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Belgian Grand Prix facts for kids

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Belgian Grand Prix
Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps
(intermittently; 1925–1939, 1947–1970, 1983–present)
Spa-Francorchamps of Belgium.svg
Race information
Number of times held 80
First held 1925
Most wins (drivers) Germany Michael Schumacher (6)
Most wins (constructors) Italy Ferrari (18)
Circuit length 7.004 km (4.352 mi)
Race length 308.052 km (191.398 mi)
Laps 44
Last race (2024)
Pole position
Podium
Fastest lap

The Belgian Grand Prix is a famous Formula One car race. It's known by different names in other languages, like Grand Prix de Belgique in French.

The very first race in Belgium happened in 1925. It took place in the Spa area, which has a long history with motor sports. The Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps race track was built in 1921. At first, it was only used for motorcycle races. After a successful 24-hour race in France in 1923, a similar endurance race called the Spa 24 Hours was also held at the Spa track.

The Spa-Francorchamps track is famous for its unpredictable weather. It has often rained during the Belgian Grand Prix. Drivers might even find one part of the track dry and sunny, while another part is wet and slippery! This makes the race very exciting and challenging. It's one of the most popular races for both drivers and fans because of its beautiful and historic circuit.

A Look Back: History of the Race

Early Days at Spa-Francorchamps

Ascari-Ramponi-BelgianGP-1925
Antonio Ascari, winner of the first Belgian Grand Prix in 1925.

The first Belgian Grand Prix in 1925 was held at the very fast Spa-Francorchamps circuit. This track is in the Ardennes region of eastern Belgium. Italian driver Antonio Ascari won this first race. Sadly, he tragically died in his very next race. His son, Alberto Ascari, would later win the Belgian Grand Prix in 1952 and 1953.

The race didn't return until 1930. The track was changed a bit, and Louis Chiron won. In 1931, the race became more of an endurance event. In 1935, Rudolf Caracciola won in a Mercedes.

The 1939 race saw the creation of the famous Raidillon corner. This part of the track is very tricky. The small left turn at the bottom is called Eau Rouge, which leads into the long uphill right turn of Raidillon. The conditions were very bad that year. British driver Richard Seaman had a serious accident in the rain. His car caught fire, and he was badly injured, sadly passing away later in the hospital. His teammate, Hermann Lang, won the race. World War II then stopped the race for several years. It returned in June 1946 at a public park in Brussels called Bois de la Cambre.

The Old Spa-Francorchamps Track

After the war, the Spa track was made even faster. It became known as one of the most extreme and challenging circuits in motor racing history. In 1950, the Formula One World Championship began. Juan Manuel Fangio won the first F1 Belgian Grand Prix.

The 1957 race was cancelled because there wasn't enough money. In 1958, Spa got some upgrades. But it was still known as a very tough and unforgiving track. Drivers had to be extremely precise because there was little room for error. The weather was also very unpredictable. One part of the track could be dry, while another was soaking wet. Drivers didn't have radios back then, so they couldn't be warned about rain ahead. Many drivers were seriously injured or died at Spa during the 1950s.

The 1960 race weekend was one of the most difficult in Formula One history. New, lighter cars were being used, which were faster. But these cars and the track had almost no safety features. During practice, Stirling Moss crashed heavily and suffered serious injuries, including broken bones. Another driver, Mike Taylor, also crashed and suffered severe injuries that ended his racing career.

The race itself was even more tragic. On lap 17, British driver Chris Bristow crashed and tragically died instantly. Just five laps later, Alan Stacey also had a terrible accident and died. Australian Jack Brabham won the race. Future racing legend Jim Clark scored his first F1 points. However, many drivers, including Clark, developed a strong dislike for the circuit after these events. It was the worst Formula One race in terms of fatalities until the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix.

In 1961, Ferrari cars were very strong, winning the top four spots. Jim Clark won his first race in 1962 and went on to win the next three Belgian Grands Prix as well. The 1963 race was very wet, with Clark winning by a huge margin. In 1966, cars had more powerful engines. Another rain-soaked race saw many accidents. British driver Jackie Stewart had a very high-speed crash. His car landed upside down, and he was trapped inside for nearly 30 minutes. This crash inspired Stewart to become a strong advocate for safety in motor racing.

In 1967, American Dan Gurney won. In 1968, wings were used on F1 cars for the first time to help with aerodynamics. Bruce McLaren won his team's first-ever victory. But another serious accident occurred when Brian Redman crashed and was badly burned and injured.

