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The 2019 Belgian Grand Prix was among the most thrilling races of the season whilst also being one of the most emotionally charged episodes in recent Grand Prix racing history.
At the backdrop of the demise of young French Formula 2 driver Anthoine Hubert, an incredible racing talent, Ferrari finally ended their misery of having not won a single race in the ongoing season in 12 successive attempts before arriving at Belgium.
And could it have come in a better fashion with one of Hubert's closest mates- Charles Leclerc- putting Ferrari right on top, at a venue where Vettel last won a Grand Prix back in 2018?
But what were the other talking points from a bittersweet Ferrari-dominated race weekend? Let's find out!
#5 Alex Albon delivers for Red Bull in his maiden race for the team
You ought to label an effort as 'incredible' when a driver begins from the rear-end of the grid and still ends up on fifth upon the completion of the checkered flag.
And so Alex Albon, among the real finds of Formula 1 racing delivered in his maiden effort for the celebrated Milton Keynes-based outfit as he collected 10 solid points at Spa-Francorchamps.
Beginning his race from the twentieth grid spot owing to a last-minute engine upgrade, Alex Albon drove like a champion and ended up fifth on the grid upon the completion of the 44 laps.
In so doing, he made incredible overtaking moves on the likes of Lando Norris, Kimi Raikkonen, both the Williams drivers (Kubica and Russell) and the Toro Rosso of Daniil Kvyat.
Making most of the brisk corner speed of the Red Bull, Albon was the only Red Bull driver running in contention for points ever since the team lost Max Verstappen in an opening lap fiasco, seconds from the start.
#4 The opening lap fiasco between Raikkonen and Verstappen
Max Verstappen and Kimi Raikkonen are pure racers and they seldom fail to make the most of an opportunity to pass other cars on the grid. But who would've thought that among the finest talents of all time would've plunged to a miserable fate at the 2019 Belgian Grand Prix?
As the five red lights turned green, both the Red Bull as well as the Alfa Romeo hit the apex hard whilst making the turn around at La Source.
This challenging right-hander saw the two cars come in contact with each other, sending the drivers to a mixed bag of fortunes.
As Raikkonen, lunged toward the outside of the Red Bull of Max Verstappen, he was contacted by the royal blue-liveried car heavily. An episode labeled rightly as a 'racing incident,' saw Raikkonen sustain severe floor damage to his car. He would rejoin the grid from the far end while Verstappen would retire soon after.
As a result, the "King of Spa" spent most of his time contending for minor scraps toward the rear end of the field while Verstappen, no less than a local hero at the venue, found himself an unexpected DNF.
But the incident changed the context of the race as the likes of Renault and McLaren emerged big gainers out of the Kimi-Max collision.
#3 Antonio Giovinazzi's drive- was it the most underrated from the race?
Among the drivers who were destined for points finish, a bit like Lando Norris, was Antonio Giovinazzi in the Alfa Romeo. It could be said, the young Italian driver perhaps drove what could be aptly described as his drive of the season, so far.
While a lot of attention from the start of the contest was on his more experienced world champion teammate Kimi Raikkonen, for the better part of the contest, it appeared that it would be Giovinazzi who would fetch some points for the Hinwill-based outfit.
Prior to retiring in the penultimate lap, Giovinazzi drove a strong and utterly controlled race that had some intense moments, including the midfield tussle with the Toro Rosso drivers- Daniil Kvyatt and new-replacement, Pierre Gasly.
In fact, of all things, Giovinazzi passed Lando Norris in the run down to Raidillon on Lap 20. Even if that move proved to be a temporary gain, as Norris in his more commanding car would retake the position, it showed that the Italian had an appetite for a good fight.
It was a shame that the Martina Franca-born driver wasn't able to add to his solitary point, collected at the Austrian GP earlier.
#2 Superb team play from Vettel
While the man of the moment clearly is Charles Leclerc, someone who finally raised the victory flag for the sport's most popular outfit, it could be said, in Sebastian Vettel, one saw the silent hero of the 2019 Belgian Grand Prix.
On Lap 27, it wasn't Leclerc but his more experienced Ferrari teammate Vettel, who was in the lead of the race. He was being trailed by the Monegasque driver who, in turn, was being followed closely by Hamilton in his attacking Mercedes.
But in what proved to be perfect evidence of great team-play, Vettel gave up his place and allowed Leclerc to dominate the proceedings for the remainder of the contest.
Still, was it going to be any easy with Leclerc having to lead 17 more laps with Hamilton in hot pursuit of his Ferrari?
Sebastian Vettel, who's yet to win a Grand Prix, coming really close to winning one at Montreal in a controversy-plagued race, may have easily gone on to win the contest had it not been for his turning up as a perfect team-man for his younger rising Ferrari partner. He would finish with a respectable fourth in the end.
#1 Charles Leclerc's maiden race win
The greatness of young Charles Leclerc stemmed from the fact that immediately in the aftermath of the contest, instead of jumping around and celebrating his most memorable moment wildly on the radio, he instead pointed to an insignia on his Ferrari. It read- Racing For Anthoine.
In what turned out to be a race of mixed feelings for the young Ferrari driver, Leclerc echoed grace amid duress as he determinedly dedicated his maiden F1 victory to his deceased friend, Formula 2 driver Anthoine Hubert.
Surely, winning a Grand Prix had been his single-most important aim ever since he began karting at the ripe young age of 3. But when the big moment came, Leclerc, who's no stranger to misery in personal life- having lost his father at an early age- dedicated his most precious Grand Prix moment to the memory of his dear friend.
His conduct on the racing track was no less than that of a dominant champion for the simple reason that he was able to keep the attacking Mercedes of Hamilton at bay, for 17 straight laps.
Hamilton, despite contending in a machine that wasn't any strong when matched with Ferrari's straight line speed, kept on decreasing the gap to the track leader and for that, his effort must also be hailed.
