Ayrton Senna survived gearbox trouble to win a dramatic 1991 Belgian Grand Prix. Gerhard Berger completed a McLaren one-two after several potential winners retired, while Michael Schumacher‘s striking Jordan debut announced a major new talent despite an extremely short race.
Race Guide
Season: 1991 F1 World Championship
Race date: 25 August 1991
Race start time: 14:00 local time (UTC+02:00)
Circuit: Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps
Laps: 44 laps
Circuit length: 6.940 km
1990 winner: Ayrton Senna
| Result | Driver / Time | Team |
|---|---|---|
| Pole position | Ayrton Senna | McLaren |
| Pole time | 1:47.811 | |
| Fastest lap | Roberto Moreno | Benetton |
| Fastest-lap time | 1:55.161 on lap 40 | |
| First | Ayrton Senna | McLaren |
| Second | Gerhard Berger | McLaren |
| Third | Nelson Piquet | Benetton |
Weekend Schedule
| Date | Session | Local Time |
|---|---|---|
| 23 August 1991 | Pre-qualifying | 08:00–09:00 |
| 23 August 1991 | Practice 1 | 10:00 |
| 23 August 1991 | Qualifying 1 | 13:00 |
| 24 August 1991 | Practice 2 | 10:00 |
| 24 August 1991 | Qualifying 2 | 13:00 |
| 25 August 1991 | Warm-up | 09:30 |
| 25 August 1991 | Race | 14:00 |
All times are local. The race time is the scheduled start; weather delays and interruptions are described below.
Championship background
Ayrton Senna arrived at round 11 leading the 1991 F1 World Championship on 61 points, with Nigel Mansell on 49. McLaren headed the constructors’ standings after the preceding race with 83 points.
Race entries
Michael Schumacher replaced Bertrand Gachot at Jordan after Bertrand Gachot received a prison sentence following an altercation with a London taxi driver. Johnny Herbert returned to Lotus after missing two races. Michael Schumacher‘s first Formula 1 appearance immediately became one of the weekend’s main talking points.
Pre-qualifying
Martin Brundle and Mark Blundell led another Brabham one-two, with Olivier Grouillard and Alex Caffi taking the remaining places. Michele Alboreto missed out, while Gabriele Tarquini and Barbazza both crashed during a difficult morning for AGS. Chaves also failed to advance.
Pre-qualifying Classification
| Pos. | No. | Driver | Team | Time | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 7 | Martin Brundle | Brabham | 1:54.929 | — |
| 2 | 8 | Mark Blundell | Brabham | 1:56.446 | +1.517 |
| 3 | 14 | Olivier Grouillard | Fondmetal | 1:58.447 | +3.518 |
| 4 | 10 | Alex Caffi | Footwork | 1:59.460 | +4.531 |
| 5 | 9 | Michele Alboreto | Footwork | 1:59.910 | +4.981 |
| 6 | 17 | Gabriele Tarquini | AGS | 1:59.972 | +5.043 |
| 7 | 31 | Pedro Chaves | Coloni | 2:01.921 | +6.992 |
| 8 | 18 | Fabrizio Barbazza | AGS | 1:22:46.766 | +1:00.00 |
Friday Free Practice
Gerhard Berger led Friday practice as McLaren introduced a lighter chassis and continued work on Honda‘s engine development. Williams had a less settled opening day, with Nigel Mansell concerned about braking and engine performance and Riccardo Patrese troubled by his gearbox. Michael Schumacher meanwhile began learning Spa in the Jordan, quickly showing that his unfamiliarity with Formula 1 machinery would not prevent him being competitive.
Friday Practice Classification
1991 Belgian Grand Prix Practice, 23 August 1991
Friday Qualifying
Ayrton Senna led Friday qualifying ahead of Gerhard Berger and Nigel Mansell. Michael Schumacher made an immediate impression with the fifth-fastest time, comfortably establishing himself as more than a temporary substitute in the Jordan.
