Pierre Gasly races at Spa with "images I wish I hadn’t seen" from memory of Anthoine Hubert's death

Pierre Gasly says returning to Spa each year brings back painful memories of Anthoine Hubert’s death, with images he wishes he’d never seen

Alpine's Pierre Gasly goes into the weekend of the Belgian Grand Prix with strong emotions as he remembers the death of his close friend Anthoine Hubert. Telling the media that he has "images in my head that I would rather never have seen," he prepares to use these emotions "as a strength".

Spa's Raidillon section has claimed the lives of two young talents over the past six years. Formula 2 star Hubert died in 2019 at the age of 22 after a multi-car collision on a wet Spa-Francorchamps circuit. Just four years later, Dutch teenager Dilano van ’t Hoff was also killed in similar conditions.

After growing up alongside Hubert, Gasly has made it a tradition to honour the driver's memory. The Frenchman has organised runs in tribute to his late friend and lays flowers by Hubert's memorial.

"It's definitely a mixed feeling coming back here every time. I always said when I was a kid that it was my favourite track. It's where I got my first F4 victory, in the rain.

Flowers are laid in memory of Anthoine Hubert

Photo by: Glenn Dunbar / Motorsport Images

"It's one of the most beautiful tracks. It's the kind of track with a lot of rhythm. In the car, there's a flow that's really unique to Spa.

"Now, of course, with what's happened, every time I come back here, it's not the same. It's something that's unique to this place. It's a strange feeling. I can't say that on the one hand, it's a track I love, where I love to drive, and on the other hand, I know that whether I want to or not, every time I come back here, I have images in my head that I would rather never have seen.

"But now it's reality. I'm trying to use all these emotions that are a bit strange for me in a positive way and as a strength."

Gasly believes it's important to continue these commemorations not only for the drivers themselves, but for their families who are just as big a part of their journey.

"For me, I think it's very important. At the end of the day, we're all part of the motorsport family. I think all drivers, whether in F1, F2, F3, or all professional and amateur drivers, realise the sacrifices and effort it takes to do what we do today.

"We're all aware of the risks we take. And in the end, it's the drivers, but also the families, parents, brothers, sisters, etc., who are also part of this story. It's a small family, everyone knows each other. When things like this happen, it's a whole family, a sporting community that is affected and impacted.

"It's important to remember that, to really promote respect between us and to remember that it's a dangerous sport. We love it, but at the end of the day, it's still a dangerous sport. It's important that respect comes first between us."