Anthoine Hubert, the elegant Musketeer (1996-2019)

Anthoine Hubert was born in Lyon on September 22, 1996. Very quickly, he became passionate about speed and competition. After seeing his father engaged in racing karting, he tries this sport after school. The virus is caught very quickly. 

The pleasure of driving the kart soon turns into trophy hunting. Winner of the Coupe de France in 2005, he did it again in 2009. At the turn of the 2010s, Anthoine Hubert moved to the international category, and there also reached the podiums: third in the under-18 world championship in 2011 and 2012. 

His qualities were spotted by the French Motor Sport Federation (FFSA), which included him between 2010 and 2012 in the French Karting team alongside a certain Esteban Ocon. In 2011, he distinguished himself in the Junior race of the ERDF Masters Kart in Bercy, with third place, behind Charles Leclerc and Dorian Boccolacci, but ahead of George Russell. 

In 2013, the time has come to move on to car. For a discovery season in the French Formula 4 Championship, it's a masterstroke. At the end of a campaign sanctioned by 11 victories, 13 podiums, 10 poles and 8 best laps (out of 21 rounds), Anthoine Hubert wins the title, with more than 100 points ahead of his runner-up.

Anthoine Hubert at the 2013 Pau Grand Prix. © FREDERIC LE FLOCH / DPPI

Impressed by the kid's talent, the Toulouse residents Sarah and Simon Abadie, at the head of Tech 1, approached him to prepare an entry in Formula Renault 2.0 Eurocup. The market is high, as evidenced by its relatively modest results (15th).

Outside the circuits, Anthoine Hubert is struggling to resolve a problem inherent to motorsport: money. The closer it gets to the Formula 1, the more the sums explode. He therefore tours companies to obtain a sufficient budget each offseason. 

While fighting with much more financially comfortable riders, Anthoine Hubert managed to get back in the saddle. In 2015, his second attempt in the Eurocup was rewarded with a fifth position and two victories, at Silverstone and Le Mans. “Tonio” saw this last success with his friend Simon Gachet, who came second:

Anthoine Hubert and Simon Gachet at Le Mans for the World Series by Renault in 2015. © Florent Gooden / DPPI.

Unlike other young talents, Anthoine Hubert patiently climbs each step. In 2016, place at the European Championship of Formula 3, this time in a foreign environment, Van Amersfoort Racing. 

In this Dutch team, Anthoine Hubert is still learning new facets of the profession. The machine has difficulty getting started, but with patience and adjustments, the results arrive little by little. 

Author of the best lap on a technical circuit like Pau (Pyrénées-Atlantiques), he is also at ease on a fast track like the Norisring (Germany), where a first victory occurs. The second half of the season was astonishingly consistent, with 17 finishes in the top 10 out of 18 races. 

At this stage of their career, adolescents run the risk of burning their wings by seeking access to higher categories at all costs (GP2/F2). Anthoine Hubert is much more reasoned. The Frenchman moves to the GP2017 Series in 3, but to one of the reference teams, ART Grand Prix.

« It's an excellent opportunity in my career because it's the most successful team in this discipline, Anthoine Hubert then commented. My goal is to integrate as well as possible this winter in order to be ready for the first races on the calendar and to fight at the front. »

In front of the Formula 1 team bosses, the Lyonnais will reveal himself. When running early in the morning (or at the end of the day), its regularity becomes its primary quality. Proof of this is, his only retirement in the space of 19 races!

Anthoine Hubert on his way to the GP3 Series title in 2018. © Sebastiaan Rozendaal / DPPI

He feels it, 2018 will be his year, with a second try in the GP3 Series. “After a decisive integration within ART Grand Prix last year and a feeling of unfinished business (four podiums but no victory), I would like to capitalize on this experience for 2018. My goal is to win the championship. »

Through will and work, his wish comes true. Once again, consistency is the key word in his driving. Certainly, he is not the most efficient (two victories against three for Nikita mazepin), But the maturity of his attitude on the track takes precedence. 

Anthoine Hubert is crowned in Abu Dhabi, like his friend Esteban Ocon in 2015. “From the first races, I was labeled as the favorite, he explained for AUTOhebdo in n°2193. It could have put pressure on me but on the contrary, it gave me more motivation and confidence for this season.

I spent the winter studying races and champion seasons from previous years and set myself a points goal to achieve each weekend. Of course, it's more pleasant to reach it with victories, but it allowed me to be satisfied with a 3rd or 4th place from time to time. I am particularly happy with my performance in race 2, where I always managed to regain places and get back on the podium from the reverse grid. »

Strengthened by this coronation, Anthoine Hubert catches the eye of Renault, which integrates him into its Academy early 2019. Catapulted into Formula 2, the tricolor is however not not helped by joining a bottom team (Arden finished the 2018 season penultimate in the Team rankings). 

This exercise has all the makings of a jaw-dropping test. He not only has to discover the basics of a new discipline, but also deal with the pressure inherent in F2, learn how to use these curious Pirelli tires and face experienced opposition.

“There are quite a few teams that have a driver that I would describe as “paid” and an experienced teammate. I don't fit into either of these two boxes.", he admitted to AUTOhebdo this winter. 

Anthoine Hubert defies all predictions from the opening in Bahrain, where he finished just off the podium. With his all-pink mount, he shows all the colors to the old rogues of the competition, and turns out to be much sharper than another rookie, Mick Schumacher. 

This lover of urban circuits then enjoyed himself in Monaco, where he won Race 2 after a fierce duel against Louis Delétraz. On the line, the gap between the two young men is 59 thousandths!

Two weeks later, it is with the French flag that he climbs onto the podium at Paul-Ricard. The public applauds his second victory in F2.

Home win 🇫🇷🇫🇷🇫🇷 Thank you so much for the support this weekend, it was awesome!! Home win! What a special feeling… Amazing 😍 pic.twitter.com/EiX8NqdwaA

— Anthoine Hubert (@AnthoineH) June 23, 2019

Eighth in the championship arriving in Belgium, Anthoine Hubert died after an accident in Long Race, Saturday August 31, 2019. His diligent career and the passion he possessed for motorsport will never be forgotten.