Otmar Szafnauer said it was pleasing that Formula 1 was able to put on a good show during Sunday’s Belgian Grand Prix to honour FIA Formula 2 racer Anthoine Hubert, who tragically lost his life in a horror crash on Saturday afternoon at Spa-Francorchamps.
BWT-Arden, the team that Hubert raced with in Formula 2, has close links with Szafnauer’s Racing Point F1 Team due to their own link-up with BWT, with the Austrian company a major sponsor of the Silverstone-based Formula 1 outfit.
“It’s been a difficult weekend for the motorsport community, but I’m pleased we put on a good show today and paid tribute to Anthoine in the best way possible,” said Szafnauer.
Szafnauer was pleased to see both Racing Point drivers finish inside the top ten on Sunday, with Sergio Pérez ending his eight-race pointless run with a strong drive to sixth, while Lance Stroll capitalised on the late race retirements for both Lando Norris and Antonio Giovinazzi to claim the final point in tenth.
It could have been even better for Pérez but for the late race charge and final lap pass on the Mexican by Red Bull Racing’s Alexander Albon, who, on fresher tyres, made his move for fifth heading down the Kemmel Straight and into Les Combes.
“I said yesterday [Saturday] that getting both cars home inside the points was achievable and we did that today – even though it came down to the very last lap,” said Szafnauer.
“Sergio’s strategy worked out well, but it left him exposed on the final lap to Albon [with fresher tyres] and we had to settle for sixth place, which is still a fantastic effort. Lance was on a different strategy with a late second pit stop, which saw him charging through the field to pick up the final point.
“It’s the result we deserved and reflects the speed we have shown all weekend. The car has looked much more competitive here and it’s another demonstration of the progress we have made over the last few events.”