Friday Qualifying Classification
1991 Belgian Grand Prix first qualifying session, 23 August 1991
Saturday Free Practice
Williams recovered on Saturday morning, with Nigel Mansell fastest and Riccardo Patrese close behind. McLaren‘s preparation was less reassuring than its eventual pole position suggested: Gerhard Berger suffered two engine failures during the day. Across the weekend, Dallara also faced repeated engine trouble, while Minardi‘s improved chassis helped Pierluigi Martini emerge as a strong contender for a place near the front of the midfield.
Saturday Practice Classification
1991 Belgian Grand Prix Practice, 24 August 1991
Saturday Qualifying
Ayrton Senna improved to 1:47.811 to secure pole. Riccardo Patrese was second-fastest on Saturday, but his times were cancelled because his car lacked a functioning reverse gear; his Friday time left him seventeenth overall. Alain Prost therefore joined Ayrton Senna on the front row, while Michael Schumacher qualified seventh for his debut.
Saturday Qualifying Classification
1991 Belgian Grand Prix second qualifying session, 24 August 1991
Combined Qualifying Classification
Each driver’s faster time from the two qualifying sessions determined the overall order.
| Pos. | No. | Driver | Team | Friday Time | Saturday Time | Best Time | Laps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Ayrton Senna | McLaren | 1:49.100 | 1:47.811 | 1:47.811 | — |
| 2 | 27 | Alain Prost | Ferrari | 1:51.369 | 1:48.821 | 1:48.821 | — |
| 3 | 5 | Nigel Mansell | Williams | 1:50.666 | 1:48.828 | 1:48.828 | — |
| 4 | 2 | Gerhard Berger | McLaren | 1:49.485 | 2:29.200 | 1:49.485 | — |
| 5 | 28 | Jean Alesi | Ferrari | 1:51.832 | 1:49.974 | 1:49.974 | — |
| 6 | 20 | Nelson Piquet | Benetton | 1:53.371 | 1:50.540 | 1:50.540 | — |
| 7 | 32 | Michael Schumacher | Jordan | 1:53.290 | 1:51.212 | 1:51.212 | — |
| 8 | 19 | Roberto Moreno | Benetton | 1:53.664 | 1:51.283 | 1:51.283 | — |
| 9 | 23 | Pierluigi Martini | Minardi | 1:53.460 | 1:51.299 | 1:51.299 | — |
| 10 | 4 | Stefano Modena | Tyrrell | 1:52.899 | 1:51.307 | 1:51.307 | — |
| 11 | 33 | Andrea de Cesaris | Jordan | 1:54.186 | 1:51.986 | 1:51.986 | — |
| 12 | 16 | Ivan Capelli | Leyton House | 1:53.603 | 1:52.113 | 1:52.113 | — |
| 13 | 8 | Mark Blundell | Brabham | 1:54.814 | 1:52.377 | 1:56.446 | — |
| 14 | 22 | JJ Lehto | Dallara | 1:54.211 | 1:52.417 | 1:52.417 | — |
| 15 | 15 | Maurício Gugelmin | Leyton House | 1:56.027 | 1:52.623 | 1:52.623 | — |
| 16 | 7 | Martin Brundle | Brabham | 1:54.921 | 1:52.626 | 1:54.929 | — |
| 17 | 6 | Riccardo Patrese | Williams | 1:52.646 | 1:48.661 | 1:48.661 | — |
| 18 | 25 | Thierry Boutsen | Ligier | 1:54.446 | 1:52.709 | 1:52.709 | — |
| 19 | 24 | Gianni Morbidelli | Minardi | 1:57.232 | 1:52.896 | 1:52.896 | — |
| 20 | 29 | Éric Bernard | Lola | 1:55.679 | 1:53.309 | 1:53.309 | — |
| 21 | 12 | Johnny Herbert | Lotus | 1:55.523 | 1:53.361 | 1:53.361 | — |
| 22 | 3 | Satoru Nakajima | Tyrrell | 1:55.874 | 1:53.494 | 1:53.494 | — |
| 23 | 14 | Olivier Grouillard | Fondmetal | 1:55.945 | 1:53.628 | 1:58.447 | — |
| 24 | 11 | Mika Häkkinen | Lotus | 1:55.483 | 1:53.799 | 1:53.799 | — |
| 25 | 21 | Emanuele Pirro | Dallara | 1:56.131 | 1:53.839 | 1:53.839 | — |
| 26 | 26 | Érik Comas | Ligier | 1:56.218 | 1:53.847 | 1:53.847 | — |
| 27 | 30 | Aguri Suzuki | Lola | 1:56.594 | 1:53.869 | 1:53.869 | — |
| 28 | 34 | Nicola Larini | Lamborghini | 1:56.561 | 1:54.781 | 1:54.781 | — |
| 29 | 10 | Alex Caffi | Footwork | 1:57.556 | 1:57.338 | 1:59.460 | — |
| 30 | 35 | Eric van de Poele | Lamborghini | 5:03.624 | 1:57.746 | 1:57.746 | — |
Sunday warm-up
Riccardo Patrese and Nigel Mansell led the warm-up, underlining Williams‘ race potential despite their disappointing grid positions. Tyre strategy offered another possible route to the front: Jean Alesi chose harder tyres with the intention of completing the race without stopping. Riccardo Patrese faced a recovery drive from seventeenth, making that final confirmation of his car’s pace particularly valuable.
