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28 March 2024

Formula 1: Jules Bianchi has traumatic brain injury - family

(FILES) - A file picture taken on May 22, 2014 during the second practice session of the Monaco Formula One Grand Prix in Monte Carlo shows Marussia's French driver Jules Bianchi, who was rushed to hospital unconscious after a crash during the last rounds of the Japanese Grand Prix in Suzuka, on October 5, 2014. (AFP)

Published
By Reuters, AFP

French Formula One driver Jules Bianchi remains in a critical but stable condition in hospital in Japan after suffering a traumatic brain injury, a joint statement by his family and the hospital said on Tuesday.

"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 statement, distributed by his Marussia team, read.

"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."

The 25-year-old Bianchi sustained the injury in an horrific high-speed crash into a recovery vehicle which came onto the side of the track near the end of Sunday's rain-hit Japanese Grand Prix.

He was taken unconscious by ambulance to the nearest hospital and immediately underwent emergency brain surgery with doctors saying he was critically ill.

His parents Philippe and Christine flew to Japan to be at his bedside and they were joined on Tuesday by celebrated French surgeon Gérard Saillant, who treated Michael Schumacher after his near-fatal skiing accident last December.

"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," the joint statement said.

"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."

The race on Sunday was stopped shortly after Bianchi's crash with championship leader Lewis Hamilton, who was leading at the time, declared the winner.

The recovery vehicle involved in the crash was trying to remove Adrian Sutil's stricken Sauber, which had crashed at the same spot on the circuit a lap earlier.

Organisers have come in for criticism over the timing of the race, which went ahead despite torrential downpours caused by an approaching typhoon.

Drivers repeatedly complained that they could not see properly because of the spray and the fading light.

EARLIER REPORT

The crash that left French Formula One driver Jules Bianchi in a critical condition with severe head injures was down to bad luck rather than poor judgement by Japanese Grand Prix race officials, a track spokesman said on Tuesday.

The 25-year-old Marussia driver suffered the life-threatening injury on Sunday when he aquaplaned off a wet track and slammed into the back of a recovery tractor that had been deployed to remove Adrian Sutil's crashed Sauber.

"Officials raised 'double yellow flags' after the accident by Sutil, which means drivers had to slow down to the speed that they can immediately stop, but unfortunately Bianchi's car aquaplaned right at the time and ran into the accident site, which was bad luck," Suzuka Circuit spokesman Masamichi Miyazaki said.

"Admittedly, rain was coming and the road was wet, but not heavy enough to halt the race, and I believe the race officials made the same judgement."

The sport's governing International Automobile Federation  (FIA) said that president Jean Todt has asked FIA race director Charlie Whiting to carry out a detailed report into the precise circumstances of the accident.

The crash brought a premature end to Sunday's race, with winner Lewis Hamilton and the rest of the paddock turning their attention to the likeable Frenchman, a graduate of Ferrari's young driver academy.

The Marussia team acknowledged a "huge outpouring of support and affection for Jules and the Team at this very difficult time" on Monday and on Tuesday the FIA said he was in a "critical but stable condition" at the Mie Prefectural General Medical Centre in Yokkaichi.

SAFETY PROCEDURES


Former Formula One driver Martin Brundle, now a commentator in Britain, was one of many people involved in the sport who questioned the safety procedures used.

He recalled his own near miss with a crane when racing 20 years ago and queried the need for them to be so close to the track.

"I nearly lost my life against one of them, I just missed it and hit a marshal. I closed my eyes and I thought that was the end," he was quoted as saying by British media.

"The tractors are just too high and you are sitting down low. I've been saying this for a long time.

"You are going into the barrier if you go off there. There's no way of recovering, you are going too fast."

Bianchi's accident was the most serious involving a driver at a grand prix weekend since Brazilian Felipe Massa suffered near-fatal head injuries in Hungary in 2009 after being hit on the helmet by a bouncing spring shed from a car in front.

Massa made a full recovery and was racing for Williams on Sunday.

Despite that, Formula One remains proud of its improved safety record and constantly strives to make cars safer, but acknowledges the sport will always be dangerous.

"We have done so much for safety," Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone was quoted as saying by British newspaper The Times.

"These days, you see an accident on the track and the driver undoes his safety belt, flips off his steering wheel and jumps out unharmed.

"I've always said that if I was going to have an accident, it would be in a Formula One car because they are the safest in the world.

"But things happen and we have to find out the cause. It's difficult for me to say what happened and it will be for an inquiry to find out exactly what did go on.

"This happened to a young man who is very close to us all and that has caused a terrible shock for everyone. Our thoughts are with him and his family."  

EARLIER REPORT

Horrifying footage has emerged showing the moment Jules Bianchi's speeding Formula One car smashed into a stationary tractor-crane, leaving him fighting for his life in a Japanese hospital with serious head injuries.

The 25-year-old Frenchman was said to be "critical, but stable" after surgery in the wake of the terrifying smash on a rain-soaked Suzuka circuit on Sunday.

Criticism grew Tuesday of race organisers, with former world champion Alan Prost weighing in to declaim errors that led to the crash.

The spectator film, posted on YouTube, shows his out-of-control Marussia slamming into the back of the yellow recovery vehicle, sparks flying as the body of the car slides underneath its raised rear end.

