Formula One drivers from Belgium

Formula One drivers from Belgium
Drivers	25
Grands Prix	433
Entries	558
Starts	476
Best season finish	2nd (1969, 1970)
Wins	11
Podiums	45
Pole positions	14
Fastest laps	16
Points	387
First entry	1950 British Grand Prix
First win	1968 French Grand Prix
Latest win	1990 Hungarian Grand Prix
Latest entry	2018 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
2024 drivers	None

Last updated November 30, 2024

There have been 25 Formula One drivers from Belgium, of whom Jacky Ickx and Thierry Boutsen were the most successful ones as the only Belgians to win races.^[1]^[2] The most recent Belgian driver is Stoffel Vandoorne, who raced for McLaren in 2017 and 2018.^[a]

Former drivers

In the early years of Formula One, Belgium was well represented with a highlight in 1953 when there were no less than seven Belgian drivers taking part in the championship.^[2]

The first victory for a Belgian only occurred in 1968 when Jacky Ickx won the French Grand Prix.^[3] Ickx went on to win eight races in total, reaching the podium 25 times and becoming the runner-up in both the 1969 and 1970 seasons.^[4]

The only other driver to win a Grand Prix was Thierry Boutsen, who won three races during his two-year stint with Williams-Renault in 1989–1990 and managed to reach the podium 15 times.^[3]^[5]

Besides Ickx and Boutsen, the only other Belgian drivers to reach the podium are Olivier Gendebien (who scored two podium finishes), Lucien Bianchi, Paul Frère and Willy Mairesse who each finished on the podium once.^[6]

Bertrand Gachot, who was born in Luxembourg as the son of French-German parents carried a French passport but raced under a Belgian FIA Super Licence until 1991, from the 1992 Formula One season he changed to a French licence.^[7]

Stoffel Vandoorne was the most recent Belgian driver to compete in Formula One, competing in 3 seasons between 2016 and 2018. While he did not have any podiums or wins, he still had an impressive 41 race starts and 26 overall points.^[8]

Charles de Tornaco is the only Belgian driver to be killed during an official event, following a crash during the practice session for the 1953 Modena Grand Prix.^[9]

All-time table


Driver	Active years	Championships	Wins	Podiums	Pole positions	Career points	Fastest laps	Entries	Starts
Jacky Ickx	1966–1979	0	8	25	13	181	14	122	116
Thierry Boutsen	1983–1993	0	3	15	1	132	1	164	163
Olivier Gendebien	1955–1956, 1958–1961	0	0	2	0	18	0	15	14
Paul Frère	1952–1956	0	0	1	0	11	0	11	11
Willy Mairesse	1960–1963, 1965	0	0	1	0	7	0	13	12
Lucien Bianchi	1959–1963, 1965, 1968	0	0	1	0	6	0	19	17
Stoffel Vandoorne	2016–2018	0	0	0	0	26	0	42	41
Bertrand Gachot ^[b]	1989–1991	0	0	0	0	4	1	41	15
André Pilette	1951, 1953–1954, 1956, 1961, 1963–1964	0	0	0	0	2	0	14	9
Eric van de Poele	1991–1992	0	0	0	0	0	0	29	5
Johnny Claes	1950–1953, 1955	0	0	0	0	0	0	25	23
Jérôme d'Ambrosio	2011–2012	0	0	0	0	0	0	20	20
Patrick Nève	1976–1978	0	0	0	0	0	0	14	10
Jacques Swaters	1951, 1953–1954	0	0	0	0	0	0	8	7
Charles de Tornaco	1952–1953	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	2
Teddy Pilette	1974, 1977	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	1
Philippe Adams	1994	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	2
Georges Berger	1953–1954	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	2
Roger Laurent	1952	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	2
Arthur Legat	1952–1953	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	2
Bernard de Dryver	1977–1978	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0
André Milhoux	1956	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1
Christian Goethals	1958	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1
Charles Van Acker	1950	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
Alain de Changy	1959	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
Source:^[1]

Notes

↑ Lando Norris, Lance Stroll and Max Verstappen all have Belgian nationality, and are competing in 2023, but race under other nationalities - British, Canadian and Dutch respectively - as all three drivers hold dual nationality.
↑ Competed under French racing license in 1992 and 1994–1995.^[7] As this article is about Formula One drivers competing under a Belgian licence his stats from 1992 and 1994–1995 are not included in this article but are instead detailed in Formula One drivers from France.

Related Research Articles

Thierry Marc Boutsen is a Belgian former racing driver, businessman and motorsport executive, who competed in Formula One from 1983 to 1993. Boutsen won three Formula One Grands Prix across 11 seasons.

