Reigning GP3 Series champion Anthoine Hubert has secured a FIA Formula 2 Championship move in 2019 with BWT Arden as a Renault junior.

Anthoine Hubert becomes a full member of the Renault Sport Academy after racing in 2018 as a Renault affiliated driver when he won the GP3 title with ART. The Frenchman will move to F2 in the 2019 season with BWT Arden outfit.

The team recently announced a tie-up with HWA Racelab as the German outfit expands its single-seater programme. “It’s great to be able to announce I will be stepping up my connection with Renault as an Academy Driver this season,” said Anthoine Hubert.

I’m really happy and grateful to be entrusted with the role and I can’t wait to keep developing my racing career. I learnt a lot racing in GP3, and I will be looking to draw on that experience for Formula 2, which will be a big challenge.

It’s a bigger car, there are more races – longer in length – with strategy to prepare as well. I know my ability and I look forward to using Renault’s support for a good year.” Anthoine Hubert is the 13th driver confirmed in the series for 2019.

Renault’s Mia Sharizman added: “We’re very pleased to promote Anthoine Hubert to the Renault Sport Academy for 2019 after a successful season as an Affiliated Driver last year. Anthoine fully deserves this opportunity as an Academy Driver.

His consistency and level head proved decisive last year and he will undoubtedly draw on those attributes for his first attempt in Formula 2 this season. It’s also a great opportunity to have one of France’s most talented young drivers on our programme and we will assist Anthoine Hubert as much as possible in Formula 2.”

Anthoine Hubert is the last of the drivers who will have Renault’s backing in 2019 after Guanyu Zhou, Max Fewtrell, Christian Lundgaard, Caio Collet and Victor Martins. It means there is no place for Jack Aitken, Sacha Fenestraz and Sun Yue Yang.

2019 F2 line-up so far:

ART Grand Prix – Nyck de Vries & Nikita Mazepin

Prema – Mick Schumacher & Sean Gelael

Carlin – Nobuharu Matsushita & Louis Deletraz

UNI-Virtuosi – Guanyu Zhou & Luca Ghiotto

Trident – Giuliano Alesi

DAMS – Nicholas Latifi & Sergio Sette Camara

Campos Racing – Jack Aitken

BWT Arden – Anthoine Hubert