Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali says the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps can still retain its slot on the sport's calendar, at least for 2023.
Spa Grand Prix, the promoter of the Belgian event, will see its current contract with Formula 1 expire at the conclusion of this weekend's round of racing at the legendary venue, without a new agreement covering the race's future in place.
F1's yet-to-be-published 2023 calendar is set to include 24 rounds, with Qatar and new venue Las Vegas hosting rounds while the Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai is also scheduled to return to the sport's agenda.
However, Covid is still stalling the Chinese economy which puts a cloud of uncertainty over next years' event, a doubt that could play in favour of Spa if its promoter offers a package that satisfies Formula One Management.
In a call with the media on Wednesday, Domenicali was reluctant to detail next year's calendar which remains a work in progress until it is rubber-stamped by the FIA's World Motor Sport Council.
©spa-francorchamps
"As you can imagine I cannot comment too much on that, because there is respect of discussing and formalising through the World Motor Sport Council with the FIA," he said.
"You never saw something [from] me saying that Belgium will be the last year.
"I would be prudent on that comment, I would say, I would be very prudent. That's the only thing I would say.
"It's true that we are working and discussing with other promoters to see if they're ready for a full commitment already.
"There has been always a point that we have discussed to find the mix of the races where we're going to have at least one-third in Europe, one third in the Far East area, and the other one in the Americas and Middle East. So we want to be balanced.
"Of course, we're talking about a business where investment, the financial contribution, is very important, but we have always said that the traditional races, the races that we know they cannot bring the money that the others are bringing, have a full respect from us.
"So you will see that this will be respected also, not only this year, but also in the future. With Belgium, discussions are still on."
Domenicali said that he fully recognizes the event's traditional status within the history of F1.
"There is a lot of respect for these places. But if you recall, Belgium, there were some periods where it was not in the calendar, and they came back again.
"The memory sometimes is short. It's a great place, no doubt about it. And that's why we are discussing.
"What I can say is that we are in Spa this weekend. So you will see them [the promoters] a lot of times in my office."
The Italian admitted that he has been impressed with Spa Grand Prix's efforts to deliver an entertaining package for race fans this weekend that will hopefully go a long way towards helping them forget last year's washed-out fiasco.
"I have to say they're prepared this weekend in an incredible way," Domenicali added.
"On Thursday there will be a special day with drivers, that will be with the fans. We have opened that to recover what has happened last year, that they did something important.
"And also in terms of traffic plan they have presented to us a very interesting proposition. I think that we've seen them in a very, very different approach this year.
"That is very, very, very useful to know, and very important above all for the people that will be everywhere in Spa this weekend."
While Spa's presence on the calendar in 2023 is uncertain, it appears that the French Grand Prix at Paul Ricard is off the cards for next year. But Domenicali suggested the event could find its way back on the sport's agenda in the future on a "rotational" basis.
"We are talking with the French Federation, and with the government, because more and more the future also is related to promoters that see that as an investment for the country, for the community.
"So the discussions are very, very open for a great future. And as you know, a possibility not next year but in the future could be also to find a sort of rotational proposition that could enable everyone to be part of the calendar. Because I think it's a matter of respect."
Finally, Domenciali said that discussions with the Automobile Club de Monaco over the Principality's showcase event are still ongoing.
"Discussions with Monaco are ongoing and we really hope to formalise a deal very, very soon," he said.
"In the next couple of weeks we will circulate the final version of the 2023 calendar."
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