Jules Bianchi Suffers Severe Head Injury After Crashing Into Recovery Vehicle During Japanese Grand Prix
- Marussia driver Jules Bianchi unconscious following crash on lap 43 of the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka
- The Frenchman spun off in wet conditions and hit a recovery vehicle preparing to tow away Adrian Sutil's Sauber
- CT scan shows he suffered severe head injury and Bianchi had surgery at Mie University Hospital
- Bianchi failed to respond when his team made contact over the radio following the crash in latter stages of the race
- The race was red-flagged, meaning Lewis Hamilton claimed his third straight win to go 10 points clear in championship
Daily Mail UK, 5 October 2014
Jules Bianchi is is fighting for his life in hospital and is having surgery on a severe head injury sustained after he crashed into a vehicle recovering Adrian Sutil's car during Sunday's Japanese Grand Prix. The race was ended after the incident involving the Marussia driver, who failed to respond when his team radioed to ask if he was OK. He was unconscious as he was driven to the Mie University hospital, 10 miles away, with a police escort. The 25-year-old is now in surgery for the injuries and will be taken to intensive care afterwards, an FIA statement confirmed.
The race was cut short by nine laps after the incident involving the Marussia driver, who failed to respond when his team radioed to ask if he was OK.
Treated at the scene of the accident, he was unconscious as he was driven to the Mie University Hospital, 10 miles south of the Suzuka circuit, with a police escort. The medical helicopter could not fly because conditions were too bad.
The 25-year-old is undergoing surgery for his injuries and will be taken to intensive care afterwards, an FIA statement confirmed. His father has since told French media that his son's condition is critical.
Medics rush to the aid of French driver Jules Bianchi after an accident during the Japanese Grand Prix - his Marussia car spun off the track and hit a recovery vehicle
Officials red-flagged the Japanese Grand Prix on lap 46, meaning championship leader Lewis Hamilton claimed his third win in succession and eighth of the season.
But celebrations on the podium were muted after news of Bianchi's condition broke.
Bianchi is a graduate of the Ferrari academy and former Ferrari driver Felipe Massa and team principal Marco Mattiacci were among those from the Formula One community who went to Mie University hospital after the race.
The tractor was preparing to tow away Sutil's Sauber, which had spun off in heavy rain on lap 42 of a dramatic and weather-interrupted race.
As the recovery was taking place, Bianchi also spun off at the same corner, a lap later, and crashed into the back of the tractor.
FIA media delegate Matteo Bonciani confirmed Bianchi was taken to hospital after the crash, which happened at the notoriously challenging Dunlop Curve.
'On lap 42, Adrian Sutil lost control of his car, spun and hit the tyre barrier on the outside of Turn 7,' an FIA statement read.
'The marshals displayed double waved yellow flags before the corner to warn drivers of the incident. A recovery vehicle was despatched in order to lift the car and take it to a place of safety behind the guardrail.
'While this was being done the driver of car 17, Jules Bianchi, lost control of his car, travelled across the run-off area and hit the back of the tractor.'
Track marshals and medics administer urgent attention to Jules Bianchi after his crash at Suzuka in Japan
Bianchi spun off in wet conditions and hit the recovery vehicle, which was about to tow Adrian Sutil's stricken Sauber from the circuit
Sutil (centre) looks distressed as he talks to medical staff while Bianchi receives attention. The Japanese Grand Prix was immediately red-flagged by officials
Sutil looks worried as doctors rush to the aid of Bianchi at the trackside. The French driver was unconscious when driven to hospital by ambulance
Bianchi is taken away to hospital in an ambulance after the crash
Quote:
Jules Bianchi is widely considered to be one of the sport’s rising stars. A graduate from the Ferrari academy he made his grand prix debut with Marussia in 2013 after being partnered alongside Briton Max Chilton.
Bianchi has been consistently impressive ever since and earned Marussia’s first points in Formula One when he finished ninth at the Monaco Grand Prix earlier this year.
The Frenchman, 25, has been heavily linked with a move to Ferrari and is widely expected to drive for the famous Italian constructor in the future.
Bianchi has out-qualified Chilton in 12 of the 15 races this season, finishing ahead of his team-mate on eight occasions.
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The running of the race had been under threat all week as Typhoon Phanfone approached Japan from the Pacific Ocean and the event had already been red-flagged after just two laps after the race began under safety car conditions.
The race continued when the weather cleared up but the rain began to fall in the closing stages ahead of both Sutil and Bianchi's accidents.
Sutil said after the race: 'I aquaplaned. The rain got more and more. One lap later with waved yellow flags Jules came around and had the same spin there, and that was it. It was the same crash but the outcome was different.
'The car came out to rescue my car and it all happened.
'This particular corner was a very tricky one the whole race through but especially in the end when it was dark. You just couldn’t see where the patches were and that’s why I lost the car.’
'It got a little bit dark in the end and maybe we should have stopped the race earlier.'
On whether the race should have been held earlier in the day, Sutil added: ‘We weren’t asked about our opinion so there is nothing I can say. It was clear it got more wet and it would have been quite easy to make the race earlier but it is not in my hands.’
Nico Rosberg, who finished second, said the situation was 'very, very serious'.
Bianchi, 25, from Nice in France, is competing in his second season of Formula One, and right, him in action during Sunday's Japanese Grand Prix
Bianchi spun and hit the yellow tractor, which was preparing to tow Sutil's car (foreground) from the side of the Suzuka track during the Grand Prix
'I'm not thinking about the race, I'm thinking about my colleague,' said Rosberg. 'I've been given some information and it seems very, very serious. I'm hoping for the best.'
Sauber tweeted to confirm Sutil was OK following his accident.
Hamilton's win put him 10 points clear of Rosberg in the drivers' championship. The Brit pulled off a stunning overtake on his Mercedes team-mate on lap 29 and never looked back, pulling clear to win his eighth grand prix of the season.
'They weren't that bad, said Hamilton of the conditions. 'It was wet obviously but I have had much worse in terms of aquaplaning.
'When we went back out it was good, we were behind the safety car for too long. Towards the end it rained a bit more but it wasn’t causing me any problems but perhaps for others, it is so hard to keep temperatures in the tyres.'
Lewis Hamilton lifts the trophy after claiming victory in the Japanese Grand Prix, his third win in succession and enough to take him 10 points clear in the championship
Asked whether the safety car should have been dispatched because the recovery vehicle was towing away Sutil's Sauber, Hamilton added: 'That's the normal protocol to get the cars off the track for safety. There were yellow flags, you are supposed to have a big lift, particularly when there are double yellows.'
Jenson Button, who finished fifth, said: 'When the race started it was fine. There is a fine line between having too much spray and not being able to see.
'I think it was safe conditions. It is an accident and thoughts are with Jules right now.
Sebastian Vettel, who claimed his second straight podium after finishing behind the Mercedes duo, added: 'It was unlucky timing and unlucky to lose the car which led to the accident - our thoughts are with him.
'We knew how tricky it was today so we are hopeful for some very good news. It is one of the trickiest places and with more water the car is very nervous and easy to do a mistake.'
Bianchi holds off the Caterham of Kamui Kobayashi during Sunday's rain-hit Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka