After fatal crash: “This is a sport for gladiators”

But not only Formula 1 will never exist without residual risk - the makers and pilots agree on that. “No matter what racing series, no matter what car: This is a sport for gladiators, it’s about courage, skill and risk awareness,” said Mercedes Motorsport Director Toto Wolff and added: “We were lucky for many years not to have to experience such accidents . Maybe we have forgotten how dangerous the sport is.”

“It will always remain dangerous” Charles Leclerc The drama surrounding Hubert, who died on Saturday after a horror crash during a Formula 2 race in Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium, would have made the public aware of the enormous risks that drivers take. “It will always be dangerous when you drive at these speeds,” said young Ferrari star Charles Leclerc after his victory in Belgium on Sunday. “There will always be corners that are very challenging and remain dangerous.”

The sadness for Anthoine Hubert is enormous. © AFP / JOHN THYS

The infamous Eau Rouge is one of them. Hubert had an accident at the end of this corner on the difficult course in the Ardennes. “The sport will be overshadowed for a long time if a young man loses his life in an accident like this. We can’t just go back to normal now,” said Wolff. It is therefore understandable that questions about greater security are being raised again. Good work done over the last few years Leclerc noted that the world motorsport association FIA “has done a strong job over the last 20 years to increase safety in the cars for us.” It was particularly difficult for Leclerc in his first Formula 1 triumph because Hubert was his long-time friend. “Losing him was a big shock for me. It was really hard to enjoy the win. Hopefully in two or three weeks I will realize what I have achieved,” said Leclerc.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=3&v=hH6XRcB1guk

Despite the drama surrounding Hubert, no driver in Spa was afraid to get back into the car. “We fold down the visor – and then we are in mode,” said world champion and championship leader Lewis Hamilton from Mercedes. “The FIA is doing a lot to keep us safe. We have taken big steps in the right direction and are continuing on this path.” Violent accidents with serious consequences have become an absolute rarity, which is the result of increased safety standards and technically significantly improved vehicles. Many unforeseeable things came together Hubert's crash deserves special consideration anyway, said Wolff and spoke of a "freak accident". In other words, an accident that no one could have expected because several unforeseeable things came together. 22-year-old Hubert's car was parked sideways on the track when American Juan Manuel Correa's car plowed through the side into the cockpit at an estimated 270 kilometers per hour.

“Safety is always improving, it will never end,” said FIA race director Michael Masi. “We will continue to conduct intensive research and improve things as best we can.” Conclusions will also be drawn from Hubert’s accident. Masi announced an intensive investigation into the incident in the top junior racing series. The FIA has also started working on the matter with the police and the Belgian Automobile Association. “All aspects are examined,” said Masi. There is no time limit; a detailed analysis is important.

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After fatal crash: “This is a sport for gladiators”

After the fatal accident of young French racing driver Anthoine Hubert, a new discussion about safety in motorsport has broken out.

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