Nestled in the heart of the Ardennes forest, the Spa-Francorchamps circuit is one of the most anticipated meeting places in Formula 1, both by spectators and by pilots. Present on the calendar since the first year of the championship, it will welcome its 58 Sunday on Sundayth Grand Prix.
It is the longest route of the year, with its seven kilometers traveled in time and divided into 19 turns, including the famous chain of the Raidillon de l’Eau Rouge. A real roller coaster for single -seaters, it contributes 102.2m between the highest and lowest point in the circuit.
1- The source
First and slower turn of the track (80km/h on average), the pin of the source breaks the rhythm of the pilots who have sought to accumulate the most speed since the extinction of the lights, once the departure is given. It takes its name from the different sources of water present around the circuit.
2.3.4 – Raidillon of red water
Certainly the most famous shift in the route, or perhaps even the best known on the F1 calendar. A slight left-wing turn (red water) before a counter-control on the right (stiffen) for an ascent of 15% to 300km/h. Red water is actually a 15km river that crosses the circuit area.
5.6 – The Combes
If the exit of the raidillon, blind, happened without incident until the entrance to the straight line of Kemmel (whose name refers to a neighboring village), the braking at the Combes is the big opportunity to exceed the circuit. A valley designates a deep valley, which awaits the pilots once this chain of past turns.
7 – Malmedy
Only a few kilometers away, the village of Malmedy has nearly 13,000 inhabitants. He is sadly famous for the Malmedy massacre, a war crime committed during the Second World War, during which 86 American soldiers taken prisoner were stripped and then shot by German soldiers.
8 – Brussels/Rivage
Second right -in -law turn after the source, Brussels is undoubtedly its name from the capital of Belgium. Historically called Rivage, the new appellation of this turn to multiple racing lines is relatively recent.
9 – No Name/Speakers
The unnameable ninth turn of the circuit: commonly recognized as “nameless”, it is also probably one of the most difficult to approach. Due to its proximity to the Tower of the Commentators of the Race diffuser, we sometimes find the other name “speakers” for this curve.
10.11 – (double left of) Pouhon
Walloon poujhonwhich corresponds to the French verb to draw, the two turns borrowed at high speed, accumulated downhill, take their name from the source of ferruginous water present on the outskirts of the sequence, which participates in the reputation of SPA (Du Latin Sanitas Per Aqua“Health by waters”).
12.13 – Fagnes/Piff Paff
With a circuit surrounded by the trees of the Ardennes forest, it is difficult not to name one of the turns in reference to the surrounding biodiversity. The Fagnes, which we define as “a peaty marsh located on a height”, are a nature reserve attached to the circuit. The other name, more local, of this chicane, “Piff Paff”, means in a rather familiar language a rapid change in direction.
14.15 – Campus/Stavelot and Paul Frère
Formerly appointed Stavelot in reference to the city of 7,000 inhabitants located less than five kilometers from the circuit, the Automobile University campus today gives its name to the first of these two right turns. The second is eponymous of a Belgian journalist winner of the 24h of Le Mans in 1960 and Formula 1 pilot between 1952 and 1956, even rising this last year on the podium at Spa.
16,17 – Blanchimont
Chain of light left turns in the rise curve to the straight line, Blanchimont is borrowed without descending below 300km/h. Theater of an impressive shock at the 24h of SPA 2025 between Josh Mason and Laurin Heinrich, he held his name of the farm of the same name, close to the circuit.
18,19 – Bus stop
The last chicane in the route before the starting line/arrival is its name for the bus stop formerly present at this level of the circuit, north of the old route, originally 14.981km, jointly drawn by Jules de Thier, Director of the newspaper The MeuseJoseph de Crawhez, bourgmestre of Spa, and Henry Langlois van Ophem, president of the Automobile Club sports committee.
To read also> The program of the Belgian Grand Prix of Formula 1
