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F1 fraternity pays tribute to ‘late’ Jules Bianchi

At the Japanese GP during lap 41, Bianchi crashed into a recovery vehicle as it lifted Sauber driver Adrian Sutil’s auto.

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The section of the track where the accident occurred was subject to double yellow flags from race stewards, due to Sutils crash.

The report found that Bianchi’s auto hit the tractor at 126 kph and said medical services were not at fault in their handling of the aftermath. His front wheels had also locked.

“It is at times like this that we are brutally reminded of how unsafe racing still remains”.

Bianchis family has already lost a member in a crash.

On Saturday morning, ardent F1 fan and former French Prime Minister Francois Fillon said on Twitter that Bianchi’s death was “a sad and brutal awakening”. He made his Formula One debut in 2013 with Manor F1 team.

A year on from his greatest achievement, Bianchi’s father gave an interview warning that hope was fading. Philippe and Christine would travel to his bedside every day, often with Tom and Melanie, his brother and sister.

The 2010 campaign, won by Pastor Maldonado, saw Bianchi’s progress halted mid-season when he fractured his back in an accident at the Hungaroring.

The rise of Jules Bianchi was in full flight and just three days before fate cruelly intervened in Japan, he had declared himself “ready” to be one of the two drivers at the Ferrari stable he knows so well from his days as a test driver. He battled with his life for nine months, before giving up.

The Manor team tweeted: “We are devastated to lose Jules after such a hard-fought battle. It has been an honor to be able to consider him our race driver, our team-mate, and of course our friend”.

An FIA statement read: “The sport has lost one of the most talented drivers of this generation, from a family that has such a strong presence in the history of the sport”.

Former world champion Jenson Button has led tributes to “real fighter” Jules Bianchi after the Frenchman died as a result of severe head injuries in a crash at the 2014 Japanese Grand Prix. Thoughts are with his family & friends. The 25-year-old Bianchi was considered a bright prospect and was even linked with an eventual move to Ferrari, but his death has left the Formula One fraternity in shock. “We do our best, or always have done our best, for driver safety”. “Fond thoughts for his family and friends”, Prost wrote on Twitter about his fellow Frenchman.

Jules started racing karts in 1999 at the age of 10, winning several domestic and European titles in what was a very successful career.

“So much work has been done in terms of security on the tracks and on the cars that we couldn’t imagine this happening again”, Alesi said. Briefly linked with a Ferrari race seat after Felipe Massa’s accident at the Hungaroring, he was instead signed by the Scuderia to their new academy and commenced F1 testing duties when possible.

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“Jules was France’s up-an-coming talent in motor racing”, Alesi told French radio RTL.

The Former Marussia Driver Never Recovered From Injuries Sustained Last Season		AFP  Getty Images