On This Day: Schumacher makes F1 debut in Belgium

A Formula 1 star's making began on this day in 1991 as Michael Schumacher made his racing debut at the Belgian Grand Prix. Schumacher had made a splash a day prior with the Jordan team as he qualified seventh at Spa-Francorchamps in a relatively underpowered car.

Jordan had been in the headlines prior to the race as driver Bertrand Gachot was jailed over his part in an altercation with a taxi driver.

It left team boss Eddie Jordan scrambling to find a new driver and he settled on Formula 3 racer Schumacher - because he had the weekend free if little else.

The 22-year-old had already impressed the team in a test at Silverstone and took to Spa like a natural - despite having never previously driven the track - at odds with a claim his manager had made to Jordan.

Having learnt the layout on a bicycle ride around the track, Schumacher delivered on Saturday, outqualifying 11-year veteran Andrea de Cesaris by seven tenths of a second.

The names ahead of him on the grid were stellar: Ayrton Senna, Alain Prost, Nigel Mansell, Gerhard Berger, Jean Alesi and Nelson Piquet.

Naturally, Schumacher was unbowed and a glimpse into his record-breaking future was given as he gained two places off the line to run fifth.

It was as good as the grand prix got, however, as a clutch problem ended his race within a few corners.

Having moved to Benetton, Schumacher returned to Spa the following year to take the first of his 91 grand prix victories - ensuring the Belgian track remains a key scene in the Schumacher life story.