By 1969, safety concerns at Spa became a major issue. The cars were going over 240 km/h (150 mph), but the track still had almost no safety barriers. Drivers were becoming less and less happy with the circuit. The Grand Prix Drivers' Association demanded safety improvements. When the track owners didn't want to pay, many teams refused to race, and the event was cancelled. One last race was held there in 1970 with some temporary safety changes, but the track was still considered too fast and dangerous. The Belgian Grand Prix was cancelled in 1971 and moved to other locations.

New Tracks: Zolder and Nivelles

After Spa was deemed too dangerous, Belgium decided to hold its Grand Prix at two different tracks: 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, won by Jackie Stewart. Nivelles hosted again in 1974, but it wasn't very popular, and the track soon stopped hosting F1 races.

Zolder hosted the Belgian Grand Prix nine more times. Famous drivers like Niki Lauda, Gunnar Nilsson, Mario Andretti, Jody Scheckter, and Didier Pironi all won races there.

The 1981 race at Zolder was very chaotic. There were problems with the track's narrow pitlane. During practice, a mechanic was accidentally run over and sadly died the next day. On race day, there was a drivers' strike due to the poor conditions. The race started late, and then another mechanic was hit on the starting grid. The race was eventually restarted and won by Carlos Reutemann.

In 1982, Canadian driver Gilles Villeneuve tragically died during practice at Zolder after a collision. John Watson won that race.

Back to Spa-Francorchamps

The Spa-Francorchamps track was shortened and redesigned in 1979 to make it safer. The new 7 km (4.3 mi) layout was an instant hit with drivers and fans. The first race on the new Spa circuit was won by Alain Prost.

The Belgian Grand Prix returned to Zolder one last time in 1984, with Michele Alboreto winning. After that, the race has been held at the improved Spa-Francorchamps circuit.

In 1985, the race was postponed because new asphalt on the track broke up in the hot weather. When it was finally held 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 Grand Prix victory at Spa. He would go on to win 91 races in his career! Damon Hill won in 1993 after a great battle.

In 1994, a temporary chicane (a series of tight turns) was added at Eau Rouge for safety reasons. This was after the tragic deaths of Ayrton Senna and Roland Ratzenberger at another race earlier that year. The chicane was removed in 1995, and Schumacher won that race and the next two. The 1998 race was held in terrible rain. It was stopped after a huge crash at the first corner involving many cars. After a restart, Michael Schumacher crashed into David Coulthard, leading to a heated argument. Only eight drivers finished the race, and Damon Hill won, giving the Jordan team their first F1 victory.

Michael Schumacher won his 52nd Grand Prix at Spa in 2001, breaking Alain Prost's record. Schumacher also won his seventh World Drivers' Championship title at Spa in 2004. The Belgian Grand Prix was not held in 2003 due to Belgium's tobacco advertising laws. It was also not on the calendar in 2006 because of track repairs. The race returned in 2007, with Kimi Räikkönen winning his third Belgian Grand Prix in a row.

In 2008, Lewis Hamilton won a very exciting race in the rain. However, he received a penalty after the race for cutting a corner, which dropped him to third place. This decision caused a lot of debate.

The 2021 race was very unusual. It became the shortest Formula One World Championship race ever. Only two laps were completed behind the safety car due to very bad weather before the race was stopped. Half points were awarded, which led to changes in how points are given for shortened races in the future. The 2022 race was won by Max Verstappen from 14th place, which is a very impressive achievement. The race's contract has been extended, and it is planned to be held in 2026, 2027, 2029, and 2031.

Race Winners

Drivers with Multiple Wins

Drivers in bold are currently competing in Formula One.

Michael Schumacher has won the Belgian Grand Prix six times, more than any other driver. Ayrton Senna and Lewis Hamilton have each won five times. Kimi Räikkönen and Jim Clark both have four wins.

Wins Driver Years won
6 Germany Michael Schumacher 1992, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2001, 2002
5 Brazil Ayrton Senna 1985, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991
United Kingdom Lewis Hamilton 2010, 2015, 2017, 2020, 2024
4 United Kingdom Jim Clark 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965
Finland Kimi Räikkönen 2004, 2005, 2007, 2009
3 Argentina Juan Manuel Fangio 1950, 1954, 1955
United Kingdom Damon Hill 1993, 1994, 1998
Germany Sebastian Vettel 2011, 2013, 2018
Netherlands Max Verstappen 2021, 2022, 2023
2 Italy Alberto Ascari 1952, 1953
Brazil Emerson Fittipaldi 1972, 1974
Austria Niki Lauda 1975, 1976
France Alain Prost 1983, 1987
Source:

Teams with Multiple Wins

Teams in bold are currently competing in Formula One. A pink background means the race was not part of the Formula One World Championship. A yellow background means the race was part of the pre-war European Championship.

