F1 Belgian GP: Leclerc wins for Ferrari, Albon impresses and drivers pay tribute to Hubert
What we learnt from an emotional weekend at Spa-Francorchamps
Formula 1 Belgian Grand Prix
- Sunday 1 September, Spa-Francorchamps
- 1st: Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
- 2nd: Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
- 3rd: Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes)
- 4th: Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari)
- 5th: Alexander Albon (Red Bull)
Leclerc wins emotional race at Spa
It should have been the most memorable moment of Charles Leclerc’s racing career, but his maiden victory in Formula 1 was overshadowed by the tragic death of Formula 2 driver Anthoine Hubert.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
In Saturday’s F2 race at Spa-Francorchamps, 22-year-old Frenchman Hubert was killed following a high-speed crash.
Ferrari driver Leclerc dedicated his victory to Hubert and said: “It is very difficult to enjoy this first win with the situation we had [on Saturday].
“Overall it means just a dream come true. Since a child, I have been looking up to F1, dreaming of being first a Formula 1 driver, which happened last year and then driving for Ferrari this year and the first win today.
“It is a good day but on the other hand losing Anthoine brings me back to 2005, my first French [karting] championship was him. It is very difficult to enjoy it fully today but hopefully in two or three weeks I will realise what happened.”
Leclerc’s success at Spa was also Ferrari’s first victory of the 2019 F1 season.
Drivers pay tribute to Hubert
Like Leclerc, Toro Rosso’s Pierre Gasly also grew up racing alongside close friend Hubert. Gasly said it was difficult to get behind the wheel on Sunday following the previous day’s incident.
“I must say it was really difficult because of course it was in my mind before going in the car and putting the helmet on,” said Gasly.
“I just can’t believe it. I’ve grown up with this guy. I raced in karting with Charles and Anthoine since 2005. Then we lived in the same flat for five years. We went to the same school, in the same classroom. I’ve known this guy so long and we shared so many moments on track, and off track especially.
“Honestly I still can’t believe it. I just need to go back home and I plan already to see all my friends and his friends so we can be reunited together and remember all the great times we had with him.”
F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton, who finished second in Belgium, added: “I didn’t know Anthoine but it just really hit home. I didn’t really sleep a lot [on Saturday night], it was just a really sad day.
“Seeing his parents, it’s hard to believe he’s gone. He was with us in spirit, and I tried to win the race with him in mind. I hope I did him proud.”
Albon impresses
Alexander Albon finished fifth on his debut for Red Bull Racing. The 23-year-old was promoted from Toro Rosso during the summer break and his first outing in the senior team’s car left Red Bull boss Christian Horner impressed.
Horner said: “I’ve been very impressed with Alex’s performance all weekend and he put in a great recovery drive from 17th on the grid to finish fifth in his first race with us.
“He was pretty cautious during the first half of the race as he felt his way into the grand prix, but things started to come alive for him on the softer compound tyre and he put in some great overtakes.”
Lewis extends lead
With his second-placed finish at Spa reigning world champion Hamilton extended his lead at the top of the 2019 F1 drivers’ standings.
Mercedes ace Hamilton has 268 points from 13 races this season and his team-mate Valtteri Bottas is second with 203 points. Bottas finished third in Belgium.
Red Bull driver Max Verstappen, who failed to finish at Spa, is third in the drivers’ standings with 181 points. Ferrari duo Sebastian Vettel and Leclerc are fourth and fifth with 169 points and 157 respectively.
Next race: Italy
It’s back-to-back races after the summer break with the F1 Italian Grand Prix taking place on Sunday 8 September. The race at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza starts at 2.10pm (UK time).
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
7 beautiful towns to visit in Switzerland during the holidays
The Week Recommends Find bliss in these charming Swiss locales that blend the traditional with the modern
By Catherine Garcia, The Week US Published
-
The Week contest: Werewolf bill
Puzzles and Quizzes
By The Week US Published
-
'This needs to be a bigger deal'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Christian Horner and the Red Bull saga that refuses to go away
Why everyone's talking about 'Too dizzy-making' even for the 'merry-go-round world of F1'
By The Week UK Published
-
Max Verstappen: F1’s record-breaking world champion
Why Everyone’s Talking About Red Bull star has surpassed records set by Schumacher, Vettel and Hamilton
By Mike Starling Published
-
F1 ‘silly season’ hits top speed as 2023 grid takes shape
Under the Radar Twitter explodes with news of driver moves, denials and rumours
By Mike Starling Published
-
Lewis Hamilton on his F1 future: ‘I have plenty of fuel in the tank’
Under the Radar Seven-time world champion finished second on his 300th grand prix start
By Mike Starling Published
-
F1: a bumpy start to the season for Mercedes, Lewis Hamilton and George Russell
Under the Radar Only four races in and Mercedes already look off the pace
By The Week Staff Published
-
F1 Bahrain GP reactions: Ferrari ‘back with a bang’ as Leclerc ‘tames the beast’
feature The Tifosi celebrate a stunning one-two for Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz
By Mike Starling Published
-
F1 2022 season guide: race calendar, championship standings and 2023 grid
feature Max Verstappen has now won 14 of this season’s 20 grands prix
By The Week Staff Last updated
-
Lewis Hamilton’s future: could he retire from F1?
Why Everyone’s Talking About It remains ‘unclear’ if the seven-time world champion will be on the grid in 2022
By Mike Starling Published