Belgian Grand Prix 1976 - Race Schedule and Countdown

Niki Lauda dominated the Belgian Grand Prix at Zolder to score another commanding victory, leading home teammate Clay Regazzoni in Ferrari's second one-two finish of the season. The Austrian's flawless performance on the challenging Belgian circuit demonstrated his complete mastery of the 312T2, building what appeared to be an unassailable championship lead. Ferrari's technical superiority and Lauda's metronomic consistency had established a rhythm that seemed destined to deliver a second consecutive championship.

Clay Regazzoni's solid second place confirmed Ferrari's overwhelming advantage over their rivals, with the red cars controlling the race from start to finish. The Swiss veteran's supporting role allowed Lauda to manage the championship mathematically, accumulating points with ruthless efficiency. Jacques Laffite's third place for Ligier represented a strong result for the French team, though they remained far behind Ferrari in overall competitiveness.

Lauda's fourth victory in five races gave him 52 points from a possible 54, an extraordinary record that had Formula 1 observers predicting an early championship coronation. The Austrian appeared invincible, his combination of speed, intelligence, and Ferrari's technical excellence forming a package that rivals could not match. Yet within three months, Lauda's season would be transformed by tragedy, and his seemingly insurmountable lead would evaporate in the most dramatic circumstances.