Motorsport: Frenchman Anthoine Hubert dies in Belgian Grand prix crash

  • 01/09/2019
Anthonine Hubert.
Anthonine Hubert. Photo credit: Getty

French driver Anthoine Hubert has been killed in a Formula Two accident at the Belgian Grand Prix.

The 22-year-old died following a 160mph (257km/h) collision at the high-speed Spa-Francorchamps track on Sunday.

Hubert raced for the British-owned Arden team, founded and run by Garry Horner, the father of Red Bull team boss Christian Horner.

A number of drivers were involved in the second-lap accident on the exit of the fearsome Raidillon corner.

The official TV feed swiftly cut away from the scene and there were no replays of the accident.

But footage of the incident which later emerged on social media appeared to show Hubert slamming into the barriers on the far side of the circuit before sliding across the track.

Ecuadorian-American Juan Manuel Correa then crashed head on into Hubert, whose car appeared to break in two.

Correa was taken to Liege Hospital and is reported to be in a stable condition.

The Formula Two race, which acts as the feeder championship to Formula One, followed the conclusion of qualifying for the F1 grand prix which saw Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc secure pole position ahead of Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton.

"As a result of the incident, the FIA regrets to inform that the driver of car 19, Anthoine Hubert, succumbed to his injuries, and passed away at 18:35," the sport's governing body said in a statement.

"The driver of car #12, Juan-Manuel Correa (USA), is in a stable condition and is being treated at the CHU Liege 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."

Hubert's death is the first driver fatality at a Formula One race weekend since Ayrton Senna and Roland Ratzenberger were killed at Imola in 1994.

Jules Bianchi, who suffered serious head injuries at the Japanese Grand Prix in October 2014, succumbed to his injuries in July the following year.

Formula Two is a feeder series and support category to Formula One and races on the same weekends.

Mick Schumacher, son of seven-times world champion Michael, is currently in his first season in series, whose field includes drivers supported by Formula One teams.

Hubert was a Renault-backed driver.

Mercedes and Renault cancelled their planned media sessions after the accident.

PA