Jody Scheckter won the 1979 Belgian Grand Prix for Ferrari, while Alfa Romeo made its first works-team appearance in Formula One since 1951.
Key Facts
- Race distance
- 70 laps
- Winner
- Jody Scheckter (Ferrari)
- Pole position
- Jacques Laffite (Ligier-Ford)
- First podium for
- Didier Pironi (Tyrrell-Ford), 3rd place
- Championship round
- 6th race of 1979 F1 season
- Alfa Romeo works return
- First works entry since 1951
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
The 1979 Formula One season brought renewed competition among constructors, with Ligier, Ferrari, and Tyrrell all fielding competitive cars. Notably, Alfa Romeo elected to return as a works team for the first time in nearly three decades, entering the Belgian Grand Prix at Zolder with Bruno Giacomelli driving the Alfa Romeo 177.
Held on 13 May 1979 at Zolder, the 70-lap race saw Jody Scheckter take victory for Ferrari. Jacques Laffite, who started from pole position, finished second in a Ligier-Ford, while Didier Pironi claimed his first Formula One podium in a Tyrrell-Ford. Giacomelli qualified impressively for Alfa Romeo but retired after a collision with Elio de Angelis.
Scheckter's win contributed to his eventual 1979 World Championship title, reinforcing Ferrari's dominant campaign that season. Pironi's podium marked the beginning of a notable Formula One career. Alfa Romeo's return as a works team signaled a renewed factory commitment to the sport, though Giacomelli's race ended in retirement.