Grand Prix Belgium

Formula 1 Belgium

The first Belgian Formula 1 race was held on June 18, 1950. This was the fifth race in the championship at that time. The winner was Juan Manuel Fangio in an Alfa Romeo 158. After 492.8 km, he was 14 seconds faster than Luigi Fagioli. In 1954 and 1955, Fangio was the winner of the Grand Prix of Belgium.

Until 1970, the Grand Prix were driven on a circuit with a length of 14.08 km, mainly on public roads. The current circuit has been shortened to 6.9 km and is still the longest circuit on the Formula 1 calendar. The location of the circuit is in the Ardennes, therefore there is quite a lot of altitude on the circuit. The weathercondtions can play a big part in the raceresults.

Unique in 1983 was that the start and finish line were 660 meters apart. The reason for this was that the finish line eas to close to the La Source corner and therefore the drivers had to use the gas, clutch and brakes at the same time. In 1985, the start/finish line was replaced. Besides Spa Francorchamps the circuits of Nivelles and Zolder hosted the Grand Prix of Belgium.

The formula 1 drivers think of the circuit of Spa Franchorchamps as the most challenging track of the formula 1 calendar.