Jules Bianchi (3 August 1989 – 17 July 2015) was a French motor racing driver who drove for Marussia F1 in the FIA Formula One World Championship. Bianchi had previously raced in Formula Renault 3.5, the GP2 Series and Formula Three. He entered Formula One as a test driver in 2011 at Scuderia Ferrari, and carried out a similar role for Force India the following season. In 2013, he made his debut driving for Marussia, finishing 15th in his opening race in Australia. He ended the season in 19th position, but failed to score any points. His best result in his debut season was 13th at the Malaysian Grand Prix. In October 2013, the team confirmed that he would drive for the team the following season. In the 2014 season, he scored both his and the Marussia's first points in Formula One at the Monaco Grand Prix.
On 5 October 2014, during the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka, Bianchi lost control of his Marussia in wet conditions and collided with a recovery vehicle, suffering a diffuse axonal injury. First taken to a hospital in Japan, Bianchi was placed into an induced coma to treat his injuries. He was later relocated to a hospital in his native France, where he remained comatose until his death on 17 July 2015. Bianchi became the first Formula One driver fatality during a Grand Prix since Ayrton Senna's death following his accident at the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix.
Bianchi died from his injuries on 17 July 2015. Bianchi became the first Formula One driver to be killed due to injuries sustained during a race since Ayrton Senna's death following his accident at the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix. The official statement, released by his family in the early hours of the following day, said:
It is with deep sadness that the parents of Jules Bianchi, Philippe and Christine, his brother Tom and sister Mélanie, wish to make it known that Jules passed away last night at the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire in Nice... Jules fought to the end, as he has always done, but yesterday his battle ended. We feel an immense and indescribable pain.
His family went on to thank his doctors and supporters, and to ask for privacy. Born in Nice, France, to Philippe, Jules Bianchi was the grandson of Mauro Bianchi, who competed in GT racing the 1960s. He was also the grandnephew of Lucien, who won the 1968 24 Hours of Le Mans and competed in nineteen Grands Prix in the Formula One World Championship between 1959 and 1968, with a podium finish in Monaco.
In his professional motorsport career, Bianchi was managed by ART boss Nicolas Todt who also manages, among others, Formula One driver Felipe Massa. In 2007 Bianchi left karting and raced in French Formula Renault 2.0 for SG Formula, where he finished as champion with five wins. He also competed in the Formula Renault Eurocup where he had one pole position and one fastest lap in three races.
Formula 3 Euro
