Former Formula One champion John Surtees paid tribute to his teenage son, who died in a race crash over the weekend.

Henry Surtees was struck by a tire from another car, causing him to lose consciousness and drive into a barrier in an F2 race at Brands Hatch on Sunday. He was airlifted to a hospital in London, where he was pronounced dead.

His father, who won the F1 title in 1964, said 18-year-old Henry had just left school and was focusing on his racing career.

"The world beckoned and he was thriving on the freedom to concentrate on his motor sport," John Surtees said in a statement. "Despite bad luck in his motor sport, he had shown himself to be one with the possibilities of reaching the very top. Despite his young age he had shown maturity, technical understanding and speed."

Surtees, the only man to be a Grand Prix world champion on two and four wheels, said Henry had been inspired to race at an early age.

"Henry had followed his heart from the time he first sat in a kart," said the 75-year-old Surtees, who won his F1 title driving for Ferrari and ran his own race team in the 1970s.

Henry starred last year in the Formula Renault UK Championship and F3 class, earning a promotion to F2 where he got his first podium finish Saturday. He placed third in the opening race at Brands Hatch.

"He treated seriously the balance between motor sport and school. Most importantly, he was a nice person and a loving son. He will be deeply missed," Surtees said.

Governing body FIA also issued a statement mourning the loss of Surtees.

"Following yesterday's tragic accident, the FIA extends its sincere condolences to the family and friends of Henry Surtees," the organization said. "Our thoughts are with them at this difficult time."

It was during the second of the weekend's races, the 18-year-old was struck on the head by a wheel and tyre from the car of Jack Clarke, who had spun into the wall exiting Westfield Bend.

Surtees was knocked unconscious in the accident and his car failed to negotiate the following Sheene Corner, running straight off the track and into the barrier.

Medical crews were swiftly on the scene to extract Surtees from the car, before he was taken to the track's medical centre. He was stabilised at the circuit's facility before being airlifted to the Royal London hospital.

A spokesperson for the hospital this evening confirmed that Surtees had died from his injuries.

Surtees graduated to F2 this season from Formula Renault and had taken his first podium finish in the series with third place in Saturday's race at Brands Hatch.

His step up to the category came after several seasons in karts, which included victory in the Junior Gearbox Championship in 2005, before a graduation to car racing in the Ginetta Junior Championship in 2006.

He switched to single seaters in 2007, taking a race victory in Formula BMW UK for Carlin Motorsport en route to seventh overall in the standings - and second in the rookie cup.

He also made a brief foray into the Formula Renault UK championship that year, contesting the final two rounds at Thruxton as well as the Winter Series.

In 2008 he remained in Formula Renault, taking 12th in the final standings before finishing runner-up in the Winter Series with one victory and three podiums from four races. He also contested last year's British Formula 3 season finale in a National Class car for Carlin, taking one victory and one podium.