What Happened On This Day August 28 In F1 History?

From Mclaren winning the Constructors' Championship in 1988 at the Belgian Grand Prix to the death of F1 legend Phil Hill in 2008.

Lee Parker

By Lee Parker
Updated on May 22, 2025

Phil Hill Died 28 August 2008
F1 World Champion Phil Hill was born on April 19, 1927 and died on 28 August 2008 // Image: Bernard Cahier / Getty Images

What happened on this day, August 28 in Formula 1 history? Find out interesting facts and stories about Formula 1 on this day.

1977

Austrian and Ferrari driver Niki Lauda won the 1977 Dutch Grand Prix ahead of Ligier driver Jacques Laffite and Jody Scheckter in the Wolf. Along with the win Lauda secured the fastest lap with a time of 1:19.99 on lap 72. Mario Andretti took his fifth pole of the season for Lotus with Jacques Laffite alongside on the front row, and the McLaren of James Hunt third.

1977 Dutch Grand Prix Race Results

PosNoDriverCarLapsTime/retiredPts
111Niki LaudaFerrari751:41:45.9309
226Jacques LaffiteLigier Matra75+1.890s6
320Jody ScheckterWolf Ford74+1 lap4
428Emerson FittipaldiFittipaldi Ford74+1 lap3
523Patrick TambayEnsign Ford73DNF2
612Carlos ReutemannFerrari73+2 laps1
78Hans-Joachim StuckBrabham Alfa Romeo73+2 laps0
835Hans BinderPenske Ford73+2 laps0
930Brett LungerMcLaren Ford73+2 laps0
1010Ian ScheckterMarch Ford73+2 laps0
119Alex RibeiroMarch Ford72+3 laps0
1219Vittorio BrambillaSurtees Ford67DNF0
1316Riccardo PatreseShadow Ford67+8 laps0
DQ38Brian HentonBoro Ford52DSQ0
NC15Jean-Pierre JabouilleRenault39DNF0
NC6Gunnar NilssonLotus Ford34DNF0
NC17Alan  JonesShadow Ford32DNF0
NC4Patrick DepaillerTyrrell Ford31DNF0
NC3Ronnie PetersonTyrrell Ford18DNF0
NC22Clay RegazzoniEnsign Ford17DNF0
NC5Mario AndrettiLotus Ford14DNF0
NC24Rupert KeeganHesketh Ford8DNF0
NC1James HuntMcLaren Ford5DNF0
NC34Jean-Pierre JarierPenske Ford4DNF0
NC7John WatsonBrabham Alfa Romeo2DNF0
NC2Jochen MassMcLaren Ford0DNF0

1983

Rene Arnoux won the 1983 Dutch Grand Prix, driving for Ferrari. His teammate Patrick Tambay finished second, and John Watson took third place in a McLaren. Midway through the race, while they were battling for the lead, a collision between Alain Prost and Nelson Piquet allowed Arnoux to climb to second place in the Drivers’ Championship, just eight points behind Prost. However, this would prove to be Arnoux’s final win in Formula One.

Derek Warwick finished fourth, earning his and the Toleman team’s first championship points. Rounding out the top six were Mauro Baldi in the Alfa Romeo and Michele Alboreto in the Tyrrell. The race also saw McLaren debut the new Porsche-built TAG turbo engine.

1983 Dutch Grand Prix Race Results

PosNoDriverCarLapsTime/retiredPts
128Rene ArnouxFerrari721:38:41.9509
227Patrick TambayFerrari72+20.839s6
37John WatsonMcLaren Ford72+43.741s4
435Derek WarwickToleman Hart72+76.839s3
523Mauro BaldiAlfa Romeo72+84.292s2
63Michele AlboretoTyrrell Ford71+1 lap1
740Stefan JohanssonSpirit Honda70+2 laps0
829Marc SurerArrows Ford70+2 laps0
96Riccardo PatreseBrabham BMW70+2 laps0
1026Raul BoeselLigier Ford70+2 laps0
1131Corrado FabiOsella Alfa Romeo68DNF0
1233Roberto GuerreroTheodore Ford68+4 laps0
1336Bruno GiacomelliToleman Hart68+4 laps0
1430Thierry BoutsenArrows Ford65DNF0
NC1Keke RosbergWilliams Ford53DNF0
NC5Nelson PiquetBrabham BMW41DNF0
NC15Alain ProstRenault41DNF0
NC16Eddie  CheeverRenault39DNF0
NC2Jacques LaffiteWilliams Ford37DNF0
NC12Nigel MansellLotus Renault26DNF0
NC8Niki LaudaMcLaren TAG25DNF0
NC4Danny SullivanTyrrell Ford20DNF0
NC11Elio de AngelisLotus Renault12DNF0
NC22Andrea de CesarisAlfa Romeo5DNF0
NC25Jean-Pierre JarierLigier Ford3DNF0

