Following the young Frenchman’s tragic death last week, the colleagues of Jules Bianchi came together at the Hungarian Grand Prix to pay tribute to their friend.
The 25-year-old passed away following 9 months in a coma, after suffering an accident at the 2014 Japanese Grand Prix in Suzuka. That Grand Prix had been held in a torrential downpour, when a typhoon was on its course through the nation. Sauber driver Adrian Sutil had crashed a lap prior to Bianchi, and walked away from the accident largely unscathed, and a crane had been deployed to clear the wreckage of the German’s car.
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Bianchi collided with the stationary crane a lap later, and had been unresponsive to crew or marshals. Taken immediately to the Mie Prefecture Hospital in Japan, he was moved in time to a care facility in his hometown of Nice, France. He passed away there, a few days after father Philippe Bianchi said the prognosis for his son looked bleak.
His funeral and memorial services were held in his hometown, and attended by most of his colleagues. Among them were Lewis Hamilton, Nico Rosberg, Sebastian Vettel, Romain Grosjean, Pastor Maldonado and Felipe Massa. Bianchi, Maldonado and Massa all shared a manager in Nicolas Todt, and were close friends. Among the other attendees was French F1 legend Alain Prost, who lost colleague, arch-rival and friend Ayrton Senna 21 years ago.
Drivers stood in a circle, placing their helmets with Bianchi’s own in a show of solidarity to the young driver prior to the Hungarian GP, and spoke of how the young driver was due for a Ferrari spot in the future prior to his accident.
Sebastian Vettel, who won the Hungarian Grand Prix, dedicated his victory to Bianchi, as did 2nd place winner Daniil Kvyat and 3rd placed Daniel Ricciardo, both of Red Bull.
Bianchi’s former mentor, who was arguably the closest to him of anyone in the sport, was seen embracing Philippe Bianchi following an emotional finish to the Grand Prix.
