Drivers from up and down the Formula 1 grid have come out in support of Jules Bianchi after the Frenchman’s horrific crash at the Japanese Grand Prix that left him hospitalised in intensive care.
Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS duo Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg’s first thoughts were with Bianchi, even after fighting tooth and nail for the race victory.
“Our first thoughts go to Jules – it overshadows everything else when one of our colleagues is injured and we are praying for him,” insisted race winner Hamilton, while team-mate Rosberg said: “My thoughts are with our colleague Jules and his family and team-mates, and we are hoping for some positive news.”
Current World Drivers’ Champion Sebastian Vettel, who finished third in Japan, insisted everything that happened on track during the race was irrelevant with Bianchi in hospital, and he hopes that there is good news regarding the Marussia driver soon.
“Everything that happened with the racing on track is secondary today, one of us is in a bad shape and we don’t yet know how he is,” said Vettel. “Jules had a bad accident and we hope to have some very good news, very soon. Not knowing what’s going on feels terrible, I think all the drivers really feel with him, as we know how difficult and slippery it was today; we hope for the very best.”
His Infiniti Red Bull Racing team-mate Daniel Ricciardo admitted he hated not knowing if Bianchi was okay after his crash.
“Right now we’re all thinking about Bianchi and that’s the biggest concern for us,” said Ricciardo. “We heard he had a pretty big crash and it’s not nice when we don’t know if the driver is okay.”
McLaren Mercedes driver Jenson Button finished fifth in Japan but was concerned for the well being of Bianchi, with the same sentiments felt by many up and down the paddock.
“For me, the race doesn’t really matter today,” said Button. “I haven’t seen anything of Jules’ accident, but the most important thing to say is that all our thoughts are with him, his family, and his team right now. It’s an accident that you hope never happens in Formula 1.”
Fernando Alonso retired early from the race but insists the he only wants to hear good news about Bianchi, who is part of the Ferrari Driver Academy.
“The only good news we want right now relates to Jules Bianchi,” insisted Alonso. “I hope that we hear very soon that he’s alright.”
Sauber driver Adrian Sutil was close to the accident as it was his car the crane was removing when Bianchi struck it, and was visibly shaken post-race.
“My thoughts are with Jules who went off in the same place as I did,” said Sutil. “Everything else is irrelevant at this point in time. Everybody in the paddock should think of him, and I hope that he is in good hands.”
His Mexican team-mate Esteban Gutierrez believed it was the correct decision to stop the race, and hoped Bianchi will be okay.
“I think it was the right decision to stop the race,” insisted Gutierrez. “I really hope that Jules will be ok.”
Everyone in F1 hopes Bianchi pulls through at this difficult time, including everyone at The Checkered Flag. Thoughts are also with everyone at the Marussia F1 Team, plus with Bianchi’s family and friends.
