The Belgian Grand Prix achieved a record attendance in 2017, aided by the presence of local drivers Max Verstappen and Stoffel Vandoorne.
Official figures issued by Formula 1 revealed that 265,000 people visited Spa-Francorchamps across the course of the four-day weekend, a rise of 11.6 per cent on 2016.
A large contingency of spectators travelled from the nearby Netherlands to support Verstappen, while home racer Vandoorne also had his own grandstand at the iconic venue.
“The record number of spectators that came to Spa-Francorchamps is very pleasing and shows that Formula 1 can really energise and grow audiences,” said F1 commercial chief Sean Bratches.
“It was also great to see the spectators’ enthusiasm for the initiatives in the Fan Zone: here in Belgium, mainly thanks to our collaboration with the Grand Prix organisers, the general public had even more to enjoy.
“As we have said right from the start of the season, we want to carry on down this path, as Formula 1 must get ever closer to the fans.
“Right from this week, we will be in Monza, another historic venue on the calendar and we will put even more effort into initiatives aimed at the fans, both at the track and off it.”
Formula 1 plans to hold several events, including a kart race on the start/finish line on Thursday – featuring five to-be-confirmed drivers and football stars.
There will also be a ‘Milano Drivers Parade’ on Thursday evening, which is set to start from the Castello Sforzesco and end at the Old Fashion Café.
Around a dozen drivers, including Kimi Räikkönen, Fernando Alonso and Valtteri Bottas, are set to be present, with Mille Miglia machinery also in action.
