Driver dies in crash at Spa-Francorchamps following famed Eau Rouge section
French driver Anthoine Hubert has died following a race at Spa-Francorchamps in Stavelot, Belgium.
Hubert was the 2018 GP3 champion. He sat on the Renault F1 Team’s junior driver academy.
The accident took place on lap two of the Formula 2 event. Hubert, 22, lost control in the Raidillon corner just prior to exiting Eau Rouge.
Hubert went off track and slammed the outside wall. The impact then pushed him back into the racing surface.
As drivers came over the hill, Hubert was spinning back across the track. They were offered little time to react. American driver Juan Manuel Correa came over the hill as 125 mph and impacted the left side of Hubert.
The TV broadcast did not show a replay of the crash. That typically leads spectators to assume the worst.
As drivers returned the pit area, they were informed that the race would not be restarted. F2 is one step below Formula 1. This was the second F2 race of the weekend and they took the green shortly after F1 qualifying for the Belgian Grand Prix.
F1 officials confirmed that Hubert succumbed to injries sustained in the crash. Juan Manuel Correa is stable but remains in CHU Liège hospital.
FIA statement on Anthoine Hubert
“The Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) regrets to advise that a serious incident involving cars #12, #19 and #20 occurred at 17:07 on 31/08/19 as a part of the FIA Formula 2 Sprint Race at Spa-Francorchamps, round 17 of the season.”
“The scene was immediately attended by emergency and medical crews, and all drivers were taken to the medical centre.”
“As a result of the incident, the FIA regrets to inform that the driver of car #19, Antoine Hubert (FRA), succumbed to his injuries, and passed away at 18:35.”
“The driver of car #12, Juan-Manuel Correa (USA), is in a stable condition and is being treated at the CHU Liège hospital. More information on his condition will be provided when it becomes available.”
“The driver of car #20 Giuliano Alesi (FRA) was checked and declared fit at the medical centre.”
“The FIA is providing support to the event organisers and the relevant authorities, and has commenced an investigation into the incident.”
Lewis Hamilton comments on Anthoine Hubert
Lewis Hamilton is a five-time F1 World Champion. He had just qualified his Mercedes prior to the crash.
“This is devastating. God rest your soul Anthoine. My prayers and thoughts are with you and your family today.”
“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. I’m so sad that this has happened. Let’s lift him up and remember him. Rest in peace brother.”
Hubert won two races so far in 2019, Monaco and France. He sat 7th in the driver standings leading up to this weekend.
