F2 announces new Anthoine Hubert Award for top rookie

Formula 2 launched a new award in memory of the late Anthoine Hubert at its prize-giving in Monaco on Wednesday, celebrating the life of the French driver.

Hubert was killed in an accident at the start of the F2 Feature Race at Spa in August. He was 22 years old.

Hubert’s brother, Victhor, was on hand to present the new Anthoine Hubert Award during the F2 prize-giving ceremony in Monaco that honoured the top rookie of the season.

The award was presented to UNI-Virtuosi driver Guanyu Zhou, who was alongside Hubert in Renault’s young driver programme.

“It is a huge honour to be receiving this special Anthoine Hubert Award for the Rookie of the Year. I think that it is something that will be a great memory for me, and for this year,” said Zhou.

“From a personal point of view, this has obviously been a great season, and we have achieved stuff that we never expected to be achieving so quickly.

“Obviously, there have been ups and downs this year, but I am so grateful and thankful to UNI-Virtuosi for all of their hard work and to Renault as well, for everything that they have done for me, to help me become a better driver.

“I am wishing Anthoine all of the best up there, I am trying to do him proud and I will continue trying to make him proud for the rest of my racing career.”

F2 CEO Bruno Michel added: “Anthoine will always be part of our family. He joined our paddock at the end of 2016, at the post season GP3 Series tests in Abu Dhabi and successfully raced in the category for two seasons. He is our last GP3 Champion – a truly worthy one.

“On his F2 debut season, he famously took two race wins, one in Monaco and another one on home soil at Le Castellet. He will remain the only rookie in 2019 who has achieved this. He finished 10th in the championship which speaks volume of his talent.

“We wanted to honour him and ensure that he is remembered fondly in every season to come. As such, we have decided to give this award named after Anthoine to the best rookie of the season, a title which I am convinced he could have fought for by this year’s end.”