HE WAS A HERO’
Hamilton tribute to young r acer Hubert who was killed in cr ash
LEWIS HAMILTON led tributes to racing prodigy Anthoine Hubert, who died following a horror crash in the feature F2 race at the Belgian Grand Prix yesterday.
A devastating high- speed smash happened as Hubert’s car collided with that of Juan Manuel Correa, 20.
Both cars almost disintegrated in the shocking collision and the race was abandoned after marshals attended the scene.
Hamilton ( below) said: “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 you’re 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.”
The crash was on the exit of Eau Rouge at the Spa- Francorchamps circuit in Belgium, as 22-year-old Hubert and Correa came together.
Hubert’s car went into the barrier and spun back off into the direction of Correa’s car, who was launched into the air by the impact. Correa is being treated in hospital in Liege but is in a stable condition.
Hubert was a Renault development driver originally from Lyon in France. He was the champion of the GP3 Championship last season and had already claimed two race wins in the F2 Championship this season.
The F2 Championship is a breeding ground for future F1 stars. Current drivers Lando Norris, George Russell and Alexander Albon all drove in the series last year.
In today’s F1 race a t Spa, Ferrari’s Charles Lec l e r c w i l l start on pole with Sebastian Vettel second and Hamilton third.