1993 Belgian Grand Prix: F1 Race, Qualifying & Winners

Damon Hill followed his Hungarian breakthrough with another victory at the 1993 Belgian Grand Prix. He beat Michael Schumacher and Alain Prost at Spa-Francorchamps, securing the constructors’ championship for Williams with four races still to run.

Result	Driver / Time	Team
Pole position	Alain Prost	Williams
Pole time	1:47.571
Fastest lap	Alain Prost	Williams
Fastest-lap time	1:51.095 on lap 41
First	Damon Hill	Williams
Second	Michael Schumacher	Benetton
Third	Alain Prost	Williams

Weekend Schedule

Date	Session	Local Time
27 August 1993	Practice 1	09:30–11:00
27 August 1993	Qualifying 1	13:00–14:00
28 August 1993	Practice 2	09:30–11:00
28 August 1993	Qualifying 2	13:00–14:00
29 August 1993	Warm-up	09:30
29 August 1993	Race	14:00

All times are local. The race time is the scheduled start; weather delays and interruptions are described below.

Championship background

Alain Prost arrived at round 12 leading the 1993 F1 World Championship on 77 points, with Ayrton Senna on 50. Williams headed the constructors’ standings after the preceding race with 115 points.

Race entries

Thierry Boutsen announced that his home Grand Prix would be his last Formula 1 race. Lotus was reduced to one car after Alessandro Zanardi‘s heavy Friday accident forced his withdrawal. The remaining drivers continued with their established teams, while Williams had an opportunity to settle the constructors’ title.

Friday Free Practice

Alain Prost was fastest on Friday morning, but Alessandro Zanardi‘s enormous accident at Eau Rouge dominated the session. The Lotus was destroyed and Alessandro Zanardi was taken to hospital, ending his participation. Ayrton Senna also spun as the traffic slowed around the accident scene. The incident cast a shadow over the rest of the weekend’s running.

Friday Practice Classification

1993 Belgian Grand Prix Practice, 27 August 1993

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Time / Gap	Laps
1	2	Alain Prost	Williams	1:49.504	—
2	0	Damon Hill	Williams	+2.298s	—
3	8	Ayrton Senna	McLaren	+3.244s	—
4	5	Michael Schumacher	Benetton	+3.427s	—
5	10	Aguri Suzuki	Footwork	+4.140s	—
6	27	Jean Alesi	Ferrari	+4.254s	—
7	9	Derek Warwick	Footwork	+5.188s	—
8	26	Mark Blundell	Ligier	+5.250s	—
9	14	Rubens Barrichello	Jordan	+5.392s	—
10	28	Gerhard Berger	Ferrari	+5.472s	—
11	25	Martin Brundle	Ligier	+5.476s	—
12	7	Michael Andretti	McLaren	+5.552s	—
13	6	Riccardo Patrese	Benetton	+5.753s	—
14	4	Andrea de Cesaris	Tyrrell	+5.830s	—
15	12	Johnny Herbert	Lotus	+5.933s	—
16	30	Jyrki Jarvilehto	Sauber	+6.035s	—
17	29	Karl Wendlinger	Sauber	+6.080s	—
18	24	Pierluigi Martini	Minardi	+6.500s	—
19	19	Philippe Alliot	Larrousse	+7.459s	—
20	15	Thierry Boutsen	Jordan	+7.877s	—
21	3	Ukyo Katayama	Tyrrell	+8.222s	—
22	20	Erik Comas	Larrousse	+8.355s	—
23	23	Christian Fittipaldi	Minardi	+8.475s	—
24	22	Luca Badoer	Lola	+8.768s	—
25	21	Michele Alboreto	Lola	+9.073s	—
26	11	Alessandro Zanardi	Lotus	+15.684s	—

Friday Qualifying

Damon Hill narrowly beat Alain Prost in Friday qualifying, with Michael Schumacher third and Ayrton Senna fourth. Suzuki put Footwork fifth, while Riccardo Patrese completed the top six. After Alessandro Zanardi‘s withdrawal, 25 cars remained in the meeting.