1988

McLaren driver Ayrton Senna won the 1988 Belgian Grand Prix from pole position, with his French teammate Alain Prost finishing second. Italy’s Ivan Capelli secured third place in a March-Judd after the Benettons of local driver Thierry Boutsen and Italian Alessandro Nannini were disqualified due to fuel irregularities.

The win marked Senna’s seventh win of the season and his fourth consecutive triumph, giving him a three-point lead over Prost in the 1988 Drivers’ Championship. He would win that year, marking his first of three career Championships. McLaren’s 1-2 finish secured the 1988 Constructors’ Championship for the British team with five races still to go.

Formula One History Recommends

1988 Belgian Grand Prix Race Results

PosNoDriverCarLapsTime/retiredPts
112Ayrton SennaMcLaren Honda431:28:00.5499
211Alain ProstMcLaren Honda43+30.470s6
DQ20Thierry BoutsenBenetton Ford43+59.681s0
DQ19Alessandro NanniniBenetton Ford43+68.594s0
316Ivan CapelliMarch Judd43+75.768s4
41Nelson PiquetLotus Honda43+83.628s3
517Derek WarwickArrows Megatron43+85.355s2
618Eddie  CheeverArrows Megatron42+1 lap1
75Martin BrundleWilliams Judd42+1 lap0
836Alex CaffiDallara Ford42+1 lap0
930Philippe AlliotLola Ford42+1 lap0
1014Philippe StreiffAGS Ford42+1 lap0
1126Stefan JohanssonLigier Judd39DNF0
123Jonathan  PalmerTyrrell Ford39DNF0
1310Bernd SchneiderZakspeed38DNF0
NC31Gabriele TarquiniColoni Ford36+7 laps0
NC27Michele AlboretoFerrari35DNF0
NC6Riccardo PatreseWilliams Judd30DNF0
NC15Mauricio GugelminMarch Judd29DNF0
NC9Piercarlo GhinzaniZakspeed25DNF0
NC2Satoru NakajimaLotus Honda22DNF0
NC21Nicola LariniOsella14DNF0
NC28Gerhard BergerFerrari11DNF0
NC29Yannick DalmasLola Ford9DNF0
NC22Andrea de CesarisRial Ford2DNF0
NC25Rene ArnouxLigier Judd2DNF0

1994

The 1994 Belgian Grand Prix, held on 28 August 1994, was initially won by Benetton driver Michael Schumacher, who crossed the finish line first. However, Schumacher was disqualified due to excessive wear on the wooden skid block beneath his car. As a result, British driver Damon Hill, driving a Williams-Renault, was awarded the victory—his third of the season. Finn Mika Hakkinen finished second in a McLaren-Peugeot, while Schumacher’s Dutch teammate, Jos Verstappen, took third. Rubens Barrichello, driving for Jordan, had earlier secured the team’s first pole position.

1994 Belgian Grand Prix Race Results

PosNoDriverCarLapsTime/retiredPts
10Damon HillWilliams Renault441:28:47.17010
27Mika HakkinenMcLaren Peugeot44+51.381s6
36Jos VerstappenBenetton Ford44+70.453s4
42David CoulthardWilliams Renault44+105.787s3
54Mark BlundellTyrrell Yamaha43+1 lap2
610Gianni MorbidelliFootwork Ford43+1 lap1
726Olivier PanisLigier Renault43+1 lap0
823Pierluigi MartiniMinardi Ford43+1 lap0
924Michele AlboretoMinardi Ford43+1 lap0
1025Eric BernardLigier Renault42+2 laps0
1132Jean-Marc GounonSimtek Ford42+2 laps0
1212Johnny HerbertLotus Mugen Honda41+3 laps0
1315Eddie IrvineJordan Hart40DNF0
NC9Christian FittipaldiFootwork Ford33DNF0
NC31David BrabhamSimtek Ford29DNF0
NC29Andrea de CesarisSauber Mercedes27DNF0
NC8Martin BrundleMcLaren Peugeot24DNF0
NC14Rubens BarrichelloJordan Hart19DNF0
NC3Ukyo KatayamaTyrrell Yamaha18DNF0
NC11Philippe AdamsLotus Mugen Honda15DNF0
NC28Gerhard BergerFerrari11DNF0
NC19Philippe AlliotLarrousse Ford11DNF0
NC30Heinz-Harald FrentzenSauber Mercedes10DNF0
NC20Erik ComasLarrousse Ford3DNF0
NC27Jean AlesiFerrari2DNF0

