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F1 Explained: How the Spa-Francorchamps Corners Got Their Names

Spa-Francorchamps. One of the most revered racing circuits in the world.

Fast, flowing, and full of adrenaline, there is so much to love about the 7km-layout in the heart of the Ardennes Forest.

Time for a history lesson on one of F1's most-visited circuits, as we explain how the Spa corners got their names.

Turn 1 - La Source

The first corner on the circuit is also the slowest. The hairpin gets its name from the multiple water sources in the region.

Famous F1 Moment: One of the shortest approaches to the first corner off the line on the calendar, La Source sees cars concertina in the braking zone on the opening lap. In 2018, Fernando Alonso found himself airborne over the top of Charles Leclerc's Sauber. In 1998, the field bunching up led to one of the biggest first-lap crashes in F1 history, with much of the field involved.

Turn 2, 3, and 4 - Le Raidillon de l'Eau Rouge

Raidillon in French means 'steep path'. Eau Rouge means 'red water'.

The famous left, right, left section of track reaches a maximum gradient of 15% and is one of the most famous in the world. Eau Rouge itself is a 15 kilometre-long stream which runs through the region and passes beneath the track at the bottom of the hill. The reddish colouring of the water comes from the increased presence of iron oxide on the stones of the riverbed.

F1 Moment: The sight of F1 cars heading through this section is something to behold. But it is rare that cars can overtake when changing direction blindly at such speed. Mark Webber made that happen in 2011, launching around the outside of Fernando Alonso's Ferrari.

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Turn 5 and 6 - Les Combes

The chicane sequence at the top of the hill at the end of the Kemmel Straight takes its name from the meaning of a small gorge or ravine, potentially alluding to the fact the track heads downwards into the valley for the remainder of the lap.

Les Combes is also the name of a hamlet close by to the circuit.

F1 Moment: Mika Hakkinen produced one of the most stunning overtakes of the 21st Century in 2000, when he passed Michael Schumacher's Ferrari for the lead of the Belgian Grand Prix on the run up to Les Combes. Hakkinen used Ricardo Zonta's BAR - which the pair were coming up to lap - to full effect and passed both backmarker and Schumacher in one move.

Turn 7 - Malmedy

The right turn that takes the drivers further into the heart of the Ardennes takes its names from the nearby City of Malmedy. Home nowadays to just 12,000 people, the city is full of protected heritage sites, dating back centuries.

Turn 8 - Bruxelles/Rivage

Similar to Malmedy, Rivage gets its name from a village that sits nearby to the corner itself. To the driver, the long right-hander feels like it goes on forever and can be particularly treacherous to negotiate in the wet.

In recent years, the corner has adopted the name Brussels, after Belgium's capital.

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Turn 9 - Speakers Corner

Many history books will tell you this left-hander does not have an official name, but digging deeper will reveal that Turn 9 is often referred to as Speakers Corner.

This name comes from the fact the turn passes by the speaker tower which broadcasts the race.

F1 Moment: It was just after Speakers Corner in 1998 that David Coulthard famously slowed to allow Michael Schumacher past to lap him in wet conditions. The German's Ferrari was unsighted through the spray and ended up crashing into the back of the McLaren, taking them both out of the race.

Turn 10 and 11 - Pouhon

Sticking to the Spa and water theme, the exhilarating double left of Pouhon takes its name from a naturally sparking ferruginous mineral that appears in the region and gives Spa its name. The word 'Pouhon' means 'the place where water is drawn from' in French.

Famous F1 moment: Not a moment, but make sure you check out an onboard of W11 from the 2020 Belgian Grand Prix, and admire the speed at which Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas were able to attack one of the fastest sections of the track with such ease and precision.

Turn 12 and 13 - Fagnes

Another quickfire sequence of bends, the right and left at Fagnes take their name from the 'Fen' natural reserve in the neighbouring Ardennes Forest.

If you are really looking to impress the locals, be sure to refer to the corners as Piff Paff - a slang term for a quick change of direction.

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Turn 14 and 15 - Campus/Stavelot and Curve Paul Frere

Two more long right-handers that take the drivers back towards the final frantic section of the lap.

Campus is named after the Campus Automobile University, located close to the corner. It was previously named after the nearby town of Stavelot.

Paul Frere was a famous Belgian journalist and motor racing driver, who competed in 11 Formula One Grands Prix between 1952 and 1956, scoring one podium. His crowning career achievement came in 1960 when he won the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Turn 16 and 17 - Blanchimont

Another set of corners synonymous with speed and adrenaline at Spa-Francorchamps, Blanchimont takes its name from the slightly calmer-sounding surroundings of a farm that sits adjacent to the track.

Turn 18 and 19 - Bus Stop

Named after the bus stop that stood on the previous layout of the track. Before being redesigned for the 2007 Grand Prix, the final section of track at Spa was public road on non-race weekends.

F1 Moment: A tricky corner to get right in the dry, the final chicane can become even more problematic in the wet. Sebastian Vettel and Jenson Button collided in the rain in 2010, and Lewis Hamilton and Kimi Raikkonen also almost came together at the corner two years earlier, as a late-race shower provided a dramatic finish to the Grand Prix.

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