Anthoine Hubert death: Daniel Ricciardo considered pulling out of Belgian GP after seeing fatal F2 crash

Frenchman was killed in Saturday’s Formula Two feature race, but the sight of his family on the start line ahead of the Belgian Grand Prix gave Ricciardo the strength needed to go racing

Daniel Ricciardo considered withdrawing from Sunday’s Belgian Grand Prix following the death of young Formula Two driver Anthoine Hubert, but decided to race after being inspired but the young Frenchman’s family.

Ricciardo was seen with his head bowed and eyes closed throughout the entire minute’s silence for Hubert, who died after being involved in a 160mph crash with Juan Manuel Correa on the second lap of Saturday’s F2 feature race.

While Sunday’s sprint race was also cancelled, the Formula Three event still went ahead and a minute’s silence was held before the start with drivers and teams joining Hubert’s mother, Nathalie, as well as his brother on the finish line, before the ceremony was repeated ahead of the Grand Prix.

It was the first death at a Formula One weekend since Ayrton Senna and Roland Ratzenberger were killed at the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix, and came nearly five years after Jules Bianchi suffered injuries at the 2014 Japanese Grand Prix that would claim his life in July 2015.

Ricciardo, who was friends with Bianchi and competing on that day at Suzuka, admitted after Sunday’s race that he had to ask himself if he really wanted to compete given what was going through his head.

“You question, is it really worth it?” he said, having finished 14th after a first-lap collision ruined his race.

“At the end of the day it is a simple question but a pretty honest one as well.

“It's our job and it's our profession and it's our life, but also it's still just racing cars around in circles.”

The Australian looked visibly emotional before the race, but revealed that the sight of Hubert’s family gave him the strength to compete.

“To be honest, seeing some of his family here today that’s what gave me more strength than anything else,” he added.

“I could not imagine being in their position, I felt they were a lot stronger than any of us today.”

Daniel Ricciardo was visibly emotional during the minute’s silence (Getty)

As well as the minute’s silence, fans rose to their feet and applauded for the entire 19th lap to mark the No 19 that Hubert ran in F2.

Correa, whose car hit Hubert’s after the Frenchman had suffered his own earlier accident at the 160mph Raidillon corner at the top of Eau Rouge, remains in intensive care but is stable after undergoing surgery on fractures to both legs and suffering a minor spinal injury.