Formula 1 driver Jules Bianchi died in a French hospital on Saturday, nine months after a "horrific accident at the Japanese Grand Prix," according to Brad Spurgeon of the N.Y. TIMES. He was 25. It was the "first fatality from injuries sustained in a Grand Prix race since the death of Ayrton Senna," a three-time world champion, in '94 at the San Marino Grand Prix in Imola, Italy. Senna's death "spurred a safety crusade that led to a record 21 years without a driver fatality" in F1, but Bianchi's death "left the racing series in a state of shock." After the accident, the FIA set up a panel to "analyze its cause and the safety measures that might be created to prevent its recurrence" (
N.Y. TIMES, 7/18). The BBC's Andrew Benson wrote Bianchi "was one of the most promising of a new generation of Formula 1 drivers." It was "too early in Bianchi's career to judge his ultimate potential, and whether he could have gone on to become a race winner and even world champion." But the signs "were there that he was set for a significant career at the highest level of the sport." Ferrari signed four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel to replace the departing Fernando Alonso in '15, but it had "earmarked Bianchi as the man who would probably drive a third car for the team." Former Ferrari President Luca Di Montezemolo said, "This boy was born with us, and we thought of him as our driver of the future... he would have been perfect for the coming years" (
BBC, 7/18). REUTERS' Alan Baldwin reported F1 CEO Bernie Ecclestone said that the sport "is as safe as it has ever been but danger will always be part of the sport." Ecclestone: "If you were to choose to have an accident today in anything, you'd choose a Formula One (car) because it's probably the safest it's ever been. What actually happened to Jules was just very, very, very unfortunate." Bianchi "skidded off the track in wet conditions." He "smashed into a recovery tractor that was removing another crashed car." F1's governing body has introduced a "number of safety measures after the crash at Suzuka," including the use of a "virtual safety car" and making the area around the cockpit stronger (
REUTERS, 7/19).
GPDA VOWS TO 'NEVER RELENT': Benson reported in a separate piece senior figures in F1 have "pledged to continue their pursuit of increased safety." Ecclestone said that Bianchi's loss was "so sad," adding, "We must never let this happen again." The Grand Prix Drivers' Association (GPDA) said that it felt a responsibility "to never relent in improving safety." It said in a statement, "It is at times like this that we are brutally reminded of how dangerous racing still remains." Former FIA President Max Mosley said that F1 could "never be entirely safe." Mosley: "It's no good pretending F1 is safe because it isn't. ... There's always a danger something will go wrong. You can never get a zero probability of injury but I think we've minimized it" (BBC, 7/19).
F1 REACTS: REUTERS' Baldwin & Hayward reported F1 and the "wider world of motorsport mourned the death of Bianchi." Manor Marussia Team Principal John Booth said, "Jules was a shining talent. He was destined for great things in our sport; success he so richly deserved. He was also a magnificent human being, making a lasting impression on countless people all over the world."
"Friend, companion, talent, smile. Eternal. Rest in peace Jules. Always with us."
"It is with great emotion that I learned of the passing of Jules Bianchi. French sport has lost with him one of its great hopes" (
REUTERS, 7/18).
