1999 Belgian Grand Prix: F1 Race, Qualifying & Winners

David Coulthard won the Belgian Grand Prix at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps after beating Mika Häkkinen into the opening corner. McLaren secured another one-two finish, with Heinz-Harald Frentzen third for Jordan and both championship leads changing hands.

Result	Driver / Time	Team
Pole position	Mika Häkkinen	McLaren
Pole time	1:50.329
Fastest lap	Mika Hakkinen	McLaren
Fastest-lap time	1:53.955 on lap 23
First	David Coulthard	McLaren
Second	Mika Häkkinen	McLaren
Third	Heinz-Harald Frentzen	Jordan

Weekend Schedule

Date	Session	Local Time
27 August 1999	Practice 1	11:00
27 August 1999	Practice 2	13:00
28 August 1999	Practice 3	09:00
28 August 1999	Practice 4	10:15
28 August 1999	Qualifying	13:00
29 August 1999	Warm-up	09:30
29 August 1999	Race	14:00

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

Championship background

Eddie Irvine arrived at round 12 leading the 1999 F1 World Championship on 56 points, with Mika Häkkinen on 54. Ferrari headed the constructors’ standings after the preceding race with 94 points.

Race entries

Mika Salo remained at Ferrari after Michael Schumacher‘s test at Mugello showed he was not yet ready to return. Several drivers had settled their plans for the following year: Mika Salo was heading to Sauber, Jean Alesi to Prost and Jarno Trulli to Jordan, but their current teams’ line-ups remained unchanged.

Free Practice

Dry, sunny conditions greeted opening practice, with Häkkinen fastest despite running straight on at the Bus Stop chicane. Williams evaluated small wing changes but reported oversteer in the faster corners. Jean Alesi‘s Sauber bottomed out at Eau Rouge, while Jacques Villeneuve stopped with a suspected hydraulic failure.

David Coulthard moved ahead of Häkkinen in the afternoon, although both encountered traffic on fresh tyres. Heinz-Harald Frentzen crashed heavily after running wide, escaping injury. Jacques Villeneuve suffered a front-suspension failure under braking for Les Combes, prompting BAR to halt Ricardo Zonta‘s running while it investigated. Ferrari continued searching for a better balance.

Friday Practice Classification — Combined

1999 Belgian Grand Prix opening-day practice, 27 August 1999

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Time / Gap	Laps
1	2	David Coulthard	McLaren	1:53.577	28
2	1	Mika Hakkinen	McLaren	+0.444s	24
3	9	Giancarlo Fisichella	Benetton	+0.489s	29
4	8	Heinz-Harald Frentzen	Jordan	+1.101s	20
5	7	Damon Hill	Jordan	+1.315s	27
6	6	Ralf Schumacher	Williams	+1.322s	27
7	17	Johnny Herbert	Stewart	+1.398s	25
8	3	Mika Salo	Ferrari	+1.455s	36
9	4	Eddie Irvine	Ferrari	+1.665s	27
10	11	Jean Alesi	Sauber	+1.694s	30
11	16	Rubens Barrichello	Stewart	+1.907s	25
12	10	Alexander Wurz	Benetton	+1.909s	28
13	18	Olivier Panis	Prost	+1.964s	34
14	5	Alessandro Zanardi	Williams	+2.166s	31
15	20	Luca Badoer	Minardi	+2.513s	31
16	15	Toranosuke Takagi	Arrows	+2.686s	27
17	12	Pedro Diniz	Sauber	+2.733s	25
18	22	Jacques Villeneuve	BAR	+2.852s	18
19	14	Pedro de la Rosa	Arrows	+3.172s	37
20	19	Jarno Trulli	Prost	+3.188s	32
21	21	Marc Gene	Minardi	+3.278s	32
22	23	Ricardo Zonta	BAR	+4.140s	22

BAR returned on Saturday with strengthened suspension components flown in overnight. Prost‘s morning began badly: Jarno Trulli stopped with a throttle-actuator problem and Olivier Panis suffered an engine failure. Häkkinen compared the available tyre compounds in race trim, while Alessandro Zanardi tried different brake-disc materials as Williams worked through its setup programme.

Heinz-Harald Frentzen topped the final practice session ahead of Ralf Schumacher, raising Jordan‘s hopes for qualifying. Prost got both cars running again, although Olivier Panis had little time with his replacement engine. Giancarlo Fisichella crashed at the final corner and Alexander Wurz stopped on track, while Eddie Irvine continued adjusting the wings in search of a more comfortable Ferrari.

