Sebastian Vettel reflects on the Spa weekend that transformed his Formula 1 career
Few weekends in modern motorsport have left such a profound emotional impact as the 2019 Belgian Grand Prix. While the Formula 1 world celebrated Charles Leclerc‘s maiden Grand Prix victory, the paddock was still grieving the heartbreaking loss of Formula 2 driver Anthoine Hubert, whose fatal accident at Spa-Francorchamps cast a shadow over the entire event.
For Sebastian Vettel, who was racing alongside Charles Leclerc at Ferrari at the time, the tragedy became far more than another painful memory. Years later, the four-time Formula 1 World Champion has admitted that the events of that weekend forced him to question his future in the sport more seriously than ever before.
The tragedy that shook the entire paddock
Anthoine Hubert lost his life during the Formula 2 Feature Race after a devastating high-speed collision involving Juan Manuel Correa. The 22-year-old French driver was widely respected throughout the junior categories and counted several Formula 1 drivers among his close friends.
The accident left the entire paddock in shock. On the following day, Charles Leclerc secured his first Formula 1 victory and emotionally dedicated the triumph to his childhood friend, creating one of the most poignant moments in recent Formula 1 history.
For Sebastian Vettel, however, the emotional burden extended well beyond the race itself.
Sebastian Vettel admits he considered not racing on Sunday
Writing in an emotional essay for The New York Times, Sebastian Vettel revealed that Spa 2019 was the only occasion during more than two decades of racing when he genuinely questioned whether he should continue competing.
“In more than two decades of racing, there was only one time when I seriously questioned getting back into the car. It happened during the Belgian Grand Prix in August 2019, after a young French driver, Anthoine Hubert, lost his life in a racing accident at just 22 years old,” Vettel wrote.
The former Ferrari driver explained that, despite experiencing accidents himself throughout his career, witnessing the death of such a young competitor fundamentally changed the way he viewed the risks associated with motorsport.
An emotional phone call to his wife
Sebastian Vettel also recalled the deeply personal moments that followed the accident, describing the emotional conversation he had with his wife, Hanna, shortly after learning of Hubert’s death.
“I’ve had accidents myself, thankfully only minor ones. I’ve seen other drivers crash as well. But that young man had his whole life ahead of him, and suddenly it was gone while we all watched. I called my wife, Hanna, and told her that I didn’t want to race the next day. I hardly slept that night, but in the end I decided to race.”
Although Sebastian Vettel ultimately chose to compete on Sunday, he admitted that climbing back into his Ferrari no longer felt the same after everything that had happened.
A new understanding of speed and responsibility
Looking back after retiring from Formula 1, the German explained that the events of Spa marked a turning point in how he understood both racing and his own responsibilities as a driver.
He revealed that, until then, speed had always been something he simply experienced. After Anthoine Hubert’s death, however, he began to view it from a completely different perspective.
“After that weekend, I felt differently about my sport, something I only fully understood after retiring. I never feared speed, but for the first time I could actually see it rather than simply feel it. I began to carry a sense of responsibility unlike anything I had experienced before. I realised that speed, progress and innovation only truly matter if they move us in the right direction.”
Spa 2019 remains one of Formula 1’s defining moments
The 2019 Belgian Grand Prix continues to stand as one of the most emotional weekends in Formula 1 history. While Charles Leclerc‘s maiden victory will always be remembered as a remarkable sporting achievement, it will forever be inseparable from the tragic loss of Anthoine Hubert.
For Sebastian Vettel, the events at Spa became a defining chapter in both his career and his personal life. His reflections offer a powerful reminder that behind the pursuit of speed, performance and technological excellence are drivers whose lives can be profoundly changed by the moments they experience on and off the racetrack.
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