Jules Bianchi (bee-AN-key; born 3 August 1989 in Nice, Alpes-Maritimes, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France) is a motor racing driver who drove for the Marussia team. He previously tested for both Ferrari and Force India, and is a member of the Ferrari Driver Academy.
Bianchi is also the great-nephew of the late Lucien Bianchi who competed in F1 from 1959 until 1968.
He will drive the No. 17 car, a number his didn't apply for as his three choices were allocated before Bianchi's number was decided.
Bianchi finished 9th in the 2014 Monaco Grand Prix and scored the first points for both himself and Marussia despite a 5-second time penalty which pushed him down a place.
At the 2014 Japanese Grand Prix, Bianchi aquaplaned off the track at the Dunlop Curve, colliding with the crane that at the time was tending to Adrian Sutil's car. Bianchi somehow survived the incident which tore the roll box off the car, however, he suffered significant head injuries in the process. A similar crash happened 20 years earlier at the same circuit, with Martin Brundle destroying his McLaren and hit and injured a track marshall, who suffered a broken leg. He exited his coma in mid-November.
Pre-Formula One
Formula One career
Ferrari test driver
2009
2010
2011
2012 and beyond
Force India test driver
Marussia
2013
2014
Suzuka accident
On lap 43, Bianchi lost control of his Marussia as he exited the Dunlop Curve, turn 8, and aquaplaned off the track at high speed. However, as Adrian Sutil had spun off in similar circumstances the lap before, the crane used to pick up cars stuck in the gravel was in the run-off area. Bianchi hit the crane, at a speed of 78 mph (126 km/h) causing an impact of 50 g. The roll bar was completely ripped of the car, and the engine and exhaust systems were visible. Bianchi, lucky to survive at all, was rendered unconscious, unresponsive to radio calls and the nearby marshals. Once the severity of the situation became clear, the race was stopped.
Transported by ambulance to the circuit's medical centre, it was determined that Bianchi would have to take another ambulance journey under police escort to Mie General Medical Center, which was under ten miles (sixteen kilometres) away from the circuit. The ambulance was chosen over the medical helicopter after it was felt that flying in the weather conditions was unsafe.
Once at the hospital, Bianchi underwent a CT scan which diagnosed a severe head injury. Bianchi father also reported that he had heavy bruising. He was immediately operated on and was later transferred to the intensive care unit. It was reported that Bianchi was breathing unaided, but this was later found to not be the case.
The FIA released an official statement while Bianchi was being operated on. On Monday morning, Marussia released a statement (with Ferrari) asking fans for patience on the issue. An update from the FIA medical chief was given out during lunchtime (European time), stating Bianchi was in a critical condition but stable. On 7 October, Bianchi's parents released a statement, stating that he had suffered a diffuse axonal injury, which is a common yet devastating type of brain injury. He was reported to still be in a critical yet stable position.
At the Russian Grand Prix, Marussia left Bianchi's car empty. The drivers paid homage to Bianchi, and a short silence was honoured. Following the race, an additional statement was released on 14 October, which stated that Bianchi's situation had not changed and that the demonstrations of support were of enormous comfort to Bianchi's friends and family. A new statement was released on 30 October, in which his condition was still classified as "critical but stable".
An update on 19 November confirmed that Bianchi had emerged from his coma, was breathing unaided and has being transferred to the Le Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nice (CHU) in Nice, France.
FIA Accident Panel investigation
The FIA Accident Panel was put together on 20 October and was composed of ten people, including former team principals Ross Brawn and Stefano Domenicali, GPDA chairman Alex Wurz and two-time World Champion Emerson Fittipaldi.[1]
After studying the crash, the panel released a 396-page report on 3 December.[2] They made eleven conclusions and seven recommendations.
They while the marshals had been responding correctly to Sutil's accident, a combination of factors, including that the a river of water was running across the track, that Bianchi had been going too fast, that he over-controlled the car and that a failsafe to help slow the car not been activated all contributed to the accident. The report concluded that there was little point in trying to make an impact between a car and a heavy object safer, but rather focus on preventing such occasions from ever being an issue.
