Leclerc wins after Hubert tragedy: Wolff says it was meant to be

Matthew Scott
Sunday 1 September 2019 16:18

Toto Wolff suggested it was fitting that Charles Leclerc secured his maiden Formula 1 race win on a tragic weekend at the Belgian Grand Prix that Anthoine Hubert lost his life.

Leclerc immediately dedicated his victory to Hubert, who was killed in a crash in Saturday's Formula 2 race, the pair having raced together in their childhood in France's junior racing scene.

The Monegasque clung on in the final stages as Lewis Hamilton closed the gap at a rapid rate.

And Wolff conceded that, despite his disappointment, the result felt right after a difficult weekend for motorsport.

You're torn because we need to look at the race," Wolff told Sky Sports. "But then a young man has lost his life and that is overshadowing everything.

"We should remember him and in a way it's good that Charles won the race. They were close, the two Frenchmen [sic], so everything happens for a reason."

"This one is for Anthoine"

An emotional moment for @Charles_Leclerc, as he secures his first ever F1 win and a first victory of the 2019 season for @ScuderiaFerrari#F1 #BelgianGP 🇧🇪 pic.twitter.com/VwV86aQ8FE

— Formula 1 (@F1) September 1, 2019

Mercedes were not ever really in contention for the win, until Leclerc's tyres wore off late in the race but Wolff was happy to see Hamilton take second, with Valtteri Bottas third.

"Overtaking on the straight is very difficult against that Ferrari but maybe two [laps] would have done it [Hamilton getting past Leclerc].

"Maybe we stayed out one or lap too late [to pit], with Lewis the optimum would have been a lap or two earlier but then you're all very clever at the end of the race.

"I think for us it was not really a great track. We are lacking the speed on the straight line, so if that is damage limitation we have to be very, very happy with it."