Belgian Grand Prix facts for kids
| Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps (intermittently; 1925–1939, 1947–1970, 1983–present) |
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| Race information | |
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| Number of times held | 79 |
| First held | 1925 |
| Most wins (drivers) |  Michael Schumacher (6) |
| Most wins (constructors) |  Ferrari (18) |
| Circuit length | 7.004 km (4.352 mi) |
| Race length | 308.052 km (191.398 mi) |
| Laps | 44 |
| Last race (2023) | |
| Pole position | |
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| Podium | |
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| Fastest lap | |
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The Belgian Grand Prix is a super exciting car race that's part of the Formula One World Championship. It's held in Belgium and is one of the most famous races on the Formula One calendar.
The first big race in Belgium happened way back in 1925. It took place near Spa, a place known for motor sports for a long time. The famous Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps track was built in 1921. At first, it was only for motorcycle races. But after a successful 24-hour race in France, a similar endurance race called the Spa 24 Hours was also held at Spa.
One cool thing about Spa-Francorchamps is its unpredictable weather. It's known for sudden rain! Sometimes, one part of the track can be sunny and dry, while another part is wet and slippery. This makes the race even more challenging for drivers.
The Belgian Grand Prix has been called the European Grand Prix six times in the past. This was an honorary title given to one special race in Europe each year. Drivers and fans love this race because the Spa-Francorchamps circuit is beautiful and has a lot of history.
Contents
History of the Belgian Grand Prix
Early Days at Spa-Francorchamps (Before WWII)
The very first Belgian Grand Prix in 1925 was held at the super-fast, 9-mile (about 14.5 km) Spa-Francorchamps circuit. This track is in the Ardennes region of eastern Belgium. An Italian driver named Antonio Ascari won this first race. His son, Alberto, would later win the race in 1952 and 1953. Sadly, Antonio Ascari passed away in his very next race.
The Grand Prix didn't return until 1930. The track had been changed a bit, making it even faster. Louis Chiron won in 1930, and in 1931, it became more of an endurance race. In 1939, a famous part of the track was born: the Raidillon corner. This is a very long, uphill right turn that follows the small left kink called Eau Rouge. The 1939 race was tough due to bad weather, and British driver Richard "Dick" Seaman had an accident while leading. His teammate, Hermann Lang, won the race.
World War II then stopped the race for a while. It returned in June 1946, but at a different location: the Bois de la Cambre public park in Brussels. Frenchman Eugène Chaboud won that race.
The Old Spa-Francorchamps Circuit
After the war, the Spa track was made even faster, shortened to about 8.7 miles (14.1 km). Most of the slow corners were removed, making it one of the most extreme and challenging tracks ever.
In 1950, the Formula One World Championship began. The race was dominated by Alfa Romeo cars, with Juan Manuel Fangio winning. The next year, Nino Farina won for Alfa. In 1953, Alberto Ascari showed his skill in a Ferrari. The 1955 race saw Mercedes cars take the lead, with Fangio winning again.
The 1957 race was cancelled because there wasn't enough money, partly due to high fuel prices. In 1958, Spa got some upgrades, like a new track surface. However, Spa was known as a very tough and dangerous circuit. Many drivers were scared of it, so fewer cars often entered the race. The track was long and almost all fast corners and straights. Every turn had to be perfect to keep speed. Plus, the weather was always a surprise; it could be dry in one part of the track and raining in another, with no way for drivers to know ahead of time!
The 1960 race weekend was a very sad time for Formula One. New, lighter, and faster cars had just been introduced. These cars were great, but they had almost no safety features. During practice, Stirling Moss had a serious accident and was badly hurt. Another driver, Mike Taylor, also crashed and suffered serious injuries, ending his career.
The race itself was even worse. Two British drivers, Chris Bristow and Alan Stacey, passed away in separate accidents. Bristow was a young, daring driver who had never raced at Spa before. Stacey was hit by a bird, lost control, and crashed. Despite these tragedies, Australian Jack Brabham won the race. This event led to many changes in safety for Formula One in the future.
