It’s no longer really a secret, tickets have become very expensive to get a place in the 2023 calendar of the Formula 1 world championship. The entry into the running of Las Vegas, Qatar, the return of China and a probable GP in South Africa, so many things that make hopes dwindle for certain races at the end of the contract like Monaco, France or Belgium. If it is hard to see the Monegasque event, the most glamorous of the year, disappearing from the calendar, the two meetings of Le Castellet and Spa Francorchamps are in great danger. And when the pilots have to choose between the French or Belgian stopover, the scales quickly tip to the black-yellow-red side as for Sebastian Vettel.
“I would say Spa, because the track is amazing and it would be a shame to lose it.. To be honest, Le Castellet isn’t very exciting, I don’t think many drivers are big fans, at least behind the camera. But maybe the French GP could take place on another track. There are other interesting plots. Magny-Cours is better or older circuits like Dijon.”
No hesitation either on the side of Lando Norris when choosing between France and Belgium. “O Spa! Easy. My mother comes from Belgium. I am 50% Flemish. It’s as much a home race for me as Silverstone in a way. I personally have many more links with Belgium where I spent a lot of time during my childhood. And above all, I love the track.”
By only taking into account the attractive and historic side of the circuit, the choice of Charles Leclerc is also quite fast:For the character of the layout I would opt for Francorchamps. I prefer the circuit”. But the choice is more complex for the Monegasque, because the emotional side comes into play: “At Le Castellet, I have acquaintances. I started karting an hour from here.”
Delicate also necessarily for Pierre Gasly to rule as blue-white-red pilot.
“I’m biased. You ask a French driver what he wants between his own Grand Prix or the Belgian Grand Prix. I love France, I want to race in my country in front of my fans and my supporters and I will always support this Grand Prix before any other. But on the other hand, Spa is probably my favorite circuit on the calendar. I grew up watching F1 races there, it’s such a beautiful circuit, a great place to race. It would be a loss for the drivers and for Formula 1.”