Official statements
| FIA: Note to the media regarding Jules Bianchi (source) |
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5 October 2014, 14:02 UTC On lap 42, Adrian Sutil lost control of his car, spun and hit the tyre barrier on the outside of Turn 7. 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. Once the marshals reported that the driver was injured, medical teams were despatched and the Safety Car was deployed. These were followed by an extrication team and an ambulance. The driver was removed from the car, taken to the circuit medical centre and then by ambulance to Mie General Hospital. The CT scan shows that he has suffered a severe head injury and he is currently undergoing surgery. Following this he will be moved to intensive care where he will be monitored. Mie General Hospital will issue an update as soon as further information becomes available. |
| Statement by Marussia (source) |
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Yokkaichi, Japan Following the accident involving Jules Bianchi during yesterday's 2014 Formula One Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka Circuit, the Marussia F1 Team would like to acknowledge the huge outpouring of support and affection for Jules and the Team at this very difficult time. With regard to the communication of information concerning Jules' medical condition, we will respect, and be guided by, the wishes of the Bianchi family. Together with Jules' care, they will remain our highest priority. Therefore, we would ask for patience and understanding with regard to further medical updates, which will be communicated in conjunction with the Mie General Medical Center in Yokkaichi, where Jules is being treated, when they feel it is appropriate. Representatives of the Marussia F1 Team and Scuderia Ferrari will remain at the hospital to support Jules and the Bianchi family. |
| Statement by his family (source) |
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Yokkaichi, Japan The following statement is provided by the family of Jules Bianchi, in conjunction with the Mie General Medical Center, and is distributed on their behalf by the Marussia F1 Team. "This is a very difficult time for our family, but the messages of support and affection for Jules from all over the world have been a source of great comfort to us. We would like to express our sincere appreciation. Jules remains in the Intensive Care Unit of the Mie General Medical Center in Yokkaichi. He has suffered a diffuse axonal injury and is in a critical but stable condition. The medical professionals at the hospital are providing the very best treatment and care and we are grateful for everything they have done for Jules since his accident. We are also grateful for the presence of Professor Gerard Saillant, President of the FIA Medical Commission, and Professor Alessandro Frati, Neurosurgeon of the University of Rome La Sapienza, who has travelled to Japan at the request of Scuderia Ferrari. They arrived at the hospital today and met with the medical personnel responsible for Jules' treatment, in order to be fully informed of his clinical status so that they are able to advise the family. Professors Saillant and Frati acknowledge the excellent care being provided by the Mie General Medical Center and would like to thank their Japanese colleagues. The hospital will continue to monitor and treat Jules and further medical updates will be provided when appropriate." |
| Medical update: 14 October (source) |
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Yokkaichi, Japan At the request of the family of Jules Bianchi, and in conjunction with the Mie General Medical Center in Yokkaichi, the Marussia F1 Team is able to provide the following information regarding Jules' medical condition: The past nine days have been extremely difficult for Jules and his family. As a consequence of the accident at Suzuka, a number of medical challenges have needed to be overcome and the situation remains challenging due to the diffuse axonal traumatic brain injury Jules has sustained. Jules remains in a critical but stable condition in the Intensive Care Unit of Mie General Medical Center in Yokkaichi. The Bianchi family continue to be comforted by the thoughts and prayers of Jules' many fans and the motor sport community. In particular, the many demonstrations of support and affection during the course of the Russian Grand Prix in Sochi were of enormous comfort to Jules' parents and the relatives and friends also present at the hospital. The family will provide further medical updates when appropriate. |
| On behalf of his family, an update regarding Jules Bianchi: 30 October (source) |