Friday Qualifying Classification

1993 Belgian Grand Prix first qualifying session, 27 August 1993

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Time	Laps
1	0	Damon Hill	Williams	1:48.716	11
2	2	Alain Prost	Williams	1:48.794	10
3	5	Michael Schumacher	Benetton	1:50.305	9
4	8	Ayrton Senna	McLaren	1:51.385	11
5	10	Aguri Suzuki	Footwork	1:51.904	11
6	6	Riccardo Patrese	Benetton	1:51.925	12
7	27	Jean Alesi	Ferrari	1:52.159	10
8	30	Jyrki Jarvilehto	Sauber	1:52.210	9
9	12	Johnny Herbert	Lotus	1:52.369	11
10	28	Gerhard Berger	Ferrari	1:52.689	12
11	9	Derek Warwick	Footwork	1:52.730	12
12	26	Mark Blundell	Ligier	1:53.030	12
13	29	Karl Wendlinger	Sauber	1:53.139	12
14	14	Rubens Barrichello	Jordan	1:53.235	12
15	25	Martin Brundle	Ligier	1:53.323	12
16	7	Michael Andretti	McLaren	1:53.554	12
17	4	Andrea de Cesaris	Tyrrell	1:53.559	12
18	24	Pierluigi Martini	Minardi	1:54.968	12
19	3	Ukyo Katayama	Tyrrell	1:55.271	5
20	15	Thierry Boutsen	Jordan	1:55.382	12
21	20	Erik Comas	Larrousse	1:56.072	11
22	19	Philippe Alliot	Larrousse	1:56.822	5
23	23	Christian Fittipaldi	Minardi	1:56.947	5
24	22	Luca Badoer	Lola	1:57.599	10
25	21	Michele Alboreto	Lola	1:57.852	12

Saturday Free Practice

Alain Prost again led Saturday practice, while Suzuki’s third place continued Footwork‘s improving form with active suspension. Damon Hill had braking concerns during the weekend, and McLaren remained unhappy with its handling. The demands of Eau Rouge also left drivers particularly alert to changes in ride height and suspension behaviour.

Saturday Practice Classification

1993 Belgian Grand Prix Practice, 28 August 1993

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Time / Gap	Laps
1	2	Alain Prost	Williams	1:49.460	—
2	5	Michael Schumacher	Benetton	+0.684s	—
3	10	Aguri Suzuki	Footwork	+1.223s	—
4	0	Damon Hill	Williams	+1.358s	—
5	8	Ayrton Senna	McLaren	+1.734s	—
6	29	Karl Wendlinger	Sauber	+2.250s	—
7	9	Derek Warwick	Footwork	+2.454s	—
8	27	Jean Alesi	Ferrari	+2.500s	—
9	26	Mark Blundell	Ligier	+2.524s	—
10	30	Jyrki Jarvilehto	Sauber	+2.554s	—
11	4	Andrea de Cesaris	Tyrrell	+2.556s	—
12	6	Riccardo Patrese	Benetton	+2.872s	—
13	25	Martin Brundle	Ligier	+2.910s	—
14	12	Johnny Herbert	Lotus	+2.998s	—
15	28	Gerhard Berger	Ferrari	+3.670s	—
16	7	Michael Andretti	McLaren	+4.235s	—
17	20	Erik Comas	Larrousse	+4.544s	—
18	24	Pierluigi Martini	Minardi	+4.590s	—
19	19	Philippe Alliot	Larrousse	+4.627s	—
20	14	Rubens Barrichello	Jordan	+5.402s	—
21	23	Christian Fittipaldi	Minardi	+5.576s	—
22	15	Thierry Boutsen	Jordan	+5.693s	—
23	3	Ukyo Katayama	Tyrrell	+5.749s	—
24	22	Luca Badoer	Lola	+6.412s	—
25	21	Michele Alboreto	Lola	+7.640s	—

Saturday Qualifying

Alain Prost produced a 1:47.571 on Saturday to take pole by almost nine-tenths from Damon Hill. Michael Schumacher remained third, while Jean Alesi improved to fourth ahead of Ayrton Senna. Suzuki and Derek Warwick qualified sixth and seventh, confirming Footwork‘s strong weekend.

Saturday Qualifying Classification

1993 Belgian Grand Prix second qualifying session, 28 August 1993

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Time	Laps
1	2	Alain Prost	Williams	1:47.571	9
2	0	Damon Hill	Williams	1:48.466	10
3	5	Michael Schumacher	Benetton	1:49.075	9
4	27	Jean Alesi	Ferrari	1:49.825	12
5	8	Ayrton Senna	McLaren	1:49.934	8
6	10	Aguri Suzuki	Footwork	1:50.329	12
7	9	Derek Warwick	Footwork	1:50.628	12
8	6	Riccardo Patrese	Benetton	1:51.017	12
9	30	Jyrki Jarvilehto	Sauber	1:51.048	10
10	12	Johnny Herbert	Lotus	1:51.139	12
11	25	Martin Brundle	Ligier	1:51.350	12
12	29	Karl Wendlinger	Sauber	1:51.440	12
13	14	Rubens Barrichello	Jordan	1:51.711	12
14	7	Michael Andretti	McLaren	1:51.833	12
15	26	Mark Blundell	Ligier	1:51.916	12
16	28	Gerhard Berger	Ferrari	1:52.080	6
17	4	Andrea de Cesaris	Tyrrell	1:52.647	12
18	19	Philippe Alliot	Larrousse	1:52.907	12
19	20	Erik Comas	Larrousse	1:53.186	12
20	15	Thierry Boutsen	Jordan	1:53.465	11
21	24	Pierluigi Martini	Minardi	1:53.526	12
22	23	Christian Fittipaldi	Minardi	1:53.942	12
23	3	Ukyo Katayama	Tyrrell	1:54.551	11
24	22	Luca Badoer	Lola	1:54.978	11
25	21	Michele Alboreto	Lola	1:55.965	11