The 1966 German Grand Prix was a mixed Formula One and Formula Two motor race held at the Nürburgring Nordschleife on 7 August 1966. It was race 6 of 9 in both the 1966 World Championship of Drivers and the 1966 International Cup for Formula One Manufacturers. It was the 28th German Grand Prix and the 22nd to be held at the Nordschleife. It was held over 15 laps of the 22 kilometre circuit for a race distance 342 kilometres.

The 1967 German Grand Prix was a motor race for both Formula One (F1) and Formula Two (F2) cars held at the Nürburgring on 6 August 1967. It was race 7 of 11 in both the 1967 World Championship of Drivers and the 1967 International Cup for Formula One Manufacturers as well a non-Championship race of the 1967 European Formula Two Championship. The 15-lap race was won by Brabham driver Denny Hulme after he started from second position. His teammate Jack Brabham finished second and Ferrari driver Chris Amon came in third.

The 1968 French Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at the Rouen-Les-Essarts Circuit on 7 July 1968. It was race 6 of 12 in both the 1968 World Championship of Drivers and the 1968 International Cup for Formula One Manufacturers. The 60-lap race was won by Ferrari driver Jacky Ickx after he started from third position. John Surtees finished second for the Honda team and Matra driver Jackie Stewart came in third.

The 1969 French Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at the Charade Circuit on 6 July 1969. It was race 5 of 11 in both the 1969 World Championship of Drivers and the 1969 International Cup for Formula One Manufacturers. There were only thirteen entries for this Grand Prix. The 38-lap race was won by Matra driver Jackie Stewart after he started from pole position. His teammate Jean-Pierre Beltoise finished second and Brabham driver Jacky Ickx came in third.

The 1969 German Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at Nürburgring on 3 August 1969. It was race 7 of 11 in both the 1969 World Championship of Drivers and the 1969 International Cup for Formula One Manufacturers. Twelve Formula Two cars were also entered into the race, though they were not eligible to score points.

The 1970 Spanish Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at the Jarama circuit on 19 April 1970. It was race 2 of 13 in both the 1970 World Championship of Drivers and the 1970 International Cup for Formula One Manufacturers.

The 1970 Belgian Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at Spa-Francorchamps on 7 June 1970. It was race 4 of 13 in both the 1970 World Championship of Drivers and the 1970 International Cup for Formula One Manufacturers.

The 1970 Dutch Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at Zandvoort on June 21, 1970. It was race 5 of 13 in both the 1970 World Championship of Drivers and the 1970 International Cup for Formula One Manufacturers. This race was held the same day as the 1970 FIFA World Cup Final in Mexico City, Mexico, but that event took place later in the day from this Grand Prix.

The 1970 Austrian Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at the Österreichring on 16 August 1970. It was race 9 of 13 in both the 1970 World Championship of Drivers and the 1970 International Cup for Formula One Manufacturers. This was the third Austrian Grand Prix, the second as part of the World Championship, and the first at the scenic Österreichring, built to replace the bumpy and bland Zeltweg Airfield circuit.

The 1970 Canadian Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at Circuit Mont-Tremblant on September 20, 1970. It was race 11 of 13 in both the 1970 World Championship of Drivers and the 1970 International Cup for Formula One Manufacturers. The 90-lap race was won by Ferrari driver Jacky Ickx after he started from second position. His teammate Clay Regazzoni finished second and March driver Chris Amon came in third. This race marked the debut of Tyrrell Racing as a constructor. Stewart took pole position for the race in the first outing for the team. Tim Schenken finishing the race only 11 laps behind is the best a De Tomaso built car ever achieved.

The 1970 United States Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held on October 4, 1970 at the Watkins Glen Grand Prix Race Course in Watkins Glen, New York. It was race 12 of 13 in both the 1970 World Championship of Drivers and the 1970 International Cup for Formula One Manufacturers.

The 1970 Mexican Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at the Ciudad Deportiva Magdalena Mixhuca in Mexico City on October 25, 1970. It was race 13 of 13 in both the 1970 World Championship of Drivers and the 1970 International Cup for Formula One Manufacturers. The 65-lap race was won by Ferrari driver Jacky Ickx after he started from third position. His teammate Clay Regazzoni finished second and McLaren driver Denny Hulme came in third.

The 1971 Dutch Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at Zandvoort on 20 June 1971. It was race 4 of 11 in both the 1971 World Championship of Drivers and the 1971 International Cup for Formula One Manufacturers. Due to heavy rain, the track was treacherously wet and slippery, giving a large advantage to "wet-weather men" Jacky Ickx and Pedro Rodriguez, who also happened to be equipped with highly suitable cars and tyres.