In 1961, Ferrari cars were very powerful, and they finished in the top four spots, with Phil Hill winning. Jim Clark won his first race in 1962 and then won the next three Belgian Grands Prix in a row! The 1966 race was very wet, and many cars crashed. British driver Jackie Stewart had a very bad accident, getting stuck in his car for a long time. This crash made Stewart a huge supporter of improving safety at racetracks.
In 1968, new aerodynamic wings were used on Formula One cars for the first time, making them even faster. Bruce McLaren won his team's first victory. However, another serious accident happened when Brian Redman crashed and was badly injured.
By 1969, drivers were very worried about safety at Spa. The cars were going over 150 mph (240 km/h), but the track still had almost no safety barriers. Drivers, led by Jackie Stewart, demanded improvements. When the track owners didn't want to pay, many teams refused to race, and the Grand Prix was cancelled. One last race was held there in 1970 with some temporary safety changes, but it was still too dangerous. So, the Belgian Grand Prix was cancelled again in 1971 and moved to other tracks.
New Tracks: Zolder and Nivelles
After Spa was deemed too dangerous, Belgium decided to hold its Grand Prix at two different circuits: Zolder in northern Belgium and Nivelles-Baulers near Brussels.
The first race at Nivelles in 1972 was won by Emerson Fittipaldi. Zolder hosted the race in 1973, and Jackie Stewart won. Formula One returned to Nivelles in 1974, and Fittipaldi won again. But the Nivelles track wasn't very popular, and it stopped hosting Grand Prix races after that.
Zolder then hosted the Belgian Grand Prix nine more times. Famous drivers like Niki Lauda and Mario Andretti won there. In 1981, the race at Zolder was very chaotic. There were problems with the track and a scary accident involving a mechanic on the starting grid. Luckily, the mechanic survived.
Sadly, in 1982, the legendary driver Gilles Villeneuve passed away during practice at Zolder after a collision.
Return to Spa-Francorchamps
In 1979, the Spa-Francorchamps track was shortened to 4.3 miles (7 km). Parts of the old track that went through towns were removed and replaced with new corners. The first race on the shortened Spa circuit in 1983 was won by Frenchman Alain Prost. Drivers, teams, and fans immediately loved the new layout.
The Belgian Grand Prix returned to Zolder one last time in 1984, with Michele Alboreto winning for Ferrari. After that, the race stayed at the improved Spa-Francorchamps.
In 1985, the race was delayed because a new track surface broke up in the heat. When it finally happened in September, Ayrton Senna won his first of five Belgian Grands Prix. Senna went on to win four Belgian Grands Prix in a row from 1988 to 1991!
In 1992, Michael Schumacher won his very first Formula One race at Spa, just a year after making his debut there. He would go on to win many more races at this track.
In 1994, a temporary chicane (a set of tight turns) was added at the bottom of Eau Rouge to slow cars down and improve safety. This was done after some very serious accidents at another track that year. The chicane was removed in 1995, and Schumacher won that race and the next two.
The 1998 race was incredibly wet. It had to be stopped and restarted after a huge crash involving many cars at the first corner. Later, Michael Schumacher crashed into David Coulthard due to poor visibility. Only eight cars finished the race, and Damon Hill won, giving the Jordan team its first Formula One victory.
Michael Schumacher continued his success at Spa, winning his 52nd Grand Prix there in 2001, breaking Alain Prost's record. He also won his seventh World Drivers' Championship title at Spa in 2004. The race wasn't held in 2003 due to advertising laws and in 2006 because of track repairs. But it returned in 2007, with Kimi Räikkönen winning.
In 2008, Lewis Hamilton won a very exciting race in the rain, but he later received a penalty that dropped him to third place. This decision caused a lot of discussion.
The Belgian Grand Prix remains a popular race and its contract has been extended until the 2025 season. The 2021 Belgian Grand Prix was notable for being the shortest Formula One race ever. Due to terrible weather, only two laps were completed behind the safety car, and half points were awarded. This led to new rules for how points are given in shortened races. The 2022 Belgian Grand Prix was won by Max Verstappen from 14th place, showing how exciting the race can be!
Winners of the Belgian Grand Prix
Drivers with Multiple Wins
Drivers in bold are currently racing in Formula One.
