Anthoine Hubert (22 September 1996 – 31 August 2019) was a French racing driver, who was the champion of the GP3 Series in 2018. At the time, he was an affiliated driver for the Renault Sport Academy in Formula One,[1] later becoming part of the team in 2019 while joining Formula 2.[2] He sadly passed away after an accident during the Formula 2 feature race at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, also involving Giuliano Alesi and Juan Manuel Correa, on 31 August 2019.[3][4]
Career[]
Hubert began racing karts in 2004 when he was 8 years old. In 2013, he graduated to single-seater racing, debuting in the French Formula 4 Championship, which he won in his first season with 11 total victories. This prompted Tech 1 Racing to sign him for the Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 series the following year.
In 2016, Van Amersfoort Racing gave Hubert his European Formula 3 Championship debut. He won only his second race in the championship. At the end of the season, he completed some post-season testing with ART Grand Prix in GP3, which eventually resulted in a contract for the 2017 season. He stayed with the team for 2018, winning the championship with two race victories. Midway through the year, he became a member of the Renault Sport Academy.
At the end of the 2018 season, Hubert participated in Formula 2 post-season testing with MP Motorsport. He signed a contract with BWT Arden to race in the series for the 2019 season. He earned two wins early in the season before tragedy struck.
Death[]
Hubert was killed in an accident on the second lap of a Formula 2 feature race at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps on 31 August. Giuliano Alesi's spun at the high-speed Raidillon curve due to a tyre puncture suffered earlier. The rear of his car collided with the tyre barriers on the left side of the circuit, littering the circuit with debris. After spinning around multiple times, Alesi's car rejoined the circuit on the racing line rolling forward over the top of the crest.
Ralph Boschung slowed his car and moved to the runoff area at the right side of the circuit to avoid the debris and stricken car of Alesi. Hubert, who was following closely behind Boschung, was unable to react and crashed into the rear of Boschung's car. Hubert crashed heavily into the tyre barriers and spun closer to the circuit.
Hubert's car spun into the path of Juan Manuel Correa, who had lost control of his car after hitting some debris. Correa struck the cockpit of Hubert's car nearly perpendicularly at a speed of 218km/h. The force of the accident, caused the rear of Hubert's car to breakaway from the monocoque. Correa's car came to a rest upside down with his feet exposed.
The race was stopped immediately and both drivers were transported to the circuit's medical centre, where Hubert was pronounced dead. Correa was flown to a hospital in Liège where he underwent surgery for fractures in both of his legs and a spinal injury. He was later placed in a medically induced coma. After an intensive recovery, Correa returned to racing in Formula 3 in 2021.
After the accident, the race did not resume and the sprint race the following day was cancelled. The Formula One Belgian Grand Prix continued as scheduled and was won by Charles Leclerc, who dedicated his first career victory to Hubert.
Legacy[]
Following his accident, Hubert's car number 19 was permanently retired from use in Formula 2.
In 2019, Formula 2 introduced the Anthoine Hubert Award to celebrate the achievements of Hubert. The award is presented to the best rookie of the season at the Prize Giving Ceremony. The inaugural award was presented by Hubert's brother Victhor to Guanyu Zhou.[5]
Formula One Statistical Overview[]
Formula One Record[]
| Year | Entrant | Team | Pts | WDC Pos. | Report |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Youth Career | |||||
| 2019 |  Renault Sport Academy
| ||||
Notes[]
- ↑ "Anthoine Hubert becomes first Renault Sport Affiliated Driver". Renault Sport. 11 May 2018. https://www.renaultsport.com/anthoine-hubert-becomes-first-renault-sport-affiliated-driver.html. Retrieved 1 September 2019.
- ↑ Horton, Phillip (23 January 2019). "GP3 champion Anthoine Hubert joins Renault F1 scheme, makes F2 move". Motorsport Week. https://www.motorsportweek.com/news/id/21294. Retrieved 1 September 2019.
- ↑ "Statement: Incident during FIA Formula 2 Sprint Race, Spa-Francorchamps". Federation Internationale de l'Automobile. 31 August 2019. https://www.fia.com/news/statement-incident-during-fia-formula-2-sprint-race-spa-francorchamps. Retrieved 1 September 2019.
- ↑ "Formula 2: Anthoine Hubert killed in Belgium crash". BBC Sport. 31 August 2019. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/motorsport/49537761. Retrieved 1 September 2019.
- ↑ "Formula 2 introduces the Anthoine Hubert Award". Formula 2. 11 December 2019. https://www.fiaformula2.com/Latest/1JSu9v8fsvrOodtpPi5Ast/formula-2-introduces-the-anthoine-hubert-award. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
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