Jules Bianchi: F1 driver dies from Suzuka crash injuries
Last updated on .From the section Formula 1
French Formula 1 driver Jules Bianchi has died, nine months after suffering severe head injuries in a crash at the 2014 Japanese Grand Prix.
Bianchi, 25, had been in a coma since crashing his Marussia into a recovery vehicle at October's rain-hit race.
His family said: "Jules fought right to the very end, as he always did, but today his battle came to an end."
The Marussia team, now known as Manor, said Bianchi had left an "indelible mark on all our lives".
He is the first F1 driver to die from injuries sustained in a grand prix since Brazilian triple world champion Ayrton Senna was killed at the San Marino Grand Prix in Imola in 1994.
Bianchi, who had suffered a diffuse axonal injury, died in hospital near his parents' home in Nice in the south of France.
His family said: "We thank Jules's colleagues, friends, fans and everyone who has demonstrated their affection for him over these past months, which gave us great strength and helped us deal with such difficult times.
"Listening to and reading the many messages made us realise just how much Jules had touched the hearts and minds of so many people all over the world."
Bianchi made his F1 debut with Marussia in 2013 and was also a member of the Ferrari young driver academy after previously working as a test driver for the team.
The Manor team said in a statement: "Words cannot describe the enormous sadness within our team this morning, as we come to terms with losing Jules.
"He has left an indelible mark on all our lives, and will forever be part of everything we have achieved, and everything we will strive for going forward."
F1's governing body, the FIA, said the sport had lost one of its most talented drivers.
"Jules Bianchi was a popular personality in F1, possessing the best of both human and sporting qualities," it said.
The accident happened when Bianchi's car slid off the track and into a crane picking up the Sauber of German driver Adrian Sutil, who had crashed at the same spot one lap earlier.
A working group of the sport's governing body, the FIA, investigated the accident and found that as Bianchi went off the track into the run-off area, the torque coordinator, which controls the rear brake-by-wire system, over-rode a fail-safe mechanism that should have cut the engine.
The investigation was unable to establish whether this affected the impact speed.
It also said that Bianchi "did not slow sufficiently to avoid losing control".
The world of motorsport has been paying tribute to Bianchi.
McLaren's Jenson Button posted on Twitter: "Last night we lost a truly great guy and a real fighter. RIP Jules, my sincerest condolences to his family and friends."
Lotus driver Romain Grosjean said: "Yesterday we lost one of the best guys and best drivers I've ever met. I'll miss you so much my friend.
Williams' Valtteri Bottas paid tribute, saying: "Woke up to the very sad news. RIP Jules. You will be never forgotten. My thoughts are with the family."
"No words can describe what his family and the sport have lost. All I can say it was a pleasure knowing and racing you," tweeted British driver Max Chilton, who was Bianchi's team-mate last year.
"Rest in peace dear Jules. We lost a great fighter today. All my thoughts are with you and your family," tweeted endurance racer Andre Lotterer.
| How the incident unfolded |
|---|
| Adrian Sutil aquaplanes and crashes into the tyre barriers on lap 43 |
| Jules Bianchi hits the recovery vehicle attending Sutil's crash |
| The medical car and ambulance are deployed on lap 45 |
| The race is red-flagged and declared over, with the race result counted back to after 44 laps |
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Devastating news. Thoughts are with the Bianchi family at this most difficult time. Farewell Jules.
Please just leave your agendas aside for 1 day at least and show some respect.
RIP Jules.
Disappointed by some of the comments on here as well, sorry bunch of trolls can't stop themselves!
Speed kills, yes. But someone has still lost their life, and if you're not saddened by that alone then you must have something mentally wrong. I'm not an F1 fan, neither did I know him, yet I'm still saddened by someone losing their life...
You're just a keyboard warrior trying to fill a void in your life by trying to be "funny"
Someone is giving negative ratings to people who are expressing their sadness at the loss of a life.
RIP to this young man.
But just to say that I do not consider it to be a tragedy for a young man to die doing what he loves. "We took risks, we knew that we took them, things came out against us and therefore we have no cause for complaint" (Capt R F Scott) - the correct way of looking at risk assessment IMHO.
Thankfully F1 is immensely safer than it was 50 years ago.
However I do object to people saying there has not been a death in F1 since Senna. MarÃa de Villota's death in 2013 was said to be linked to the serious head injuries she suffered whilst testing for team Marussia why is she not even mentioned in any of the reports?
I send my condolences to Jules family he died doing what he loved and entertaining his fans R.I.P Jules
Safety has come a long way since Senna's fatal crash, but here is a tragic reminder that all the young men in F1 take great risks pursuing what they love.
The only comfort is that as a racer, at least he died doing something he loved. RIP Jules, never to be forgotten.
Yes the sport is dangerous, but he died chasing his dream and doing what he loved. He entertained, inspired and achieved more in his short life than I imagine you ever will.
RIP Jules.
Vukovich
O'Connor
Musso
Collins
Lewis-Evans
Bristow
Stacey
von Trips
de Beaufort
Taylor
Bandini
Schlesser
Mitter
Courage
Rindt
Williamson
Cevert
Koinigg
Donohue
Pryce
Peterson
Villeneuve
Paletti
Ratzenberger
Senna
Bianchi
All died on a race weekend doing what they loved. We'd say RIP - but if there is an after-life. it's going to be one hell of a grid in heaven
Whatever people's differences and complaints about F1 are, at the moment, they pale into insignificance when something like this happens.
I'm sure, though, that he loved racing and that his family were proud of him.
RIP