Michael Schumacher has won the Belgian Grand Prix six times, which is more than anyone else! Ayrton Senna won five times, including four in a row. Kimi Räikkönen, Lewis Hamilton, and Jim Clark have each won four times.
| Wins | Driver | Years won |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | Michael Schumacher |
1992, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2001, 2002 |
| 5 |  Ayrton Senna |
1985, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991 |
| 4 |  Jim Clark |
1962, 1963, 1964, 1965 |
 Kimi Räikkönen |
2004, 2005, 2007, 2009 | |
| Lewis Hamilton |
2010, 2015, 2017, 2020 | |
| 3 |  Juan Manuel Fangio |
1950, 1954, 1955 |
| Damon Hill |
1993, 1994, 1998 | |
| Sebastian Vettel |
2011, 2013, 2018 | |
 Max Verstappen |
2021, 2022, 2023 | |
| 2 | Alberto Ascari |
1952, 1953 |
| Emerson Fittipaldi |
1972, 1974 | |
 Niki Lauda |
1975, 1976 | |
 Alain Prost |
1983, 1987 | |
| Source: | ||
Winning Teams (Constructors)
Teams in bold are competing in the Formula One championship in the current season. A pink background means the race wasn't part of the Formula One World Championship. A yellow background means the race was part of the pre-World War II European Championship.
| Wins | Constructor | Years won |
|---|---|---|
| 18 | Ferrari |
1952, 1953, 1956, 1961, 1966, 1975, 1976, 1979, 1984, 1996, 1997, 2001, 2002, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2018, 2019 |
| 14 | McLaren |
1968, 1974, 1982, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1999, 2000, 2004, 2005, 2010, 2012 |
| 8 | Lotus |
1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1972, 1977, 1978, 1985 |
| 7 | Mercedes |
1935, 1939, 1955, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2020 |
| 6 | Red Bull |
2011, 2013, 2014, 2021, 2022, 2023 |
| 4 | Alfa Romeo |
1925, 1947, 1950, 1951 |
| Williams |
1981, 1986, 1993, 1994 | |
| 3 |  Bugatti |
1930, 1931, 1934 |
| 2 | Maserati |
1933, 1954 |
| Benetton |
1992, 1995 | |
| Sources: | ||
Winning Engine Manufacturers
Manufacturers in bold are competing in the Formula One championship in the current season. A pink background means the race wasn't part of the Formula One World Championship. A yellow background means the race was part of the pre-World War II European Championship.
| Wins | Manufacturer | Years won |
|---|---|---|
| 18 | Ferrari |
1952, 1953, 1956, 1961, 1966, 1975, 1976, 1979, 1984, 1996, 1997, 2001, 2002, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2018, 2019 |
| 13 | Mercedes ** |
1935, 1939, 1955, 1999, 2000, 2004, 2005, 2010, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2020 |
| 10 |  Ford * |
1968, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1977, 1978, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1992 |
| 8 | Renault |
1983, 1985, 1993, 1994, 1995, 2011, 2013, 2014 |
| 6 |  Honda |
1986, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 2021 |
| 5 | Climax |
1960, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965 |
| 4 | Alfa Romeo |
1925, 1947, 1950, 1951 |
| 3 | Bugatti |
1930, 1931, 1934 |
| 2 | Maserati |
1933, 1954 |
| Sources: | ||
* Built by Cosworth, funded by Ford
** Between 1999 and 2005 built by Ilmor, funded by Mercedes
Winners by Year
A pink background means the race wasn't part of the Formula One World Championship. A yellow background means the race was part of the pre-World War II European Championship. A green background means the race was part of the pre-war World Manufacturers' Championship.
Images for kids
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Spa-Francorchamps, as used in 2004 and 2005
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Zolder, used 1973
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Zolder, used 1975–1982 and 1984
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Nivelles, used in 1972 and 1974
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The 8.7-mile Spa-Francorchamps, used from 1946 to 1970
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The 9-mile Spa-Francorchamps, used from 1925 to 1939
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A map of all the venues that hosted the Belgian Grand Prix
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See also
In Spanish: Gran Premio de Bélgica para niños
