F1 Belgian GP LIVE: Check out the top five crashes from the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps: The Belgian GP will mark the start of the second half of the F1 2022 season as F1 returns to the iconic Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps in the form of Belgian GP which is the fourteenth race of the current season. Follow Formula 1 & Belgian GP LIVE updates on InsideSport.IN
This iconic track has seen lots of accidents and major crashes but in this article, we will take a look at the top five incidents that took place in the Belgian GP.
Michael Schumacher and David Coulthard crash
The 1998 Belgian GP is famous for its first-lap multi-car accident but it’s more famous for the Schumacher-Coulthard crash as the German pushed his Ferrari to the limits on a slippery track at Spa-Francorchamps.
The German driver was a lap ahead of Coulthard at lap 25 as he tried to overtake the McLaren driver. With zero visibility Schumacher tried to overtake Coulthard as the Ferrari driver went to the left of the track but then the disaster struck as Schumacher hit the rear of Coulthard’s McLaren and in the process lost his front right tyre. He then straight away stormed towards the garage of Coulthard as he was held back by his Ferrari mechanics and close friend Jean Todt.
Kevin Magnussen’s crash at Eau Rouge
One of the fastest corners at Spa-Francorchamps, Eau Rogue lived up to its name as Kevin Magnussen in the 2016 Belgian GP crashed while driving for the Renault team. Magnussen pushed his car to the limits while entering the corner as he lost control of the car and spun at high speed.
He then crashed into the barricades but luckily nothing happened to the Dane driver. But, by the looks of his car, Magnussen was very lucky to have survived such a major crash.
Multi-Car crash at Spa-Francorchamps involving Romain Grosjean
The 2012 Belgian GP was chaotic as it saw a multi-car accident within seconds after the race began. Romain Grosjean was once again in the thick of the things as he tried to overtake Lewis Hamilton’s McLaren from the left and touched his front left tyre while losing grip and banged his Lotus in the Sauber of Sergio Perez and then went over the Ferrari of Fernando Alonso.
The after-effects were felt by all four drivers as they all were eliminated from the race while making Perez the first driver in eighteen years to be banned from racing as he got a one-race ban for causing a collision.
Luciano Burti and Eddie Irvine crash
The 2001 Belgian GP saw one of its most shocking crashes as Burti and Irvine engaged in a crash which was totally for track position and in the end, went totally wrong. The race once again saw rain as the visibility was no good for the drivers with Burti’s Prost taking the hit at high speed and going onto the gravel before hitting the wall made up of tyres.
Thankfully, Burti escaped a horror accident as his helmet came to his rescue. Meanwhile, the accident left Burti with several head injuries which also ended his F1 career but his helmet saved him from succumbing to major head injuries.
Multi-Car crash on the opening lap
The 1998 Belgian GP is remembered for all the wrong reasons but the opening lap multi-car accident was next to unimaginable because of the destruction it caused.
The race once again began with treacherous conditions and zero visibility as David Coulthard spun his McLaren on the first lap itself as the destruction began after that which saw 13 cars pile up one by one. The race finished with only eight drivers taking part in it as 14 drivers retired. It is still one of the most bizarre accidents in the history of F1.
