Lewis Hamilton has the chance to match Michael Schumacher’s legendary Spa record
Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton heads into the 2026 Belgian Grand Prix with the opportunity to equal one of Michael Schumacher’s most iconic Formula 1 records. If Hamilton wins this weekend at Spa-Francorchamps, the Ferrari star will claim his sixth victory at the Belgian Grand Prix, drawing level with Schumacher as the most successful driver in the history of the event at one of Formula 1’s most famous circuits.
Whenever Formula 1 returns to Spa-Francorchamps, Michael Schumacher’s name is never far from the conversation. The legendary Belgian venue is renowned for spectacular corners like Eau Rouge and Raidillon, but it is equally remembered as the circuit where Schumacher built one of the greatest records of his extraordinary career.
Following Ferrari’s recent progress with the SF-26 and the team’s growing confidence after Silverstone, Lewis Hamilton now has another opportunity to add his name to the history books. Victory in Belgium would not only strengthen Ferrari’s momentum but would also see the seven-time Formula 1 world champion equal one of Schumacher’s most enduring achievements.
Michael Schumacher’s remarkable record at Spa-Francorchamps
It was at Spa-Francorchamps that Michael Schumacher claimed the very first Formula 1 victory of his career in 1992. The German would go on to dominate the Belgian Grand Prix throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, adding further victories in 1995, 1996, 1997, 2001 and 2002.
His victory in 1995 remains one of the finest performances ever seen at Spa, with Schumacher fighting his way to the win after starting only 16th on the grid. Those six victories remain the all-time record for the Belgian Grand Prix, although the Ferrari legend came remarkably close to extending that tally even further.
The two victories Schumacher could have added
Michael Schumacher could realistically have finished his Spa career with eight victories rather than six. In 1994, he initially celebrated victory before being disqualified because excessive wear was found on the wooden plank underneath his Benetton.
Four years later, during the unforgettable rain-soaked 1998 Belgian Grand Prix, Schumacher was comfortably leading the race when he collided with David Coulthard while attempting to lap the McLaren driver. Coulthard slowed unexpectedly in the heavy spray, leaving Schumacher with no chance to avoid contact. The incident forced the Ferrari driver into retirement and resulted in the famous confrontation between the two drivers once they returned to the pits.
Lewis Hamilton closes in on Formula 1 history
Schumacher’s record stands at six Belgian Grand Prix victories and nine podium finishes at Spa-Francorchamps. This weekend, Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton has the opportunity to match that extraordinary achievement.
The British driver, who shares Schumacher’s record of seven Formula 1 world championships, has already won the Belgian Grand Prix five times, placing him level with his childhood hero Ayrton Senna. Hamilton’s victories came in 2010, 2016, 2018, 2020 and 2024, making Spa one of the most successful circuits of his Formula 1 career.
His most recent Belgian Grand Prix victory came under unusual circumstances. Although George Russell initially crossed the finish line first for Mercedes in 2024, he was later disqualified after his car failed the minimum weight checks, promoting Hamilton to victory.
Hamilton can also point to another occasion when he took the chequered flag first at Spa without officially winning the race. During the controversial 2008 Belgian Grand Prix, he overtook Kimi Räikkönen after cutting the final chicane while attempting to use the Ferrari driver’s slipstream. Although Hamilton crossed the finish line in first place, the stewards later handed him a 25-second time penalty, dropping him down the final classification and denying him another victory at one of his strongest Formula 1 circuits.
Now, Ferrari arrives at Spa-Francorchamps with renewed optimism after the recent progress shown by the SF-26. If Lewis Hamilton can convert that pace into victory at the Belgian Grand Prix, he will not only deliver another major result for Ferrari but also equal Michael Schumacher’s legendary record of six wins at one of the most iconic circuits in Formula 1 history.
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