2008

The 1961 F1 World Champion, Phil Hill, died on this day, 28 August 2008. The first American World Champion, Hill had a complex relationship with racing. Profoundly intelligent and deeply sensitive, he candidly spoke about the personal demons that brought inner turmoil, making his racing career a bittersweet journey. Constantly battling fear, he struggled to balance the perils and pleasures of the sport. Yet, driving became his form of self-expression, taking him to unexpected places.

In 1961, driving the new Ferrari 156, Hill competed for the championship against his teammate Count Wolfgang von Trips. Their battle culminated at Monza, where von Trips collided with Jim Clark‘s Lotus, causing a crash that killed von Trips and 14 spectators. Hill won the race and the championship but felt no joy, serving as a pallbearer at von Trips’ funeral. “I never in my life experienced anything so profoundly mournful,” he reflected.

Hill passed away in 2008 at 81 due to complications from Parkinson’s disease.

2011

Championship leader Sebastian Vettel won the 2011 Belgian Grand Prix with Red Bull after starting from pole position. His teammate Mark Webber secured second place, while Jenson Button finished third for McLaren, completing the podium.

Prior to the race, the FIA banned the use of DRS through Eau Rouge after drivers raised safety concerns similar to those held in Monaco. Bruno Senna also got the nod for a race seat following a practice session at the Hungaroring with Renault, taking over from Nick Heidfeld. Michael Schumacher also celebrated the twentieth anniversary of his Formula One debut at the 1991 Belgian Grand Prix by wearing a special gold helmet.

2011 Belgian Grand Prix Race Results

PosNoDriverCarLapsTime/retiredPts
11Sebastian VettelRed Bull Racing Renault441:26:44.89325
22Mark WebberRed Bull Racing Renault44+3.741s18
34Jenson ButtonMcLaren Mercedes44+9.669s15
45Fernando AlonsoFerrari44+13.022s12
57Michael SchumacherMercedes44+47.464s10
68Nico RosbergMercedes44+48.674s8
714Adrian SutilForce India Mercedes44+59.713s6
86Felipe MassaFerrari44+66.076s4
910Vitaly PetrovRenault44+71.917s2
1012Pastor MaldonadoWilliams Cosworth44+77.615s1
1115Paul di RestaForce India Mercedes44+83.994s0
1216Kamui KobayashiSauber Ferrari44+91.976s0
139Bruno SennaRenault44+92.985s0
1421Jarno TrulliLotus Renault43+1 lap0
1520Heikki KovalainenLotus Renault43+1 lap0
1611Rubens BarrichelloWilliams Cosworth43+1 lap0
1725Jerome d’AmbrosioVirgin Cosworth43+1 lap0
1824Timo GlockVirgin Cosworth43+1 lap0
1923Vitantonio LiuzziHRT Cosworth43+1 lap0
NC17Sergio PerezSauber Ferrari27DNF0
NC22Daniel RicciardoHRT Cosworth13DNF0
NC3Lewis HamiltonMcLaren Mercedes12DNF0
NC18Sebastien BuemiSTR Ferrari6DNF0
NC19Jaime AlguersuariSTR Ferrari0DNF0

2016

Mercedes driver and defending race winner Lewis Hamilton entered the 2016 Belgian Grand Prix leading the World Drivers’ Championship by 19 points over his teammate Nico Rosberg. However, it would be Rosberg who emerged victorious in this race, with Red Bull driver Daniel Ricciardo finishing second and Lewis Hamilton in third. Before the race, Hamilton received a multi-grid penalty. Despite this, Hamilton retained his lead in the championship, though Rosberg narrowed the gap to nine points. At the start of the race an incident involving Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and both Ferrari drivers caused chaos. Verstappen hit Kimi Raikkonen, who in turn then hit his teammate Sebastian Vettel, spinning him around; all three had to come back to the pits for repairs.

