Belgian Grand Prix

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Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps
Belgian Grand Prix
Circuit Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps
Laps 44
Circuit length km 6.98
Circuit length mi 4.33
Race length km 306.94
Race length mi 190.73
Current year 2007
Winner 22px-Flag of Finland.png Kimi Räikkönen
Winning team 3dflagsdotcom italy2bs.gif Scuderia Ferrari
Winning time 1:20:39.066
Pole driver 22px-Flag of Finland.png Kimi Räikkönen
Pole team 3dflagsdotcom italy2bs.gif Scuderia Ferrari
Pole time 1:45.994
Fastest lap driver 22px-Flag of Brazil.png Felipe Massa
Fastest lap team 3dflagsdotcom italy2bs.gif Scuderia Ferrari
Fastest lap 1:48.036


The Belgian Grand Prix is an automobile race, part of the Formula One World Championship.

The first national race of Belgium was held in 1925 at the Spa region's race course, an area of the country that had been associated with motor sport since the very early years of racing before the turn of the century. To accommodate Grand Prix motor racing, the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps race course was built in 1921 but it was only used for motorcycle racing until 1924. After the 1923 success of the new 24 hours of Le Mans in France, the SPA 24 Hours, a similar 24 hour endurance race, was run at the Spa track.

Drivers and fans alike love the Belgian Grand Prix. Since inception, Spa-Francorchamps has been famous for its unpredictable weather. At one stage in its history it had rained at the Belgian Grand Prix for twenty years in a row. Frequently drivers confront a part of the course that is clear and bright while another stretch is rainy and slippery. Most drivers today say that the Spa course is the most challenging race track in the world.

The first Belgian Grand Prix was won by Antonio Ascari whose son Alberto would win the race in 1952 and 1953. Unfortunately, after winning the Belgian race, Antonio Ascari would be killed in his next outing at the French Grand Prix. In 1939, the race claimed the life of British driver Richard "Dick" Seaman while leading the race. During the 1960 race Chris Bristow and Alan Stacy lost their lives in separate incidents, the latter in a freak occurrence when hit in the face by a bird.

In 1972 Spa was considered too dangerous for Formula 1 machinery. Following that decision, the Belgians decided to alternate their Grand Prix between Zolder and a characterless circuit at Nivelles near Brussels. The first race at Nivelles was won by Emerson Fittipaldi but although the track was safe, it inspired little enthusiasm when compared to the magnificent old Spa circuit. Zolder hosted the race the following year and it was won by Jackie Stewart. Formula One returned to Nivelles in 1974. Once again the race was won by Emerson Fittipaldi, but after that event the organizers were unable to sustain a Grand Prix at Nivelles and the track faded from the racing scene.

Afterwards, the race returned to Zolder. The Belgian Grand Prix would be held there a further nine times. Niki Lauda scored back-to-back victories at the track in 1975 and 1976 and in 1977 Gunnar Nilsson scored his only F1 victory at Zolder. The following year Mario Andretti won the race for Lotus. In 1979, Jody Scheckter won the race in his Ferrari. In 1980 Didier Pironi became a first time winner at the track in his Ligier. The 1981 meeting that was won by Carlos Reutemann was chaotic with a mechanic being killed in the pitlane, a drivers' strike and then a nasty startline accident. Zolder will always be remembered, however, as the place where Gilles Villeneuve died in 1982. John Watson won the race for McLaren, but a year later the rebuilt Spa circuit opened for racing and the Belgian Grand Prix returned there. The 1984 Belgian Grand Prix was the last race at Zolder with Michele Alboreto taking the win for Ferrari. In 1985, the race returned to Spa where it has remained ever since.

World Champion Michael Schumacher, who made his debut at Spa in 1991 and won his first F1 race there in 1992, won his 52nd Grand Prix at Spa in 2001, surpassing Alain Prost's all-time record of 51 wins. Schumacher also won his seventh World Drivers' Championship title at Spa in 2004. There was no Belgian Grand Prix in 2003 because of the country's tobacco advertising laws but it returned to the schedule again in 2004.

Another notable race was the 1998 Belgian Grand Prix which took place in torrential conditions. The race was originally stopped after a massive accident involving thirteen of the twenty-two runners at the first corner. The heavy rain caused low visibility, and Michael Schumacher ran into the back of David Coulthard, an event that angered Schumacher so much that he attempted to threateningly confront Coulthard in the McLaren garage. Only eight drivers were classified finishers (two of whom were five laps behind, one of whom was Coulthard) and Damon Hill secured a memorable victory ahead of team mate Ralf Schumacher to record the previously underperforming Jordan team's first Formula One win in its history, and a 1-2 to top it off.