Saturday Practice Classification — Combined

1999 Belgian Grand Prix Saturday practice, 28 August 1999

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Time / Gap	Laps
1	8	Heinz-Harald Frentzen	Jordan	1:51.047	23
2	6	Ralf Schumacher	Williams	+0.370s	25
3	2	David Coulthard	McLaren	+0.682s	23
4	7	Damon Hill	Jordan	+0.786s	21
5	22	Jacques Villeneuve	BAR	+1.064s	29
6	4	Eddie Irvine	Ferrari	+1.113s	21
7	1	Mika Hakkinen	McLaren	+1.212s	20
8	3	Mika Salo	Ferrari	+1.481s	22
9	16	Rubens Barrichello	Stewart	+1.722s	22
10	17	Johnny Herbert	Stewart	+1.802s	23
11	19	Jarno Trulli	Prost	+2.014s	20
12	5	Alessandro Zanardi	Williams	+2.254s	20
13	11	Jean Alesi	Sauber	+2.270s	20
14	10	Alexander Wurz	Benetton	+2.278s	18
15	9	Giancarlo Fisichella	Benetton	+2.416s	16
16	18	Olivier Panis	Prost	+2.548s	16
17	23	Ricardo Zonta	BAR	+2.879s	15
18	12	Pedro Diniz	Sauber	+3.065s	26
19	15	Toranosuke Takagi	Arrows	+3.211s	23
20	14	Pedro de la Rosa	Arrows	+3.545s	25
21	20	Luca Badoer	Minardi	+3.721s	22
22	21	Marc Gene	Minardi	+3.813s	26

Each practice table combines that day’s two sessions, showing each driver’s best time and total laps.

Qualifying

Häkkinen claimed pole with a 1:50.329, with David Coulthard alongside him. Heinz-Harald Frentzen and Damon Hill locked out the second row for Jordan, followed by Ralf Schumacher and Eddie Irvine. McLaren had a clear advantage over the rest, while Ferrari faced a difficult afternoon from sixth and ninth.

The session was interrupted by separate, violent accidents for Jacques Villeneuve and Ricardo Zonta at Eau Rouge. Both drivers escaped serious injury, but the crashes left BAR with extensive work before the race. Heinz-Harald Frentzen felt the interruptions had cost him a chance to improve, although third still put him at the head of the pursuit.

Qualifying Classification

1999 Belgian Grand Prix Qualifying, 28 August 1999

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Time	Laps
1	1	Mika Häkkinen	McLaren	1:50.329	8
2	2	David Coulthard	McLaren	1:50.484	9
3	8	Heinz-Harald Frentzen	Jordan	1:51.332	10
4	7	Damon Hill	Jordan	1:51.372	10
5	6	Ralf Schumacher	Williams	1:51.414	9
6	4	Eddie Irvine	Ferrari	1:51.895	12
7	16	Rubens Barrichello	Stewart	1:51.974	11
8	5	Alessandro Zanardi	Williams	1:52.014	12
9	3	Mika Salo	Ferrari	1:52.124	10
10	17	Johnny Herbert	Stewart	1:52.164	12
11	22	Jacques Villeneuve	BAR	1:52.235	8
12	19	Jarno Trulli	Prost	1:52.644	11
13	9	Giancarlo Fisichella	Benetton	1:52.762	12
14	23	Ricardo Zonta	BAR	1:52.840	8
15	10	Alexander Wurz	Benetton	1:52.847	11
16	11	Jean Alesi	Sauber	1:52.921	12
17	18	Olivier Panis	Prost	1:53.148	12
18	12	Pedro Diniz	Sauber	1:53.778	10
19	15	Toranosuke Takagi	Arrows	1:54.099	11
20	20	Luca Badoer	Minardi	1:54.197	11
21	21	Marc Gené	Minardi	1:54.557	12
22	14	Pedro de la Rosa	Arrows	1:54.579	12

Sunday warm-up

Sunday’s half-hour warm-up began at 09:30, with Häkkinen fastest and Ralf Schumacher close behind. Both BAR drivers returned to running after their enormous qualifying accidents, completing the final preparations for the race. The dry conditions offered a very different prospect from the previous year’s rain-soaked Grand Prix.