Warm-up Classification
1991 Belgian Grand Prix Warm-up, 25 August 1991
| Pos. | No. | Driver | Team | Time / Gap | Laps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 6 | Riccardo Patrese | Williams | 1:55.211 | — |
| 2 | 5 | Nigel Mansell | Williams | +0.181s | — |
| 3 | 1 | Ayrton Senna | McLaren | +1.541s | — |
| 4 | 32 | Michael Schumacher | Jordan | +1.775s | — |
| 5 | 33 | Andrea de Cesaris | Jordan | +1.844s | — |
| 6 | 2 | Gerhard Berger | McLaren | +1.981s | — |
| 7 | 27 | Alain Prost | Ferrari | +2.030s | — |
| 8 | 16 | Ivan Capelli | Leyton House | +2.260s | — |
| 9 | 20 | Nelson Piquet | Benetton | +2.401s | — |
| 10 | 25 | Thierry Boutsen | Ligier | +2.940s | — |
| 11 | 19 | Roberto Moreno | Benetton | +3.000s | — |
| 12 | 4 | Stefano Modena | Tyrrell | +3.095s | — |
| 13 | 7 | Martin Brundle | Brabham | +3.179s | — |
| 14 | 21 | Emanuele Pirro | Dallara | +3.373s | — |
| 15 | 26 | Erik Comas | Ligier | +3.469s | — |
| 16 | 23 | Pierluigi Martini | Minardi | +3.798s | — |
| 17 | 24 | Gianni Morbidelli | Minardi | +3.817s | — |
| 18 | 3 | Satoru Nakajima | Tyrrell | +4.101s | — |
| 19 | 29 | Eric Bernard | Lola | +4.365s | — |
| 20 | 8 | Mark Blundell | Brabham | +4.434s | — |
| 21 | 22 | Jyrki Jarvilehto | Dallara | +4.481s | — |
| 22 | 12 | Johnny Herbert | Lotus | +4.997s | — |
| 23 | 15 | Mauricio Gugelmin | Leyton House | +5.190s | — |
| 24 | 14 | Olivier Grouillard | Fondmetal | +5.213s | — |
| 25 | 11 | Mika Hakkinen | Lotus | +6.128s | — |
| 26 | 28 | Jean Alesi | Ferrari | No time | — |
What happened in the 1991 Belgian Grand Prix?
Michael Schumacher‘s race ended almost immediately with clutch failure. Ayrton Senna led initially, but Nigel Mansell gained the advantage through the tyre stops and appeared strongly placed until an electrical problem stopped his Williams. Alain Prost had already retired when his Ferrari caught fire.
Jean Alesi inherited the lead through his no-stop strategy, only for his engine to fail. Ayrton Senna then had to manage gearbox trouble while de Andrea de Cesaris threatened a remarkable result for Jordan. The Jordan‘s engine failed near the finish, removing another challenger just as a podium appeared within reach.
