The future of the historic Belgian grand prix at popular Spa-Francorchamps appears safe.
La Libre, a French-language Belgian newspaper, said the economics minister of the local Walloon region has authorised the extension of the race contract.
"There will therefore be a grand prix in 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018," minister Jean-Claude Marcourt is quoted as having said in parliament on Tuesday.
He revealed that additional investments into the fabled Spa circuit have not been requested by F1’s governing FIA as the facility is already up to scratch.
Marcourt did admit that the 2014 Belgian grand prix recorded a EUR 7 million deficit, partly because of the negotiations for the 2015 contract, but he also said the local and international impact of the race justifies the cost.