Wins Constructor Years won
18 Italy Ferrari 1952, 1953, 1956, 1961, 1966, 1975, 1976, 1979, 1984, 1996, 1997, 2001, 2002, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2018, 2019
14 United Kingdom McLaren 1968, 1974, 1982, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1999, 2000, 2004, 2005, 2010, 2012
8 United Kingdom Lotus 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1972, 1977, 1978, 1985
Germany Mercedes 1935, 1939, 1955, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2020, 2024
6 Austria Red Bull 2011, 2013, 2014, 2021, 2022, 2023
4 Italy Alfa Romeo 1925, 1947, 1950, 1951
United Kingdom Williams 1981, 1986, 1993, 1994
3 France Bugatti 1930, 1931, 1934
2 Italy Maserati 1933, 1954
United Kingdom Benetton 1992, 1995
Sources:

Engine Manufacturers with Multiple Wins

Manufacturers in bold are currently competing in Formula One. A pink background means the race was not part of the Formula One World Championship. A yellow background means the race was part of the pre-war European Championship.

Wins Manufacturer Years won
18 Italy Ferrari 1952, 1953, 1956, 1961, 1966, 1975, 1976, 1979, 1984, 1996, 1997, 2001, 2002, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2018, 2019
14 Germany Mercedes ** 1935, 1939, 1955, 1999, 2000, 2004, 2005, 2010, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2020, 2024
10 United States Ford * 1968, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1977, 1978, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1992
8 France Renault 1983, 1985, 1993, 1994, 1995, 2011, 2013, 2014
6 Japan Honda 1986, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 2021
5 United Kingdom Climax 1960, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965
4 Italy Alfa Romeo 1925, 1947, 1950, 1951
3 France Bugatti 1930, 1931, 1934
2 Italy Maserati 1933, 1954
Sources:

* Built by Cosworth, funded by Ford

** Between 1999 and 2005 built by Ilmor, funded by Mercedes

Winners by Year

Circuit Spa
Spa-Francorchamps, as used in 2004 and 2005
Circuit Zolder-1973-1974
Zolder, used 1973
Circuit Zolder-1975-1985
Zolder, used 1975–1982 and 1984
Circuit Nivelles-Baulers
Nivelles, used in 1972 and 1974
Spa 1950
The 8.7-mile Spa-Francorchamps, used from 1946 to 1970
Spa-Francorchamps original layout (1922)
The 9-mile Spa-Francorchamps, used from 1925 to 1939
Belgian GP map
A map of all the venues that hosted the Belgian Grand Prix

A pink background means the race was not part of the Formula One World Championship. A yellow background means the race was part of the pre-war European Championship. A green background means the race was part of the pre-war World Manufacturers' Championship.

Year Driver Constructor Location Report
1925 Italy Antonio Ascari Alfa Romeo Spa-Francorchamps Report
1926

1929
Not held
1930 Monaco Louis Chiron Bugatti Spa-Francorchamps Report
1931 United Kingdom William Grover-Williams
Italy Caberto Conelli
Bugatti Spa-Francorchamps Report
1932 Not held
1933 Italy Tazio Nuvolari Maserati Spa-Francorchamps Report
1934 France René Dreyfus Bugatti Report
1935 Germany Rudolf Caracciola Mercedes Spa-Francorchamps Report
1936 Not held
1937 Germany Rudolf Hasse Auto Union Spa-Francorchamps Report
1938 Not held
1939 Germany Hermann Lang Mercedes Spa-Francorchamps Report
1940

