F1 returns to the iconic Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps for the 2025 Belgian Grand Prix.
Spa-Francorchamps has been on the F1 calendar since 1925, and is one of the most dynamic, fast and dangerous circuits in the world. Year-after-year the Belgian Grand Prix produces drama.
Some of the greatest moments of the sport’s history have happened at Spa, and here we look at three of the most memorable, including one of the biggest pile-ups in F1 history.
‘Here comes Sebastian Vettel!’ – Sebastian Vettel’s opening lap overtake on Lewis Hamilton
One of the most memorable moments from Lewis Hamilton’s title fight with Sebastian Vettel in 2018.
Hamilton had a 24-point lead over Vettel going into Spa and qualified on pole ahead of his rival in second. A win would extend the gap at the top for Hamilton at a circuit where the lightning-fast Ferrari should have been quickest. It was crucial that Vettel got past.
The cars got away evenly, with Hamilton ahead at turn one. He led the pack up the legendary Eau Rouge corner, but there was bedlam behind. Fernando Alonso’s McLaren flew over the top of Charles Leclerc’s Alfa Romeo leaving a pile of cars on the exit of turn one.
Nevertheless, Hamilton led Vettel onto the long Kemmel Straight. Vettel ducked out of the slipstream of his opponent and came steaming past down the outside. As the pack reached the end of the straight the top four were side-by-side. But Vettel was last on the brakes and took the lead.
Vettel saw out the race win from there and narrowed the gap at the top of the Drivers’ standings.
Michael Schumacher storms McLaren garage after crashing out of the lead
Michael Schumacher, one of F1’s all-time greats, crashed out of the lead after hitting the back of backmarker David Coulthard, leading to him storming the McLaren garage in the pitlane.
A lap one pile up saw Schumacher comfortably in the lead in the pouring rain at Spa. Leading by 30 seconds, the German met Coulthard on lap 25 and attempted to lap the Brit. But blinded by the rain, he crashed into the back of Coulthard and took both cars out of the race.
In a fit of rage, Schumacher leaped out of his Ferrari when back in the pitlane and stormed down to the McLaren garage in one of the most shocking moments in F1’s history. He had to be physically restrained by his mechanics.
After the race, Schumacher accused Coulthard of trying to deliberately take him out to help teammate Mika Hakkinen in the title fight. Coulthard denied any intention, later admitted he should have moved off the racing line.
13 car lap one pile up at the 1998 Belgian Grand Prix
Maybe the biggest crash in the sport’s history happened at Spa in 1998, 25 laps prior to Schumacher’s bust up with Coulthard.
In the pouring rain, Coulthard lost control on turn one and went straight on into the wall. He bounced back onto the racing line, which was unknown to the rest of the field who couldn’t see due to the spray on track.
Carnage ensued. 13 cars collided at once, as debris and cars flew everywhere in the resulting seconds. Ferrari’s Eddie Irvine was among the 13 cars affected by the crash.
Commentator Murray Walker said, ‘this is the worst start to a Grand Prix I have ever seen in my life”, and it was the most destructive start we have seen since. Miraculously, no driver was seriously hurt, although a track marshal reportedly sustained a minor leg injury from flying debris.