Formula One drivers from Belgium

Last updated

Formula One drivers from Belgium
Flag of Belgium.svg
Drivers 25
Grands Prix433
Entries558
Starts476
Best season finish2nd (1969, 1970)
Wins 11
Podiums 45
Pole positions 14
Fastest laps 16
Points387
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 driversNone
Jacky Ickx, the most successful Belgian Formula One Driver and first Belgian to win a Formula One race Festival automobile international 2013 - Photocall - Jacky Ickx - 003.jpg
Jacky Ickx, the most successful Belgian Formula One Driver and first Belgian to win a Formula One race

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. [lower-alpha 1]

Contents

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 however, 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]

All-time table

Vandoorne driving for McLaren at the 2018 Chinese Grand Prix. Stoffel Vandoorne, Chinese GP 2018.jpg
Vandoorne driving for McLaren at the 2018 Chinese Grand Prix.
DriverActive yearsChampionshipsWinsPodiumsPole positionsCareer pointsFastest lapsEntriesStarts
Jacky Ickx 19661979 08251318114122116
Thierry Boutsen 19831993 031511321164163
Olivier Gendebien 19551956, 19581961 00201801514
Paul Frère 19521956 00101101111
Willy Mairesse 19601963, 1965 0010701312
Lucien Bianchi 19591963, 1965, 1968 0010601917
Stoffel Vandoorne 20162018 00002604241
Bertrand Gachot [lower-alpha 2] 19891991 0000414115
André Pilette 1951, 19531954, 1956, 1961, 19631964 000020149
Eric van de Poele 19911992 000000295
Johnny Claes 19501953, 1955 0000002523
Jérôme d'Ambrosio 20112012 0000002020
Patrick Nève 19761978 0000001410
Jacques Swaters 1951, 19531954 00000087
Charles de Tornaco 19521953 00000042
Teddy Pilette 1974, 1977 00000041
Philippe Adams 1994 00000022
Georges Berger 19531954 00000022
Roger Laurent 1952 00000022
Arthur Legat 19521953 00000022
Bernard de Dryver 19771978 00000020
André Milhoux 1956 00000011
Christian Goethals 1958 00000011
Charles Van Acker 1950 00000010
Alain de Changy 1959 00000010
Source: [1]

See also

Notes

  1. 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.
  2. 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

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jacky Ickx</span> Belgian racing driver (born 1945)

Jacques Bernard Edmon Martin Henri "Jacky" Ickx is a Belgian former racing driver who won the 24 Hours of Le Mans six times and achieved eight wins and 25 podium finishes in Formula One. He greatly contributed to several World Championships for Makes and World Sports Car championships: Ford (1968), Ferrari (1972), Porsche (1976–1977) and (1982–1985) by his 37 major World Sports Car wins. He also won the Can-Am Championship in 1979 and the 1983 Paris–Dakar Rally.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Benetton Formula</span> Former motor racing team

Benetton Formula Ltd., commonly referred to simply as Benetton, was a Formula One constructor that participated from 1986 to 2001. The team was owned by the Benetton family who run a worldwide chain of clothing stores of the same name. In 2000, the team was purchased by Renault, but competed as Benetton for the 2000 and 2001 seasons. In 2002, the team became Renault. The Benetton Formula team was chaired by Alessandro Benetton from 1988 to 1998.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bertrand Gachot</span> Belgian-French racing driver (born 1962)

Bertrand Jean Gachot is a Belgian-French former racing driver. Gachot enjoyed some success in the junior formulae, winning titles in Formula Ford before progressing through Formula 3 and Formula 3000, reaching Formula One in 1989. After winning the 1991 24 Hours of Le Mans, Gachot was sentenced to 18 months in prison for an aggravated assault that had occurred the previous December. He was released after two months on appeal, but his enforced absence enabled Michael Schumacher to make his Grand Prix debut.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thierry Boutsen</span> Belgian racing driver (born 1957)

