MOTOR RACING fans were in shock on Saturday as F2 driver Antoine Hubert was tragically killed during the Belgian Grand Prix.
The Frenchman was involved in a sickening 150mph collision at Spa-Francochamps – the venue for this week’s Belgian F1 Grand Prix – and was reported dead from his injuries later in the evening.
F2 DRIVER Anthoine Hubert has been killed in a horrific crash at Spa-Francorchamps.
The horrendous accident on the exit of Eau Rouge involved 22-year-old Frenchman Hubert and Juan Manuel Correa.
Hubert initially smashed into the barrier and rolled back into the track before Correa then collided into the side of him.
Images showed Hubert’s vehicle practically split in half as debris scattered across the track.
Correa’s vehicle came to rest upside down.
Images showed a number of ambulances at the scene as they tended to the two drivers before being taken away.
Correa, 20, is an American Alfa Romeo development driver living in Barcelona while Hubert drove for Renault.
Medical crews quickly made their way on to the track and the race was postponed before being later cancelled.
Ecuadorian-born driver, Correa, was said to be in a stable condition and being treated at a nearby hospital as a result of his leg injuries.
Hubert, who won the GP3 championship last season and had already won twice this season, was part of the Renault Academy.
A statement from the sport’s governing body said: “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 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, Antoine Hubert, succumbed to his injuries, and passed away at 18:35.”
F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton wrote on Instagram: “This is devastating. God rest your soul Anthoine. My prayers and thoughts are with you and your family today.”
Hubert is the first person to die at a Grands Prix since Jules Bianchi succumbed to the injuries at the 2014 Japanese Grand Prix.
Bianchi, who was also French, crashed at Suzuka and died nine months later in a hospital in Nice.
F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton wrote on Instagram: “This is devastating. God rest your soul Anthoine. My prayers and thoughts are with you and your family today.”
