On October 5, 2014, the world of Formula 1 was plunged into darkness as the race at the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka turned into an unimaginable tragedy. The young French pilot Jules Bianchi, aged only 25, was the victim of a fatal accident which left an indelible mark.
The Formula 1 stops at Suzuka this weekend to compete in the Japanese Grand Prix. This race does not only bring back good memories because in 2014, it caused the death of Jules Bianchi. This rainy Sunday Suzuka had already been marked by difficult weather conditions. The rain had transformed the Japanese circuit into a veritable ice rink, and the race had been interrupted several times by accidents and track exits.
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The tragic accident of Jules Bianchi
However, it was on the 43rd lap of the race that horror struck. In the persistent rain, Bianchi lost control of his car Marussia and went off the track, violently hitting a tow truck which was removing the damaged car fromAdrian Sutil, victim of a previous accident at the same location. The accident was incredibly violent, causing severe injuries to Bianchi. Images show a terrible scene where we see the head of the Monegasque pilot lifting the tow truck because he was arriving so quickly.
First victim since Senna
Rushed to hospital, Bianchi fought for his life for nine long months. Doctors desperately tried to save his life, but the brain trauma he suffered was simply insurmountable. On July 17, 2015, Jules Bianchi succumbed to his injuries, becoming the first fatality of a racing accident since Ayrton Senna in 1994. The tragic accident of Jules Bianchi deeply shook the Formula 1. The sport had already been in the spotlight for its safety, and the loss of this talented young driver has reignited the debate over safety measures in motorsport. There FIAthe governing body of the Formula 1, has intensified its efforts to improve pilot safety, notably by introducing the concept of “Halo”, a device to protect the pilots’ heads. This same Halo which had saved the life of Romain Grosjean has Bahrain three years ago. There is no doubt that Jules Bianchi will still be on everyone’s minds this weekend at Suzuka.
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