Thierry Marc Boutsen is a Belgian former racing driver who raced for the Arrows, Benetton, Williams, Ligier and Jordan teams in Formula One. He competed in 164 World Championship Grands Prix, winning three races, achieving 15 podiums and scoring 132 career points. His best finish in the World Drivers' Championship was fourth in 1988 whilst driving for Benetton. He also twice finished second in the 24 Hours of Le Mans sportscar race.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1970 United States Grand Prix</span> Motor car race

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1970 Mexican Grand Prix</span> Motor car race

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1972 Spanish Grand Prix</span> Motor car race

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1989 French Grand Prix</span> Formula One motor race held in 1989

The 1989 French Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at Paul Ricard on 9 July 1989. It was the seventh race of the 1989 Formula One World Championship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1989 Italian Grand Prix</span> Motor car race

The 1989 Italian Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at Monza on 10 September 1989. It was the twelfth race of the 1989 Formula One season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1990 French Grand Prix</span> 7th round of the 1990 Formula One season

The 1990 French Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at Paul Ricard on 8 July 1990. It was the seventh race of the 1990 Formula One World Championship. It was the 68th French Grand Prix and the 14th and last to be held at Paul Ricard until the 2018 French Grand Prix. It was held over 80 laps of the four kilometre circuit for a race distance of 305 kilometres. This race was held the same day as the 1990 FIFA World Cup Final in Rome, Italy, but that event took place later in the day from this Grand Prix.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1990 British Grand Prix</span> Motor car race

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).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1990 Hungarian Grand Prix</span> Motor car race

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).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1990 Spanish Grand Prix</span> Motor car race

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1992 Hungarian Grand Prix</span> Formula One motor race

The 1992 Hungarian Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at Hungaroring on 16 August 1992. It was the eleventh race of the 1992 Formula One World Championship. The 77-lap race was won by Brazilian driver Ayrton Senna, driving a McLaren-Honda. Briton Nigel Mansell finished second in his Williams-Renault to clinch the Drivers' Championship with five races still to run, with Austrian Gerhard Berger third in the other McLaren-Honda.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1989 Formula One World Championship</span> 43rd season of FIA Formula One motor racing

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1972 Formula One season</span> 26th season of the FIAs Formula One motor racing

The 1972 Formula One season was the 26th season of the FIA's Formula One motor racing. It featured the 23rd World Championship of Drivers, the 15th International Cup for F1 Manufacturers, and numerous non-championship Formula One races. The World Championship season commenced on 23 January and ended on 8 October after twelve races.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1970 Formula One season</span> 24th season of the FIAs Formula One motor racing

The 1970 Formula One season was the 24th season of the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile's Formula One motor racing. It featured the 21st World Championship of Drivers, the 13th International Cup for F1 Manufacturers and three non-championship races open to Formula One cars. The World Championship was contested over thirteen races between 7 March and 25 October.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1969 Formula One season</span> 23rd season of the FIAs Formula One motor racing

The 1969 Formula One season was the 23rd season of the FIA's Formula One motor racing. It featured the 20th World Championship of Drivers, the 12th International Cup for F1 Manufacturers and four non-championship races open to Formula One cars. The World Championship was contested over eleven races between 1 March and 19 October 1969.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jordan 191</span> Formula One racing car

The Jordan 191 was a Formula One car designed by Gary Anderson for use by Jordan Grand Prix in its debut season in 1991. Its best finish was in Canada and Mexico, where Andrea de Cesaris drove it to fourth place at both races. Driving the 191 at the 1991 Hungarian Grand Prix, Bertrand Gachot took the fastest lap of the race.

References

  1. 1 2 "Belgium – Drivers". StatsF1.com. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
  2. 1 2 "Grands Prix started". www.statsf1.com. Retrieved 27 June 2019.
  3. 1 2 "Belgium – Wins". StatsF1.com. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
  4. "Jacky ICKX". StatsF1.com (in French). Retrieved 5 February 2019.
  5. "Thierry BOUTSEN". StatsF1.com (in French). Retrieved 5 February 2019.
  6. "Belgium – Podiums". StatsF1.com. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
  7. 1 2 Φωτσεινός, 'Αγγελος. "Bertrand Gachot: His imprisonment, the reason behind a famous debut". f1retro.gr. Retrieved 5 February 2019.