Belgian Grand Prix race day

By: Geoff Creighton

Summary


	Leclerc wins his first grand prix after withstanding late Hamilton pressure
	Vettel has to stop twice and ends up fourth
	Verstappen out on lap one after Raikkonen clash
	Norris loses midfield 'win' at finish with late DNF
	Giovinazzi crashes out of the points on the last lap

Status: Stopped

18:04 Stay tuned for all the post-race reaction on Autosport.com and Motorsport.com, but thank you for joining us on what has been a difficult weekend for motorsport. It ends with Charles Leclerc winning the Belgian Grand Prix and dedicating his triumph to the late Anthoine Hubert.

18:03 Here's Scott Mitchell's report of Charles Leclerc's first F1 win, which came in a thrilling race at Spa.

Belgian Grand Prix: Leclerc fends off Hamilton to take first F1 win

Charles Leclerc fended off a charging Lewis Hamilton to end his wait for a maiden Formula 1 win and secure Ferrari's first victory of 2019 in the Belgian Grand Prix

18:02 And Albon's late pass on Perez - where he put two wheels on the grass to take what would become fifth place - is under investigation.

18:01 Norris's problem looked like a power unit issue - it was so unfortunate as he had had fifth place wrapped up since the early stages.

18:01 So that's it in terms of on-track action and the podium, but a couple of things wrapped up after that late drama.

18:00 No champagne was sprayed, but Leclerc, Hamilton and Bottas saluted other in poignant celebrations.

17:59 So Leclerc has his first F1 winner's trophy, when he received it he pointed to sky again in memory of Anthoine Hubert.

17:52 "I gave it absolutely everything that I had," says Hamilton. "A really difficult race today. The Ferraris were just too fast on the straights and very hard to keep up to keep up with them. I got as close as I could at the end, maybe another couple of laps - 44 is usually my lucky number - but maybe we needed a few more laps today. Nonetheless, congratulations to Charles, his first win. He's had it coming all year so I'm really happy for him.

17:49 "Its been a very difficult race," Leclerc adds. "We struggled quite a bit with the tyres towards the end. But [I'm] a lot happier than what I did in Budapest on my side, I managed the tyres better."

17:48 "One hand I've got a dream since being a child that has been realised, on the other hand it has been a very difficult weekend since yesterday," Leclerc tells David Coulthard in parc ferme. " We have lost a friend first of all. It's very difficult in these situations so I would like to dedicate my first win to him. We grew up together - my first ever race I did it with Anthoine, Esteban [Ocon], Pierre [Gasly]. It's just a shame what happened yesterday. I can't fully enjoy my first victory, but it will definitely be a memory I will keep forever."

17:43 Leclerc hugs his manager Nicolas Todt.

17:43 Leclerc appears to be, understandably, subdued, but he's celebrating with his mechanics as well he should.

17:42 Leclerc climbs from his cockpit and points to the sky as he salutes Anthoine Hubert.

17:42 Leclerc pulls up in front of the first place board - that's Ferrari's first win of the season, and what a thriller.

17:41 "First victory in F1 - this one is for Anthoine," Leclerc says over his radio as he pulls into the pits to head to parc ferme. "It feels good, but difficult to enjoy on a weekend like this. But thanks for everything guys, you're the best. A dream come true.

17:39 Norris has stopped on the start/finish line - he didn't get to start the final lap!

17:39 What a finish - Leclerc just held on to take his maiden F1 win.

17:37 Norris has stopped too!

17:37 Leclerc wins at Spa!

17:37 Hamilton is 1.0s behind Leclerc as they flash by Giovinazzi's crash.

17:36 Giovinazzi has crashed at Pouhon!

17:36 That's an Alfa in the wall!

17:36 Leclerc close to catching Stroll to lap him as they enter the second sector.

17:35 One to go for Leclerc and Hamilton - the gap is 1.5s - this is nailbiting!

17:35 Hamilton edges up to 1.6s in the middle sector.

17:34 Albon's in DRS range of Perez now.

17:34 Sector one done on the penultimate lap - the gap grows slightly.

17:34 Leclerc's lead is 2.2s - so close now.

17:33 Two laps to run at Spa - Hamilton is almost right with Leclerc.

17:33 Leclerc and Hamilton sweep by the Haas cars and Ricciardo.

17:33 Albon is now closing in on Perez. It's a 2.3s gap, which I've deleted several times as it keeps shrinking.

17:32 Leclerc has lapped Magnussen, but he's got a train coming up.

17:31 Leclerc's lead is 2.8s over Hamilton.

17:31 Down to four laps to go - and Leclerc will have to make his way through the pack as he races to the chequered flag.

17:31 The battle of the midfield is now for P11. Grosjean gets passed by Hulkenberg, which lets Stroll stuff his Racing point in the gap at Les Combes, almost getting turned-in on.

17:30 The lead gap is down to 3.9s and Leclerc is closing in on traffic ahead.

17:30 "If we see the same drop on Leclerc as we saw on Vettel, it will come quickly," Mercedes tells Hamilton

17:29 Gasly now plonks his car past Ricciardo with DRS on the Kemmel straight. Easy. Peasy. Lemon. Squeezy.

17:29 And now the gap is up to 5.1s - can you guess which bit of data we're focussed on?

17:28 Five laps left at Spa - Leclerc is hanging on ahead of Hamilton, but the gap is down to 4.7s.