On the 5th October 2014, an accident happened in the Formula 1 race at Sazuka, it would cost the life of one of the most promising young drivers in recent years and change the direction of Formula 1.
Jules
Jules Lucien Andre Bianchi was born on 3 August 1989 in Nice, France. He was born into a racing family, with his Grand father racing in GT’s in the 1960’s, he would also compete in three non-championship Formula 1 races in 1961. Jules was also the grandnephew of Lucien Bianchi, who had competed in 19 Formula 1 races between 1959 and 1968. Lucien would also win the 1968 24 Hours of Le Man.
Jules would start karting from around 3 years old. He would continue to compete in karting until 2007 where he headed to Formula 2.0, finishing the season as champion with 5 wins.
Bianchi would continue to race in the junior Formule, landing a drive in the 2010 GP2 season, driving for ART. during the season Jules was severely injured in a head on accident with Ho-Pin Tung, resulting in a fracture to his second lumbar Vertebra, he recovered to continue racing at the next round of the championship. Jules would continue to drive and impress in the junior ranks.
During 2009, Bianchi would test for Ferrari at Jerez, his performance would lead to him signing to Ferrari’s Driver Academy as their first recruit.
Ferrari would confirm Bianchi as their test and reserve driver for the 2011 season. He would be loaned out to Force India for the 2012 season, completing 9 FP1 sessions over the course of the season.
Marussia F1 signed Bianchi to a race seat for the 2013 season, he would finish have a competitive season in an uncompetitve car, beating his teammate, Max Chilton in all qualifying sessions and finishing a head of him in all races where both drivers finished.
The 2014 season was even better for the young French driver, who would take his and his teams forst points in F1, by finishing ninth at the Monaco GP. He would continue to have the measure of his teammate Chilton, thus cementing him as the teams number 1 driver. Days before his accident at the Japanese GP, Jules declared that he was ready to take the race seat at Ferrari.
Sazuka Accident
On Lap 43 of the race, Jules lost control of his Marussia at turn 7, he would slid off the track, that was wet due to an approaching typhoon. His car would collide with the rear of a tractor that was removing the stricken Sauber of Adrain Sutil, who had crashed on the previous lap. Spectator video and images showed Jules car to be severely damaged, with the rool bar broken off as it slid under the tractor.
Jules was unconscious, after his head had struck the rear of the tractor. He was taken to the local hospital, with a severe head injury and was in critical condition. It was confirmed that Jules had suffered a diffuse axonal injury and was in critical but stable condition.
I was reported through investigations into the accident that Bianchi had experienced a peak force of around 254g.
Jules and the Bianchi family recieved an outpouring of support and tributes, with Marussia adopting #JB17 livery on the cockpit of its MR03.
All drivers wore a sticker saying “Tous avec Jules #17” (We’re all with Jules #17). A one minute silence was held at the next race in Russia, Hamilton would dedicate the victory to Jules.
Jules would remain at a hospital in Japan until November, where his condition would improve enough to allow him to head home to France, this would allow the Bianchi family better opportunities to be with Jules.
As time went on, Jules Bianchi’s farther admitted they were becoming less optimistic, due to the lack of significant progress and time since the accident.
Jules Bianchi would succumb to his injuries on the 17th July 2015, his death would be the first death of a Formula 1 driver as a result of injuries sustatined in Grand Prix since Ayrton Senna’s death in 1994.
It is with deep sadness the parents of Jules Bianchi, Philippe and Christine, his brother Tom and Sister Melanie, wish to make it known that Jules passed away last night at the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire in Nice. Jules fought to the end, as he always done, but yesterday his battle ended. We feel an immense and indescribable pain.
Bianchi family statement on the death of Jules Bianchi
Investigation and Legacy
The FIA investigation looked at a number of different factors, including the introduction of the Virtual Safety Car (VSC), a system that took inspiration from 24 Hours of Le Mans go slow system. A number of other systems and changes were brought into Formula 1 as a result of the crash. Many of which are still in use today.
Changes were made to FIA regulations, including the use of the Safety Car, the permanent introduction of the VSC system and changes to the yellow flag system.
The FIA concluded that the use of the Safety Car was not required under the regulations for the time. The use of the safety car is now common place in Formula 1 due in part to the events of the Japanese GP.
One of the biggest discussions following the accident, was centered around head protection of drivers. The FIA developed the Halo, a tubular device that sits over the cockpit of a Formula 1 car. Although it was not well received when it was first introduced in 2018, it has saved numerous drivers lives including Romain Grosjean, Lewis Hamilton and Zhou Guanyu.
The Halo can be seen as a saviour of so many lives, but it is also a stark reminder of the dangers of motorsport, the loss of Jules Bianchi will be forever part of Formula 1. Every time VSC flashes on the screen during a race weekend it’s a subtle reminder of that terrible day.
Jules’s legacy, although brief, will remain unaltered in the history of Formula 1, a son, brother, friend lost far too soon a talent tragically unfulfilled.
Tu nous manque Jules