Charles Leclerc revealed he stayed virtually silent throughout his drive to victory in yesterday’s Belgian Grand Prix.

The Ferrari driver only made a single remark to his race engineer throughout the 44-lap race following the early Safety Car period.

Leclerc revealed he did not ask the team to tell Sebastian Vettel to let him past when he caught his team mate after his pit stop.

“I don’t think I’ve spoken on the radio from the first lap to the last lap,” said Leclerc in yesterday’s post-race press conference. “So no, I haven’t asked anything.”

The only comment Leclerc made to his race engineer during the green-flag running came when he was asked if he would like his front wing flap adjusted at his first pit stop. “Minus one,” was his reply.

Leclerc didn’t speak again until he crossed the line to score his first grand prix victory, when he described the emotions of winning the day after his friend Anthoine Hubert had been killed in a support race crash.

“Congratulations, yes,” said Leclerc. “First victory in F1. This is is a hard one. It feels good but difficult to enjoy on a weekend like this. But thanks for everything guys. You’re the best. A dream some true, anyway.”

“Thanks guys,” he added. “Thank you so much.”

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Leclerc’s team radio from the end of the Safety Car period

After the Safety Car period, Leclerc only spoke once before the end of the race.

To Leclerc: You can fire up the engine. To Leclerc: Last car is on the grid. To Leclerc: K2 off, K2 off. To Leclerc: Safety Car deployed. Slow button on. Stay out. To Leclerc: SOC 6. To Leclerc: Verstappen crashed at Eau Rouge but everything is fine, he got out of the car. Leclerc: Good. I mean, good to hear that he is out of the car. To Leclerc: Understood. Stay out, stay out. To Leclerc: Try to work all four tyres. Leclerc: Let me know about the brakes because I’ve got no information. To Leclerc: Brake temperatures are OK. Leclerc: Let me know if we are over what we want. To Leclerc: All good for the moment, brake and tyres. To Leclerc: Work especially front tyres, brake temperatures are OK. Everything is fine. To Leclerc: Tyre pressures and brake temperatures are OK, you are doing a good job. To Leclerc: Safety Car in this lap. K2 on. Tyres and brakes are OK. Leclerc: Yes. Remind me later in the lap for the K2 on. To Leclerc: Will do. To Leclerc: K2 on, reminder. To Leclerc: Safety Car deployed, so Safety Car is staying out. Stay positive. One car is stuck at pit entry. To Leclerc: Seconday WG position nine. Safety Car staying out. To Leclerc: Tyre pressures, brake temperatures are OK, you are doing a good job. To Leclerc: Safety Car in this lap. K2 reminder, K2 on. To Leclerc: Safety Car in the pit lane. To Leclerc: K2 off.

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2019 F1 season