'Saddened' Gasly to remember close friend Hubert at Spa

Pierre Gasly believes "everyone in the paddock" will be remembering his close friend Anthoine Hubert this weekend a year on from his death at Spa.

The 2018 GP3 Series champion was killed on August 31 last year following an accident during the F2 feature race at the Belgian circuit.

Fellow Frenchman Gasly, who had developed a close bond with Hubert over the years, knows this coming weekend will be a very poignant one.

"This year, returning to Belgium will 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," said the AlphaTauri driver.

"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."

McLaren drivers Lando Norris and Carlos Sainz are amongst those who are also aware of the pall that will be cast over the coming weekend.

"The whole racing community was shocked and saddened by what happened, and he’ll be in our thoughts as we go racing again this year," said Norris.

Sainz added: “As we go to Spa again this year, we’ll take the time to remember Anthoine, who sadly passed away there last year.

"He was an exciting young talent that was taken from us too soon, and we’ll always remember him wherever we race, but even more in Spa.”

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