Special moments in Belgium; crashes, overtaking and surprising winners

The summer break is over and there is no better Grand Prix to start with than the one at Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium. The nearly seven-kilometre-long circuit is a favourite with many drivers and often guarantees a spectacle. We have listed some of the special moments for you.

1998 - Chaos after mass crash at the start

No preview of the Belgian Grand Prix without mentioning the race in 1998. When David Coulthard loses control over his McLaren at the rain-soaked start he takes about twelve other drivers with him in the crash. The race is stopped and at the restart, four drivers can't start because teams at that time had one spare car and both cars were damaged during the start crash. Also at the restart, it goes wrong and three drivers lose. In the end, only eight drivers manage to finish and the Jordan team scores its first victory with Damon Hill, with teammate Ralf Schumacher finishing second.

2009 - Pole position Fisichella in Force India

It was the last season in Formula 1 for Giancarlo Fisichella, but he still showed some nice things. Driving for the new Force India team, which was only in its second season, the Italian managed to get the first and only pole position in Belgium. In the race, he eventually finished second. It would also be his last race with Force India, as after the race in Belgium he was brought to Ferrari for the remaining five races of the season as a replacement for the disappointing Luca Badoer.

2015 - Verstappen out front in Blanchimont

It is the year that Max Verstappen makes his debut in Formula 1 at Toro Rosso. The young Dutchman has already shown a lot of beauty that season, but at the Belgian Grand Prix, he manages to definitively establish his name as a master of overtaking. At Blanchimont, he overtook Felipe Nasr on the outside, something that was actually considered impossible. Verstappen is rewarded for this action with the FIA Action of the Year award.

2018 - Hulkenberg launches Alonso

La Source, the first corner after the start, is not infrequently the cause of flying bodywork. So too in 2018. At the start, Fernando Alonso is launched by Nico Hulkenberg in the Renault. The McLaren driver flies over Charles Leclerc's Sauber, immediately demonstrating the usefulness of the halo introduced that season. Had it not been in place, things could have ended very differently for Leclerc.

2019 - Verstappen throws away chances, first victory Leclerc

There he is again, La Source. Once again, things go wrong here in 2019. After a poor start, Max Verstappen hopes to make up some places in the first corner where he collides with the Alfa Romeo of Kimi Raikkonen. Verstappen was able to continue at first, but due to a broken suspension, he crashed out at the end of Eau Rouge. It is a better day for Charles Leclerc. The Monegasque managed to win a Grand Prix in the Ferrari for the first time in his career.

What is your favourite moment of the Belgian Grand Prix? Let us know in the comments!