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The 1998 Belgian Grand Prix (formally the LVI Foster’s Belgian Grand Prix) was a Formula One race held on August 30, 1998, at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps; contested over 44 laps, it was the 13th race of the 1998 Formula One season. The race was won by Damon Hill driving for the Jordan team. Hill’s team-mate, Ralf Schumacher finished in second position, with Jean Alesi finishing in third driving for Sauber.

The race ran in extremely wet weather and on the first lap, David Coulthard lost control of his car causing a collision involving 13 drivers, which led to the race being stopped. After a delay to clear the track, a second attempt was made to start the race, albeit without four of the drivers involved in the incident. At the second start, championship leader and pole sitter Mika Häkkinen spun his car at the first corner and was hit by Johnny Herbert’s car forcing them both to retire from the race. Damon Hill took the lead of the race, until Michael Schumacher overtook Hill on lap eight. Schumacher had built up over 30 seconds of advantage over Hill by lap 24 when he came up to lap David Coulthard. After being instructed over the team radio to let him past, Coulthard slowed down, but stayed on the main racing line, and due to the spray behind him was unsighted by Schumacher who hit the back of his McLaren causing terminal damage to Schumacher’s Ferrari.