2016 Belgian Grand Prix Race Results

PosNoDriverCarLapsTime/retiredPts
16Nico RosbergMercedes441:44:51.05825
23Daniel RicciardoRed Bull Racing TAG Heuer44+14.113s18
344Lewis HamiltonMercedes44+27.634s15
427Nico HulkenbergForce India Mercedes44+35.907s12
511Sergio PerezForce India Mercedes44+40.660s10
65Sebastian VettelFerrari44+45.394s8
714Fernando AlonsoMcLaren Honda44+59.445s6
877Valtteri BottasWilliams Mercedes44+60.151s4
97Kimi RäikkönenFerrari44+61.109s2
1019Felipe MassaWilliams Mercedes44+65.873s1
1133Max VerstappenRed Bull Racing TAG Heuer44+71.138s0
1221Esteban GutierrezHaas Ferrari44+73.877s0
138Romain GrosjeanHaas Ferrari44+76.474s0
1426Daniil KvyatToro Rosso Ferrari44+87.097s0
1530Jolyon PalmerRenault44+93.165s0
1631Esteban OconMRT Mercedes43+1 lap0
1712Felipe NasrSauber Ferrari43+1 lap0
NC20Kevin MagnussenRenault5DNF0
NC9Marcus EricssonSauber Ferrari3DNF0
NC55Carlos SainzToro Rosso Ferrari1DNF0
NC22Jenson ButtonMcLaren Honda1DNF0
NC94Pascal WehrleinMRT Mercedes0DNF0
Note – Ericsson started from the pit lane.

2022

Red Bull driver and defending World Champion Max Verstappen triumphed at the 2022 Belgian Grand Prix ahead of teammate Sergio Perez and Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz in third. Verstappen drove through the field having qualified on pole but starting the race from the back of the grid for exceeding his number of power unit elements. Sainz was promoted to pole. This was also the 350th Grand Prix entry for Alpine driver Fernando Alonso.

2022 Belgian Grand Prix Race Results

PosNoDriverCarLapsTime/retiredPts
11Max VerstappenRed Bull Racing RBPT441:25:52.89426
211Sergio PerezRed Bull Racing RBPT44+17.841s18
355Carlos SainzFerrari44+26.886s15
463George RussellMercedes44+29.140s12
514Fernando AlonsoAlpine Renault44+73.256s10
616Charles LeclercFerrari44+74.936s8
731Esteban OconAlpine Renault44+75.640s6
85Sebastian VettelAston Martin Aramco Mercedes44+78.107s4
910Pierre GaslyAlphaTauri RBPT44+92.181s2
1023Alexander AlbonWilliams Mercedes44+101.900s1
1118Lance StrollAston Martin Aramco Mercedes44+103.078s0
124Lando NorrisMcLaren Mercedes44+104.739s0
1322Yuki TsunodaAlphaTauri RBPT44+105.217s0
1424Zhou GuanyuAlfa Romeo Ferrari44+106.252s0
153Daniel RicciardoMcLaren Mercedes44+107.163s0
1620Kevin MagnussenHaas Ferrari43+1 lap0
1747Mick SchumacherHaas Ferrari43+1 lap0
186Nicholas LatifiWilliams Mercedes43+1 lap0
NC77Valtteri BottasAlfa Romeo Ferrari1DNF0
NC44Lewis HamiltonMercedes0DNF0
Note – Verstappen scored an additional point for setting the fastest lap of the race. Leclerc received a five-second time penalty for speeding in the pit lane.

F1 Driver Birthdays 28 August

BirthdayF1 Driver
28 August 1924Jimmy Daywalt (d. 1966)
28 August 1989Valtteri Bottas

F1 Driver Deaths 28 August

DeathF1 Driver
28 August 1977Mike Parkes (b. 1931)
28 August 2001Phil Cade (b. 1916)
28 August 2008Phil Hill (b. 1927)

F1 Champion 28 August

DateTeam/Driver
28 August 1988McLaren

Seen in:

About The Author

Staff Writer

Lee Parker
Lee Parker

Lee is our staff writer specialising in anything technical within Formula 1 from aerodynamics to engines. Lee writes most of our F1 guides for beginners and experienced fans as well as our F1 on this day posts having followed the sport since 1991, researching and understanding how teams build the ultimate machines. Like everyone else on the team he listens to podcasts about F1 and enjoys reading biographies of former drivers.

Latest Reads