Bianchi’s father ‘less optimistic’ over recovery

Jules Bianchi’s father Philippe Bianchi has spoken about his son’s current condition and how he is now less optimistic about any recovery.

Bianchi crashed during the Japanese Grand Prix on a wet Suzuka circuit in October 2014.

Sauber’s Adrian Sutil had crashed on the very same turn a lap earlier and crashed into the tyre barrier, however for Bianchi, his Marussia crashed into the recovery vehicle which was retrieving Sutil’s Sauber.

Immediately following the incident the safety car and doctors car was then deployed, followed by an ambulance which took Bianchi to Mie General Medical Center in Yokkaich.

The FIA confirmed that Bianchi left the circuit unconscious after suffering a diffuse axonal brain injury and was in a critical but stable condition.

He remained in a artificial coma for around six weeks, when it was then announced that he was breathing unaided. Whilst he remained unconscious and critical, he was moved from Japan to the Le Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nice in France, which is where he continues his rehabilitation.

Ahead of the Monaco Grand Prix, one year on from Bianchi scoring his and Marussia’s only ever Formula One World Championship points, his father, Philippe Bianchi spoke of his families hopes of a miracle but his fears that Jules condition had remained stagnant.

That position has unfortunately not changed.

‘In general, progress needs to be made in the first six months, It has been nine months now and Jules has still not woken up.’ Philippe Bianchi told France Info radio and quoted by the BBC.

‘As time goes by, I am less optimistic than I might have been two or three months after the accident when we could have hoped for better progress.’