Notable as Michael Schumacher's Formula One debut, while Ayrton Senna won from pole to extend his 1991 championship lead.
Key Facts
- Race winner
- Ayrton Senna (McLaren-Honda)
- Race length
- 44 laps
- Championship round
- 11th of 1991 season
- Senna's championship lead
- 22 points over Mansell after race
- Schumacher qualifying position
- 7th (Jordan-Ford debut)
- Schumacher test time before race
- Half a day at Spa
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Ayrton Senna led the 1991 Drivers' Championship heading into the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps, where he started from pole position. Jordan-Ford entered Michael Schumacher as a late replacement, despite him having only half a day of testing at the circuit.
Senna won the 44-lap race ahead of teammate Gerhard Berger and Nelson Piquet. Nigel Mansell retired with electrical failure. Schumacher qualified seventh on his debut but retired on the opening lap due to clutch failure, though his qualifying performance impressed the paddock.
Senna extended his championship lead over Mansell to 22 points with five races remaining. Schumacher's impressive qualifying in an unfamiliar midfield car led directly to greater opportunities and marked the beginning of one of Formula One's most celebrated careers.