Warm-up Classification

1999 Belgian Grand Prix Warm-up, 29 August 1999

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Time / Gap	Laps
1	1	Mika Hakkinen	McLaren	1:54.019	10
2	6	Ralf Schumacher	Williams	+0.236s	12
3	18	Olivier Panis	Prost	+0.738s	11
4	11	Jean Alesi	Sauber	+0.780s	12
5	7	Damon Hill	Jordan	+0.869s	10
6	4	Eddie Irvine	Ferrari	+0.887s	12
7	2	David Coulthard	McLaren	+0.904s	11
8	17	Johnny Herbert	Stewart	+1.310s	11
9	10	Alexander Wurz	Benetton	+1.344s	13
10	5	Alessandro Zanardi	Williams	+1.347s	10
11	19	Jarno Trulli	Prost	+1.375s	13
12	8	Heinz-Harald Frentzen	Jordan	+1.390s	13
13	3	Mika Salo	Ferrari	+1.415s	14
14	16	Rubens Barrichello	Stewart	+1.466s	11
15	22	Jacques Villeneuve	BAR	+1.719s	8
16	21	Marc Gene	Minardi	+1.824s	11
17	9	Giancarlo Fisichella	Benetton	+1.867s	14
18	12	Pedro Diniz	Sauber	+2.971s	12
19	15	Toranosuke Takagi	Arrows	+3.536s	10
20	14	Pedro de la Rosa	Arrows	+3.854s	10
21	20	Luca Badoer	Minardi	+4.194s	9
22	23	Ricardo Zonta	BAR	+4.423s	8

What happened in the 1999 Belgian Grand Prix?

David Coulthard attacked around the outside of Häkkinen at La Source, with the two McLarens making light contact. David Coulthard emerged ahead and controlled the race from there, leading every lap. Häkkinen followed him home in second, around ten seconds behind.

Heinz-Harald Frentzen finished third for Jordan, while Eddie Irvine could manage only fourth. Ralf Schumacher took fifth and Damon Hill sixth, the latter collecting what would be his final Formula 1 points. Jacques Villeneuve finally reached the chequered flag for the first time that season after BAR‘s difficult opening twelve races.

Häkkinen regained the championship lead by a single point over Eddie Irvine. McLaren also moved ahead of Ferrari in the constructors’ standings, by nine points. David Coulthard‘s second win of the season kept him involved in a title contest that remained unusually open heading into the final four rounds.

After the race, Mika Häkkinen headed the drivers’ standings with 60 points, followed by Eddie Irvine on 59. McLaren led the constructors’ table on 106, with Ferrari on 97.

1999 Belgian Grand Prix race results

The 1999 Belgian Grand Prix was held on 29 August 1999, with a scheduled start of 14:00 local time.

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Laps	Time / Retired	Pts.
1	2	David Coulthard	McLaren	44	1:25:43.057	10
2	1	Mika Häkkinen	McLaren	44	+ 10.469	6
3	8	Heinz-Harald Frentzen	Jordan	44	+ 33.433	4
4	4	Eddie Irvine	Ferrari	44	+ 44.948	3
5	6	Ralf Schumacher	Williams	44	+ 48.067	2
6	7	Damon Hill	Jordan	44	+ 54.916	1
7	3	Mika Salo	Ferrari	44	+ 56.249	0
8	5	Alessandro Zanardi	Williams	44	+ 1:07.022	0
9	11	Jean Alesi	Sauber	44	+ 1:13.848	0
10	16	Rubens Barrichello	Stewart	44	+ 1:20.742	0
11	9	Giancarlo Fisichella	Benetton	44	+ 1:32.195	0
12	19	Jarno Trulli	Prost	44	+ 1:36.154	0
13	18	Olivier Panis	Prost	44	+ 1:41.543	0
14	10	Alexander Wurz	Benetton	44	+ 1:57.745	0
15	22	Jacques Villeneuve	BAR	43	+ 1 lap	0
16	21	Marc Gené	Minardi	43	+ 1 lap	0
Ret	14	Pedro de la Rosa	Arrows	35	Transmission	0
Ret	20	Luca Badoer	Minardi	33	Suspension	0
Ret	23	Ricardo Zonta	BAR	33	Gearbox	0
Ret	17	Johnny Herbert	Stewart	27	Brakes	0
Ret	12	Pedro Diniz	Sauber	19	Spun off	0
Ret	15	Toranosuke Takagi	Arrows	0	Clutch	0