In 2005, the minister of Economics, Jean-Claude Marcourt, proposed to change the name of the event to Grand Prix de Wallonie.

Winners of the Belgian Grand Prix

Repeat Winners

Only includes World Championship events

Number of wins Driver Years
6 22px-Flag of Germany.png Michael Schumacher* 1992, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2001, 2002
5 22px-Flag of Brazil.png Ayrton Senna 1985, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991
4 22px-Flag of the United Kingdom.png Jim Clark 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965
3 22px-Flag of Argentina.png Juan Manuel Fangio 1950, 1954, 1955
22px-Flag of the United Kingdom.png Damon Hill* 1993, 1994, 1998
22px-Flag of Finland.png Kimi Räikkönen 2004, 2005, 2007
2 3dflagsdotcom italy2bs.gif Alberto Ascari 1952, 1953
22px-Flag of Brazil.png Emerson Fittipaldi 1972, 1974
22px-Flag of Austria.png Niki Lauda 1975, 1976
22px-Flag of France.png Alain Prost 1983, 1987

* Michael Schumacher finished first in the 1994 Belgian Grand Prix, but was disqualified, giving the win to Damon Hill.

Year by year

A pink background indicates an event which was not part of the Formula One World Championship.

A cream background indicates an event which was part of the pre-war European Championship.

