Formula 1 historical archive

Mario Andretti won the 1978 Belgian Grand Prix

Mario Andretti won the 1978 Belgian Grand Prix for Team Lotus, ahead of Ronnie Peterson and Carlos Reutemann at Circuit Zolder.

Browse the full classification, related season, driver, team, circuit, and championship history.

Race recap

Winner
Mario Andretti
Team
Team Lotus
Top listed
Mario Andretti, Ronnie Peterson, and Carlos Reutemann
Race date
May 21, 1978
Pole
Mario Andretti
Fastest lap
Ronnie Peterson
Classified drivers
32
Circuit
Circuit Zolder

The decisive result

Mario Andretti finished first for Team Lotus. Ronnie Peterson is listed 2 for Team Lotus, with Carlos Reutemann 3 for Ferrari.

Grid to finish

Didier Pironi from P23 to P6 (+17), Brett Lunger from P24 to P7 (+17), and Bruno Giacomelli from P21 to P8 (+13) recorded the largest positive grid-to-finish changes in the classification. Mario Andretti started from the listed P1 grid position.

Status and fastest lap

The classification lists 5 Accident, 4 DNQ, 4 Finished, 3 +1 lap, and 3 +2 laps. Ronnie Peterson holds the fastest-lap entry at 1:23.130 on lap 66. It records the result without speculating about incidents or strategy.

This summary sticks to the classification and does not speculate about incidents, strategy, weather, or causes. Source: F1DB (CC BY 4.0) · updated Jul 26, 2026.

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Race classification
PosDriverConstructorTime / statusPoints
1Mario AndrettiTeam Lotus1:39:52.0209
2Ronnie PetersonTeam Lotus1:40:01.9206
3Carlos ReutemannFerrari1:40:16.3604
4Gilles VilleneuveFerrari1:40:39.0603
5Jacques LaffiteLigierAccident2
6Didier PironiTyrrell+1 lap1
7Brett LungerMcLaren+1 lap0
8Bruno GiacomelliMcLaren+1 lap0
9René ArnouxMartini+2 laps0
10Alan JonesWilliams+2 laps0
11Jochen MassATS Wheels+2 laps0
12Jacky IckxEnsign+6 laps0
13Vittorio BrambillaSurteesEngine0
NCJean-Pierre JabouilleRenault+14 laps0
DNFHans-Joachim StuckShadowSpun off0
DNFJody ScheckterWolfSpun off0
DNFPatrick DepaillerTyrrellGearbox0
DNFClay RegazzoniShadowTransmission0
DNFRiccardo PatreseArrowsSuspension0
DNFRolf StommelenArrowsSpun off0