Fast Five: Belgian GP secures 2025 contract extension, Massa grants extension for 2008 championship probe, and other big updates

Belgian GP secures 2025 contract extension

The Belgian Grand Prix will continue at Spa-Francorchamps until the end of the 2025 season, thanks to a one-year extension. The track, known for its historic Formula 1 legacy, features a 7.004km circuit with long straights and challenging corners, hosting 56 Grands Prix since 1950. Recent improvements include new grandstands, expanded entertainment options, and a 20,000 increase in attendance to 380,000 in 2023. F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali expressed his delight at extending the partnership, acknowledging the promoter's efforts to enhance the fan experience and infrastructure. Willy Borsus, Vice-President and Minister for the Economy of Wallonia, emphasized the economic benefits, citing a positive impact of €41.8 million for the region and the event's significance in promoting Wallonia internationally.

Click here to read the full article by Balazs Szabo (f1technical.net)

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Massa grants extension for 2008 championship

Felipe Massa's legal team has extended the deadline for the FIA and FOM to complete their investigation into his bid to overturn the 2008 Formula 1 World Championship outcome until November 15. Massa claims he lost the championship due to a conspiracy to cover up the 2008 Singapore GP Crashgate scandal, allowing Fernando Alonso to win. His legal team alleges he suffered financial losses and reputational harm, setting an initial deadline for the FIA and FOM to respond.

Click here to read the full article by Filip Cleeren (motorsport.com)

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How FIA can prevent another heat nightmare

The FIA is conducting an analysis to address extreme temperature and humidity issues in Formula 1, particularly in light of the Qatar Grand Prix, where drivers faced severe health problems. Proposed measures include considering the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) system, shortening races, improving cockpit cooling, obtaining more data from drivers, better scheduling, and enhanced education on handling extreme conditions. These measures aim to prioritize driver well-being and adapt to challenging weather conditions. MotoGP is also dealing with similar heat-related concerns, and potential changes to race protocols are being discussed.

Click here to read the full article by Josh Suttill (the-race.com)

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Nicolas Hamilton denies Lewis's influence in his career

Nicolas Hamilton, who races in the British Touring Car Championship despite having cerebral palsy, has faced challenges due to his relation to Formula 1 champion Lewis Hamilton. Nicolas clarified that Lewis has not financially supported his racing career, dispelling claims that he's only in BTCC because of his brother. The comparisons to Lewis have made Nicolas's journey in motorsport tough, but he remains Lewis's No. 1 fan.

Click here to read the full article by Connor McDonagh (crash.net)

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Verstappen and Perez guess driver's old tweets

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Oracle Red Bull Racing's Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez used Twitter and X to take a trip down memory lane, sifting through a collection of posts from the F1 community and playing a game of guessing who wrote them. Verstappen chuckled as he recalled a time when Charles Leclerc was streaming on Twitch, and his girlfriend had to pop in to remind him to unlock the door.