By Joe Murphy
Anthoine Hubert was a talented French racing driver born on September 22, 1996, in Lyon. His passion for motorsport was ignited by his father, Francois, an enthusiastic amateur rally driver, who encouraged Anthoine to start karting at just 10 years old in 2006. Within four years, Hubert was competing in prestigious karting championships worldwide, rubbing shoulders with the likes of Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc.
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Hubert’s move to single-seater racing was a resounding success. He won the French Formula 4 Championship at his first attempt in 2013, securing 11 victories and two further podium finishes. This outstanding success propelled his career forward, leading to moves into Formula Renault and European Formula 3. In 2018, Hubert claimed the GP3 Series title with two wins and 11 podiums, catching the attention of Formula 1 teams like Renault, who signed him to their Sport Academy.
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In 2019, Hubert joined the FIA Formula 2 Championship with BWT Arden, securing two wins in Monaco and at his home race in France. His impressive form led to seventh place in the championship standings before the tragic Spa-Francorchamps round. Lewis Hamilton paid heartfelt tribute to Hubert, saying, “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”.
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Tragically, Anthoine Hubert’s life was cut short in a horrific crash during the 2019 Spa-Francorchamps Formula 2 feature race on August 31, 2019. The investigation into the accident revealed that Hubert’s cause of death was “non-survivable trauma”. His legacy lives on, with the Anthoine Hubert Award established to recognize the highest-placed driver without previous Formula 2 experience. Charles Leclerc, who won his first F1 grand prix the day after Hubert’s passing, dedicated his victory to his fellow “Musketeer” and close friend Pierre Gasly, who has since paid tribute to Hubert on multiple occasions.
Throughout his career, Anthoine Hubert amassed impressive stats: 11 wins in French Formula 4, the 2018 GP3 Series title, and two wins in Formula 2. His sunny personality and infectious enthusiasm earned him many friends across the motorsport world. As a testament to his enduring impact, Hubert’s car number, 19, has been permanently retired from use in Formula 2.
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