22-year-old Formula 2 racing driver Anthoine Hubert has died after a crash during the Belgium Grand Prix feature race on Saturday.

The FIA announced on Saturday evening that Hubert, last season’s GP3 series champion, had succumbed to his injuries roughly an hour and a half after being involved in a high-speed accident at Spa-Francorchamps.

The French man has gone off on the exit of Eau Rouge and Radillon and suffered a heavy impact with the outside tyre barrier, before his BWT Arden ran back across the run-off area and was struck while sideways by the Sauber Junior Team entry of Juan Manuel Correa as he attempted to avoid the spinning Trident of Giuliano Alesi, resulting in a much more ferocious accident.

American driver Correa is in a “stable condition”, the FIA said, and is being treated for his injuries at the CHU Liege Hospital nearby.

The statement read:

“The Federation Internationale de l’Automobile [FIA] regrets to advise that a serious incident involving cars #12 [Correa], #19 [Hubert] and #20 [Alesi] occurred at 17:07 CET on 31/08/19 as a part of the FIA Formula Two 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 CET.

“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.”

The collision between Hubert and Correa caused significant damage to both cars as they hit the wall again, with Correa going airborne and coming to a rest upside down. The impact was fierce enough to expose Correa’s feet as the front section of the car broke away, leaving him trapped in the cockpit, while Hubert’s car broke into two as the monocoque split from the rear section of the car.

 

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