Motor racing world in shock after French driver Anthoine Hubert dies in Formula Two crash at Belgium GP
- 22-year-old Anthoine Hubert died after a collision on Lap 2 at the high-speed Spa-Francorchamps track
- Driver Juan Manuel Correa, who was also injured in the crash, was in stable condition
Motor racing prospect Anthoine Hubert was killed on Saturday by a horrific high-speed crash just minutes into the Formula Two race held before this weekend’s F1 Belgian Grand Prix, the FIA announced.
Hubert, who was considered a serious talent by Renault’s F1 set up, died aged 22 after a three-car pile-up also involving Juan Manuel Correa and Giuliano Alesi at the exit of the Raidillon corner, one of the fastest sections of the quick Spa-Francorchamps track.
Tributes poured in for Hubert, with a “devastated” Formula One saying “he will never be forgotten” and Lewis Hamilton hailing the Frenchman as a “hero”.
“This is devastating. God rest your soul Anthoine. My prayers and thoughts are with you and your family today,” Hamilton, the reigning five-time F1 world champion, said on Instagram.
“If a single one of you watching and enjoying this sport think for a second what we do is safe your hugely mistaken. All these drivers put their life on the line when they hit the track and people need to appreciate that in a serious way because it is not appreciated enough.
“Not from the fans nor some of the people actually working in the sport. Anthoine is a hero as far as I’m concerned, for taking the risk he did to chase his dreams … Rest in peace brother.”