The third race of the 1987 F1 World Championship took place in Belgium, at the SPA-Francorchamps racetrack.

The race required two starts because of an accident where Gerhard Berger's Ferrari was hit and a second more violent one where the two Tyrrell drivers hit each other, Philippe Streiff and Jonathan Palmer.

On the second start, Ayrton Senna led Nigel Mansell away, but during lap one the Briton tried to overtake the Brazilian. The two controversially tangled, leading to the retirement of the Lotus 99T. Mansell rejoined the race at the back, until the damage sustained in the collision finally forced him to retire on lap 17.

With Berger out, Ferrari lost Michele Alboreto too due to a mechanical failure. Even Nelson Piquet had similar problems and this helped clearing the path for Alain Prost who won the race followed by Teo Fabi and his teammate Stefan Johansson.

 

Curiosity:

Museo Nicolis has Johansson, Mansell, Prost and Senna's steering wheels from the 1987 F1 season on display.