Since reviewing F1 2019 this past June, I’ve periodically returned to play the game, taking my driver from 1st in Australia through the season to 1st everywhere else. However, playing a game such as F1 2019, I have had to sit waiting for updates sometimes. Luckily, most of these updates don’t inhibit me from playing, though I’m sure they can be a nuisance for those that play online.

Well, on Thursday F1 2019 developer Codemasters put out a blog post and press release stating what one of these future updates would be. The following days would also see the return of Formula racing to our TVs following the summer break. This particular blog post was to celebrate the success with the inclusion of Formula 2 to this year’s game. The post in question states the intention to bring in this year’s cars and drivers to the game, as it currently includes only the 2018 season varients. This is an addition I praised in the F1 2019 review at the time.

What followed this weekend was not something Codemasters could have anticipated. During the first race of the F2 weekend, the junior French racer Anthoine Hubert died following a collision while competing in the feature race at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, more commonly known as Spa. Following the race, many fans, fellow racers, and industry colleagues learned of Hubert’s passing. This lead to many racers, fans, and others showing an outpouring of love and respect for the young racer and his family.

Following Hubert’s crash as a result of avoiding a collision with fellow driver Giuliano Alesi, Hubert was taken from the track with Juan Manuel Correa to the track’s medical center. Hubert reportedly died of his injuries though Correa, who had hit Hubert following his collision with a barrier, was airlifted to a hospital and rushed into surgery. According to Correa’s media team, Correa is stable and in recovery following the accident. This was the first fatal incident in the Formula since the son of F1 legend John Surtees, Henry’s death at Brands Hatch in 2009.

This now poses a strange question for Codemasters: How do they handle this horrible incident with their intended update? As of the time of writing, the @Formula1game Twitter account (run by Codemasters) states: “We send our deepest condolences to all of Anthoine’s family, friends, team and the entire F2 paddock after today’s heartbreaking news.” So far there has been no comment on the pending update.

The trailer announcing the update (shown above) features ex-F2 drivers, F2 commentator Alex Jacques, and F2 CEO Bruno Michel detailing the difference between the two Formulas. With this now pending update to the 2019 game, this would make for a first in the series with Hubert’s team-mate, Tatiana Calderón, possibly being the first woman to be featured in an F1 game. Though at the time of writing Codemasters have not stated if they will be featuring Caderón’s now-former team-mate.

Many fans have stated their desire that Hubert be immortalized in some way, with a clip of a lap from his sprint race win in France. Others have stated their desire that Hubert’s car features in the menus. According to Hubert’s team, Calderón will be the only racer the team will put out on the track in Monza next weekend.

Phenixx Gaming is everywhere you are. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.