Belgian Grand Prix: Memories of Anthoine Hubert’s fatal crash reminds F1 of thin line between excitement and tragedy

Anniversary of the late Formula Two driver’s death comes as F1 returns to Spa-Francorchamps to leave a long shadow across a sport desperate for entertainment

There are few tracks left on the Formula One calendar that pose such a genuine challenge than Spa-Francorchamps. The two words alone stir an excitement deep inside that is produced from years of great wheel-to-wheel racing and memorable sporting moments. But with that excitement comes a fear, and last year that fear materialised into tragedy with the passing of Anthoine Hubert.

This weekend will be difficult for all drivers on the grid, be it Formula One or Formula Two, which Hubert was racing in when his fatal collision with Juan Manuel Correa occurred at the top of Eau Rouge at the Raidillon corner. But Charles Leclerc and Pierre Gasly will remember last year’s terrifying events more than most.

Leclerc grew up racing alongside Hubert, as did Gasly, and fewer than 24 hours after Hubert was declared dead on 31 August 2019, Leclerc took the first victory of his Formula One career.

“We lost friend first of all,” Leclerc said after that maiden victory. “It is very difficult in these situations. I want to dedicate this win to Anthoine. We have grown up together and my first ever race I did when I was seven with Anthoine. So it is such a shame what happened yesterday. I can’t enjoy it fully, my first victory, but it is a memory that will live with me forever.”

Both Leclerc and Gasly were there with the rest of the grid to stand alongside the Hubert family to pay tribute to the Frenchman, where the dangers of motorsport were visible for all of those in attendance to see. It was a replicated feeling from the day before, in the moments after qualifying for the Belgian Grand Prix. Leclerc and team-mate Sebastian Vettel had locked out an all-Ferrari front row, leaving Lewis Hamilton with plenty to ponder in the unfamiliar territory of third position.

But as he carried out his post-qualifying duties in the media pen, Hamilton watched Hubert’s awful collision with Correa, with his concern clear as he broke away to observe the aftermath, shaken by the scenes unfolding in front of his eyes.

The unprecedented events of 2020 have helped to forget the tales of years gone by, but Spa will bring last year’s tragedy flooding back, and the drivers know it.

“Spa-Francorchamps has a special place in my heart,” Leclerc said this week ahead of his return to the Ardennes. “While it is here that I took my first win, it is also where we lost our friend Anthoine last year. He will be in our thoughts.”

The same goes for Gasly: “Spa is my favourite track and racing through all those high-speed corners is a great thrill. I really enjoy driving it and have had great races there in the past.

F1 will pay tribute to the late Anthoine Hubert this weekend (Getty)

“However, this year, returning to Belgium will also be a sad moment, because it is just one year ago that Anthoine lost his life after that terrible accident in the F2 race in Spa.

“I had known him since I was seven years old in karting, we were in the same school together organised by the French motorsport federation, from when I was 13 to 19, and we shared an apartment for six years.

“I think everyone in the paddock will take time to think of him.”

There is still plenty to look forward to this weekend. Although Hamilton romped to one of his most dominant victories last time out in Barcelona, Mercedes know they may be vulnerable against Red Bull as Pirelli have brought the softer range of tyres to Spa – the same ones that helped craft Max Verstappen’s first win of the season at Silverstone.

Juan Manuel Correa visits the site of his crash with Anthoine Hubert (Reuters)

A related factor to that is the weather forecast, with rain expected throughout race day. Some of Spa’s most iconic races have come in the wet, with the challenge of conquering the forest-lined circuit becoming significantly harder on one of the world’s most testing tracks.

But there is a fine line in motorsport that separates excitement and tragedy. Hubert’s death reminds us of that, when the often forgotten dangers return with brutally harsh realities. The sport will remember him, just as it did 12 months ago, before the fear transforms back into excitement and the lights go out once more.