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Yokkaichi, Japan The family of Jules Bianchi would like to issue the following statement, by way of an update on Jules' medical condition. The Marussia F1 Team is supporting the family by facilitating its communication. "It will be four weeks this coming Sunday since Jules' accident and he remains in the Mie General Medical Center in Yokkaichi. His condition continues to be classified by the medical professionals here as critical but stable. Although we have no new information to give, we recognise that there are a huge number of people all around the world who are supporting Jules and willing him on in his fight. We owe it to his many fans to acknowledge the continued outpouring of messages, and to provide some information, however brief it may be. "Jules does indeed continue to fight. Although there have been some reports suggestive of plans for Jules' treatment, at this time his fight will continue here in Yokkaichi. We are taking things step by step. "Once again, we would like to offer our sincere appreciation for the patience and understanding being shown towards our family at this very difficult time. We also continue to be comforted by the knowledge that Jules is receiving the best possible care at the Mie General Medical Center, with the doctors here remaining in constant contact with the neurosurgeons at the University La Sapienza of Rome, and Professor Gerard Saillant, President of the FIA Medical Commission. "We will provide a further update when it is appropriate to do so. In the meantime, thank you to everyone who continues to keep Jules in their thoughts and prayers." |
| Bianchi family statement: 19 November (source) |
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"Jules is no longer in the artificial coma in which he was placed shortly after the accident, however he is still unconscious. "He is breathing unaided and his vital signs are stable, but his condition is still classified as 'critical'. His treatment now enters a new phase concerned with the improvement of his brain function. "Jules' neurological condition remains stable. Although the situation continues to be serious, and may remain so, it was decided that Jules was sufficiently stable to be repatriated to his native France. We are relieved, therefore, to confirm that Jules was transferred aeromedically last night from the Mie Prefectural General Medical Center in Yokkaichi, Japan, to Le Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nice (CHU), where he arrived just a short time ago. Jules is now in the intensive care unit of Professors Raucoules and Ichai, where his care will also be monitored by Professor Paquis, Head of Neurosurgery Service. "We are thankful that the next phase of Jules' treatment can continue close to home, where he can be surrounded and supported by his wider family and friends. "We have nothing but praise for the outstanding care provided by the Mie Prefectural General Medical Center since the accident. We owe the medical staff there an enormous debt of gratitude for everything they have done for Jules, and also for our family, during what is a very difficult time for us. In particular, we would like to extend our thanks to Doctors Kamei and Yamamichi, and also to Mr Ogura, all part of the team of personnel caring for Jules in Japan." |
Formula One Statistical Overview
F1 Career Record
| Year | Entrant | Team | WDC Points | WDC Pos. | Report |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro | Ferrari | Test driver | ||
| 2010 | Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro | Ferrari | Test driver | ||
| 2011 | Scuderia Ferrari | Ferrari | Test driver | ||
| 2012 | Scuderia Ferrari | Ferrari | Test driver | ||
| Sahara Force India F1 Team | Force India-Mercedes | ||||
| 2013 | Marussia F1 Team | Marussia-Cosworth | 0 | 19th | Report |
| Sahara Force India F1 Team | Force India-Mercedes | Test driver | |||
| 2014 | Marussia F1 Team | Marussia-Ferrari | 2 | 17th | Report |
| Scuderia Ferrari | Ferrari | Test driver | |||
Career Results
| Complete Formula One Results | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | Pts | Pos
Template:2012 Results/20 Template:2013 Results/20 Template:2014 Results/20 | |||
| Key | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Symbol | Meaning | Symbol | Meaning | ||
| 1st | Winner | Ret | Retired | ||
| 2nd | Podium finish | DSQ | Disqualified | ||
| 3rd | DNQ | Did not qualify | |||
| 5th | Points finish | DNPQ | Did not pre-qualify | ||
| 14th | Non-points finish | TD | Test driver | ||
| Italics | Scored point(s) for Fastest Lap | DNS | Did not start | ||
| 18th† | Classified finish (retired with >90% race distance) | NC | Non-classified finish (<90% race distance) | ||
| 4thP | Qualified for pole position | [+] More Symbols | |||
Formula One Tests
| Year | Entrant | Constructor | Car | Test | Circuit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 |  Scuderia Ferrari
|
Ferrari | F60 | 2009 Young Drivers Test |  Circuito de Jerez
|
| 2010 | Scuderia Ferrari
|
Ferrari | F10 | 2010 Young Drivers Test |  Yas Marina Circuit
|
| 2011 | Scuderia Ferrari
|
Ferrari | 150° Italia | 2011 Young Drivers Test | Yas Marina Circuit
|
| 2012 |  Sahara Force India F1 Team
|
Force India-Mercedes | VJM05 | 2012 Jerez Test 1 | Circuito de Jerez
|
| 2012 | Sahara Force India F1 Team
|
Force India-Mercedes | VJM05 | 2012 Mugello Test 1 | Mugello Circuit
|
| 2012 | Scuderia Ferrari
|
Ferrari | F2012 | 2012 Magny Cours Young Driver Test |  Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours
|
| Sahara Force India F1 Team
|
Force India-Mercedes | VJM05 |
Notes
- ↑ FIA Accident Panel (20 October 2014).
- ↑ Accident Panel (3 December 2014).
External links
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