Published evidence

1978 Belgian Grand Prix · qualifying

A historical profile with source-linked evidence. Further research is in progress.

THE HISTORICAL RECORD

Profile & context

Name: 1978 Belgian Grand Prix · qualifying

PROVENANCE

Sources behind this page

F1DB

v2026.17.0 · session/303-qualifying

Original reference ↗

Historical source & scope

F1DB v2026.17.0 · CC BY 4.0. Normalisation, links and calculations by MotorPedia. Original source observations retained.

Source-reported facts are not independent historical confirmation. Missing times and points remain unknown; source-rounded points retain their published precision. Constructor, entrant and team identities are kept distinct.

Grand Prix context

1978 Belgian Grand Prix · Circuit Zolder

Technical formula: Formula 1. World Championship membership is separate from technical regulations.

1978 Formula 1 World Championship · round 6

Race classification

Source participant rows: shared cars and nonstarters retained
Position	Driver	Constructor	Recorded details	Points
1	Mario Andretti	Lotus	1:39:52.020 · 70 laps · ford	9
2	Ronnie Peterson	Lotus	1:40:01.920 · 70 laps · ford	6
3	Carlos Reutemann	Ferrari	1:40:16.360 · 70 laps · ferrari	4
4	Gilles Villeneuve	Ferrari	1:40:39.060 · 70 laps · ferrari	3
5	Jacques Laffite	Ligier	Accident · Time not recorded · 69 laps · matra	2
6	Didier Pironi	Tyrrell	Time not recorded · 69 laps · ford	1
7	Brett Lunger	McLaren	Time not recorded · 69 laps · ford	Unknown / not applicable
8	Bruno Giacomelli	McLaren	Time not recorded · 69 laps · ford	Unknown / not applicable
9	René Arnoux	Martini	Time not recorded · 68 laps · ford	Unknown / not applicable
10	Alan Jones	Williams	Time not recorded · 68 laps · ford	Unknown / not applicable
11	Jochen Mass	ATS	Time not recorded · 68 laps · ford	Unknown / not applicable
12	Jacky Ickx	Ensign	Time not recorded · 64 laps · ford	Unknown / not applicable
13	Vittorio Brambilla	Surtees	Engine · Time not recorded · 63 laps · ford	Unknown / not applicable
NC	Jean-Pierre Jabouille	Renault	Time not recorded · 56 laps · renault	Unknown / not applicable
DNF	Hans-Joachim Stuck	Shadow	Spun off · Time not recorded · 56 laps · ford	Unknown / not applicable
DNF	Jody Scheckter	Wolf	Spun off · Time not recorded · 53 laps · ford	Unknown / not applicable
DNF	Patrick Depailler	Tyrrell	Gearbox · Time not recorded · 51 laps · ford	Unknown / not applicable
DNF	Clay Regazzoni	Shadow	Transmission · Time not recorded · 40 laps · ford	Unknown / not applicable
DNF	Riccardo Patrese	Arrows	Suspension · Time not recorded · 31 laps · ford	Unknown / not applicable
DNF	Rolf Stommelen	Arrows	Spun off · Time not recorded · 26 laps · ford	Unknown / not applicable
DNF	John Watson	Brabham	Accident · Time not recorded · 18 laps · alfa-romeo	Unknown / not applicable
DNF	Emerson Fittipaldi	Fittipaldi	Accident · Time not recorded · 0 laps · ford	Unknown / not applicable
DNF	James Hunt	McLaren	Accident · Time not recorded · 0 laps · ford	Unknown / not applicable
DNF	Niki Lauda	Brabham	Accident · Time not recorded · 0 laps · alfa-romeo	Unknown / not applicable
DNQ	Rupert Keegan	Surtees	Time not recorded · ford	Unknown / not applicable
DNQ	Derek Daly	Hesketh	Time not recorded · ford	Unknown / not applicable
DNQ	Keke Rosberg	Theodore	Time not recorded · ford	Unknown / not applicable
DNQ	Alberto Colombo	ATS	Time not recorded · ford	Unknown / not applicable
DNPQ	Héctor Rebaque	Lotus	Time not recorded · ford	Unknown / not applicable
DNPQ	Arturo Merzario	Merzario	Time not recorded · ford	Unknown / not applicable
DNP	Bernard de Dryver	Ensign	Time not recorded · ford	Unknown / not applicable
DNP	Patrick Nève	March	Time not recorded · ford	Unknown / not applicable