1999 Belgian Grand Prix Fastest Laps

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Lap	Time	Avg. Speed
1	1	Mika Hakkinen	McLaren	23	1:53.955	220.128
2	2	David Coulthard	McLaren	28	1:54.088	219.872
3	7	Damon Hill	Jordan	25	1:54.954	218.215
4	3	Mika Salo	Ferrari	43	1:55.299	217.563
5	8	Heinz-Harald Frentzen	Jordan	24	1:55.412	217.350
6	4	Eddie Irvine	Ferrari	27	1:55.582	217.030
7	5	Alessandro Zanardi	Williams	33	1:55.786	216.647
8	6	Ralf Schumacher	Williams	27	1:55.964	216.315
9	11	Jean Alesi	Sauber	31	1:56.016	216.218
10	16	Rubens Barrichello	Stewart	34	1:56.131	216.004
11	19	Jarno Trulli	Prost	28	1:56.367	215.566
12	18	Olivier Panis	Prost	24	1:56.681	214.986
13	21	Marc Gene	Minardi	27	1:56.789	214.787
14	9	Giancarlo Fisichella	Benetton	27	1:57.037	214.332
15	17	Johnny Herbert	Stewart	18	1:57.094	214.227
16	10	Alexander Wurz	Benetton	27	1:57.526	213.440
17	22	Jacques Villeneuve	BAR	23	1:57.619	213.271
18	20	Luca Badoer	Minardi	31	1:57.929	212.711
19	12	Pedro Diniz	Sauber	12	1:58.179	212.261
20	14	Pedro de la Rosa	Arrows	16	1:58.480	211.721
21	23	Ricardo Zonta	BAR	25	1:58.918	210.941

Only drivers with a recorded lap time appear. Average speeds are in km/h. No fastest-lap bonus point was awarded.

1999 Post-Race F1 Championship Standings

Championship standings after the 1999 Belgian Grand Prix.

1999 Post-Race F1 Drivers' Championship Standings

POS	Driver	Nationality	Car	PTS
1	Mika Häkkinen	Finnish	McLaren	60
2	Eddie Irvine	British	Ferrari	59
3	David Coulthard	British	McLaren	46
4	Heinz-Harald Frentzen	German	Jordan	40
5	Michael Schumacher	German	Ferrari	32
6	Ralf Schumacher	German	Williams	24
7	Giancarlo Fisichella	Italian	Benetton	13
8	Rubens Barrichello	Brazilian	Stewart	12
9	Damon Hill	British	Jordan	7
10	Mika Salo	Finnish	BAR / Ferrari	6
11	Alexander Wurz	Austrian	Benetton	3
12	Pedro Diniz	Brazilian	Sauber	3
13	Johnny Herbert	British	Stewart	2
14	Olivier Panis	French	Prost	2
15	Jarno Trulli	Italian	Prost	1
16	Jean Alesi	French	Sauber	1
17	Pedro de la Rosa	Spanish	Arrows	1
–	Toranosuke Takagi	Japanese	Arrows	0
–	Alessandro Zanardi	Italian	Williams	0
–	Marc Gené	Spanish	Minardi	0
–	Luca Badoer	Italian	Minardi	0
–	Ricardo Zonta	Brazilian	BAR	0
–	Jacques Villeneuve	Canadian	BAR	0
–	Stéphane Sarrazin	French	Minardi	0

1999 Post-Race F1 Constructors' Championship Standings

POS	Car	PTS
1	McLaren	106
2	Ferrari	97
3	Jordan	47
4	Williams	24
5	Benetton	16
6	Stewart	14
7	Sauber	4
8	Prost	3
9	Arrows	1
–	BAR	0
–	Minardi	0

1999 Formula 1 Race Calendar

Round	Grand Prix	Circuit	Date
1	1999 Australian Grand Prix	Albert Park Circuit, Melbourne	7 March
2	1999 Brazilian Grand Prix	Autódromo José Carlos Pace, São Paulo	11 April
3	1999 San Marino Grand Prix	Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari, Imola	2 May
4	1999 Monaco Grand Prix	Circuit de Monaco, Monte Carlo	16 May
5	1999 Spanish Grand Prix	Circuit de Catalunya, Montmeló	30 May
6	1999 Canadian Grand Prix	Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve, Montréal	13 June
7	1999 French Grand Prix	Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours, Magny-Cours	27 June
8	1999 British Grand Prix	Silverstone Circuit, Silverstone	11 July
9	1999 Austrian Grand Prix	A1-Ring, Spielberg	25 July
10	1999 German Grand Prix	Hockenheimring, Hockenheim	1 August
11	1999 Hungarian Grand Prix	Hungaroring, Mogyoród	15 August
12	1999 Belgian Grand Prix	Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, Stavelot	29 August
13	1999 Italian Grand Prix	Autodromo Nazionale di Monza, Monza	12 September
14	1999 European Grand Prix	Nürburgring, Nürburg	26 September
15	1999 Malaysian Grand Prix	Sepang International Circuit, Sepang	17 October
16	1999 Japanese Grand Prix	Suzuka International Racing Course, Suzuka	31 October