MSI’s Trip to the “Spa” - Our Weekend at Formula 1
There are race tracks, and then there is Spa-Francorchamps. Nestled in the middle of the rolling Belgian Ardennes is a track like you’ve never seen before. You wind through quiet villages, dense woodland, and narrow country roads before finally arriving at one of motorsport’s most iconic tracks.
A year ago, I mentioned to the MSI Team that I’d be attending the Formula 1 race in Belgium. It would have been my second time attending, only this time we were camping. Mary Leigh was intrigued by the idea, and we jokingly said it would be a fun time if she could join us next year.
One thing about Mary Leigh is her determination and yearning for travel. Fast forward to now, what started as a silly idea shifted to a manifestation for a fantastic weekend. Michael and Tracy got wind of the discussion and hopped on board, and then Josh wanted to participate too. At this point, we had the whole Enders family planning a trip to Europe in the summer of 2026 with the race sprinkled in it.
Given the fact that I had attended the race twice before, I was able to provide insight on what to expect, such as the journey to get in, the weather, the atmosphere, and more. One thing people cease to understand unless experiencing themselves is the dramatic elevation changes, which are gorgeous and breathtaking (quite literally). The walk into the venue itself feels like venturing through a national park. It was a joke amongst us that this was just a ‘hike with racecars’. It’s almost surreal that a 7km track exists in such a dreamy, yet unexpected, location.
Another aspect of the race is the unpredictable changes in weather. I warned the crew that rain is to be expected. In my previous two experiences, we had torrential downpour one day, followed by blistering hot the next. The weather does make for interesting race results however. We somehow got lucky this year and had zero rain during our time this year, which is unheard of, and might even be something for the history books.
One of the best parts about the race is the amount, and variety, of people who attend. This year broke a Spa attendance record, with over 400,000 people showing up. Given the layout of the venue, it’s hard to fathom that many people in one place. The fans all share a common passion, making conversations between strangers flow effortlessly.
We certainly got the full Spa experience on this trip. Friday, which was a practice day, was spent in the Fan Zone area, where the food and drinks are almost neverending. There are various demonstrations happening on and off the track. While the trek to the Fan Zone was treacherous, it was worth it. After the hike to our spot, with the perfect view of Eau Rouge and Raidillon sequence, we sat, we ate, we drank, we laughed. It was a wonderful time.
We made our way back to our rental, suited for all 14 of us, and had a lovely “German” dinner, complete with bratwurst, brotchen (rolls), and plenty of mustard. We settled in, and got ready for the next day: Qualifying. One aspect of a “Formula 1 weekend” that many may not be aware of, is the fact that events go on from sun up, to sun down. This time of year, the sun doesn’t even set until well after 10pm, making the days long and the sleeps short.
We made our way to the track Saturday, navigating our way around the masses of people, which were far more than the day prior. My husband Brandon and I had attended this race in previous years, and warned everyone, yet again, of what to expect as far as the density of people was concerned. Once you’re in the premises of the track, it’s busy, but doesn’t feel like 400,000 people “busy”. The traffic is horrendous, no matter the time of day. But once you’re in, smelling the fumes, hearing the roars of the cars, you forget about all of it. During Qualifying, we managed to snag a spot in the foliage, right by the straight after the Eau Rouge and Raidillon sequence. The cars had to have been going at least 300km by us, which was just riveting. It was a much more comfortable setting being in the shade than the day prior, but even still, we weren’t fully satisfied.
After qualifying, we all ventured back to the house, excited about the next day, but almost more excited for the dinner Tracy had made us. She stayed home while we were away, making an incredible Southern meal with chicken tenders as the star of the show (using her specially seasoned flour she smuggled in her suitcase). After a lovely dinner of laughter, fellowship, and a few beverages, we all headed to bed.
Then it was Sunday– the day we were all waiting for. THE GRAND PRIX. And boy was it grand. Fortunately, the Enders’ Family friend/exchange student who had been a part of our group, Hans, in true European fashion, along with his father, left the house before the rest of us were awake, with a sole mission to find the best possible spot for the race. They secured a place well before most of us had our eyes open yet, which we were thankful for. What we didn’t realize was that the whole time, our house was walking distance to the track. Oops. Still, with very steep hills, but a lesson learned for sure. We all gathered our chairs, our tickets, and left our cars behind (which was a wonderful feeling since traffic was even WORSE on Sunday, as expected) and made our way. We entered from a back gate, surrounded by various cars and trailers playing music so loud you could feel it in your chest. It was electric. This side of the track was also close to the iconic ferris wheel, which my kids were very pleased with. While there were loads of people, it didn’t feel as crowded where we were, which was a nice change of pace for something so exciting.
The moments leading up to the race starting were, in the best way, insanity. It started with showcases of vintage cars and Porsche demonstrations, followed by the driver’s parade, where all of the drivers were on the back of a truck making its way around the circuit. After the starting events, it got much quieter, almost instantly. Despite our viewing point being so far from the starting grid, you could feel the energy of everyone around. The race was about to begin! It starts with a formation lap, which is exciting in itself, as the drivers slowly, but erratically warm up their tires prior to their precision performance to follow. As drivers made their way around our loop, also known as Malmedy, everyone cheered. One of the best parts of Formula 1 is that there are no defined teams. Sure, everyone has their preferences and wears their gear, but at the end of the day, the love is for the sport itself. One can support a team, but also love a driver from another team– something that differs in American sports. After the warm up lap, it was “lights out and away they go”! You could hear the roars of the engines from kilometers away, echoing through the hills. I swear the engines sounded different when it was time for the actual race. As the drivers made their way to us, everyone was cheering as if it was their first time seeing something so thrilling. For many of our group, it actually was their first race. Specifically, the Enders Family had never been to one before, making this a memory to last a lifetime.
Spa, having one of the longest tracks, ensures you get your money’s worth for the experience. As the race was coming to an end, it was clear that Kimi Antonelli, the 20 year old with Mercedes would take the podium. More excitingly for Mary Leigh, she was able to witness her favorite driver, Charles Leclerc come in 2nd, his first time doing so this season. One of the most exciting parts at the conclusion of the race is when all the fans run to the track, hop the barriers and fill the circuit as if it was a block party. There are pieces of rubber from the tires you can grab as a souvenir directly from the source, and a different type of energy you hadn't experienced thus far. Some people walk the entire length of the track after the race, as a final gesture to the close of such a fantastic weekend.
Overall, the experience was more than what this blog can express. It was a time full of constant smiles and laughter, challenging terrain, and the love of motorsports. Watching Formula 1 in real time is nothing like the television can illustrate. You only get a glimpse from the screen, when being there is almost an out of body experience. Our group has already had discussions about attending a race next year, but this time perhaps on a different circuit. Maybe Silverstone in the U.K. or the Red Bull Ring in Austria... At this point, we don’t know, but what we do know is that it will be happening again. If you have the opportunity to attend a race of this nature, we aren’t encouraging you to attend; we are DEMANDING you to.
Enjoy more of our photos below. A GRAND time was had!
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