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	2	Alain Prost	Williams	1:48.794	1:47.571	1:47.571	—
2	0	Damon Hill	Williams	1:48.716	1:48.466	1:48.466	—
3	5	Michael Schumacher	Benetton	1:50.305	1:49.075	1:49.075	—
4	27	Jean Alesi	Ferrari	1:52.159	1:49.825	1:49.825	—
5	8	Ayrton Senna	McLaren	1:51.385	1:49.934	1:49.934	—
6	10	Aguri Suzuki	Footwork	1:51.904	1:50.329	1:50.329	—
7	9	Derek Warwick	Footwork	1:52.730	1:50.628	1:50.628	—
8	6	Riccardo Patrese	Benetton	1:51.925	1:51.017	1:51.017	—
9	30	JJ Lehto	Sauber	1:52.210	1:51.048	1:51.048	—
10	12	Johnny Herbert	Lotus	1:52.369	1:51.139	1:51.139	—
11	25	Martin Brundle	Ligier	1:53.323	1:51.350	1:51.350	—
12	29	Karl Wendlinger	Sauber	1:53.139	1:51.440	1:51.440	—
13	14	Rubens Barrichello	Jordan	1:53.235	1:51.711	1:51.711	—
14	7	Michael Andretti	McLaren	1:53.554	1:51.833	1:51.833	—
15	26	Mark Blundell	Ligier	1:53.030	1:51.916	1:51.916	—
16	28	Gerhard Berger	Ferrari	1:52.689	1:52.080	1:52.080	—
17	4	Andrea de Cesaris	Tyrrell	1:53.559	1:52.647	1:52.647	—
18	19	Philippe Alliot	Larrousse	1:56.822	1:52.907	1:52.907	—
19	20	Érik Comas	Larrousse	1:56.072	1:53.186	1:53.186	—
20	15	Thierry Boutsen	Jordan	1:55.382	1:53.465	1:53.465	—
21	24	Pierluigi Martini	Minardi	1:54.968	1:53.526	1:53.526	—
22	23	Christian Fittipaldi	Minardi	1:56.947	1:53.942	1:53.942	—
23	3	Ukyo Katayama	Tyrrell	1:55.271	1:54.551	1:54.551	—
24	22	Luca Badoer	Lola	1:57.599	1:54.978	1:54.978	—
25	21	Michele Alboreto	Lola	1:57.852	1:55.965	1:55.965	—
NC	11	Alessandro Zanardi	Lotus	—	—	—	—

Sunday warm-up

Damon Hill set the warm-up pace, but Ferrari faced an urgent safety concern when Jean Alesi felt the rear suspension give way at Eau Rouge. The team found a broken pushrod and reinforced the components before the race. Jean Alesi elected to start, while Gerhard Berger‘s last-minute switch to the spare car left him beginning from the pits.

Warm-up Classification

1993 Belgian Grand Prix Warm-up, 29 August 1993

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Time / Gap	Laps
1	0	Damon Hill	Williams	1:53.194	—
2	5	Michael Schumacher	Benetton	+0.363s	—
3	2	Alain Prost	Williams	+1.380s	—
4	8	Ayrton Senna	McLaren	+1.608s	—
5	25	Martin Brundle	Ligier	+2.210s	—
6	30	Jyrki Jarvilehto	Sauber	+2.356s	—
7	12	Johnny Herbert	Lotus	+3.121s	—
8	7	Michael Andretti	McLaren	+3.331s	—
9	29	Karl Wendlinger	Sauber	+3.474s	—
10	10	Aguri Suzuki	Footwork	+3.519s	—
11	9	Derek Warwick	Footwork	+3.526s	—
12	26	Mark Blundell	Ligier	+3.588s	—
13	4	Andrea de Cesaris	Tyrrell	+3.599s	—
14	28	Gerhard Berger	Ferrari	+3.924s	—
15	14	Rubens Barrichello	Jordan	+4.003s	—
16	6	Riccardo Patrese	Benetton	+4.246s	—
17	23	Christian Fittipaldi	Minardi	+4.304s	—
18	27	Jean Alesi	Ferrari	+4.837s	—
19	24	Pierluigi Martini	Minardi	+4.851s	—
20	19	Philippe Alliot	Larrousse	+5.085s	—
21	20	Erik Comas	Larrousse	+5.449s	—
22	15	Thierry Boutsen	Jordan	+5.878s	—
23	22	Luca Badoer	Lola	+6.506s	—
24	3	Ukyo Katayama	Tyrrell	+6.598s	—
25	21	Michele Alboreto	Lola	+8.051s	—

