1953 Belgian Grand Prix: Full Weekend Report & Highlights

Alberto Ascari clinched victory at the 1953 Belgian Grand Prix after an exciting race.

Season: 1953 F1 World Championship
Race date: 21 June 1953
Circuit: Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps
Laps: 36
Circuit length: 14.120 km (8.774 miles)

Juan Manuel Fangio started on pole and initially pulled away with his teammate Jose Froilan Gonzalez, followed by Ascari. However, engine troubles for the two leading Maseratis allowed Ascari to overtake and secure the win, followed by Luigi Villoresi for a Ferrari 1-2 finish, and Onofre Marimon third for Maserati.

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Qualifying

POS.	NO.	DRIVER	TEAM	TIME
1	4	Juan Manuel Fangio	Maserati	4:30.000
2	10	Alberto Ascari	Ferrari	4:32.000
3	2	Jose Froilan Gonzalez	Maserati	4:32.000
4	12	Nino Farina	Ferrari	4:36.000
5	8	Luigi Villoresi	Ferrari	4:39.000
6	28	Onofre Marimon	Maserati	4:40.000
7	14	Mike Hawthorn	Ferrari	4:42.000
8	18	Maurice Trintignant	Gordini	4:45.000
9	30	Toulo de Graffenried	Maserati	4:49.000
10	6	Johnny Claes	Maserati	4:50.000
11	24	Paul Frere	HWM Alta	4:52.000
12	20	Harry Schell	Gordini	4:53.000
13	32	Louis Rosier	Ferrari	4:56.000
14	16	Jean Behra	Gordini	4:57.000
15	38	Fred Wacker	Gordini	5:03.000
16	26	Peter Collins	HWM Alta	5:03.000
17	22	Lance Macklin	HWM Alta	5:14.000
18	40	Andre Pilette	Connaught Lea Francis	5:23.000
19	36	Arthur Legat	Veritas	5:41.000
20	34	Georges Berger	Simca-Gordini	5:58.000

1953 Belgian Grand Starting Grid

POS.	NO.	DRIVER	TEAM	TIME
1	4	Juan Manuel Fangio	Maserati	4:30.000
2	10	Alberto Ascari	Ferrari	4:32.000
3	2	Jose Froilan Gonzalez	Maserati	4:32.000
4	12	Nino Farina	Ferrari	4:36.000
5	8	Luigi Villoresi	Ferrari	4:39.000
6	28	Onofre Marimon	Maserati	4:40.000
7	14	Mike Hawthorn	Ferrari	4:42.000
8	18	Maurice Trintignant	Gordini	4:45.000
9	30	Toulo de Graffenried	Maserati	4:49.000
10	6	Johnny Claes	Maserati	4:50.000
11	24	Paul Frere	HWM Alta	4:52.000
12	20	Harry Schell	Gordini	4:53.000
13	32	Louis Rosier	Ferrari	4:56.000
14	16	Jean Behra	Gordini	4:57.000
15	38	Fred Wacker	Gordini	5:03.000
16	26	Peter Collins	HWM Alta	5:03.000
17	22	Lance Macklin	HWM Alta	5:14.000
18	40	Andre Pilette	Connaught Lea Francis	5:23.000
19	36	Arthur Legat	Veritas	5:41.000
20	34	Georges Berger	Simca-Gordini	5:58.000

1953 Belgian Grand Race Results

Pos	No	Driver	Car	Laps	Time/retired	Pts
1	10	Alberto Ascari	Ferrari	36	2:48:30.300	8
2	8	Luigi Villoresi	Ferrari	36	+158.200s	6
NC	6	Johnny Claes	Maserati		SHC	0
NC	6	Juan Manuel Fangio	Maserati	35	DNF	0
3	28	Onofre Marimon	Maserati	35	+1 lap	4
4	30	Toulo de Graffenried	Maserati	35	+1 lap	3
5	18	Maurice Trintignant	Gordini	35	+1 lap	2
6	14	Mike Hawthorn	Ferrari	35	+1 lap	0
7	20	Harry Schell	Gordini	33	+3 laps	0
8	32	Louis Rosier	Ferrari	33	+3 laps	0
9	38	Fred Wacker	Gordini	32	+4 laps	0
10	24	Paul Frere	HWM Alta	30	+6 laps	0
11	40	Andre Pilette	Connaught Lea Francis	29	+7 laps	0
NC	22	Lance Macklin	HWM Alta	19	DNF	0
NC	12	Nino Farina	Ferrari	16	DNF	0
NC	4	Juan Manuel Fangio	Maserati	13	DNF	0
NC	2	Jose Froilan Gonzalez	Maserati	11	DNF	1
NC	16	Jean Behra	Gordini	9	DNF	0
NC	26	Peter Collins	HWM Alta	4	DNF	0
NC	34	Georges Berger	Simca-Gordini	3	DNF	0
NC	36	Arthur Legat	Veritas	0	DNF	0

1953 Post-Race F1 Drivers’ Championship Standings

Pos	Driver	Points
1	Alberto Ascari	25
2	Luigi Villoresi	13
3	Bill Vukovich	9
4	Jose Froilan Gonzalez	6
5	Nino Farina	6

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Ben is a staff writer specialising in F1 from the 1990s to the modern era. Ben has been following Formula 1 since 1986 and is an avid researcher who loves understanding the technology that makes it one of the most exciting motorsport on the planet. He listens to podcasts about F1 on a daily basis, and enjoys reading books from the inspirational Adrian Newey to former F1 drivers.