The 1972 Spanish Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at Jarama on May 1, 1972. It was race 3 of 12 in both the 1972 World Championship of Drivers and the 1972 International Cup for Formula One Manufacturers. The race marked the first time two brothers raced together in F1 simultaneously, Emerson and Wilson Fittipaldi. The elder Fittipaldi was a last-minute substitute for Brabham's Carlos Reutemann, who had injured his ankle in a Formula 2 race the previous weekend at Thruxton, England. The 90-lap race was won by Lotus driver Emerson Fittipaldi after he started from third position. Jacky Ickx finished second for the Ferrari team and his teammate Clay Regazzoni came in third. After the race the World Drivers' Championship was tied at 15 points between Emerson Fittipaldi and Denny Hulme.

The 1990 British Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at Silverstone on 15 July 1990. It was the eighth race of the 1990 Formula One World Championship. It was the 45th British Grand Prix and the 26th to be held at Silverstone, which was the fastest circuit on the F1 calendar at the time. The race was held over 64 laps of the 4.78-kilometre (2.97 mi) circuit for a race distance of 305.9 kilometres (190.1 mi).

The 1990 Hungarian Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at Hungaroring on 12 August 1990. It was the tenth race of the 1990 Formula One World Championship. The race was the sixth Hungarian Grand Prix and the fifth to be held at the Hungaroring. It was held over 77 laps of the 3.97-kilometre (2.47 mi) circuit for a race distance of 305.5 kilometres (189.8 mi).

The 1990 Spanish Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at Jerez on 30 September 1990. It was the fourteenth race of the 1990 Formula One World Championship, and the fifth and last Spanish Grand Prix to be held at Jerez.

The 1989 FIA Formula One World Championship was the 43rd season of FIA Formula One motor racing. It began on 26 March and ended on 5 November. Alain Prost won his third Drivers' Championship, and McLaren won the Constructors' Championship.

Stoffel Vandoorne is a Belgian racing driver, currently competing in the FIA World Endurance Championship for Peugeot and in Formula E for Maserati. In formula racing, Vandoorne competed in Formula One from 2016 to 2018, and won the 2021–22 Formula E World Championship with Mercedes.

References

1 2 "Belgium – Drivers". StatsF1.com. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
1 2 "Grands Prix started". www.statsf1.com. Retrieved 27 June 2019.
1 2 "Belgium – Wins". StatsF1.com. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
↑ "Jacky ICKX". StatsF1.com (in French). Retrieved 5 February 2019.
↑ "Thierry BOUTSEN". StatsF1.com (in French). Retrieved 5 February 2019.
↑ "Belgium – Podiums". StatsF1.com. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
1 2 Φωτσεινός, 'Αγγελος. "Bertrand Gachot: His imprisonment, the reason behind a famous debut". f1retro.gr. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
↑ "Stoffel VANDOORNE • STATS F1". www.statsf1.com. Retrieved 13 November 2024.
↑ "1953 Non-World Championship Formula One Races". www.silhouet.com. Retrieved 13 November 2024.

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[3] Lando Norris, Lance Stroll and Max Verstappen all have Belgian nationality, and are competing in 2023, but race under other nationalities - British, Canadian and Dutch respectively - as all three drivers hold dual nationality.

[11] Competed under French racing license in 1992 and 1994–1995.^[7] As this article is about Formula One drivers competing under a Belgian licence his stats from 1992 and 1994–1995 are not included in this article but are instead detailed in Formula One drivers from France.

[:3-1] 1 2 "Belgium – Drivers". StatsF1.com. Retrieved 5 February 2019.

[:0-2] 1 2 "Grands Prix started". www.statsf1.com. Retrieved 27 June 2019.

[:1-4] 1 2 "Belgium – Wins". StatsF1.com. Retrieved 5 February 2019.

[5] "Jacky ICKX". StatsF1.com (in French). Retrieved 5 February 2019.

[6] "Thierry BOUTSEN". StatsF1.com (in French). Retrieved 5 February 2019.

[7] "Belgium – Podiums". StatsF1.com. Retrieved 5 February 2019.

[:2-8] 1 2 Φωτσεινός, 'Αγγελος. "Bertrand Gachot: His imprisonment, the reason behind a famous debut". f1retro.gr. Retrieved 5 February 2019.

[9] "Stoffel VANDOORNE • STATS F1". www.statsf1.com. Retrieved 13 November 2024.

[10] "1953 Non-World Championship Formula One Races". www.silhouet.com. Retrieved 13 November 2024.

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