With ten rookies on the 2023 Formula 2 grid, the Anthoine Hubert award is anyone’s guess as we take a look at who’s in contention.
Named after Formula 2 rookie Anthoine Hubert who tragically lost his life in 2019, the Anthoine Hubert Award is given to the best rookie in the championship. Since its creation in 2019, there have been four winners (three of whom will be on the Formula 1 grid this season): Zhou Guanyu, Oscar Piastri, and Yuki Tsunoda. Last year’s winner, Ayumu Iwasa returns to F2 this season and is a member of the Red Bull Junior Academy.
Who’s in contention?
All ten of these rookies raced in Formula 3 last season, including the top seven finishers in the 2022 championship.
- Victor Martins (ART Grand Prix) – 2022 Formula 3 champion
- Zane Maloney (Rodin Carlin) – 2022 vice-champion
- Ollie Bearman (PREMA Powerteam) – 3rd place
- Isack Hadjar (Hitech Pulse-Eight) 4th place
- Roman Stanek (Trident) – 5th place
- Arthur Leclerc (DAMS) – 6th place
- Jak Crawford (Hitech Pulse-Eight) – 7th place
- Juan Manuel Correa (Vans Amersfoort Racing) – 13th place
- Kush Maini (Campos Racing) – 14th place
- Brad Benavides (PHM Racing) – 23rd place
Presenting the Anthoine Hubert Award ❤️
Awarded to Rookie of the Year, @gyzhou_33, this special commemorative prize recognises excellence in a debut season
Anthoine Hubert's fellow Renault Sport Academy member, Guanyu Zhou, is a truly worthy recipient 👏#F2 #Formula2
— Formula 2 (@Formula2) December 11, 2019
Victor Martins (ART Grand Prix)
After finishing fifth in the 2021 Formula 3 Championship and being the top rookie, Martins returned to the grid with a bang by claiming the first Feature Race of the season in Bahrain. Despite, title contenders, Martins remained the championship leader until the final race at Monza. Overall, he claimed two wins and four additional podiums. He will be partnered alongside Formula 2 veteran Theo Pourchaire who will be entering his third season in the sport and with ART.
Zane Maloney (Rodin Carlin)
2022 was Maloney’s debut season in Formula 3 after finishing fourth in the Formula Regional European Championship in 2021. The Barbadian had a poor first half of the season before he would go on to claim all three pole positions and Feature Race wins during the second half of the season (Belgian, Zandvoort, Monza). Maloney finished five points behind Martins, with three wins and another podium.
Ollie Bearman (PREMA Powerteam)
Bearman made his Formula 3 debut in 2022 after claiming the ADAC Formula 4 and GB3 Championships in 2021. Despite only winning once, Bearman would go on to claim seven more podiums to finish third – just seven points behind Martins.
Isack Hadjar (Hitech Pulse-Eight)
Hadjar also made his debut in 2022 after joining the Red Bull Junior Team. Winning the opening Sprint Race in Bahrain, Hadjar and Martins were locked in an intense title battle as both were level on points before a disastrous weekend in Monza left Hadjar fourth in the championship with three wins and two more podiums.
Roman Stanek (Trident)
Entering his third season in Formula 3, Stanek was determined to finish the season on a high after finishing 21st and 16th the previous two years. Switching to Trident, Stanek’s dreams were answered as he got a win and three more podiums.
Arthur Leclerc (DAMS)
Leclerc entered his second season in the sport driving for PREMA. After finishing tenth the previous season, the Monégasque had a better year as he found himself scoring regularly in the points despite poor qualifying sessions. Leclerc had one win and another podium to finish three points behind Stanek.
Jak Crawford (Hitech Pulse-Eight)
Entering his second season with the then-known Hitech Grand Prix, he was coming off a 13th-place finish in 2021. Crawford would improve taking one win and another three podiums to finish five points behind Leclerc.
Juan Manuel Correa (Vans Amersfoort Racing)
Correa was involved in the collision that took Hubert’s life in 2019 and it would take two years in recovery before he returned to racing in Formula 3 in 2021. Finishing the 2022 season with one podium at Zandvoort, Correa returned to Formula 2 during the finale at Yas Marina. This will be Correa’s first full season back in Formula 2 since finishing 13th in the 2019 season.
Kush Maini (Campos Racing)
Maini made his Formula 3 debut in 2022 with MP Motorsport finishing the season with a single podium. He is following in the footsteps of his brother, Arjun, who raced in Formula 2 in 2019. Maini recently finished first in the afternoon session of the second day of testing with his Formula 2 teammate Ralph Boschung topping the morning session.
Brad Benavides (PHM Racing)
Benavides made his debut in 2022 and had a miserable season scoring just three points. Benavides will be partnered alongside Formula 2 veteran Roy Nissany who may be able to adapt to this new level, but remains a longshot for winning the rookie of the year award.
Who is your favourite driver to win the Anthoine Hubert Award?