What happened in the 1993 Belgian Grand Prix?

Alain Prost led away, while Ayrton Senna briefly moved ahead of Damon Hill. Damon Hill regained second and the Williams pair pulled clear. Michael Schumacher recovered from a poor start and battled past Ayrton Senna, while Jean Alesi withdrew with renewed suspension concerns and Thierry Boutsen‘s farewell ended almost immediately with gearbox failure.

A slow second stop cost Alain Prost the lead. Damon Hill moved ahead, and Michael Schumacher also passed the Frenchman to take second. Alain Prost responded with the fastest lap but could not recover the lost positions before the finish.

Damon Hill won by 3.6 seconds from Michael Schumacher, with Alain Prost third. Ayrton Senna finished fourth, Johnny Herbert fifth and Riccardo Patrese sixth. Williams clinched the constructors’ championship, while Johnny Herbert‘s result would prove to be the original Lotus team’s final points finish.

After the race, Alain Prost headed the drivers’ standings with 81 points, followed by Ayrton Senna on 53. Williams led the constructors’ table on 129, with Benetton on 60.

1993 Belgian Grand Prix race results

The 1993 Belgian Grand Prix was held on 29 August 1993, with a scheduled start of 14:00 local time.

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Laps	Time / Retired	Pts.
1	0	Damon Hill	Williams	44	1:24:32.124	10
2	5	Michael Schumacher	Benetton	44	+ 3.668	6
3	2	Alain Prost	Williams	44	+ 14.988	4
4	8	Ayrton Senna	McLaren	44	+ 1:39.763	3
5	12	Johnny Herbert	Lotus	43	+ 1 lap	2
6	6	Riccardo Patrese	Benetton	43	+ 1 lap	1
7	25	Martin Brundle	Ligier	43	+ 1 lap	0
8	7	Michael Andretti	McLaren	43	+ 1 lap	0
9	30	JJ Lehto	Sauber	43	+ 1 lap	0
10	28	Gerhard Berger	Ferrari	42	Collision	0
11	26	Mark Blundell	Ligier	42	Collision	0
12	19	Philippe Alliot	Larrousse	42	+ 2 laps	0
13	22	Luca Badoer	Lola	42	+ 2 laps	0
14	21	Michele Alboreto	Lola	41	+ 3 laps	0
15	3	Ukyo Katayama	Tyrrell	40	+ 4 laps	0
Ret	20	Érik Comas	Larrousse	37	Fuel pump	0
Ret	9	Derek Warwick	Footwork	28	Engine	0
Ret	29	Karl Wendlinger	Sauber	27	Engine	0
Ret	4	Andrea de Cesaris	Tyrrell	24	Engine	0
Ret	23	Christian Fittipaldi	Minardi	15	Accident	0
Ret	24	Pierluigi Martini	Minardi	15	Spun off	0
Ret	10	Aguri Suzuki	Footwork	14	Gearbox	0
Ret	14	Rubens Barrichello	Jordan	11	Wheel bearing	0
Ret	27	Jean Alesi	Ferrari	4	Suspension	0
Ret	15	Thierry Boutsen	Jordan	0	Gearbox	0
DNQ	11	Alessandro Zanardi	Lotus			0