The impact, which appears to be at around Bianchi's helmet height, shears off the air intake cover that hangs over the back of the driver's head.

Formula One has regularly been rocked by debate over open-top cockpits, which offer drivers little head protection.

In slow-motion, the video appears to show Bianchi's helmet rebounding violently off the heavy lifting vehicle, which is bounced into the air by the force of the impact.

The vehicle was trying to remove Adrian Sutil's stricken Sauber, which had crashed at the same spot on the circuit a lap earlier.

Prost told Europe 1 radio that the removal truck should never have been there.

"The entry of this crane (onto the circuit) without the safety car is totally unacceptable. It's a real mistake that should not be repeated," he said,

"A mistake has been made, that's obvious. Who made the mistake, I'm still not entirely sure. Was it the race director or the marshals on those bends? Someone must have made the decision to remove Sutil's car."

'Very, very serious'

Bianchi's parents, Philippe and Christine, were joined at their son's hospital bedside Tuesday by celebrated French surgeon Gérard Saillant, who treated Michael Schumacher after his near-fatal skiing accident last December.

Nicolas Todt, the agent for the young driver, along with F1 veteran Felipe Massa, was also there.

Massa, who visited Bianchi at the hospital on Sunday, was himself the victim of a serious injury in 2009 when he was struck by a part of another car that had come loose.

Formula One's governing body, the International Automobile Federation (FIA), said Bianchi had suffered a "severe head injury".

FIA press officer Matteo Bonciani told reporters at the hospital on Monday evening: "It should be understood that it is very, very serious."

In a statement, Marussia thanked fans for the "huge outpouring of support and affection for Jules and the team".
They said information about the driver's condition would only be released with the blessing of his 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 Centre 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."

The race on Sunday was stopped shortly after Bianchi's crash with championship leader Lewis Hamilton, who was leading at the time, declared the winner.

Organisers have come in for criticism over the timing of the race, which went ahead despite torrential downpours caused by an approaching typhoon.

Drivers repeatedly complained that they could not see properly because of the spray and the fading light.

"I was already screaming on the radio five laps before the safety car that there was too much water on the track," Massa said Sunday.

"But they took a bit too long and it was dangerous. So we saw that there were some crashes at the end."

EARLIER REPORT

Frenchman Jules Bianchi underwent emergency surgery on Sunday after crashing in slippery conditions near the end of an incident-packed Japanese Grand Prix.

Formula One's governing International Motoring Federation (FIA) said the 25-year-old had been rushed to hospital after suffering a "severe head injury" and had gone into surgery.

Bianchi was taken to hospital by ambulance, still unconscious, after colliding with a recovery vehicle which was attempting to lift Adrian Sutil's Sauber away from danger after the German himself had skidded into a wall on lap 42 at Suzuka.

Marshalls clear the way for an ambulance after the race was stopped following a crash by Marussia Formula One driver Jules Bianchi of France at the Japanese F1 Grand Prix at the Suzuka Circuit October 5, 2014. (REUTERS)

The FIA said that Bianchi would continue to be monitored in intensive care following his operation.

"The driver was removed from the car, taken to the circuit medical centre and then by ambulance to Mie General Hospital," FIA press officer Matteo Bonciani said in a statement.

"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."

Marussia driver Jules Bianchi (front) of France leads Caterham driver Kamui Kobayashi of Japan at the Formula One Japanese Grand Prix in Suzuka on October 5, 2014.  (AFP)

The FIA added: "A recovery vehicle was despatched in order to lift (Sutil's) 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."

Marussia Formula One driver Jules Bianchi of France drives during the Japanese F1 Grand Prix at the Suzuka Circuit October 5, 2014. (REUTERS)

"Jules is seriously injured," Bianchi's father Philippe told France 3 television. "He is undergoing surgery for a head injury and we will need to wait 24 hours to know any more on his condition."

Championship leader Lewis Hamilton won Sunday's race, which had been threatened by a typhoon and began behind the safety car with drivers complaining over team radios that they were unable to see through the spray.

Starting in second behind Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg, Hamilton had radioed: "Tell Nico not to do anything dramatic cos I can't see him."

Marussia Formula One driver Jules Bianchi of France speaks to the media after a news conference at the Suzuka circuit October 2, 2014. (REUTERS)

Sutil witnessed Bianchi's shunt after going out himself.

"I had a spin and ended up in the wall," he said. "I stood up and they tried to rescue the car. Jules was in the same area and lost the car. Hopefully he is in good hands."

The safety car and medical car were sent out and the race brought to a premature halt, giving Hamilton his eighth victory of the season, although the Briton's celebrations were muted as news of Bianchi's accident filtered through.

"We're all very concerned about our colleague, Bianchi," said Hamilton. "I don't really know what to say. Obviously (the race) didn't finish the way we would have hoped but really, my prayers are with him and his family."

German Rosberg, who finished second, said: "I'm not thinking about the race -- I'm thinking about my colleague. I'm hoping for the best."

Formula One has been relatively free of bad crashes in recent years following safety-improving measures that were implemented in the wake of the last fatality to hit the sport - that of Ayrton Senna at the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix.