F1: Top 5 Ferrari Driver Academy Graduates

#2 Jules Bianchi

Jules Bianchi's points finish in Monaco demonstrated the special talent he was.

When writing about Formula 1 drivers from the 1960's to the 80's, the phrase "but their time was cut short" is used far too often. The rate of fatalities during this era was tragically high, but Jules Bianchi is one of the few examples of a driver fatality in Grand Prix racing's modern period.

Bianchi was the first driver to sign for the Ferrari programme, joining in 2009 when aged just 19. Although he didn't win the GP2 series nor Formula Renault 3.5, th Frenchman's talents were clear to see and Marussia gave him his F1 debut in 2013.

The Marussia was a backmarker car with no real hope of scoring points, but that didn't stop Bianchi from doing so. His previous best was 13th in Malaysia in 2013, but he'd sensationally finish in ninth place at the 2014 Monaco GP. Not dissimilarly to Stroll's podium in Baku, Bianchi avoided the chaos to finish eighth on the road, only dropping to ninth due to a penalty. These were Marussia's only ever points in F1, and the high-point for the team.

Jules was tipped for a Ferrari seat in the near-future, he was that talented, as Sebastian Vettel confirmed when he paid tribute to Bianchi at the 2015 Hungarian GP.

Bianchi would lose his life in tragic circumstances later in the 2014 season, something you can read more about here.