SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS, Belgium – Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc who won the 2019 Formula 1 race here on Sunday, was reported as ”taking little joy” from his first top-rank win..
His triumph was marred by the death during the earlier Formula 2 race of young French driver Anthoine Hubert, a former karting rival. The
“It’s a good day,” Reuters reported Leclerc as saying, ”but on the other hand losing Anthoine takes me back to 2005, my first French championship. There was him, Esteban (Ocon), Pierre (Gasly), and me and we were four kids dreaming of F1.”
READ THE full Reuters report here.
Leclerc’s won from pole, followed by Mercedes’ 2019 championship leader Lewis Hamilton and the latter’s team-mate Valterri Bottas.
This is Leclerc’s first year with Ferrari and only his second in F1.
Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff, Reuters reported, said Leclerc, godson of late Ferrari protege Jules Bianchi also killed in an F1 crash, was the fitting winner.
READ: FIA starts investigation into Hubert crash