DPA
Suzuka (Japan)
Led by Charles Leclerc, Formula One drivers at the Japanese Grand Prix are commemorating Jules Bianchi who died of injuries sustained on the Suzuka track 10 years ago.
Frenchman Biachi slid off the wet track in the October 5, 2014, race and hit a recovery vehicle. He fell into a coma and died nine months later in a hospital in Nice of the head injuries sustained.
It was the last death in F1, and Leclerc is paying tribute to his friend, godfather and early career mentor with a special helmet this weekend.
“Jules is still there and needs to be remembered,” Leclerc said on Friday.
“If I’m here today in Formula One, it’s thanks to him. So, it was important for me to wear this helmet and I hope I can have a great weekend.” “I had spoken to the family, we’re always in contact and always speak because it’s basically the same family, and we’ve always been extremely close. They were so, so happy that I had asked to use the helmet.
He also said: “Of course its a very special and whenever I get here I have somewhere in my mind Jules. I obviously think about Jules very often, because he’s been the person that helped me to get there.” World champion Max Verstappen named Bianchi “an unbelievably talented driver” who “could have achieved a lot.”
Red Bull’s Verstappen added that “we learnt a lot about safety afterwards.” Bianchi’s crash was one reason why the protective halo was introduced as a feature of F1 cars to minimise the risk of head injuries.
French driver Pierre Gasly said that Bianchi, who drove for Marussia at the time of the accident but was also linked with Ferrari, could have been a big star in the sport.
Gasly named Bianchi a role model for himself and others and said that “it is very sad to remember what happened.”
