Belgian Grand Prix 2019 - Race Schedule and Countdown

Charles Leclerc claimed his maiden Formula 1 victory at the Belgian Grand Prix in deeply emotional circumstances, dedicating the triumph to his late friend Anthoine Hubert who had been killed in a horrific Formula 2 crash the previous day. The young Monegasque driver dominated from pole position at the magnificent Spa-Francorchamps circuit, controlling the race despite intense pressure from Lewis Hamilton and managing the pain of losing his childhood friend and racing rival. Leclerc's victory came at the end of a weekend overshadowed by tragedy, with Hubert's fatal accident during the F2 feature race casting a somber mood over the entire paddock.

Leclerc led from lights to flag, building a comfortable gap in the opening stint before Hamilton closed in during the second half of the race. The Ferrari driver defended brilliantly on the long Kemmel Straight, using Ferrari's superior straightline speed to hold off the faster Mercedes despite Hamilton's attempts to use DRS and slipstream to overtake. Leclerc's emotional radio message after crossing the line - "We did it, we did it!" - was followed by a poignant tribute to Hubert on the slow-down lap. The 21-year-old's composure under such difficult emotional circumstances demonstrated remarkable maturity and mental strength.

Hamilton finished second for Mercedes ahead of teammate Valtteri Bottas in third, with both Silver Arrows drivers unable to find a way past Leclerc's Ferrari despite having superior race pace through the middle sector. Sebastian Vettel set the fastest lap but finished fifth after struggling with pace throughout the weekend. Leclerc's victory was cathartic after the heartbreak of Bahrain and Austria, finally converting his obvious speed into a maiden win. The success marked Ferrari's first victory since Kimi Raikkonen's triumph at the 2018 United States Grand Prix, ending a winless drought that had lasted over a year. The triumph was bittersweet, celebrated with muted emotions given the tragic circumstances of Hubert's passing.