In an interview with the official F1 channel, Pierre Gasly revisited one of the darkest moments of his career: the loss of his friend Anthoine Hubert at Spa in 2019. With deep emotion, the Alpine driver also reflected on his biggest regret from that weekend.
The regret from Budapest
Speaking with Lawrence Barretto for F1, the French driver recalled Budapest, just days before the tragic Spa weekend, when his close friend Anthoine Hubert tragically lost his life in a Formula 2 accident.
“One thing I regret happened in Budapest,” Gasly explained. “After the race, Anthoine and I went out to celebrate together. I didn’t want to stay out too late, so I left a little earlier. I tried to find him, but I couldn’t see him anywhere.”
“I stepped outside the club and, as I was leaving, I saw him: he was outside, on the terrace. I just waved and said, ‘Hi, have a good summer, see you at Spa,’ but I never had the chance to see him again.”
Anthoine Hubert passed away on August 29, 2019, just a few days after the Hungarian Grand Prix and the night out with friends Pierre Gasly described. “I just wish I had stayed a bit longer in the club. Just to hug him. Or even just to say goodbye in a slightly different way,” he said.
From that tragedy, the 1996-born driver gained a profound awareness that goes beyond racing and results. “It taught me to appreciate the moments we have with the people we love,” Gasly explained, “and to never take anything for granted.”
As Pierre Gasly prepares for the challenges of the 2026 season, these memories remain a driving force behind his career. The loss of Hubert remains one of the darkest moments in modern Formula 1 history, but through Pierre Gasly’s words, the importance of human connection and the fragility of life stay at the forefront of the sport’s collective memory. For the Alpine driver, every lap at Spa and every success on the track serves as a silent tribute to a friend gone too soon, reminding us all that there is much more to this sport than just the finish line.
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