PIERRE GASLY led the tributes as Formula One stars paid their respects in memory of Anthonie Hubert and Danilo van ‘t Hoff ahead of the Belgian Grand Prix.
Hubert was just 22 years old when he tragically lost his life at an F2 event at Spa in 2019.
And the world of motorsport was reminded about the dangers of the circuit after 18-year-old Hoff became the 49th soul to lose their life at the track following an incident in FRECA at the start of July.
But with F1 due to compete this weekend, Gasly – a close friend of Hubert – organised a run in memory of the drivers.
The Frenchman invited all F1, F2 and F3 personnel to compete in the run, with Gasly admitting he felt it was the best way he can pay tribute to Hubert.
He said: “I’m someone that is emotional.
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“I think I link places with emotions, and I’ve had the worst emotions of my life here. But at the same time, it’s one of my favourite tracks, so it’s very contradictory.
“I love this track, and I love racing this track, but at the same time I’ll never forget what I felt going down these stairs [in the paddock] when my parents told me the news.
“It’s obviously tough, but I accept the sport that we do, and it’s things you have got to live with. It’s also life, as sad as it can be.”
Gasly was joined by a large group for the rain-drenched tribute run of the track, including Zhou Guanyu and Juan Manuel Correra, who made an inspirational recovery after being involved in the same crash that killed Hubert.
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Correa broke both legs, suffered spine damage and was placed into a coma after the devastating crash four years ago, but made his return to the F2 grid this season.
Alpine driver Gasly said that while the run may not seem important to the wider world, it was “meaningful” to him.
He then went on to reveal the idea had been organised long before the tragic death of Hoff, saying: “It might be small things for people, but it’s a lot bigger for me, and a lot more meaningful.
“It was a conversation which started early in the season. Everybody knows how close I was with Anthoine and I think they all know also how close he was with the team.
“This was organised well before the tragic incident which happened a couple of weeks ago.
“But I just think it’s great that we all as a community, when these things happen, everyone that is a part of Formula 1, whether it’s F2 or F3, the racing family comes together.”
Gasly, 27, was pictured laying flowers at the site of the crash on the Kemmel Straight, with the mother of Hoff also seen doing the same for her son.
The safety of Spa has come into the spotlight ahead of the race with rain expected to fall all weekend.
I’ve had the worst emotions of my life here. But at the same time, it’s one of my favourite tracks
Pierre Gasly
And it has led to a very real risk of the race being cancelled altogether.
George Russell, head of the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association, said: “The FIA have to be bold with their decisions when it comes to safety, especially visibility.
“We know what the situation was two years ago, we don’t want it to be strung out as perhaps it was then.
“Everybody wants to race but when you’re going down that straight at 200 mph and you can’t see 50 metres in front of you, there will be huge incidents. They’ve got a big responsibility this weekend.
“For one single F1 car to drive around, the conditions are safe enough and suitable enough to drive.
“But it’s when you’ve got 20 cars on track at once. Anybody from third position backwards literally cannot see.
“I felt like the incident that happened in FRECA, it was only really a matter of time before something like that happened.
“Drivers aren’t going flat out in the straight because they can’t see. Somebody gets rear-ended and then there’s a car in the middle of the track.”
F1 were forced to cancel the event in 2021 after just three laps with poor visibility from wet weather leaving drivers unable to see.
Russell added: “It is about constant communication with the FIA following the tragic passing of Dilano. The two questions are is Spa safe enough and then it’s the question of the conditions.
“If you were to put a ranking of risk of all of the circuits, for sure Spa is one of the riskier circuits, along with Jeddah, along with Monaco, for example.
“When you’ve got a combination of the weather, it’s very challenging. It’s the visibility, we just have no visibility whatsoever.
“The way I describe it to try and give some perspective is driving down the motorway in pouring rain and turning your windscreen wipers off.
“The fact is we are probably not going to find the solution for better visibility for years to come. It’s challenging, it’s really not easy.
“And I fear a little bit for the junior categories now, I truly think F3 should not be allowed 30 cars on track at one time at any point, even in dry conditions.
“I think it’s a matter of time before we have a big accident there too.”
In 2021 Gasly wrote in the Players Tribune on the passing of Hubert: “His dreams were my dreams. My dreams were his dreams. And that moment was our moment.
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“Anthoine taught me so many things. There isn’t a race day that passes that I don’t think of him…
“I’m so lucky to be here, to be doing what I’m doing. And I’m so lucky to have known Anthoine Hubert. I will carry his dreams, his ambitions, with me everywhere I go. I love you, buddy.”
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Source: Motorsport - thesun.co.uk
