GREATEST RACES #15: Damon Hill claims Jordan’s first win amid chaos at Spa-Francorchamps – 1998 Belgian Grand Prix
From one of the most dramatic starts in F1 history through to a surprise victory for Damon Hill and Jordan, the 1998 Belgian Grand Prix was a truly unforgettable race.
To mark F1's 75th anniversary celebrations, F1.com is counting down the sport's 25 greatest races with a new feature every week. While you may not agree with the order, we hope you enjoy the stories of these epic races that have helped make this sport what it is today. You can read the introduction to the series and see the list of races here.
At No. 15, Anna Francis gets Damon Hill’s insight into the 1998 Belgian Grand Prix, a race that featured one of the most chaotic starts in the sport’s history before becoming Hill’s final – and the Jordan team’s first – Formula 1 victory…
GREATEST RACES #15: Damon Hill claims Jordan’s first win amid chaos at Spa-Francorchamps – 1998 Belgian Grand Prix
The 1998 Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps stands as one of Formula 1’s most dramatic, unpredictable, and memorable races—a contest that tested drivers, teams, and machinery to the limits, and delivered a fairytale outcome for Damon Hill and Jordan Grand Prix.
Utter Chaos at the Start
From the moment the lights went out, Spa lived up to its reputation for mayhem in wet conditions. Torrential rain was pouring as the field rushed into La Source for the first time. David Coulthard lost control of his McLaren under acceleration, triggering a massive and blinding pile-up that collected thirteen cars in a chain-reaction crash—one of the biggest opening-lap accidents in the sport’s history. Cars smashed into walls, skittered off into debris, and Riccardo Rosset’s Tyrrell ended up on top of Johnny Herbert’s Sauber. Miraculously, no one was injured, but four drivers could not make the restart as the race was red-flagged and the lengthy clean-up began.
More Drama at the Restart
Once racing resumed, the chaos continued. The second start saw championship leader Mika Häkkinen spin at the first corner after contact with Johnny Herbert’s Sauber—both drivers were out on the spot, blowing the championship open. The relentless rain made visibility atrocious and grip treacherous.
Damon Hill, who had joined Jordan after his 1996 world title and endured a difficult start to 1998, found himself in a strong position in the reshuffled order. He seized the lead but was quickly overtaken by Michael Schumacher, who powered his Ferrari to a stunning pace advantage, pulling out a gap of over 30 seconds.
The Race Changes in an Instant
The race turned again on lap 24 in dramatic style: Schumacher, now lapping Coulthard’s damaged McLaren in thick spray, ploughed straight into the back of the slowing McLaren, wrecking his front suspension and ending what looked set to be an assured victory for Ferrari. Schumacher, furious, stormed down to the McLaren garage for a heated confrontation, while the Jordan team suddenly found themselves leading the Grand Prix.
Team Tactics and the Victory That Changed Everything
Now in control, Jordan had their drivers—Hill and the young Ralf Schumacher—in a 1-2 formation. Sensing the magnitude of the moment, Hill radioed in: should they fight for the win and risk losing both cars, or play safe and secure a historic result? Team boss Eddie Jordan, realizing the stakes, ordered the duo to hold position: Hill in front, Schumacher second. Hill managed the margin and crossed the line to take not only his 22nd and final Grand Prix win, but also the very first for the Jordan team, after 126 starts.
Jean Alesi completed the podium in third, in what would be his final ever visit to the rostrum.
Significance and Legacy
The 1998 Belgian Grand Prix is remembered for more than just chaos: it was the day a beloved team and a champion driver found redemption after months of frustration. For Hill, it marked a fitting end to his Grand Prix-winning career; for Jordan, it was proof that perseverance and spirit could triumph in a sport known for unpredictability. The yellow “Buzzin’ Hornets” cars finished 1-2, cementing a legacy that lives on as one of F1’s great underdog stories, amid the wildest of races.
From first-lap carnage to late-race heartbreak and fairy-tale triumph, Spa 1998 perfectly encapsulates why Formula 1’s fans—and drivers—revere the unpredictable drama of motorsport’s grandest stage.