Ayrton Senna held on to win, with Gerhard Berger recovering to second and Nelson Piquet taking the final podium of his career. Roberto Moreno finished fourth, Riccardo Patrese fifth and Mark Blundell sixth for his first championship point. Nigel Mansell‘s retirement made this a particularly damaging afternoon for his title challenge.
After the race, Ayrton Senna headed the drivers’ standings with 71 points, followed by Nigel Mansell on 49. McLaren led the constructors’ table on 99, with Williams on 83.
1991 Belgian Grand Prix race results
The 1991 Belgian Grand Prix was held on 25 August 1991, with a scheduled start of 14:00 local time.
1991 Belgian Grand Prix Fastest Laps
| Pos. | No. | Driver | Team | Lap | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 19 | Roberto Moreno | Benetton | 40 | 1:55.161 |
| 2 | 2 | Gerhard Berger | McLaren | 39 | 1:55.601 |
| 3 | 6 | Riccardo Patrese | Williams | 39 | 1:55.993 |
| 4 | 5 | Nigel Mansell | Williams | 21 | 1:56.459 |
| 5 | 1 | Ayrton Senna | McLaren | 42 | 1:56.471 |
| 6 | 33 | Andrea de Cesaris | Jordan | 25 | 1:56.477 |
| 7 | 20 | Nelson Piquet | Benetton | 26 | 1:57.084 |
| 8 | 23 | Pierluigi Martini | Minardi | 22 | 1:57.303 |
| 9 | 28 | Jean Alesi | Ferrari | 29 | 1:57.308 |
| 10 | 4 | Stefano Modena | Tyrrell | 21 | 1:57.793 |
| 11 | 21 | Emanuele Pirro | Dallara | 32 | 1:58.017 |
| 12 | 8 | Mark Blundell | Brabham | 24 | 1:58.145 |
| 13 | 22 | Jyrki Jarvilehto | Dallara | 23 | 1:58.164 |
| 14 | 26 | Erik Comas | Ligier | 20 | 1:58.348 |
| 15 | 24 | Gianni Morbidelli | Minardi | 29 | 1:58.443 |
| 16 | 7 | Martin Brundle | Brabham | 22 | 1:58.540 |
| 17 | 12 | Johnny Herbert | Lotus | 29 | 1:58.606 |
| 18 | 25 | Thierry Boutsen | Ligier | 15 | 1:58.921 |
| 19 | 14 | Olivier Grouillard | Fondmetal | 19 | 1:59.340 |
| 20 | 11 | Mika Hakkinen | Lotus | 25 | 1:59.527 |
| 21 | 16 | Ivan Capelli | Leyton House | 11 | 1:59.757 |
| 22 | 29 | Eric Bernard | Lola | 18 | 2:01.062 |
| 23 | 27 | Alain Prost | Ferrari | 2 | 2:01.161 |
| 24 | 3 | Satoru Nakajima | Tyrrell | 6 | 2:02.123 |
| 25 | 15 | Mauricio Gugelmin | Leyton House | 1 | 2:16.691 |
Only drivers with a recorded lap time appear. No fastest-lap bonus point was awarded.
1991 Post-Race F1 Championship Standings
Championship standings after the 1991 Belgian Grand Prix.
1991 Post-Race F1 Drivers' Championship Standings
1991 Post-Race F1 Constructors' Championship Standings
| POS | Car | PTS |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | McLaren | 99 |
| 2 | Williams | 83 |
| 3 | Ferrari | 35 |
| 4 | Benetton | 30 |
| 5 | Jordan | 13 |
| 6 | Tyrrell | 11 |
| 7 | Dallara | 5 |
| 8 | Minardi | 3 |
| 9 | Lotus | 3 |
| 10 | Lola | 2 |
| 11 | Leyton House | 1 |
| 12 | Brabham | 1 |
| 13 | Ligier | 0 |
| 14 | Lamborghini | 0 |
| 15 | AGS | 0 |
| 16 | Fondmetal | 0 |
| 17 | Footwork | 0 |
1991 Formula 1 Race Calendar
Seen in:
