Belgian Grand Prix 2019

Leclerc Dedicates Victory to Hubert

Charles Leclerc won the Belgian Grand Prix in Spa from pole position ahead of Mercedes star Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas.

The Monegasque achieved the first victory for Ferrari this year – unfortunately, on a weekend when Formula 2 driver Hubert was killed in a tragic accident the day before.

Leclerc: “We grew up together. At my first go-kart race ever, he was there too, as well as Esteban (Ocon, Red) and Pierre (Gasly, Red).”

“That’s why I can’t enjoy my first win today, “

His team-mate Sebastian Vettel got only fourth place. The German had tire problems throughout his race. As a result, he had to make an unplanned stop throwing him back behind Hamilton and Bottas. That also meant he had to support Leclerc for the last part of the race by delaying Hamilton’s final attack.

Another drama unfolded at McLaren. Lando Norris, under the direction of German Andreas Seidl, lost his fifth place in the very last lap due to technical problems at start-finish.

On the other hand, Alex Albon achieved a fifth place in his debut race for Red Bull after starting from P17. The German Nico Hülkenberg achieved P8 in his Renault.

Race Result

Drivers’ Standings

Constructors’ Standings

Saturday Qualifying

Ferrari faster than Mercedes and Red Bull and Charles Leclerc faster than Sebastian Vettel! The qualifying session in Spa was a masterpiece of the Monegasque in his Ferrari, who was faster more than seven-tenths of a second than his German team-mate. Nevertheless, Ferrari can look forward to having both pilots in front – the first time since the Bahrain GP.

Leclerc relied on himself rather than using a slipstream by another driver – it was the right tactic for qualifying. Vettel summed it up the problem most drivers had: “Damn traffic, I’m glad to be on the front row at all….”

Vettel is more optimistic the race: “We have good speed.., today it was better than yesterday.”

But Vettel cautioned: “… temperatures are falling.”

The temperature might drop by a full ten degrees to 19 degrees. Early on even rain is being predicted before the race starts.

Qualifying Results, 31.8.2019:

1. Charles Leclerc – Ferrari 1:42,519 minute
2. Sebastian Vettel – Ferrari +0,748 seconds
3. Lewis Hamilton – Mercedes +0,763
4. Valtteri Bottas – Mercedes +0,896
5. Max Verstappen – Red Bull +1,171
6. Daniel Ricciardo – Renault +1,738 (+5 Plätze)
7. Nico Hülkenberg – Renault +2,023 (+5 Plätze)
8. Kimi Räikkönen – Alfa Romeo +2,038
9. Sergio Perez – Racing Point +2,187
10. Kevin Magnussen – Haas +2,567
11. Romain Grosjean – Haas 1:44,797 Min.
12. Lando Norris – McLaren +0,050 Sek.
13. Lance Stroll – Racing Point +0,250 (+7 Plätze)
14. Alexander Albon – Red Bull +1,002 (+5 Plätze)
15. Antonio Giovinazzi – Alfa Romeo (keine Zeit in Q2)
16. Pierre Gasly – Toro Rosso 1:46,435 Min.
17. Carlos Sainz Jr. – McLaren +0,072 Sek. (+5 Plätze)
18. Daniil Kvyat – Toro Rosso +0,083 (+5 Plätze)
19. George Russell – Williams +1,113
20. Robert Kubica – Williams (keine Zeit in Q1)

Freies Training

3. Free Practice, 31.8.2019:

1 . Charles Leclerc – Ferrari 1:44,206 minute
2. Sebastian Vettel – Ferrari+0,451 seconds
3. Valtteri Bottas – Mercedes +0,497
4. Daniel Ricciardo – Renault +0,768
5. Max Verstappen – Red Bull +1,106
6. Sergio Perez – Racing Point +1,315
7. Lewis Hamilton – Mercedes +1,360
8. Kimi Räikkönen – Alfa Romeo +1,453
9. Antonio Giovinazzi – Alfa Romeo +1,482
10. Pierre Gasly – Toro Rosso+1,546
11. Romain Grosjean – Haas +1,600
12. Nico Hülkenberg – Renault +1,649
13. Kevin Magnussen – Haas +1,798
14. Carlos Sainz Jr. – McLaren +1,811
15. Lando Norris – McLaren +2,064
16. Lance Stroll – Racing Point+2,173
17. Daniil Kvyat – Toro Rosso+2,436
18. George Russell – Williams +3,652
19. Robert Kubica – Williams +4,144
20. Alexander Albon – Red Bull +6,475

2. Free Practice, 30.8.2019:

1. Charles Leclerc – Ferrari 1:44,123 minute
2. Sebastian Vettel – Ferrari+0,630 seconds
3. Valtteri Bottas – Mercedes +0,846
4. Lewis Hamilton – Mercedes +0,892
5. Sergio Perez – Racing Point +0,994
6. Max Verstappen – Red Bull +1,271
7. Kimi Räikkönen – Alfa Romeo +1,585
8. Lance Stroll – Racing Point +1,609
9. Daniel Ricciardo – Renault +1,612
10. Alexander Albon – Red Bull +1,648
11. Carlos Sainz Jr. – McLaren +1,876
12. Romain Grosjean – Haas +1,997
13. Nico Hülkenberg – Renault +2,086
14. Daniil Kvyat – Toro Rosso+2,091
15. Lando Norris – McLaren +2,135
16. Antonio Giovinazzi – Alfa Romeo +2,205
17. Pierre Gasly – Toro Rosso+2,251
18. Kevin Magnussen – Haas +2,276
19. George Russell – Williams +3,764
20. Robert Kubica – Williams +4,208

1. Free Practice, 30.8.2019:

1 . Sebastian Vettel – Ferrari 1:44,574 minute
2. Charles Leclerc – Ferrari+0,214 seconds
3. Max Verstappen – Red Bull +0,933 
4. Alexander Albon – Red Bull +1,010 
5. Valtteri Bottas – Mercedes +1,308 
6. Lewis Hamilton – Mercedes +1,399 
7. Lance Stroll – Racing Point +1,624 
8. Daniel Ricciardo – Renault +1,852
9. Sergio Perez – Racing Point +1,859 
10. Carlos Sainz Jr. – McLaren +1,983 
11. Nico Hülkenberg – Renault +2,095 
12. Lando Norris – McLaren +2,096 
13. Kimi Räikkönen – Alfa Romeo +2,450 
14. Romain Grosjean – Haas +2,602 
15. Antonio Giovinazzi – Alfa Romeo+2,759 
16. Kevin Magnussen – Haas +2,914 
17. Daniil Kvyat – Toro Rosso+3,062 
18. Pierre Gasly – Toro Rosso+3,394 
19. Nicholas Latifi – Williams +4,210 
20. Robert Kubica – Williams +4,392

*This article was first published in German at autobild.de/motorsport.