1945
Not held due to World War II
1946 France Eugène Chaboud Delage Bois de la Cambre Report
1947 France Jean-Pierre Wimille Alfa Romeo Spa-Francorchamps Report
1948 Not held
1949 France Louis Rosier Talbot Spa-Francorchamps Report
1950 Argentina Juan Manuel Fangio Alfa Romeo Spa-Francorchamps Report
1951 Italy Giuseppe Farina Alfa Romeo Report
1952 Italy Alberto Ascari Ferrari Report
1953 Italy Alberto Ascari Ferrari Report
1954 Argentina Juan Manuel Fangio Maserati Report
1955 Argentina Juan Manuel Fangio Mercedes Report
1956 United Kingdom Peter Collins Ferrari Report
1957 Not held due to budgetary reasons following the Suez Crisis
1958 United Kingdom Tony Brooks Vanwall Spa-Francorchamps Report
1959 Not held
1960 Australia Jack Brabham Cooper-Climax Spa-Francorchamps Report
1961 United States Phil Hill Ferrari Report
1962 United Kingdom Jim Clark Lotus-Climax Report
1963 United Kingdom Jim Clark Lotus-Climax Report
1964 United Kingdom Jim Clark Lotus-Climax Report
1965 United Kingdom Jim Clark Lotus-Climax Report
1966 United Kingdom John Surtees Ferrari Report
1967 United States Dan Gurney Eagle-Weslake Report
1968 New Zealand Bruce McLaren McLaren-Ford Report
1969 Not held due to safety concerns
1970 Mexico Pedro Rodríguez BRM Spa-Francorchamps Report
1971 Not held due to safety concerns
1972 Brazil Emerson Fittipaldi Lotus-Ford Nivelles Report
1973 United Kingdom Jackie Stewart Tyrrell-Ford Zolder Report
1974 Brazil Emerson Fittipaldi McLaren-Ford Nivelles Report
1975 Austria Niki Lauda Ferrari Zolder Report
1976 Austria Niki Lauda Ferrari Report
1977 Sweden Gunnar Nilsson Lotus-Ford Report
1978 United States Mario Andretti Lotus-Ford Report
1979 South Africa Jody Scheckter Ferrari Report
1980 France Didier Pironi Ligier-Ford Report
1981 Argentina Carlos Reutemann Williams-Ford Report
1982 United Kingdom John Watson McLaren-Ford Report
1983 France Alain Prost Renault Spa-Francorchamps Report
1984 Italy Michele Alboreto Ferrari Zolder Report
1985 Brazil Ayrton Senna Lotus-Renault Spa-Francorchamps Report
1986 United Kingdom Nigel Mansell Williams-Honda Report
1987 France Alain Prost McLaren-TAG Report
1988 Brazil Ayrton Senna McLaren-Honda Report
1989 Brazil Ayrton Senna McLaren-Honda Report
1990 Brazil Ayrton Senna McLaren-Honda Report
1991 Brazil Ayrton Senna McLaren-Honda Report
1992 Germany Michael Schumacher Benetton-Ford Report
1993 United Kingdom Damon Hill Williams-Renault Report
1994 United Kingdom Damon Hill Williams-Renault Report
1995 Germany Michael Schumacher Benetton-Renault Report
1996 Germany Michael Schumacher Ferrari Report
1997 Germany Michael Schumacher Ferrari Report
1998 United Kingdom Damon Hill Jordan-Mugen-Honda Report
1999 United Kingdom David Coulthard McLaren-Mercedes Report
2000 Finland Mika Häkkinen McLaren-Mercedes Report
2001 Germany Michael Schumacher Ferrari Report
2002 Germany Michael Schumacher Ferrari Report
2003 Not held due to Belgium's tobacco advertising laws
2004 Finland Kimi Räikkönen McLaren-Mercedes Spa-Francorchamps Report
2005 Finland Kimi Räikkönen McLaren-Mercedes Report
2006 Not held due to circuit refurbishments
2007 Finland Kimi Räikkönen Ferrari Spa-Francorchamps Report
2008 Brazil Felipe Massa Ferrari Report
2009 Finland Kimi Räikkönen Ferrari Report
2010 United Kingdom Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes Report
2011 Germany Sebastian Vettel Red Bull Racing-Renault Report
2012 United Kingdom Jenson Button McLaren-Mercedes Report
2013 Germany Sebastian Vettel Red Bull Racing-Renault Report
2014 Australia Daniel Ricciardo Red Bull Racing-Renault Report
2015 United Kingdom Lewis Hamilton Mercedes Report
2016 Germany Nico Rosberg Mercedes Report
2017 United Kingdom Lewis Hamilton Mercedes Report
2018 Germany Sebastian Vettel Ferrari Report
2019 Monaco Charles Leclerc Ferrari Report
2020 United Kingdom Lewis Hamilton Mercedes Report
2021 Netherlands Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing-Honda Report
2022 Netherlands Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing-RBPT Report
2023 Netherlands Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing-Honda RBPT Report
2024 United Kingdom Lewis Hamilton Mercedes Report
Sources:

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Gran Premio de Bélgica para niños

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