The Belgian Grand Prix on the Spa-Francorchamps circuit holds a special place in the history of Formula 1.. This difficult route and the changing weather gave rise to races that we still remember today.
With the return of the Belgian Grand Prix this week, return to eight moments that have marked the history of this event.
1. 1991: The shattering arrival of Michael Schumacher
On August 25, 1991, a young German made his F1 debut in special circumstances. Michael Schumacher replaces Bertrand Gachot at Jordan at the foot, the latter being imprisoned. Schumacher never rolled at spa before.
To learn the circuit, he travels it by bike. The future champion will sign a qualification in seventh position, which surprises everyone, moreover in front of his teammate Andrea de Cesaris, however experienced. Its race stops in the first round because of a clutch problem, but the evil is done.
This performance attracts the eye of Flavio Briatore, boss of Benetton, who hires him for the next race. The start of a career that will change F1.
2. 1998: Chaos in the rain and confrontation with the paddock
The 1998 edition will remain in the Annals for its chaos. From the start in intense rain, David Coulthard causes a monster raidillon pitch which involves 13 cars. Immediate red flag.
After the new start, the drama continues. Michael Schumacher, in mind, catches up with Coulthard to double him. In the spray, the McLaren driver suddenly lifts the foot. Schumacher, who sees nothing in his Ferrari, strikes him hard and loses his right front wheel.
The German, out of him, goes directly to the McLaren garage to explain himself with Coulthard. Meanwhile, Damon Hill offers Jordan his first victory, ahead of Ralf Schumacher in the Williams. A historic victory for Jordan at the heart of chaos.
Schumacher will confront Coulthard after their collision
Michael Schumacher confronts David Coulthard after the two collide in Spa
Belgian GP – 1998#F1pic.twitter.com/K3RB4tvjwH
— F1 History (@TodayF1History) July 28, 2024
3. 2000: Häkkinen legendary surpassing
The Grand Prix 2000 delivers one of the most spectacular duels in modern history. Mika Häkkinen and Michael Schumacher are fighting for the victory. On the straight line of the Kemmel, they catch up Ricardo Zonta which rolls with a delay.
Schumacher shifts his Ferrari to the left to block the McLaren of Häkkinen. But the Finn does not give up. Instead of lifting his foot, he dives to the right, uses Zonta’s 002 bar as a screen and exceeds the two cars at once: Zonta by the right, Schumacher by the left. A surgical precision maneuver which opens the road to victory.
4. 2004: The seventh title of Schumacher
Spa-Francorchamps, Michael Schumacher’s favorite circuit, becomes the theater of his last coronation. In 2004, the German won his seventh world title there, a record which then seemed unbeatable.
Kimi Räikkönen, in the McLaren, wins the race but the second place of Schumacher is enough for the title, with another races on the program. The peak of unprecedented Ferrari-Schumacher domination, on the very circuit where it all started thirteen years earlier.
5. 2008: Hamilton wins then loses his victory
The 2008 edition offers a tense duel between Lewis Hamilton and Kimi Räikkönen in intermittent rain. In the last laps, Hamilton tries to exceed the Ferrari from the Finnish to braking the Chicane Bus Stop.
The Briton cuts the chicane after being pushed outwards by Räikkönen. It makes the position immediately and then redephats a few meters further. He will pass the line as a winner, but the commissioners judge that he has had an advantage by cutting the chicane. They sanction it with a 25 -second penalty. The McLaren pilot then fell back in third place, Felipe Massa, teammate of Räikkönen, inherits victory. This decision will be controversial and weighs heavy in the battle for the title that year.
6. 2009: the unexpected feat of Fisichella and Force India
The 2009 qualifications reserve a major surprise. Giancarlo Fisichella, driving an India force considered modest, signs a perfect turn to win pole position. A feat for the Indian team, never seen at the forefront.
In the race, Fisichella confirms with excellent second place. Force India scores her first points and climbs on her first podium. The proof that in SPA, the surprises remain possible.
7. 2019: The first of Leclerc in emotion
The 2019 Grand Prix marks the first victory of Charles Leclerc in F1, but in a particular context. The day before, Anthoine Hubert, close friend of the Monegasque and former rival in promotion formulas, died in an accident during the F2 race.
Starting in pole, the Ferrari pilot resists the pressure of the Mercedes of Lewis Hamilton in the last laps. On the radio after his victory, an immediate thought for his friend: “This one, she is for Anthoine”he says. A historic moment for his career but is full of great sadness.
8. 2022: Verstappen’s demonstration
The Grand Prix 2022 perfectly illustrates the Max Verstappen-Red Bull domination. Penalized on the grid for change of engine, the Dutchman starts from the 14th position.
From the first laps, Verstappen began an impressive rise. He doubles his opponents with disconcerting ease in the rapid portions of the circuit.
In the 12th round, he takes the lead by going beyond his teammate Sergio Pérez. He then flies towards a clear victory, demonstrating the superiority of his single -seater and his talent on a route which suits him perfectly.
For decades, Spa-Francorchamps has continued to reveal talents and create legends. This unique circuit has seen the birth of careers, fall from records and write the most beautiful pages of Formula 1. This weekend, history resumes its rights in Belgian Ardennes. What new moment will be engraved in memories? See you Sunday to discover it.
