, Damon Hill won a chaotic rain-soaked race for Jordan, the team’s first-ever victory, after a massive first-lap pileup. On 28 August 2022, Max Verstappen drove from 14th on the grid to victory after taking engine penalties. The 2021 race on 29 August was infamously shortened to two laps behind the safety car due to standing water, awarding half points. Spa’s weather is its defining wild card; the circuit is large enough that rain can fall on one section while another remains dry.
The timezone is Europe/Brussels at CEST (UTC+2). A 14:00 local start is 12:00 GMT and 08:00 EDT. European fans get a perfect Sunday afternoon race, while North American viewers can watch over breakfast. Asian fans can catch the race in the evening. Check Belgium time and Brussels time for conversions.
July in the Ardennes brings mild temperatures around 20 degrees Celsius, but afternoon thunderstorms are common. The forested hillsides, the scent of pine, and the sound of cars echoing through the valley make Spa-Francorchamps a pilgrimage for motorsport fans. Spectators can camp in the surrounding forests, and the circuit is accessible from Brussels, Liege, and Cologne. There is no circuit on earth quite like it.
See the full race schedule and session times at the Belgian Grand Prix page.