Pierre Gasly "proud" Anthoine Hubert an inspiration for Yuki Tsunoda

AlphaTauri

Gasly "proud" Hubert an inspiration for Tsunoda

Hubert tragically died in a Formula 2 crash in Belgium in 2019

Ewan Gale

Sunday 24 January 2021 16:28

AlphaTauri driver Pierre Gasly has said he is "really glad and proud" that new team-mate Yuki Tsunoda has taken inspiration from his late close-friend Anthoine Hubert.

Hubert died in a Formula 2 crash at Spa-Francorchamps in 2019, with his close friends and former junior category rivals all paying tribute to him since his death.

In honour of the Frenchman, F2 renamed the 'rookie of the year' prize the 'Anthoine Hubert Award', in recognition of the strong performance of Hubert in what was his rookie season in the category.

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Tsunoda was the first recipient of the award, finishing third overall in the drivers' standings and earning an immediate promotion to F1.

After winning the award, Tsunoda said Hubert was an "inspiration" to him, something that pleased Gasly.

"It is always nice to hear these things," he said. "I knew Anthoine very well and I am also really glad and proud if he in some way inspired others.

"He was a really close friend of mine and it still sounds really strange to speak about him in that way and knowing he is not with us anymore. I am still not really used to that but obviously, nice words from Yuki."

Gasly was able to spend time with the Japanese driver at the final round of the season last year at Abu Dhabi ahead of Tsunoda's participation in the young driver test.

"He is a funny character," he added. "Obviously, I watch Formula 2 and Formula 3 every weekend.

"I like to see it because the racing is usually entertaining in these races. I think he has done very well. He won a couple of races, I have seen him on pole.

"Good racing, I think on some occasions he lost big points that could have put him even higher in the championship, I am not sure of the reasons.

"It is out of your control sometimes but generally, he performed very well."