Anthoine Hubert killed in F2 crash
FRANCE - The FIA has announced that the French driver Anthoine Hubert died after a major accident during the Formula 2 feature race at the Belgian Grand Prix. The race was cancelled after the crash on the second lap at Spa-Francorchamps. In the high-speed incident involving Hubert and Juan Manuel Correa both cars took major damage but Hubert’s almost disintegrated.
The race was stopped as marshals attended the scene and there was no immediate confirmation of the medical status of either driver. However, at nearly 7pm local time, the FIA announced that Hubert had died as a result of his injuries. Sunday’s F2 race has been cancelled, although the F1 grand prix will go ahead as planned. Hubert is the first driver to die as a result of an accident at an F1 event since Jules Bianchi succumbed to the injuries he sustained in Japan in 2014. Hubert was 22 and a Renault academy driver from Lyon in France. He began racing in karts in 2004, was the French F4 champion in 2013 and showed great promise when he became the GP3 champion last year, before stepping up to F2. A statement from the FIA read: “The Federation Internationale de l’Automobile 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 feature 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, Anthoine 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.”
(The Guardian)