 A number of Formula One drivers have admitted they are concerned for their safety ahead of this weekend's Belgian Grand Prix. Spa-Francorchamps is considered one of the most iconic and best tracks on the calendar, beloved by drivers and fans. However, in recent years there have been increasing worries about its safety, particularly at the famous Eau Rouge/Raidillon corners where they have been two fatal crashes in the past four years. In 2019, Anthoine Hubert was killed there in a Formula 2 race the day before the F1 grand prix, and on 1st July this year 18-year-old Dilano van 't Hoff died after being involved in a multi-car crash while racing in the Formula Regional European Championship. There have also been other very serious incidents at the steep, fast corner where F1 cars can reach up to 190mph, and with rain forecast for the entire weekend the danger is exemplified. 'I'm someone that is emotional,' Pierre Gasly, Alpine driver and a close friend of Hubert, said on Thursday. 'I think I link places with emotions, and I've had the worst emotions of my life here. But at the same time, it's one of my favourite tracks, so it's very contradictory. Pierre Gasly paying tribute to the late Anthoine Hubert (Photo: Getty) 'I love this track, and I love racing this track, but at the same time I'll never forget what I felt going down these stairs [in the paddock] when my parents told me the news. 'It's obviously tough, but I accept the sport that we do, and it's things you have got to live with. It's also life, as sad as it can be.' Ferrari duo Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz have both called for the race to be cancelled should conditions severely affect visibility, with the latter saying: 'We should be disciplined with safety. It is the No.1 priority. If it's not safe to run, we must find solutions with a Safety Car. Hubert was tipped to reach F1 prior to his death in 2019 (Photo: Getty) 'Bu){kind=link}
NEWS… BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT
A number of Formula One drivers have admitted they are concerned for their safety ahead of this weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix.
Spa-Francorchamps is considered one of the most iconic and best tracks on the calendar, beloved by drivers and fans.
However, in recent years there have been increasing worries about its safety, particularly at the famous Eau Rouge/Raidillon corners where they have been two fatal crashes in the past four years.
In 2019, Anthoine Hubert was killed there in a Formula 2 race the day before the F1 grand prix, and on 1st July this year 18-year-old Dilano van ‘t Hoff died after being involved in a multi-car crash while racing in the Formula Regional European Championship.