The Belgian Grand Prix will not return to the Formula One calendar in 2004 after the Belgian parliament voted to implement a ban on tobacco advertising.

Spa-Francorchamps - widely regarded as the best circuit in F1 - was dropped from the 2003 calendar because of the ban but FIA bosses had hoped it might be reinstated for 2004.

Belgium will introduce the ban in August next year, three years ahead of a planned global ban agreed by the FIA from the end of 2006.

Five of the 10 Formula One teams entered in the 2003 championship have significant tobacco sponsorship, including champions Ferrari, McLaren and Renault.

The Belgian Senate's Social Affairs Commission had voted eight to seven in favour of postponing the ban but the legislation had to be passed by both houses to become law and it failed that hurdle on Tuesday night.

The bill was defeated with 77 votes against it and only 71 in favour with two abstentions.

The decision represents a major financial blow to the country's southern Wallonia region, where the race is held.

The four-day event is estimated to bring in about �16m (25m euros) a year for the local economy.

All the Belgian politicians have achieved is to damage the local Belgian economy and deprive F1 fans of a good circuit FIA chief Max Mosley

Last month, FIA president Mosley told BBC Sport Online: "The politicians have known about the problem for more than a year.

"They could have solved it easily for 2003 by moving the date of implementation by just four weeks - from 1 August to 1 September.

"The tobacco companies are paying for several teams to go racing.

"The Belgian politicians knew this. If they want the cars without tobacco sponsorship, they should at least offer to replace the tobacco money for the Belgian event.

"What the Belgian politicians have done will not reduce tobacco publicity, not even in Belgium, where everybody can go on seeing tobacco sponsorship on television from outside the country.

"All they have achieved is to damage the local Belgian economy and deprive Formula One fans of a good circuit."