Qualifying

Recorded qualifying order; Q1/Q2/Q3 and earlier formats remain distinct in original evidence
Position	Driver	Constructor	Recorded details
1	Mario Andretti	Lotus	1:20.900 · ford
2	Carlos Reutemann	Ferrari	1:21.690 · ferrari
3	Niki Lauda	Brabham	1:21.700 · alfa-romeo
4	Gilles Villeneuve	Ferrari	1:21.770 · ferrari
5	Jody Scheckter	Wolf	1:22.120 · ford
6	James Hunt	McLaren	1:22.500 · ford
7	Ronnie Peterson	Lotus	1:22.620 · ford
8	Riccardo Patrese	Arrows	1:23.250 · ford
9	John Watson	Brabham	1:23.260 · alfa-romeo
10	Jean-Pierre Jabouille	Renault	1:23.580 · renault
11	Alan Jones	Williams	1:23.710 · ford
12	Vittorio Brambilla	Surtees	1:23.780 · ford
13	Patrick Depailler	Tyrrell	1:23.820 · ford
14	Jacques Laffite	Ligier	1:23.900 · matra
15	Emerson Fittipaldi	Fittipaldi	1:24.110 · ford
16	Jochen Mass	ATS	1:24.140 · ford
17	Rolf Stommelen	Arrows	1:24.140 · ford
18	Clay Regazzoni	Shadow	1:24.180 · ford
19	René Arnoux	Martini	1:24.220 · ford
20	Hans-Joachim Stuck	Shadow	1:24.470 · ford
21	Bruno Giacomelli	McLaren	1:24.810 · ford
22	Jacky Ickx	Ensign	1:24.820 · ford
23	Didier Pironi	Tyrrell	1:24.850 · ford
24	Brett Lunger	McLaren	1:24.990 · ford
25	Rupert Keegan	Surtees	1:25.400 · ford
26	Derek Daly	Hesketh	1:25.690 · ford
27	Keke Rosberg	Theodore	1:25.870 · ford
28	Alberto Colombo	ATS	1:26.010 · ford

Starting grid

Recorded grid; pole awards are not inferred from starting position
Position	Driver	Constructor	Recorded details
1	Mario Andretti	Lotus	1:20.900 · ford
2	Carlos Reutemann	Ferrari	1:21.690 · ferrari
3	Niki Lauda	Brabham	1:21.700 · alfa-romeo
4	Gilles Villeneuve	Ferrari	1:21.770 · ferrari
5	Jody Scheckter	Wolf	1:22.120 · ford
6	James Hunt	McLaren	1:22.500 · ford
7	Ronnie Peterson	Lotus	1:22.620 · ford
8	Riccardo Patrese	Arrows	1:23.250 · ford
9	John Watson	Brabham	1:23.260 · alfa-romeo
10	Jean-Pierre Jabouille	Renault	1:23.580 · renault
11	Alan Jones	Williams	1:23.710 · ford
12	Vittorio Brambilla	Surtees	1:23.780 · ford
13	Patrick Depailler	Tyrrell	1:23.820 · ford
14	Jacques Laffite	Ligier	1:23.900 · matra
15	Emerson Fittipaldi	Fittipaldi	1:24.110 · ford
16	Jochen Mass	ATS	1:24.140 · ford
17	Rolf Stommelen	Arrows	1:24.140 · ford
18	Clay Regazzoni	Shadow	1:24.180 · ford
19	René Arnoux	Martini	1:24.220 · ford
20	Hans-Joachim Stuck	Shadow	1:24.470 · ford
21	Bruno Giacomelli	McLaren	1:24.810 · ford
22	Jacky Ickx	Ensign	1:24.820 · ford
23	Didier Pironi	Tyrrell	1:24.850 · ford
24	Brett Lunger	McLaren	1:24.990 · ford

Championship progression

Driver standings after this championship round
Position	Driver	Constructor	Recorded details	Points
1	Mario Andretti	Not applicable / not recorded	Time not recorded	27
2	Patrick Depailler	Not applicable / not recorded	Time not recorded	23
3	Carlos Reutemann	Not applicable / not recorded	Time not recorded	22
4	Ronnie Peterson	Not applicable / not recorded	Time not recorded	20
5	Niki Lauda	Not applicable / not recorded	Time not recorded	16
6	John Watson	Not applicable / not recorded	Time not recorded	7
7	Emerson Fittipaldi	Not applicable / not recorded	Time not recorded	6
8	Jacques Laffite	Not applicable / not recorded	Time not recorded	6
9	Didier Pironi	Not applicable / not recorded	Time not recorded	5
10	Jody Scheckter	Not applicable / not recorded	Time not recorded	4
11	James Hunt	Not applicable / not recorded	Time not recorded	3
11	Alan Jones	Not applicable / not recorded	Time not recorded	3
11	Gilles Villeneuve	Not applicable / not recorded	Time not recorded	3
14	Clay Regazzoni	Not applicable / not recorded	Time not recorded	2
15	Riccardo Patrese	Not applicable / not recorded	Time not recorded	2
16	Patrick Tambay	Not applicable / not recorded	Time not recorded	1