Belgian Grand Prix promoter André Maes has revealed that 70,000 three-day tickets have already been sold for this weekend’s race at Spa-Francorchamps, with Red Bull rising star Max Verstappen clearly a factor in the uptick.
Over 20,000 Dutch fans are expected in the Ardennes to cheer on Formula One’s youngest ever race winner, who incidentally was born in Belgium from a Belgian mother.
Talking to French-langague newspaper La Dernière Heure, Maes explains that the enthusiasm and buzz around Verstappen is similar to the heyday of the Michael Schumacher era.
“70,000 tickets have already been paid,” he said. “I had not seen that since 2001-2002. And I’m talking here about actual figures, about three-day tickets that have been sold.
“It’s not like other events I have worked on for a few years and where there was a big gap between the figures announced and the actual turnout.”
The increase in ticket sales is sure to be welcomed by the Wallonia region, as its government has to cover the deficit of the Belgian Grand Prix every year. The 2015 edition posted a €6.8m (£5.8m) deficit, down from €7.9m (£6.8m) the previous season.
GALLERY: F1 drivers on summer break
How Eric Boullier keeps McLaren on its toes
Pascal Wehrlein interview: The rookie who wants to lead
F1i Classic - Mayhem, monsoon and the mother of all Belgian Grand Prix
Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter
As Formula 1 prepares to resume its season in Miami next week, FIA single-seater director…
McLaren Racing boss Zak Brown has made it clear that the arrival of GianPiero Lambiase…
The FIA has confirmed a significant schedule change ahead of the upcoming Miami Grand Prix,…
As Formula 1 painstakingly deals with its controversial 2026 regulation overhaul, four-time world champion Sebastian…
It was looking like just another Sunday drive for Stirling Moss at Goodwood on this…
Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri have weighed in on the prospect of Max Verstappen leaving…