1993 Belgian Grand Prix Fastest Laps

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Lap	Time
1	2	Alain Prost	Williams	41	1:51.095
2	0	Damon Hill	Williams	40	1:51.212
3	5	Michael Schumacher	Benetton	38	1:51.242
4	26	Mark Blundell	Ligier	34	1:54.059
5	8	Ayrton Senna	McLaren	34	1:54.185
6	7	Michael Andretti	McLaren	33	1:54.614
7	28	Gerhard Berger	Ferrari	38	1:55.240
8	12	Johnny Herbert	Lotus	37	1:55.334
9	30	Jyrki Jarvilehto	Sauber	33	1:55.475
10	25	Martin Brundle	Ligier	40	1:55.478
11	6	Riccardo Patrese	Benetton	34	1:55.681
12	29	Karl Wendlinger	Sauber	27	1:56.632
13	20	Erik Comas	Larrousse	34	1:57.134
14	19	Philippe Alliot	Larrousse	34	1:57.390
15	9	Derek Warwick	Footwork	19	1:58.396
16	10	Aguri Suzuki	Footwork	13	1:58.780
17	4	Andrea de Cesaris	Tyrrell	24	1:58.866
18	22	Luca Badoer	Lola	35	1:59.228
19	27	Jean Alesi	Ferrari	3	1:59.283
20	14	Rubens Barrichello	Jordan	7	1:59.554
21	24	Pierluigi Martini	Minardi	10	2:00.006
22	3	Ukyo Katayama	Tyrrell	36	2:00.111
23	23	Christian Fittipaldi	Minardi	14	2:00.292
24	21	Michele Alboreto	Lola	31	2:00.927

Only drivers with a recorded lap time appear. No fastest-lap bonus point was awarded.

1993 Post-Race F1 Championship Standings

Championship standings after the 1993 Belgian Grand Prix.

1993 Post-Race F1 Drivers' Championship Standings

POS	Driver	Nationality	Car	PTS
1	Alain Prost	French	Williams	81
2	Ayrton Senna	Brazilian	McLaren	53
3	Damon Hill	British	Williams	48
4	Michael Schumacher	German	Benetton	42
5	Riccardo Patrese	Italian	Benetton	18
6	Martin Brundle	British	Ligier	11
7	Johnny Herbert	British	Lotus	11
8	Mark Blundell	British	Ligier	10
9	Gerhard Berger	Austrian	Ferrari	10
10	Christian Fittipaldi	Brazilian	Minardi	5
11	JJ Lehto	Finnish	Sauber	5
12	Jean Alesi	French	Ferrari	4
13	Derek Warwick	British	Footwork	4
14	Michael Andretti	American	McLaren	3
15	Philippe Alliot	French	Larrousse	2
16	Karl Wendlinger	Austrian	Sauber	2
17	Fabrizio Barbazza	Italian	Minardi	2
18	Alessandro Zanardi	Italian	Lotus	1
–	Rubens Barrichello	Brazilian	Jordan	0
–	Luca Badoer	Italian	Lola	0
–	Érik Comas	French	Larrousse	0
–	Aguri Suzuki	Japanese	Footwork	0
–	Thierry Boutsen	Belgian	Jordan	0
–	Andrea de Cesaris	Italian	Tyrrell	0
–	Ukyo Katayama	Japanese	Tyrrell	0
–	Michele Alboreto	Italian	Lola	0
–	Pierluigi Martini	Italian	Minardi	0
–	Ivan Capelli	Italian	Jordan	0

1993 Post-Race F1 Constructors' Championship Standings

POS	Car	PTS
1	Williams	129
2	Benetton	60
3	McLaren	56
4	Ligier	21
5	Ferrari	14
6	Lotus	12
7	Minardi	7
8	Sauber	7
9	Footwork	4
10	Larrousse	2
–	Jordan	0
–	Lola	0
–	Tyrrell	0

1993 Formula 1 Race Calendar

Round	Grand Prix	Circuit	Date
1	1993 South African Grand Prix	Kyalami, Midrand	14 March
2	1993 Brazilian Grand Prix	Autódromo José Carlos Pace, São Paulo	28 March
3	1993 European Grand Prix	Donington Park, Castle Donington	11 April
4	1993 San Marino Grand Prix	Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari, Imola	25 April
5	1993 Spanish Grand Prix	Circuit de Catalunya, Montmeló	9 May
6	1993 Monaco Grand Prix	Circuit de Monaco, Monte Carlo	23 May
7	1993 Canadian Grand Prix	Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve, Montréal	13 June
8	1993 French Grand Prix	Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours, Magny-Cours	4 July
9	1993 British Grand Prix	Silverstone Circuit, Silverstone	11 July
10	1993 German Grand Prix	Hockenheimring, Hockenheim	25 July
11	1993 Hungarian Grand Prix	Hungaroring, Mogyoród	15 August
12	1993 Belgian Grand Prix	Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, Stavelot	29 August
13	1993 Italian Grand Prix	Autodromo Nazionale di Monza, Monza	12 September
14	1993 Portuguese Grand Prix	Autódromo do Estoril, Estoril	26 September
15	1993 Japanese Grand Prix	Suzuka International Racing Course, Suzuka	24 October
16	1993 Australian Grand Prix	Adelaide Street Circuit, Adelaide	7 November