Racing began on the streets of Spa-Francorchamps in the year 1921 as it was perfect for long straights and it’s rolling countryside roads. The only stretch of the circuit that changed was the then known Malmedy chicane that would be removed and used again over the course of an eight-year spell but then finally in 1939, one of the most iconic sections of an F1 circuit was born when the race organisers removed the Virage l’Ancienne Douane, creating the super-fast uphill Eau Rouge sequence, loved by racing fans to this day.

Racing stopped at Spa-Francorchamps due to World War II and resulting repairs had to be made, one of which was a new corner at Stavelot. Between 1971-1978 the Malmedy chicane temporarily returns but is removed again, but then in ’79 it was obvious major changes needed to be made as more and more fatalities occurred on the track. As a result, cars began turning off the old course before Les Combes and headed down the valley through a fast course before Blanchimont.

The Bus Stop section was added in ’81 with an F1 only Pit lane introduced a year later. A chicane was added to Eau Rouge in ’94 and (thankfully) removed a year later with improved run-off areas. Slight alterations were made to Eau Rouge and Radillon in 2001, the Pits saw an improved entry in 2002 and in ‘04 the entry at the Bus Stop chicane was altered.

Shockingly, the circuit was dumped from the F1 calendar in 2006 due to further track improvements failing to materialise but thanks to increased funding in ’07, new Pit facilities were implemented as well as a revised final section enabling the F1 calendar to return.

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