My First Formula 1 Grand Prix – Spa-Francorchamps 1988
Discover the story behind a first Formula 1 race, captured through the lens of a passionate amateur. A turning point in my career, marked by grit, rain, and the brilliance of Ayrton Senna.
The weekend of August 28, 1988, will remain etched in my memory. That day, I experienced the atmosphere of a Formula 1 Grand Prix for the first time. The Spa-Francorchamps circuit hosted the Belgian Grand Prix, completely dominated by Ayrton Senna in his McLaren Honda No.12. A historic moment—and a personally defining one.
I drove from Lille with three friends, without tickets or press accreditation. We slept in our cars in town parking lots, sneaking past official entrances through the forest or along the track near La Source. Unable to access the grandstands, we roamed the public areas to absorb every second of the practice sessions and race.
The photo of Ayrton Senna, leading Eddie Cheever’s Arrows, was taken at the Combes corner, through the fences, using a Nikon FM2 with a 400mm f/3.5 manual focus lens. It sums up the power and control Senna displayed that day: he secured pole position and led all 43 laps without ever surrendering the lead. McLaren’s dominance that year was such that they clinched the constructors’ title right after this Grand Prix.
A few days later, that same boldness—of showing up, daring, with no means but full of passion—led me to join the DPPI press agency. Not as an accredited photographer… but as a documentation assistant and aspiring motorsport photographer. That weekend revealed my calling for automotive photography, at one of the most iconic Formula 1 circuits: Spa-Francorchamps. My adventure had just begun.
Spa and Its Ever-Changing Weather
The weekend was also marked by typically Ardennes weather. I captured a photo of Michele Alboreto driving his Ferrari through a soaked corner under heavy rain. Water spray from the wet tires forms a misty veil in the image.
This image reminds us of the limitations of film photography—a contrast to today’s mirrorless gear. Back then, shooting with slide film and its low exposure latitude required planning. In low light, we pushed the ISO to 200 or 400 and asked labs for +1 or +2 EV processing. This increased grain—a far cry from the clean pixels of modern sensors—but it was the cost of capturing the moment.
Motorsport Photography Is Always a Delicate Equation
- Safety barriers push photographers far from the action, demanding long, fast lenses.
- The speed of F1 cars requires fast shutter speeds to freeze motion (panning is better suited for practice sessions, using slower speeds from 1/250 to 1/60 depending on track speed).
- Low-light conditions often forced us to use faster films, sacrificing image quality due to increased grain.
Another Key Moment – At the Start of Eau Rouge’s Raidillon
Piercarlo Ghinzani’s Zakspeed unleashed a trail of sparks over the bumps. Captured from above, this photo shows the raw force and beauty of F1 cars at speed. It epitomizes the visual shock of 1980s Formula 1.
A Personal Revelation
This 1988 Belgian Grand Prix didn’t just give me great pictures—it lit a career-defining spark. It taught me that sometimes, passion and persistence matter more than credentials. That behind the fences, there are also stories to be told—through the lens, and through words.
Click on the photos below to view them fullscreen.
All the photos displayed on this website are copyright protected © Sebastien Desnoulez. No use allowed without written authorization.
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