Wearing a black armband as he stood on the top step of a Formula One podium for the first time in his career, Charles Leclerc pointed to the sky to acknowledge Anthoine Hubert, the young French driver killed at Spa-Francorchamps on Saturday.

There was no customary champagne-spraying. The motor racing world was in mourning.

"On one hand a childhood dream has been realised," Leclerc said. "On the other hand it has been a very difficult weekend. I have lost a friend. I would like to dedicate my first win to him."

Daniel Ricciardo, the usually jovial Australian, kept his eyes closed throughout the reflective pause, before appearing to wipe away tears – his actions summing up the sombre mood here before Sunday's race.

Leclerc hugged Hubert's mother. Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto then put an arm around his young star. Speaking prior to the race, Binotto said: "It is not easy for Charles. He knew Hubert very well, but he also knows a win is the best way to keep his head up."

The 21-year-old Leclerc did just that. He made the perfect start, racing away from pole position. Leclerc briefly traded places with Ferrari team-mate Sebastian Vettel, owing to different tyre strategies, but once the four-time world champion was ordered aside, the Monegasque's win rarely looked in doubt – even though Lewis Hamilton ran the youngster close. Hamilton finished one second behind Leclerc to extend his title lead over Valtteri Bottas, who took third, to 65 points.

"It is not easy for any driver to jump into a top team, let alone Ferrari, and continually out-perform, out-qualify and out-drive a four-time world champion," Hamilton said of the sport's latest race winner.

"But Charles' results speak for themselves. There is a lot more greatness to come from him and I am looking forward to racing alongside him in the future."

British teenager Lando Norris was cruelly denied a career-best fifth when his McLaren conked out following an engine failure on the last lap.