Formula One driver Jules Bianchi has died at the age of 25, nine months after sustaining brain injuries at the Japanese Grand Prix.
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.
He suffered a diffuse axonal brain injury and never awoke from a coma.
‘Jules fought right to the very end, as he always did, but today his battle came to an end.’ his family said in a statement released on the BBC.
The Manor Marussia team added: ‘We are devastated to lose Jules after such a hard-fought battle. It was a privilege to have him race for our team.’
Bianchi is the first Formula One driver to have been killed from injuries suffered during a race weekend since the tragic 1994 San Marino Grand Prix where Roland Ratzenberger and three-time Formula One World Champion Ayrton Senna were killed.
His death also follows Maria de Villota who died 14 months after sustaining serious head injuries in a crash whilst straight-line testing for Marussia.
Vital F1 would like to pass on our condolences to the Bianchi family, Jules’ friends and the whole Manor Marussia team and Formula One paddock.
Jules Bianchi dies aged 25
