2023 Anthoine Hubert Award winner: Victor Martins

ART Grand Prix’s Victor Martins was a fitting recipient of the Anthoine Hubert Award this year at the FIA F2 and F3 Prize Giving Ceremony in Monaco.

Awarded to the top rookie of the season, the Frenchman was presented the trophy by Anthoine’s mother, Nathalie Gabert-Hubert, on what was an evening of celebration with the F2 and F3 paddock in attendance.

Having grown up and witnessed the rise of the late Frenchman from within the Renault young driver academy, Martins was best placed to learn from and be guided by the example left by Hubert. It is something that continues to impact his career today, as he made special note of in his acceptance speech in Monte Carlo on Sunday night.

“Anthoine had always been a good friend to me when I was at Renault. We would always work really well together. He was able to teach me a lot of things. I still remember copying him in doing race reports for Renault, he taught me how to do so and I’m still doing them like he was doing at that time when I send reports to Alpine now. That feedback is important if you want to be the best.

“I have a lot of memories of him, and being here with this trophy means a lot. I’ve never fought for a rookie title in the past but this one was really special, and I wanted it. I’m pretty sure he wanted me to win it also. It’s quite special and I’m happy you are here, Nathalie, also.”

Martins made the step-up to Formula 2 fresh from winning the FIA Formula 3 Drivers’ title in 2022. The Frenchman endured a difficult start but rebounded in stellar fashion, becoming a consistent presence at the front of the field after the opening rounds of the season.

The 22-year-old earned nine podium finishes in 2023, including a maiden Formula 2 race victory in the Silverstone Feature Race. He was a pole sitter three times across the year and achieved the highest number of outright fastest race laps throughout his maiden F2 campaign.

He joins past winners Ayumu Iwasa, Oscar Piastri, Yuki Tsunoda and Zhou Guanyu as a fellow holder of what continues to be a truly special award.