The 2019 Belgian Grand Prix will be remembered for triumph and tragedy. Charles Leclerc scored an overdue maiden Formula 1 victory just 24 hours after the shock death of close friend Anthoine Hubert in a horrific accident.
#AH19
It is the normalness that heightens the tragedy. The current generation of racers are simply normal guys – and girls – mucking around on social media, hanging out with friends, while being innately skilled at piloting exceptionally fast cars. They – we – have become accustomed to ferocious accidents resulting in a positive outcome thanks to the relentless work undertaken by the FIA, and its various affiliates, on circuit safety, medical equipment, and car safety. We have become used to witnessing high-speed clashes, winced in sympathy, before expecting and applauding a driver when they walk away. On Saturday we were not in that position. A media centre that was full of joviality, ribbing, and banter with the colleagues and friends with whom you spend half your life fell immediately silent upon the realisation of the ferocity of the crash. The result of Formula 1 qualifying was suddenly irrelevant as the worst-case scenario crept into everyone’s minds. No-one dared say it, but we all knew this was unlikely to have a positive outcome. All of the bouncing energy and atmosphere was sucked from Spa-Francorchamps as members from the Formula 1, 2 and 3 paddocks (the F1 paddock and F2/3 paddocks are split) went through the motions. Many just stood around not knowing what to do. It was an understandable reaction. When the news filtered through there was just silence. A colleague with whom they had lined up on the grid just two hours before had perished in a violent accident that those who witnessed it will never be able to forget. Another contemporary was in hospital with serious injuries. It is easy to overlook the fact that these are young people – some barely into their 20s, others still in their teens – and it is an event that will take time to process. But this is also why these people upon whom we heap adulation are not like us. They have an ability to compartmentalise, deal with the tragedy, but then race on. Once the helmet is donned, and the visor drops, the inherent danger they know is present is not on the mind. They turn from human into racer. And they will never stop racing. For Anthoine.
Victory in tragedy
Charles Leclerc has had his low moments on-track through 2019 but in Belgium he was exceptional. He should have won in Bahrain, he could have won in Austria, but finally the breakthrough came in Belgium. He secured victory in a pressured finale less than a day after the death of a close friend, another utterly heart-breaking blow for a person who has already lost their mentor, and father. That Leclerc had the mental strength to race on and race hard was never going to be in doubt. Those previous two personal tragedies had proved that. His management of the entire weekend was spotless. A flawless pole position lap was followed by a storming start, after which he blended pace with tyre management in a manner that netted him the win. Perhaps Mercedes could have pitted Hamilton slightly earlier, or even later, in a bid to offset the differential but Ferrari – having so often been strategically undone this year – played its cards perfectly. Leclerc was able to manage his strategy while Sebastian Vettel nobly supported his younger team-mate by keeping Hamilton behind for a period of time that ultimately proved crucial. The different levels of downforce and car strengths meant Hamilton was rapid through the medium/high-downforce second sector in the closing stages, sometimes by over a second, while Leclerc maintained a sufficient buffer courtesy of Ferrari’s straight-line speed. It was a well-deserved triumph. In the circumstances, the right man won.
Changing of the guard?
It was not lost on observers that it is now over a year since Vettel triumphed at a grand prix. Technically he has crossed the line in first place – in Canada – but during that spell his team-mates have now won two races, which could have been four, while in qualifying he has been thoroughly out-classed by Leclerc in recent grands prix. In race trim Vettel has largely had the edge in terms of tyre management but at Spa-Francorchamps the coin had been flipped. Vettel could not make a one-stop strategy worked and his second service relegated him to fourth place.
“With the Medium tyres at first I managed to maintain a good pace, but then it dropped again,” he said. “I tried to keep second place but I couldn’t do it and at that point, the best thing to do was to pit once more for tyres and carry on without struggling so much. We have to understand why my car had such high tyre degradation and we will do a full analysis of the situation to understand the reasons why I did not feel comfortable.”
Lewis Hamilton was certainly an interested observer. “It’s not easy for any driver to jump into a top team, let alone Ferrari, against a four-time World Champion, in the sport more than double… God knows how much more experience, and then to continuous from race one, out-perform, out-qualify and out-drive a four-time World Champion is not easy to do,” he said. “So I think that speaks for itself. He’s been really unlucky in quite a few races this year. Could easily have been the third win today.” Was Belgium the turning point within Ferrari’s hierarchy?
Albon impresses, again
Max Verstappen wrecked his prospects at the La Source hairpin on the opening lap, making a (by current standards) uncharacteristically sloppy error by clattering into Kimi Raikkonen, with the subsequent broken track rod pitching him into the barriers a few seconds later. It was thus left to Alexander Albon to fly the flag for Red Bull. The Anglo-Thai slotted into the senior team with ease and did not look overawed by the step up to a race-winning operation. Albon bided his time on Medium tyres early on and once on Softs began carving his way towards the front of the midfield, completing his charge with a late pass on Sergio Perez, in which he took to the grass. The highlight was his around-the-outside move on Daniel Ricciardo through Liege, demonstrating that there was no lack of commitment behind the wheel of the RB15. It was a strong start for his 2020 prospects.
A word for Correa
Understandably the attention after the horrific Formula 2 accident was placed on the tragic loss of Hubert, but also involved in the collision was Juan Manuel Correa. The 20-year-old had the previous weekend driven a Formula 1 car for the first time as part of his Alfa Romeo development driver role, and this year has taken two podiums in his rookie Formula 2 campaign with Sauber Junior Team by Charouz. At the time of writing he remains in intensive care in Liege hospital, with fractures to both legs, and faces a long recovery and rehabilitation. One can only hope that Correa can take strength from the outpouring of messages and warm wishes towards him, and receive the love and support from his family and friends at such a difficult time.