Year Driver Constructor Location Report
2007 22px-Flag of Finland.png Kimi Räikkönen Ferrari Spa-Francorchamps Report
2006 Not held
2005 22px-Flag of Finland.png Kimi Räikkönen McLaren-Mercedes Spa-Francorchamps Report
2004 22px-Flag of Finland.png Kimi Räikkönen McLaren-Mercedes Spa-Francorchamps Report
2003 Not held
2002 22px-Flag of Germany.png Michael Schumacher Ferrari Spa-Francorchamps Report
2001 22px-Flag of Germany.png Michael Schumacher Ferrari Spa-Francorchamps Report
2000 22px-Flag of Finland.png Mika Häkkinen McLaren-Mercedes Spa-Francorchamps Report
1999 22px-Flag of the United Kingdom.png David Coulthard McLaren-Mercedes Spa-Francorchamps Report
1998 22px-Flag of the United Kingdom.png Damon Hill Jordan-Mugen-Honda Spa-Francorchamps Report
1997 22px-Flag of Germany.png Michael Schumacher Ferrari Spa-Francorchamps Report
1996 22px-Flag of Germany.png Michael Schumacher Ferrari Spa-Francorchamps Report
1995 22px-Flag of Germany.png Michael Schumacher Benetton-Renault Spa-Francorchamps Report
1994 22px-Flag of the United Kingdom.png Damon Hill Williams-Renault Spa-Francorchamps Report
1993 22px-Flag of the United Kingdom.png Damon Hill Williams-Renault Spa-Francorchamps Report
1992 22px-Flag of Germany.png Michael Schumacher Benetton-Ford Spa-Francorchamps Report
1991 22px-Flag of Brazil.png Ayrton Senna McLaren-Honda Spa-Francorchamps Report
1990 22px-Flag of Brazil.png Ayrton Senna McLaren-Honda Spa-Francorchamps Report
1989 22px-Flag of Brazil.png Ayrton Senna McLaren-Honda Spa-Francorchamps Report
1988 22px-Flag of Brazil.png Ayrton Senna McLaren-Honda Spa-Francorchamps Report
1987 22px-Flag of France.png Alain Prost McLaren-TAG Spa-Francorchamps Report
1986 22px-Flag of the United Kingdom.png Nigel Mansell Williams-Honda Spa-Francorchamps Report
1985 22px-Flag of Brazil.png Ayrton Senna Lotus-Renault Spa-Francorchamps Report
1984 3dflagsdotcom italy2bs.gif Michele Alboreto Ferrari Zolder Report
1983 22px-Flag of France.png Alain Prost Renault Spa-Francorchamps Report
1982 22px-Flag of the United Kingdom.png John Watson McLaren-Ford Zolder Report
1981 22px-Flag of Argentina.png Carlos Reutemann Williams-Ford Zolder Report
1980 22px-Flag of France.png Didier Pironi Ligier-Ford Zolder Report
1979 22px-Flag of South Africa.png Jody Scheckter Ferrari Zolder Report
1978 22px-Flag of the United States.png Mario Andretti Lotus-Ford Zolder Report
1977 22px-Flag of Sweden.png Gunnar Nilsson Lotus-Ford Zolder Report
1976 22px-Flag of Austria.png Niki Lauda Ferrari Zolder Report
1975 22px-Flag of Austria.png Niki Lauda Ferrari Zolder Report
1974 22px-Flag of Brazil.png Emerson Fittipaldi McLaren-Ford Nivelles Report
1973 22px-Flag of the United Kingdom.png Jackie Stewart Tyrrell-Ford Zolder Report
1972 22px-Flag of Brazil.png Emerson Fittipaldi Lotus-Ford Nivelles Report
1971 Not held
1970 22px-Flag of Mexico.png Pedro Rodríguez BRM Spa-Francorchamps Report
1969 Not held
1968 22px-Flag of New Zealand.png Bruce McLaren McLaren-Ford Spa-Francorchamps Report
1967 22px-Flag of the United States.png Dan Gurney Eagle-Weslake Spa-Francorchamps Report
1966 22px-Flag of the United Kingdom.png John Surtees Ferrari Spa-Francorchamps Report
1965 22px-Flag of the United Kingdom.png Jim Clark Lotus-Climax Spa-Francorchamps Report
1964 22px-Flag of the United Kingdom.png Jim Clark Lotus-Climax Spa-Francorchamps Report
1963 22px-Flag of the United Kingdom.png Jim Clark Lotus-Climax Spa-Francorchamps Report
1962 22px-Flag of the United Kingdom.png Jim Clark Lotus-Climax Spa-Francorchamps Report
1961 22px-Flag of the United States.png Phil Hill Ferrari Spa-Francorchamps Report
1960 22px-Flag of Australia.png Jack Brabham Cooper-Climax Spa-Francorchamps Report
1959 Not held
1958 22px-Flag of the United Kingdom.png Tony Brooks Vanwall Spa-Francorchamps Report
1957 Not held
1956 22px-Flag of the United Kingdom.png Peter Collins Lancia-Ferrari Spa-Francorchamps Report
1955 22px-Flag of Argentina.png Juan Manuel Fangio Mercedes-Benz Spa-Francorchamps Report
1954 22px-Flag of Argentina.png Juan Manuel Fangio Maserati Spa-Francorchamps Report
1953 3dflagsdotcom italy2bs.gif Alberto Ascari Ferrari Spa-Francorchamps Report
1952 3dflagsdotcom italy2bs.gif Alberto Ascari Ferrari Spa-Francorchamps Report
1951 3dflagsdotcom italy2bs.gif Giuseppe Farina Alfa Romeo Spa-Francorchamps Report
1950 22px-Flag of Argentina.png Juan Manuel Fangio Alfa Romeo Spa-Francorchamps Report
1949 22px-Flag of France.png Louis Rosier Talbot Spa-Francorchamps Report
1948 Not held
1947 22px-Flag of France.png Jean-Pierre Wimille Alfa Romeo Spa-Francorchamps Report
1946 22px-Flag of France.png Eugène Chaboud Delage Spa-Francorchamps Report
1945
-
1940
Not held
1939 22px-Flag of Germany.png Hermann Lang Mercedes-Benz Spa-Francorchamps Report
1938 Not held
1937 22px-Flag of Germany.png Rudolf Hasse Auto Union Spa-Francorchamps Report
1936 Not held
1935 22px-Flag of Germany.png Rudolf Caracciola Mercedes-Benz Spa-Francorchamps Report
1934 22px-Flag of France.png René Dreyfus Bugatti Spa-Francorchamps Report
1933 3dflagsdotcom italy2bs.gif Tazio Nuvolari Maserati Spa-Francorchamps Report
1932 Not held
1931 22px-Flag of the United Kingdom.png William Grover-Williams
3dflagsdotcom italy2bs.gif Caberto Conelli
Bugatti Spa-Francorchamps Report
1930 22px-Flag of Monaco.png Louis Chiron Bugatti Spa-Francorchamps Report
1929
-
1926
Not held
1925 3dflagsdotcom italy2bs.gif Antonio Ascari Alfa Romeo Spa-Francorchamps Report


Races in the Formula One championship:
2007 championship Grand Prix events:

Australian | Malaysian | Bahrain | Spanish | Monaco | Canadian | U.S. | French | British
German | European| Hungarian | Turkish | Italian | Belgian | Japanese | Chinese | Brazilian

Past championship Grand Prix events:

Argentine | Austrian | Dutch | Indy 500 | Las Vegas | Luxembourg | Mexican | Morocco
Pacific | Pescara | Portuguese | San Marino | South African | Swedish | Swiss | USA East | USA West

Confirmed future Grand Prix events:

Abu Dhabi | Korean | European | Singapore